Loch Rannoch Highland Club Forums

Please correct me if I am wrong here, but I believe an SGM or AGM need only be called if:
The club borrow money
Appoint a management company
Grant securities and mortgages over its property
Purchase, lease or acquire additional property
Sell, lease, grant servitude and way leaves over or otherwise dispose of property or any rights over its property.

In section H of constitution it clearly states:
That the committee have the power and the duty to do everything neccessary for fulfilling the objectives of the club including, but not limited to the following specific powers and duties- there are 7 i can recall, but the one i believe pertinent is:
To enter into all other contracts and agreements which they deem necessary or advisable in connection with the affairs of the club.No mention of AGM OR SGM.

I cannot recall anything in constitution that would stop raising of funds via this one off payment.

The constitution has been a constant target of "abuse" for many years without any explanation or truthful comment, but it would appear, and again I could be mistaken, that the facts have been laid bare and this is the reason for this one off payment rather than increase fees by this amount for potentially ever more.

Hi Robin
Perhaps if you read over the recent 'Assets and Liabilities' postings on the Alternative forum run by owners for owners which are much more enlightening, in my opinion, than those on this Forum where a great many owners appear to have no insight into how perilous a financial position the club was really in and not fully disclosed by earlier Committees leading up to 'The Great Debacle' resulting in much more Business minded owners coming to the club and staffs rescue and arranging the zoom AGM. They have all worked tirelessly since then, the alternative being perhaps insolvency of the Club and a huge bill being passed on to each individual owner as Insolvency is not a cheap option by any means.
I agree with Stuart the Constitution Clause H may cover the legal point.
Remember years ago the two legal cases McDonald's and TMSL cost us in excess of one and a half million pounds of club funds, and additional funding was raised by similar means to keep the Club afloat.I

I doubt the new much more Business minded Committee ever imagined that at approx. 75p per person in a two bedded unit and £1.75 in a 4/6 bedded unit (less than a daily cup of tea/coffee) would have been seen by anyone as anything other than a great contract for them to sign off (as they are legally entitled to as democratically elected Committee Members. If unable to sign Contracts, the Club activities as a business would grind to a halt and EAGMs would be required monthly to get every owners permission for every single contract - not feasible) and given the financial gains the Activities contract added to the value of not just the Club as a Commercially viable Company, but on a personal level to each Unit owner, which previously had no value which you readily acknowledge.

Unfortunately, if owners had really looked and questions the previous Committees Accounts over the past many years and challenged them, the Internet Contract costs spiralling out of control and making no sense; the unnecessary out sourcing of laundry contract; firing our cleaning staff and bringing in contracted cleaning staff at a much higher cost, we possibly would not be in this position, but sadly very few owners were prepared to stand up at owners meetings or AGM and question the Chair and those like myself that did were shouted down by other owners and called 'Trouble makers' hence the Alternative Forum where other Owners and STAFF were much more open minded and also able to offer their perspective.
Ronnie Robertson

A couple of points.

Stuart correctly identifies Section H of the Constitution which legitimises the Leisure Charge.

The calculation of the Leisure Fee is £25 for 85 Lodges at 51 weeks per year (Maintenance Weeks ignored). Total is £108,375 but the Club actually pays £108,000.
Mr Robertson makes the point that it is a good deal. By comparison, in 2003 the Club paid £118,535 and the annual fee was £27.34. We believe that considering that the facilities are new and extensive that we got a very good deal. To get this deal the hotel could only do it on a fixed monthly payment from the Club (£108,000 / 12). It would have been messy and costly for the hotel to arrange for individual payments. It would also hardly give the right image to have a man collecting fivers outside each activity. Having seen how comparable sites were charging more like £40, we moved quickly to strike this deal. In hindsight, do i wish we had informed members earlier? Yes I do but we were dealing with a multiplicity of issues, many at strategic level, and went ahead for the good of the majority. The present Committee are not dictators, far from it, but we won't shirk from taking the essential decisions.

The facilities are predicted to be opened early September and Members whose weeks are before that date have not been billed. Naturally the hotel is not billing us until everything is open. Please be aware that there is absolutely no connection with the Leisure Fee and general use of the hotel bars and restaurants. We have no special deals for the bars / restaurants. What I can say is that it is a massive improvement to what was there before. A couple of weeks ago I was up at Rannoch for 3 days on Club business and I treated myself to the Steak Night, and what an experience it was. High quality food, very well presented. Club Members were having a good time dining but also at the bar and outside the front of the hotel. The staff are attentive and customers are well looked after. So will Nick Pattie make his fortune? i darn well hope so becaue it will have been because of his courage in buying a run-down hotel and transforming it. But because of the money spent I suspect it will be a while. Let's not begrudge him his commercial success because it has made possible for all of us to re-live the great days of the site and also benefit by the additional rentals which the Club will achieve for our empty lodges, which is a fundamental part of our recovey strategy.

