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Huddersfield Civic Society Executive Committee Meeting, November 10, 2025     

The meeting was held at Westins, St Andrews Road, Huddersfield, at 7pm.

Attendees:  Gideon Richards (GR), Geoff Hughes (GH), Ann Denham (AD), Howard Smith (HS), Amanda Boothroyd (AB), Michael Woodward (MW), Sylvia Johnson (SJ), Bernard Ainsworth (BA), Yun Gao (YG),  John Eastwood (JE), Robert Taylor (RT), Andrew France (AF), Adrian Pitts (AP).

Apologies: None.

Chair Stand-in Activities

–     Chair this meeting: Sylvia Johnson

–     Volunteer Chairs for future meetings confirmed Gideon (Jan 12), Mike (Mar 9).

Welcome:  Andrew France was welcomed to the meeting and there was a round of introductions.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting (08/09/2025): Version 1.2 accepted as Final. Proposed SJ, Second GH

Matters arising from previous meetings

  • MW volunteered to edit Dec Members Newsletter and to send email requesting input (Action MW).AP offered to help.
  • Getting a new Chair – . It was agreed to keep the revolving chair system until April 2026. Discuss a revised Vision with objectives and be more strategic in the New Year.
  • MW stated no feedback given on Aug Town Centre Leisure/Retail Stakeholder Workshop/Surveys
  • Work on updating HCS leaflet deferred, pending suggested future work to update HCS strategy
  • Potential future discussion deferred for 6 months on whether HCS should pursue ‘Blue Plaques’ (AD)

Book publishing:

  • Produce draft HCS publishing policy for 12 Jan committee meeting (Action: AP,YG,GR)
  • HCS Committee expressed its thanks to Ann Denham for funding the printing of her Tolson book.      Profit is to be split 50:50 between HCS and Friends of the Tolson
  • Following extensive discussions, HLHS is now publishing Arts & Crafts Houses book by David Griffiths.                                                                   
  • Collect initial 30 copies of A+C books at launch for HCS to resell for 33% commission (Action GR)

HCS Book sales in last 12 months: Highfields =38, Yards =13, Buildings =15, Villas =59, Tolson = c40

HCS Stock now: Buildings 229, Villas 246, Highfields lowest at 32

  • Decision on whether or not to reprint Highfields deferred to next meeting

Membership report as at 6 November:

Member typeIndividual/U25JointCorporateTotalChanges
Totals – ALL CATEGORIES13019241732
Total ACTIVE members931220125-4
Paid (correct amount)749191024
Paid (wrong amount)1620180
Free/Rollover20130
New this report11022
Not yet paid0000-8
Resigned this Year60170
Lapsed this Year2863376
Deleted (corrected) this yr31040

Since last report in September, we have had 2 new members. Having notified all unpaid members on 11 August their membership will lapse if not paid by the end of September, 3 members paid, and on the 1 October 7 members who remained unpaid had their memberships lapsed. We now have no unpaid members, but we do still have members who have paid the wrong amount. These members will be emailed again this month ahead of subscription reminders going out to try and get their standing orders corrected.

Meeting Agreed to keep 2026 subs UNCHANGED at £15 single, £30 joint, Under 25 £7.50, Corporate £35

Events feedback:

                –      Mills Transformed 17 September – successful HODs event with 50+ attendees(GH)

                –      Turnbridge Mill visit 2 October: 26 attendees – ran well with many thanks to Ian Brierley (HS)

–      Tolson book launch 15 October: good launch with 40+ attendees (AD)

–      Huddersfield Unlimited 12 October event: good positive event on Huddersfield offering several

        leads for potential future speakers and activities(HS)

–      HCS stand at Family History Fair 25 October: no new memberships but 17 HCS book sales (HS)

–      YHACS 1 Nov meeting feedback (MW) and HCS view of options for future of Civic Voice. 

        Following discussion led by MW, meeting decided HCS would take no action at this stage.

–       Volunteer(s) to attend next YHACS meeting at Harrogate on Sat 31 January (Volunteer(s) please)

Future Events:

  • –      Sat 22 Nov HCS membership sign-up and HCS book selling at Arts + Crafts book launch,

        Lindley Methodist Church,– (Action HCS attendees: BA, AD, GR, SJ, possibly RT).

–      Thurs 22 January HCS Social – Liaise with Laura, contact DW re possible quiz and organise booking

        (Action: HS to lead and request assistance from committee members)

–      Decision taken to continue HCS talks on Wed evenings at B Jackson House as first choice location

–      Liaise with Revd Rachel Firth re Celebrate Huddersfield event, St Peter’s,19 Sept 2026 (Action: SJ)

Potential Speakers to Approach for talks in February and March, including AGM on Wed 25 March

  • An EPIKS topic to link with ’20 minute’ talk from White Rose Forest officer (Action AB + AP)
  • Potential joint meeting with EPIKS (Action: AP)
  • Felix Kumi-Ampofo (WYCA, speaker at 12 Oct HU event (Action: GR)
  • Liz Towns-Andrews, Huddersfield University. (Action: HS)
  • Andrew Morrison, Chair of York CT (Action: MW)
  • David Griffiths – linked to Arts and Crafts book. (Action: GH)
  • Accu Finance Director (Action: AF)
  • Huddersfield Stadium (Volunteer please!)

(WOULD THOSE ACTIONED PLEASE LIAISE BY EMAIL WITH GEOFF RE DATES TO AVOID CLASHES!)

Possible topics for a later date

  • George Hotel: the real story
  • Update on Transpennine Route Upgrade
  • Kirklees Council lead officers, eg David Shepherd

6)            Interim Treasurer’s Report 2025 (GR)

–      Currently £1693 in HCS current account and approx. £16,000 in Skipton BS Account

–      Produce draft 2026 HCS forecast/budget for 12 Jan 2026 HCS committee meeting (Action: GR/HS)

Thanks were expressed to GR for his continued work.

7)            Planning report

  • 27 Market Place: now has garish signs outside listed building
  • La La restaurant, St George’s Square: reported to have substantial interior changes
  • No news on Castle Hill (KC has not commissioned business case suggested by Historic England)
  • George Hotel has been given approval; work expected to restart soon
  • Turnbridge Mills saga continues: WYCA offering grant, HE objecting to demolition
  • Open Market plans: traders objecting but HCS has no substantive concerns on KC proposals
  • Following 29 September meeting with David Shepherd and David Wildman

– volunteers for a) Planning group meetings, probably in January: RT, AP, GH, GR

– volunteers for b) Town centre group meetings, probably in January AB, AD, MW, YG, SJ

8)            AOB

              –        12 Jan mtg item on May 2026 Kirklees local elections: boundary changes + All-out (Action: GR)

9)            Future HCS Committee meeting dates (all 19.00 at Westin House): 

–       2026: 12 Jan (Chair: Gideon), 9 Mar (Chair Mike), 11 May, 13 July, 14 Sept, 9 Nov.Also AGM Wed 25 Mar

Geoff Hughes 12 January 2026