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Comments on HOTV Phase 3 of Building Work

3rd January 2024

    This compilation (concerning the views of more than 30 members of the community) aims to provide the Community Hub Group, HOTV Management Committee, and anyone else interested in the final decisions on Phase 3 with as much relevant information and comment as possible. It reflects the main reason for setting up the group - to enable a better flow of information to and from the Committee and the community on whose support and patronage the success of the venture depends.

This document is available to download/print HERE

A longer version, with more detail, is available HERE

Vision & Road Map

    All agree the need to establish a Vision & Road Map - What do we aim for; how will we get there? The last business plan was put forward before the building was purchased.

  1. What is the aim for the pub/food, what range of patrons are we looking for?

  2. The shop/café – what range of stock? - more volunteers? - more paid staff?

  3. If people are to invest time or money (shares or shopping) they need to know to what they are contributing.

 

Needs of the Businesses

    Apart from the need for Phase 3 to fit in with an agreed vision, the short and medium term needs of the businesses should be the main driving force for any changes to the building. The next few years call for turnover and profit margins that will not only cope with staffing and running costs, but will service the accrued debt, and hopefully rid us of this burden. One example is the need for space for the shop to store stock, the stock room being the heart of any retail business:

    Stock Room: Phase 3 plans reduce the size of the stock room. On the other hand, those operating the stock system point out that there is already congestion on delivery days, causing hazardous working conditions, and finding space on shelves often presents problems. Before making changes evidence needs to be provided to show that a smaller stock room will not adversely impact on the ability of the shop to generate enough profit. Unless changes can be made to the stock/turnover ratio, reducing the amount of stock held will obviously reduce turnover, and therefore profit. We cannot judge the validity of the plans without having more information on stock control, shop and pub trading figures and forecasts modelled on different assumptions about number of covers/staff costs etc.

 

Function Room

    Less work could be done to the ground floor and more done to improve access to the function room, maybe offering greater economic benefit to the business than the current plan. These comparative costings should be discussed/documented.

 

Cafe Extension

    It has been queried how  the extension of the café is being justified on a cost/benefit analysis. Apparently there are written costings and these will be made available to  the Hub Group.

 

Risk Assessment

    There should be an assessment of financial risk to HOTV in undertaking the project. Various issues have been raised, including:

  1. the inevitable underestimation of the cost of any building project

  2. uncovering new problems as the work proceeds

  3. impact on shop trading while works are undertaken

  4. loss of income from the skittle alley, with the possible permanent loss of skittle teams

  5. hygiene issues have been raised regarding joint access from shop and pub to the kitchen. There has been no inspection (last one - 20th October 2021) since we started serving food from the kitchen

 

Communication

    Improved communication is seen as a very urgent area to be addressed by the members of the newly elected Management Committee. Reaching the entire community with information about the project is essential, but there is a concern about lack of feedback when issues are brought to the attention of the Management Committee. 

    Suggestions include:

  1. A more co-ordinated approach to providing information, and feedback of ideas.

  2. Engaging with individuals and groups within the community rather than simply providing information.

  3. All suggestions need to be logged and feedback given to those who raise them.  Otherwise, people will feel discouraged from engaging.

A particular point on consultation with members was raised regarding new expenditure, and a need to engage with (or even obtaining the permission of) the shareholders who have provided the finances. It may be worth the Management Committee revisiting the draft Communication Procedure (available HERE) drawn up some time ago.

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Do get in touch with any more comments at communityhub@mail.uk, and don't forget the meeting on Monday 15th January, &.30 pm, at St Gregory's Church Room (behind the Churchyard). Tom Duxbury, of the HOTV Management Committee will be there to share ideas and information.

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