Present: Messrs. Bertrand, Caswell, Gooddy (Chair), Hodgert, Holt, Scowcroft, Wheeldon & Mrs Smart

Apologies for absence: Messrs. Berry, Walsh & Mrs Scowcroft

Minutes of the last meeting: These had been circulated and were agreed.

Matters Arising: There was nothing yet to report on the T- Shirt situation.

Correspondence: None

General Secretary's Report: We had been informed of the Lancashire AGM. We have been fined for non-attendance the last two years. W Holt will try and attend and liase with the General Secretary if there are problems.

Match Secretary's Report: If there are more than 60 teams next year, it would be better to have an extra division with open dates to create more flexibility for playing postponed matches.

Treasurer's Report: Last year we had a surplus of around £500. This year we are around breaking even. ETTA, LTTA, Inter-league and Hilton hire fees have all increased. There are also less advertisers than the previous year. Some discussion took place on how to itemise certain fees for the accounts.

Inter-league Secretary's Report: The Match Secretary said that we need more control over Inter-league team entries hopefully under the control of a new Inter-league Secretary next year.

Tournament Secretary's Report: Two finalists had remarked that they both thought that the Hilton Centre had better lighting than the lads club for a finals night. 39 people entered the Closed Championships. The singles events would have been slightly up on last season, but 4 withdrawals due to injury and work commitments, meant that there were 26 in the Level and 29 in the Handicapped, the same as last year.

There were 5 Mixed pairs, which was an increase of 2, but all other events were just down by either 1 or 2. I think it was a good tournament and I would like to thank John and Margaret (Scowcroft) for their help on Saturday and Jean for providing refreshments whilst competing in 6 events.

Rule Changes: The attached rules were discussed ready for the AGM.

Date and venue of AGM: The Hilton Centre on Thursday 12th June

AOB: None

Proposed rule changes 2008

The following were recommended by the LTTA following the Tonge dispute when requested to arbitrate and are endorsed by your Committee:

That after the word 'final in the third paragraph of rule 2, the words 'subject to appeal' should be inserted.
All decisions of a league Committee can be appealed and reference should be made to that fact.

That after the word 'for' on line one of rule 3 the words 'New rules' be inserted.
As the rules stand, there is no provision for the insertion of new rules.

That after the word 'Year' on line three of rule 3, add ' For consideration at the AGM'
The current rule does not say what should happen once they have been received by the Secretary.

That ITTF be replaced by ETTA in rule 30.
The ETTA rules are designed to specifically cater for league play and competitions. The ITTF rules are mainly concerned with Tournaments.

That after the word 'Start' on line 1 of rule 19, delete the word 'start' and insert ' not later than'.
This gives the home team the ability to start matches earlier than the declared time of 7.30 after agreement by the away team.

The following rules are proposed by the Committee:

Cup Competitions

That the first paragraph of rule 4 be replaced with:
A team shall be deemed to constitute those players registered for that team.
In the event of a qualified player not being available a player from a lower ranked team may be included.
The current rule precludes registered players from taking part if they have not made the most league appearances for the team.

Delete rule 5.
The statement is contradictory and would in theory prevent a player from a lower team assisting a higher one.

That cup rule 6, 2nd & 3rd sentence be replaced with:
Teams with1 or 2 team separation are played off scratch; 3 to 10 separation +2; 11 to 18 +3; 19 to 26 +4; 27 to 34 +5; 35 to 42 +6; 43 to 50 +7; 51 and above +8.
The match secretary has examined results and it is felt that the lower teams need a slight improvement in their handicap.

That the word 'three' in rule 12 (d) be replaced with 'six'.
It is felt that there is not enough assistance for teams who have lost players for a variety of reasons after the commencement of the season. This would improve matters and still prevent the permanent establishment of two man teams.

That the second sentence of the second paragraph of cup rule 4 should read:
In order to play a semi-final and final a player must have played in 50% of league matches from the date of their registration and up to the semi-final and final.
Someone who registers for a team late has a problem representing their team even if they have played regularly up to the date of semi-final or final.