Minutes of the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Annual General Meeting held at the Novas Contemporary Urban Centre, 41-51 Greenland Street, Liverpool on Thursday 5 November 2009 at 17.30

ISBE President Colette Henry (CH) chaired the meeting. A sufficient number of members were in attendance for the meeting to be quorate.

1. Minutes of the last AGM
The minutes of the last AGM held 6 November 2008 in Belfast were available to view on the ISBE website as indicated in the AGM mailing to members at the beginning of October.
The minutes were approved. No matters arising. Sue Marlow proposed, Lynn Martin seconded.

2. Annual Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements
GBAC Limited, had produced the annual accounts, which include the Annual Report of the Trustees, for the year ending 30 April 2009. A full copy of the accounts is available to any member upon request to the ISBE office.
The Annual Report of the Trustees for the year ending 30 April 2009 was approved. Richard Roberts proposed and Dean Patton seconded.

3. Re-appointment of Auditors
Accountants, GBAC Limited, were re-appointed as auditors of the Company until the conclusion of the next AGM, and the Board were authorised to fix their remuneration. Proposed by Lynn Martin, seconded by Brian Clements

4. Proposal to amend the Memorandum and Articles of Association
CH asked the meeting to vote on the special resolution to amend the Bye Laws as set out in the Notice of AGM
Vote was by show of hands: 52 in favour; unanimous. The Special Resolution was duly passed to amend the Bye Laws of the Company as follows:
That the Bye-Laws of the Company be and are hereby amended, subject to the approval of the Charity Commission, as follows:

4.1  That Article 14(d) be amended from:

The voting list must be delivered to the office in a sealed envelope not less than four clear days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting

So that amended Article 14 (d) reads:

The voting list must arrive at the office not less than four clear days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting


5. Election of new Directors
CH informed the meeting that in line with all Board members subjected to retirement by rotation except the President, this had resulted in 9 vacancies on the Board. Four current Board members had stood for re-election and eight new nominations had been received. Therefore a ballot was held and CH announced the results. New Board members are:
Stuart Anderson
Clare Brindley
Rob Edwards
Denise Fletcher (re-elected for second term)
Susan Marlow (re-elected for second term)
Maura McAdam
Pauric McGowan
John Thompson (re-elected for second term)
Geoff Whittam

CH thanked retiring Board members for their contribution to the Institute during their terms of office. They are:
Spinder Dhaliwal
Paul Hannon
Ossie Jones
Richard Roberts

There being no further business, CH thanked members for attending and said she looked forward to seeing everyone at next year’s conference in London in November 2010. CH closed the meeting.