Original Minutes: 7 June 2010

(Adobe Acrobat PDF format)

Present: Dot Flint (Sandbach Partnership), Sarah Ellershaw (Burnells), Ruth Hindson (Creature Comforts), Carol Williams (Godfrey C. Williams), Larry Sharp (Sandbach Partnership), Gill Merry (CE councillor), Reg & Vera Shallcross (Demeter’s), David Wilson & Jean Proctor (Cheshire House Financial Planning), David McGifford (CEC), Keith Castree (The Furniture Gallery), Nigel Howard (The Furniture Gallery), Carolyn Lowe (Sandbach Town councillor), Ian Tresman (Knowledge Computing), Caroline Tresman (My Gorgeous Bod Beauty Therapy), Barry Moran (CE councillor), Hazel Warr (La Casa Vecchia), Graham Bradford (Hightown menswear)

Apologies: Mark & Tracy (Sally’s Café), Sally (The Lion)

Dot Flint opened the meeting and introduced the new group. The following were proposed as officers of STAR:

• Chairman – Sarah Ellershaw
• Treasurer – Keith Castree
• Secretary – Carol Williams
• Membership Secretary – Ruth Hindson

A show of hands in favour of the above was taken and everyone present agreed and ratified this.

Only one copy of the constitution was available so this is attached for your perusal.

Barry Moran read out a letter from Fiona Bruce MP congratulating everyone on the formation of STAR and pledging her ongoing support. She has joined the “All Party Parliamentary Group” in support of independent retailers and has asked that if anyone has any information they would like relaying to the APPG that they contact her at the House of Commons. Barry also thanked Sarah for taking the lead in forming STAR.

Sarah invited Reg Shallcross (former President of Sandbach Chamber of Trade) to become Honorary President of STAR. He accepted and said that when the bank account was set up he would transfer the approx £230 of monies left from Sandbach C of T into Star’s account.

Sarah said “our aim is to work together as a group to bring people into Sandbach, so that they can see what a variety of great shops, businesses, restaurants and pubs we have in our lovely historic town. We have a newly refurbished cobbled Market Square and this is a great area to host events on.”

The first event to be organized is a music/dance themed event provisionally to go ahead on Saturday 3rd July. A meeting will be held on Monday 14th June 2010 at 5.30 p.m. at SECE, Wesley Avenue to plan this.

Sunday 12th September – a joint event with Sandbach Town Council at which Fodens Band will play.

Keith reported that we have 30 paid up members and several others who have also pledged to join but have not yet handed in their details. As a result of the press launch and publicity several groups have contacted STAR members with a desire to work with the group. One such group is Caroline and Ian Tresman who are promoting “Sandbach Concert Series” – a series of 8 concerts throughout the year aimed at promoting music making by youth and community groups of Sandbach in conjunction with bring world class musicians to Sandbach. www.sandbach-concert-series.co.uk for more information. Mr Tresman also offered to set up a website for STAR free of charge.

David McGifford (former development officer with South East Cheshire Enterprise Centre) SECE and now employed by CEC Recession Recovery group, gave an outline of the help available to businesses including:

• Empty shop window dressing to hide ugly empty premises
• Attracting businesses into town with marketing and set up packages designed to encourage and help people set up a business
• Some advertising opportunities on CEC website at no cost
• Grant scheme available for events staged on Market Square
• Shop front improvement scheme with grant of up to 50% available
• Support with contacts and direction

If anyone would like further details of any of the above please contact Sarah or David McGifford at CEC

The meeting closed at 6.15 p.m., coffee and biscuits were served.

Next Meeting Monday 14th June 2010 at 5.30 p.m. at SECE, Wesley Avenue to discuss music event.

Next general meeting Wednesday 7th July 2010 at 5.30 p.m. at SECE, Wesley Avenue.