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Peter Winter of West Sussex raised a question about Committee mileage expenses. In 19
2014 the sum claimed by ESMBA Committee members was £2,658, this went up to £7,122
in 2015. Roger Green of North Yorks then raised a question about the I.C.C entry fees, he said
that the figure given appears short of what the figure should be when you look at the entry num-
bers. The questions raised about the ESMBA Treasurer’s Report took up an enormous amount of
time but the losses involved were such that it made this inevitable. Barbara Mills again said that
next year’s figures will provide a clearer view of the Association’s finances.
In his Administration Report by Keith Hawkins said that he believes that the ESMBA took the
right step in appointing an Administration Officer. He said that by bringing all the records, for mem-
bership and insurance, under one umbrella the ESMBA can for the first time compile comprehen-
sive data enabling them to identify where improvements can be made. On insurance he said that
the scheme is “so encompassing that it provides full cover to our members so there is no require-
ment to boost it with supplementary cover from other sources.
” This was a statement that the Norfolk delegate questioned due to the on-going discussions
between the NCSMBA and the Administration Officer. Derbyshire, West Sussex & North Yorks
delegates also raised questions on this issue and the outcome was that Keith Hawkins would have
further discussions with Sutton Winson regarding the possibility of adding personal injury cover to
the insurance and what the cost would be.
Using Church Gresley IBC as a venue was again questioned and Keith said that some I.C.C
knock-out games would take place at Daventry for the coming season. There was much discussion
on bringing the National Championships further south again, as well as some delegates favouring
a hard floor venue like Kettering Leisure Centre. Barry Hedges pointed out the huge cost of hiring
such a venue and pointed out that Indoor Bowls Clubs are much cheaper. Chris Willies of West
Mids criticized Church Gresley IBC as a National venue. Roger Green of North Yorks said that as
the Nationals had lost £2,000 would the Committee look at raising National entry fees. One dele-
gate even suggested that on top of the entry fee for Nationals the qualifiers should pay a green
fee for Finals Days.
This brought us to the Proposals stage of the meeting which can take up a lot of time. Thank-
fully this time it didn’t as the ESMBA Constitutional proposals were voted through with just two ab-
stentions. The West Sussex Constitutional proposals were next with the Norfolk amendments to
those being voted on first. The Norfolk amendments were passed with all in favour except for one
abstention. The West Sussex proposal, with the Norfolk amendments in place, were then voted
upon and sailed through. The changes bring greater clarity to the Constitution in setting out a strict
timetable on matters relating to the AGM.
The final proposal was the application for County status from Greater Manchester. This of
course follows on from unsuccessful applications a few years ago under the name Stockport Metro,
both of which failed. Veterans of those AGMs were fully aware that we would now face a long de-
bate over just what constitutes a county. There was no way around this as delegates from various
counties offered their views on Greater Manchester and whether it was a proper county. Lancashire
had e-mailed their opposition to Greater Manchester’s application for County status. Their view
was that Greater Manchester only exists as a ceremonial county
and that recognising them would have an adverse effect on other
counties.
It is of course a fact that registered short mat bowlers playing
the sport in the Greater Manchester area are members of present
counties such as Lancashire so in recognising Greater Manchester
the surrounding counties could all see membership drop.
Listening to the views offered up by delegates and committee
members it became clear that Lancashire’s failure to send a dele-
gate to the meeting severely weakened their argument as well as
their failure to compete in the I.C.C.