Civil Service Club

2. Minutes of the last Annual General meeting held on 29^th May 2008

The minutes were approved after the Hon Secretary had referred again to the death of Jack last year.

3. Report on the year to December 2008

The Chairman reported on the successful refurbishment of the bar area funded by a loan from Greene King Brewers. The response to date had been positive and there had been a positive effect on sales. We were also about to invest in a new membership and booking system which would enhance security, improve communications and, ultimately, allow an on-line booking system.

On the less positive side we have had to incur considerable expense tackling asbestos, replacing the cold system in the Kitchen and maintaining the lift. It has been necessary to increase prices to improve revenue in the face of food and utilities inflation and the excise duty increases on drink -all in double figures. Nevertheless it had been possible to keep price increases relatively modest.

At the same time it had been necessary to reduce costs. This had led to difficult decisions about how the Club is managed and staffed. It has led to the closure of the Dining Room on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and to some unfortunate redundancies and departures of some staff.

The Chairman reported that there had been some movement towards resolving the position in relation to the Club's occupancy of the premises at 13-15 Great Scotland Yard. We seemed to be close to agreement to a 25 year lease at a peppercorn rent.

The other main preoccupation now has to be the question of increasing membership and the Chairman outlined the efforts being made towards that end.

Finally the Chairman expressed his thanks to the staff of the Club for their continuing efforts and dedication, mentioning particularly those in the Kitchen, Dining Room and reception who had been most affected by the necessary changes. He also thanked the management and the Management Committee for their help over the year. He reserved a special thanks for Roy Cozens who unfortunately had had to send his apologies and· who had decided to stand down after the AGM having served as Vice-Chairman for some 10 years.

4. Election of new Committee members and review of membership.

The Hon Secretary announced that there had been only three nominations for ordinary member of the Committee. The following were therefore elected:

Michael Hall

Ros Hatcher

Marjorie Robinson

There had been one nomination as Hon Treasurer. Mr Angus Young was therefore elected as Hon Treasurer.

Membership had again been maintained at broadly the same level of 11,500 over the year.

5. Result of vote on the Resolution on Subscriptions The Hon Secretary reported that the votes cast were as follows:

6. Statement of Accounts

The Acting Hon Treasurer reported that the loss for the year, including depreciation, had been £66,348. There was however an improving trading surplus which resulted in a profit, before depreciation etc. of some £40,000.

7. Election of Auditors Mazars were re-elected as Auditors for 2008.

8. Any Other Business

During a lively and wide-ranging discussion the following points, amongst others, were raised: the possibility of making the Peter Ward Lounge available as much as possible and of advertising its availability; would it be possible to reintroduce the facility for Half-Board?

concerns about the way the loss of staff had been handled;

whether a Company by Guarantee would be an option for the holding of the lease; improved ways of marketing the Club including the raising of the reward to

members for introducing new members; how the Club, especially the Bar, could be made more welcoming to women; reintroducing the facility to see the till amount when purchasing from the Bar; the use of the forecourt for smokers; the possible provision of a library; and the possibility of events such as theme nights.

9. Close of Meeting The Chairman closed the meeting at 7:45pm