December 1999

Claytons approached Parish Council asking for the council’s support in asking villagers to shop more at the village shop.

Councillors asked chair to approach Claytons in person to establish what help was required with a view to finding out specifically whether they wanted, and would accept, any marketing advice.  It was suggested to the chair she advise the Claytons to inform people about the products and services on offer.

January 2000

Chair reported had seen Claytons and was uncertain of the Clayton’s situation.

Clayton’s placed Village Shop insert in Advertiser with list of offerings circulated with heading “To be or not to be?  That’s the future of your post office and store.”

February 4^th 2000

Claytons approached a councillor to advise: -

·         As shop had not generated enough income, Mr Clayton would be returning to full-time employment from April 1^st 2000.

·         Would try and sell cottage and shop

·         Suggested village form management team to run shop and Post Office

·         Offered to lease shop

·         Offered Mrs Clayton to work 2 ½ days per week on Post Office work

·         Offered to co-operate with profit and loss and balance sheets

·         If sale of premises could not be achieved Claytons still planned to live in cottage

February 7^th 2000

Background paper produced by councillor with statistics and various questions posed

ViRSA official visited Appleton and met Clerk and Councillor to advise on next steps – given village background paper

Parish Council met for regular monthly meeting and discussed, concluding: -

Set up team of village advisers with specialist expertise

After team has worked out strategies present to village public meeting

February 16^th 2000

Advisory team meets – Clive Johnstone, Tian Davidson, Michael Walshaw, Margaret Reading, Amanda Smith, Graham Rose, Felicity Dick and Helen Datsun from ORCC.

Concluded

·         Alternative premises in the middle of the village should be sought

·         Business was not unprofitable

·         Cottage without shop was worth about £100,000 more than with shop

During meeting had cause to phone the Claytons to discover letter had been sent by them dated 15/2/00: -

·         They had actually put the cottage and the shop on the market in November 1999 and were planning to take it off the market on 20^th March. 

·         They received advice that cottage and the shop could not be separated.

·         Will carry on with shop until end April 2000.

·         Agreed to allow use of shop for 12 months provided PC “would be sympathetic to our request” for change of use from shop to cottage

February 18^th 2000

Advisory team (Clive Johnstone, Margaret Reading and Mike Walshaw) met with the Claytons to establish some more facts and to ask questions arising as a result of meeting of advisers held 16^th February

Actions

Greene King to be approached to consider application for use of outbuildings at Plough

Approach super-markets (Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsburys) to establish if they would consider co-operation with village shop enterprise

Village Hall – OK for portacabin but only for short-term

Approach Post Office – no portacabin but will meet

Paper round – find volunteers to organise 7 rounds, 140 deliveries 6.00 am to 08.00am each day (Mondays to Saturday) and sorting (no deliveries) on Sunday (06.30 am)

March 1^st 2000

Advisory team met (Julian Morris, Tian Davidson, MR, AS, GBR)

March 6^th 2000

March 6^th 2000

Parish Council monthly meeting.  Updating PC of Advisory Group actions and conclusions. 

March 13^th 2000

Meeting with Post Office officials.

March 15^th 2000

Advisory Group meeting

March 25^th 2000

Public Meeting