Melksham Chamber of Commerce - Presidents report to AGM
Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2010-05-19 08:08:09 - Graham Ellis
It's only when you sit down and write a list of what's happened and what you've done in the past year that you realise just how much of it there is!
Last night was Melksham Chamber of Commerce and Industry's AGM, and I was asked to do a little review of the year. Oh - and I retained (unopposed) my role as President for another year.
Headlines follow - I've added in some links, and you'll find a lot more elsewhere on the blog - see [chamber resources] for example.
Chamber of Commerce - President's Report
What a year!
- Local Government Changes
- National Government Changes
- The general Economy
On Local Government ...
- Reorganized, new brooms but some tired old members
- Area Boards and Community Area Partnerships replace DCs
- Mid Wiltshire Economic Development
Core Strategy, Local Transport Plan, GWRUS ([link])
Consultations (to tick boxes?) [link]
Core dogma - draft but already applied?
Asda [link], Countrywide [link], housing [link]. Whence Melksham?
Area Board and CAP finding their feet
On National Government
- New govt traditionally business oriented
- BUT may be harder hearted
- tax rises?
- brave new experiment
- Lib Dem MP - strong local policies beat parachuted Tory
On the economy ...
- Wiltshire less badly hit?
- Melksham less bad than others?
- heavier turnover of shops?
- bank lending / increase in margins for existing businesses
And also
- Town Centre
- Parking - stick but no carrot - [link]
- Stand up for Melksham
Chamber
- Oddity
- West Wilts Show - see [link]
- Web Site - see [here]
- News Letters
- Monthly meeting
- Work with Town, etc
- President's meeting - Longleat
- President's meeting - Trowbridge
- Press
- Business awards
Personal
- Not around as much last couple of months (Lisa's Mum passed away - see [here] and [here])
- Won't be around as much end-of-year (becoming a Grandad - and will be providing a lot of support ;-) [link])
Looking Forward
Next stage on Core
CAP [link], CRP [link], Go, Canal
New Government
Melksham Oak opens 9th July, we visit 20th
600 jobs at George Ward
but Council jobs being lost in recession cutbacks?
Double dip recession - would hit Wiltshire worse?
Chamber ...
Not PIP on own, but with CAP
Spot the Oddity
Members needed
Web site contributors needed
Keep up press
Concern at member numbers and financial arrangements with the Wessex Association of Chambers
Best of Melksham
Challenging year / time ... next Chamber meeting, 15th June - [details]