Rochdale
Borough Social Enterprise and
Co-operative Forum
Minutes of Management Meeting Wednesday
16 January 2013
Maracuja 20 St Marys Gate Rochdale OL16
1DZ
Present: Rick
Walker (Cartwheel Arts, Chair), Nick Andrews (MoorEnd Trust), Steve Bewick (FCUM
Radio), Claire Jefferies (Petrus People), and Andrew Jessop (Business advisor,
Associate)
In
attendance: Jenny Broadbent (Rochdale Pioneers Museum), Barney Fryer (Rochdale
Council), and Ruth Yasmeen (First Light Project)
1 Apologies and welcome
1.1 Apologies
were noted from Jan Hicks (Fair For All), Colin Hughes (Youth 21), Tanzeem
Mahmood (Tanzeem Co-operative), Peggy Mulongo (Maracuja), Ken Usman Smith, John
Swallow (Youth 21), Norman Warwick (Just Poets), Steve Valentine (Manchester
Credit Union), and Norman Warwick (Just
Poets). Rick welcomed Claire, Jenny, and
Ruth to the meeting.
2 Minutes of last Management Meeting 3
December 2012
2.1 The
Minutes were approved as a correct record.
3.1 Paragraph
4.1 Rochdale Boroughwide Housing. Andy said he would be meeting Gareth
Swarbrick, RBH Chief Executive, and would ask him about their interest in being
an Associate.
3.2 Paragraph
5.2 Generating income. Andy said that organising events and training are
eligible for Awards For All funding and he would draft an application.
(a) Applications for Membership
4.1 Claire
explained that Petrus People would be a wholly owned subsidiary CIC,
responsible for Petrus’ carwash, green gym, gardening, and second-hand store
activities. Members approved Petrus
People’s application. Jenny outlined the
Co-operative Heritage Trust’s responsibility for the Rochdale Pioneers Museum
and National Co-operative Archive, and said that she would be applying for
membership. Ruth described First Light’s film making plans and Andy said he
would send her a Membership application form.
4.2 Rick
reported that John had suggested that the Forum should incorporate as a legal
entity. Some discussion of the necessity or otherwise, followed. Andy said he
would present options for legal structures to the next management Meeting.
5 Financial matters
5.1 Steve
said that the Forum’s bank balance was just under £1,000.
6 Activities for 2013
6.1 Members
considered Andy’s report and decided on the following activities:
·
Promote
business with a social purpose
o Take part in ‘Rochdale Co-operative Day’
22 June. Andy to advise Members likely to be interested and attend planning
meetings with the Co-operative College, etc.
·
Meet
Members’ needs
o Hold AGM in May. Andy to arrange
convenient date for the Museum with Jenny.
o Hold a ‘business to business’ networking
event and lunch for Members on ‘Social Enterprise Day’ 21 November (tbc) at the
Museum.
·
Develop
opportunities for social enterprise
o Hold a ‘community energy’ event, in
partnership with the Council, alongside APSE conference in March. Andy and
Barney to plan event.
·
Raise
Members awareness of Community First funding. Rick to send information to Members.
·
Contact
CVS about information/events about sources of funding for social enterprises.
Andy to contact Tariq and forward to Members.
·
Explore
holding a ‘Meet the buyers’ event, potentially with the Council, Link4Life,
RBH, Building Schools for the Future partnership, and High Schools’ Pioneers
Trust early in 2014.
·
Explore
holding a ‘community food’ event, in partnership with the Council and in
association with the second week of Local Environmental Action Fortnight in
October. Andy and Barney to discuss.
7 Policy initiatives
(a) Support for public service mutuals
(social enterprises)
7.1 Andy
reported that he had met the Council Leader and Chief Executive, with
Co-operatives UK, about proposals to support the sector and should be meeting
again at the end of February to receive the Council’s response.
7.2 Steve
said that he had sent priorities in the form of a ‘supplement’ to the strategy
to the Deputy Leader and hoped to be discussing the Council’s response with him
soon. Barney said that the Council was
taking forward actions on the creation of a ‘green economy’.
8 Membership fees for 2013
8.1 Steve
said he would contact Members and Associates by email. Andy said he would send
an up to date list of Members and Associates, and their email addresses, to
Steve.
9 Date, time, and place of next Meetings
9.1 Members
decided to hold the following Meetings:
·
Management
Meeting Wednesday 20 March 6pm Pioneers Museum
·
AGM
Tuesday 21 May 6pm Petrus Hub
·
Management
Meeting Wednesday 5 June 6pm Pioneers Museum.
Andrew Jessop
