Meeting:  General Committee Meeting of the League 

Venue:  Gomersal CC 

Date:      Monday 17^th September 2007
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Apologies:   Azaad, Mount, Batley, Tony Larvin, Martin Stubbs. Graham Austin 

Roll Call

• Absent: Azaad, Batley, Drighlington, Hopton Mills, Horbury Bridge, Mount, Netherton, Wakefield St Michaels, Wrenthorpe

• Proposed fines of above Steve Holliday seconded by New Farnley.

Matters Arising

• Minutes of the previous meeting were read and agreed, meeting commenced at 19.40. 

The Way Forward – Vacant Positions

• Hilary Smith was appointed Registration Secretary

• Richard Seddon was appointed Secretary. 

Reports 

Chairman

• The Chairman congratulated the Representative Manager’s and their teams on yet another successful season, with overall wins at Under 11’s, Under13’s and Under 17 Joe Lumb Fixtures.

• To enable the league to keep building on this success he said that there was a great need for the Executive Committee to be restructured, by decreasing its 23 members to 6 or 7, this would make meetings shorter and be considerably more productive. The Executive Committee would therefore be asking for rule changes to allow this to happen.

• It was also commented on how well the introduction of an under 10’s team playing Taverner type matches had worked this year.

 Fixtures Secretary Report

• There was an increasing problem with the lateness of which clubs were returning the list of team age groups that they would be entering for the forthcoming season.  Without these it will be impossible to start compiling the fixtures for 2008. It is a rule requirement that clubs return these at the AGM, in December, any club failing to do so could be excluded from the following season’s fixtures.

• All winners of League trophies and individual prize winners were encouraged to attend The Presentation Evening.

• The League would also be asking in future that all trophies are to be returned to the Executive meeting at Mirfield in October or given to Gordon Cooper prior to that date.  Tony Larvin was to act as Trophy Steward and the Cups would be held at Hunslet Nelson for safe keeping.

 Treasurers Report

The Treasurer explained that there were three accounts:

• The Tour Fund was overspent by £450.

• The Girls account fund had been used up with an additional £500 spent.

• The General account was around £800 down over the season but with Stock & Fines due he was expecting an overall balancing of the books and would have a balance sheet ready for the AGM.

Fixture Secretary

• The June finals were a cause for concern when rain affected the winner’s participation in both Regional and ECB competitions which required a result quickly. The playing of the Cup Final could ideally be put back but a bowl out or toss of the coin was required for a club to go forward. 

Result Secretary

• A full report for 2007 was given out.

• There was a big problem with results notification within the allotted time scale.

• Problems arose at an under 17 match which was umpired by an eighteen year old. A debate followed with regard to whether this was too young and if the age gap was too close. Concerns were raised as at that age he was legally an adult, this matter is to be discussed at the Executive meeting.

• It was recommended that Cup match rules should be the same as League matches for the reduction of overs in a match. This is to be a joint decision made by the two managers on the night.

• There were incidents of lateness of players to games especially in under 17 matches, where players were arriving from School / College games late. This had the potential of affecting the results unfairly and as such the Executive Committee will be formulating a proposed rule change to modify the existing rule under the Laws of Cricket to clarify the use of substitute and replacement players, which is seen as a grey area at the moment.

Coaching

• Under 10 coaching is to take place at a new facility, Thornhill College starting in October. Invitations have been sent out.

• There are to be five sessions for under 11’s, 13’s and 3 for under 15’s which are scheduled for Woodlands Cricket Club.

• The Coaches over the years have worked hard and the selection from these nets has paid dividend with three out of the four age groups winning the Taverner competitions.

• The introduction of Under 10 Representative matches had been a great success.

• Look into the possibility of running an East V West Hard ball competition for under 9’s.

 Child Welfare

• One incident had occurred and the matter was now in the hands of the Police and as yet there was no outcome to report.

• Remind clubs of the Expiry of CRB forms and to make sure all coaches keep these up to date.

• Workshops on Child Welfare matters were available through links on the website.

• The position relating to the four unnamed persons who are barred, by the league. Two have now been CRB checked, one is making a fresh application, following the loss of the original and, one has failed to respond to the ECB and as such remains without CRB clearance.

 Girls Cricket  

• Graham Austin who has been on the staff Lords is to take control of the girl’s side and should be a valuable member to the Coaching Staff.

 A O B

• None payment of fines from Horbury Bridge have reached £195.00 and as such the Executive Committee will recommend they are excluded from further entry into the League, this to be ratified at the AGM.  

• Eight aside under 13 cricket could continue between clubs who have a particular need or interest to do so. These matches to be arranged by the clubs at times and dates to suit them.  

• The 50 percent rule on rain affected matches where sections had a lower number of clubs in them, were thought to be biased. New Farnley agreed that last year it actually gave them an advantage yet the previous year a disadvantage.  Gomersal said there were perhaps alternative methods adopted by other sports like Rugby which may offer a better solution. The Executive Committee are to discuss this.    

 Meeting closed 21.35