Trustees from the new Shepley Hub CIC met on 22nd June to discuss ongoing plans to transfer Shepley’s current library building into community ownership. Representatives from Kirklees Council’s Library and Information Services were also present at the meeting, and continue to work with trustees to ensure library services are protected in the village.
CIC Governance
The Shepley Hub CIC is governed by the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies under company law.
The following officers were appointed until the CIC holds its first Annual General Meeting. The AGM is scheduled for 18 months time once the CIC is properly established.
- Will Roebuck - CEO
- Councillor John Cowan - Finance
- Jackie Chatten - Secretary / Membership
- Councillor John Taylor - Corporate Partnerships / Sledging Field Project*
- Janet Roebuck - Community Partnerships
- Chris Ballam - Risk Management
- Angela Proud - Coordinator
- Ian Lumb - Coordinator
The CIC is actively seeking out other local residents with time available to join the board of trustees. We are looking for 12 altogether. Anyone who has particular skills in making grant applications or event management is particularly welcome.
Friends of Shepley Library
Roger Prescott continues to chair the Friends of Shepley Library Group. We now have around 20 enthusiastic volunteers who are suggesting many brilliant and creative ideas to safeguard the future of Shepley’s library building. We would like to increase this number to 30+ to ensure that library and information services can be managed in partnership with the Kirklees library team and local community. Everyone is welcome, including stay-at-home parents, those running cottage businesses from home, young and old looking to increase their digital skills, and anyone who simply feels lonely and wants to make new friends.
Business Plan - Financial Projections
Trustees were presented with the first draft of a 5 Year Financial Plan for the CIC based upon a membership model with additional value added services. The financial projections take a cautious approach with much contingency built in.
Further discussions will take place amongst the trustees, Friends of Shepley Library and Kirklees Council to help validate the figures before presenting them to the community.
Shepley Sledging Field
The trustees agreed that the Shepley Hub CIC will oversee the community project aimed at transferring the Sledging Field in Cliffe Road into community ownership. Councillor John Taylor will take day to day responsibility for the project.
Kirklees Library Volunteers Network
Representatives from the Shepley library hub joined volunteers from other libraries across Kirklees to discuss the challenges facing library and information services. The volunteers network provides an excellent forum to find out information about what other library groups are doing, exchange ideas and set out best practice.
Next Steps
The trustees will meet again on 14th September in order to discuss plans for a general public meeting on the future of the library towards end September / beginning October 2015.
Contact
Please contact hello@shepleyvillage.org if you require further information.