Meeting:            Executive Committee Meeting  

Venue:          Liversedge Cricket Club 

Date:             Thursday 15^th May 2008 

Attendance: Peter Smith, Tony Larvin, Gordon Cooper, Jack Newsome, Brian Calverley, Geoff Lowe, 
Richard Seddon 

Apologies:    Martin Stubbs, Haig Parry, Steve Holliday.

 Minutes of the March Meeting agreed. 

Matters Arising

• League Insurance: still to be clarified. ECB insurance covers from age 18 to 70 years old, also the need to make sure that sufficient numbers of umpires are covered by the Leagues own insurance. Gordon Cooper to follow this up with Gary Hebden.

• There has been no response from clubs or individuals with respect to the anniversary of the Heavy Woollen District Junior Cricket League.

Reports 

Chairman 

• The new emergency committee would consist of any three officials from the Executive and its recommendations / actions would be sent out using the League Email service available through the Website.

• Trophy Return. Brian Calverley and Gordon Cooper are to step down after the September Presentation Evening as Trophy Officials. It is therefore asked that clubs try and find somebody to take over this position. The new system was working well and was making the collection of trophies much easier; there were only two clubs who had trophies outstanding. One issue that had arisen was that of trophies being returned were not engraved despite reminders to those clubs concerned. Action: Proposed clubs be fined £25 per trophy to cover costs. All  agreed.

• Trophies had been ordered for the June of The Gordon Cooper Under 13 and Marsdin Under 15 Cup Competitions.
  
• Clubs withdrawing teams from the League included one from Denby Grange and three from Hopton Mills. Proposed: Clubs be fined £25 per team. All Agreed   

Secretary 

• The Secretary informed the Executive of a rule violation by Altofts in a Marsdin Cup game against Wakefield Thornes. The Emergency Committee had discussed the issue at length and a decision had been made that although Altofts had won the game Wakefield Thornes would be put through to the next round. There followed a brief discussion outlining the issues of the violation. All Agreed on the Emergency Committees decision. 

• Batley had informed the League that if they were to win their opening cup match they would not be able to take part as the rest of the fixtures would be played on a Tuesday evening when their players would not be able to play. Action: Clubs must play on dates specified. Wakefield Thornes to be put through to next round.

• The Secretary put forward that the current way of the Executive distributing the handbooks prior o the start of the season was very time consuming and added travelling costs to the Executives. Proposed: that the Handbooks are distributed at the pre-season  meeting. All Agreed

• A complaint had been made from Birstall against Hunslet Nelson over the use of the artificial wicket without prior arrangement. Hunslet Nelson informed the Executive that the discussion was made at 9 O’clock on the Sunday morning as the grass wicket was unfit to play. It was agreed that although Hunslet Nelson had broken a rule in not informing the opposition of the use of the artificial wicket both managers had agreed to play therefore the result stood. No further action. All Agreed   

 Treasurers Report 

• Hopton Mills had not paid their subs or £75 in fines. The Treasurer was to write and inform Hopton Mills that unless they paid the outstanding amount by 31^st May the fine would be doubled. All agreed.

• Cleckheaton had not paid their subs of £85. Action Secretary to write to Cleckheaton informing them that if not paid the bill would be doubled. All agreed.

• Surridge had informed the Treasurer that they had sent a cheque for their sponsorship but nothing had been received. Action. Results Secretary to make a detailed report on Surridge for the next meeting.

• The tour fund was to be credited with £8,500 from the suspense account. The costs for the under 14’s Tour was discussed and it was agreed that £3000 be allocated for accommodation, £700 for transport and £1,800 for food. All agreed. 

• £500 was put into the general account from coaching surplus last year.
  
• Woodlands had been paid for the winter coaching venue and coaching staff had been paid for out of pocket expenses.
  
• The Treasurer asked if the current practice of any two signatures from three individuals could be raised to any two from four to ease the signing of cheques. All agreed.

Result Secretary’s Report 

There were a lot of fines being issued to clubs. One major issue was that result sheets were not being sent in on time. The Result Secretary thought that some encouragement in the way of a points system may alleviate this it was put forward that a club may gain 4 points for a win and a bonus point for sending in the result sheet therefore gaining 5 points likewise to a losing team. Another alternative would be that both clubs should send in result sheets. It was also noted that the result sheets should verify the result of the game.

 It was also noted that the fixtures being played on alternative dates were causing a lot of additional work.

 A discussion took place about clubs wanting to play on separate dates and not having their grounds available on certain dates. The discussion also took into account the use of A and B teams within the League. It was agreed that the League over recent years had grown and had probably reached its optimum level. With this in mind it was felt that any clubs wishing to play in the League should adhere to the dates set i.e. all under11 games would be played on a Wednesday all Under 13s on Sunday etc. It was also agreed that there were too many complications with A and B sides and perhaps these should not be allowed. Action: The Secretary to write to all clubs informing them of the intended changes in readiness for the AGM.

 Child Welfare

 It was noted that only around one third of clubs had sent in the completed CRB survey form that the CWO had issued to the member clubs. 

Following Peter Haslam’s  query regarding the time a Self Declaration form remained active, the ECB had responded saying it was “good practice to renew these on an annual basis” they also went on to say that they were intending to propose this as a formal guide line next year.

 Girls Cricket 

A letter from Graham Austin was read out which outlined his decision to stand down as head of girls cricket within the league to an increased work load in his new job. He was very sad and sorry to be leaving the position and hoped some suitable could be found, he was still willing to help out as and when he could.

 It was hoped that a Girls Tour could be arranged as there were plenty of players now representing both District and County level and the League had ample fund available to fund such a tour if suitable personnel could be found. Mike Edwards who organisers the Under 14s Tour was to be approached to see if a Girls Tour was possible. Action: Mike Edwards to be approached on the forthcoming tour.

 June Finals 

Tony Larvin would represent the League at the finals on the 15^th and 22^nd of June. George Newton was to organise the Raffles. Trophies for both finals had been ordered.

 Any Other Business 

 Heckmondwike Grammar School

Steve Holliday had received correspondence for HGS following his talks with   them about hiring the hall for the under 10 Academy. They are anxious for HWDJCL to return to their venue and appeared to meet the criteria that Steve had asked for particularly with regard to costs. There was an additional incentive if the League were to use HGS for the after Christmas coaching. One concern raised was the lack of lit parking, Action Steve Holliday to ask if the car park adjacent to the road could be utilised as this had lighting

 Under 14 Tour 
It was asked that 14 ties be supplied for the touring players and this be charged to the Tour Fund.

There had been a change from a 40 over match to a 35 over one for the Monday fixture and the Tuesday fixture was a one O’clock start. 

Altofts  Wrenthorpe fixture. 
It was reported to the Executive that Altofts had no changing facilities open for a junior match this meant that the players had no access for changing and no way of purchasing or receiving refreshments. This was deemed to be inappropriate especially when physical activity was being played. Action: Secretary to write to all clubs informing them of the need to have their facilities fully open

 Meeting closed @ 21.15