Enjoy our future

Regards, John

Thank you - we have had our lodges for over twenty years and remember the “old days” of being able to use the pool, the art studio at the marina and other activities - this week has been wonderful being able to use the spa facilities again - lovely welcome from the staff and a warm pool, a great steam room and a hot sauna. We enjoyed watching from the loungers - a view of a red squirrel on the hazel bushes. Tomorrow I’ve a facial/head massage booked.

Perhaps you’re wondering why I’m typing this - it’s just to say that some of us long term lodge owners are extremely happy to have the bargain price for using the spa facilities and we look forward to the other activities opening - very grateful for LRHC having organised us to get long wished access to the hotel facilities - after a walk and/or on a dreich day it is nice to have this “extra” to do. I wish to put the “other side” to those that do not wish to pay for leisure facilities.

There are a few cosmetic upgrades still needing attended to but the basics have been done well.

We hope that the LRHC activities will also restart when restrictions allow.

Thank you LRHC staff from some very happy (and relaxed) lodge owners and our son who will also enjoy the extra facilities when he comes in the summer with his friends to go trout fishing - it’s great to see that LRHC are forward thinking for their future lodge owners.

We've just returned from a wonderful 2 weeks in our Lodge which was extremely clean, fresh, well maintained and prepared. When we phoned Housekeeping to ask if there should be a glass dish for Microwaving vegetables, a most pleasant lady arrived with two within 5 minutes! Fantastic service? It was also great to meet Richard Deak who was welcoming everyone when we arrived and the check in staff were friendly and helpful too. The Hotel was busy with people sitting outside for drinks in all weathers! Unfortunately we couldn't go swimming this year, but many excited families passed our Lodge carrying swimming gear so it is clearly popular. We also spoke with several Owners who had enjoyed treatments in the Spa and couldn't wait to go again when next visiting and had relished the Steak Night. Due to temporary staffing issues and the big Wedding in the Village (the Laird's daughter we were told) we were unable to eat at the Hotel, but were assured that all Lodge Owners/Guest were welcome. We were also told that the Marina is due to open within a week or so too. The whole atmosphere around the Lodges was cheerful, friendly, upbeat and people were enjoying their holidays - no glum faces and complaints, everyone chatting and friendly (even in the rain!). The Hotel is already making a big difference to our Resort and even if you choose not to use the Hotel facilities, we consider that paying the small amount negotiated by the Committee is well worth it, because LRHC Lodges are now go-to holiday destinations and our Resort is once again happy and lively!
By the way, if you have any Mobility needs, Andrew at Pitlochry Hearing and Mobility rents out and delivers scooter, wheelchairs and other gadgets. We've used him for two years now and her offers a good and reliable service. The Office has his details. Enjoy your holidays everyone.

Hi,

The additional charge for the use of said amenities, was and is, in my opinion a no brainer.

It will encourage a future generation of owners and the knock on effect will be additional revenue, In particular from the sale of club owned lodges which are many, and from rentals.
I will add however, there is so much more additional revenue that could be justified with an astute and transparent business plan which could and would benefit all.

Having the right manager in place with a supportive committee,which we have had before before she left, should make a difference.
It is all in the delivery and all the local hospitality businesses sharing ideas to improve Kinloch Rannoch in such unprecedented times.

Thank you to Mrs Mr Nisbet and Mrs Mr Atkinson for offering all the owners on this forum an insight of the newly reopened Spa facilities at the refurbished Loch Rannoch Hotel. It is so encouraging to hear owners praising our hard-working Committee and acknowledging that they have managed to negotiate an excellent deal for the Club adding value to every week owned, whether or not the owner used the Hotel faci!ities. As they say, the ambiance of the resort has changed and is more akin to what the Resort was like 20/30 plus years ago.I

Stuart, I'm sure the Committee, and indeed a great many owners would love to hear more from you on a way of increasing revenue for the coffers of the Club. But I'm not too sure as to whom you are referring to when you say in your last paragraph "having the right Manager in place with a supportive Committee which we have had before she left should make a difference." The 'she' in question is not surely the most disruptive ex-chairperson in the history of LRHC? This has got to be a typo surely, as I know you were NEVER a fan. Please clarify to all on the Forum.
Ronnie Robertson

Hi Ronnie,

Most definitely NO.
The club had a manager over 7 years ago who was harshly treated at that time and owners at that time, not all though, chose to believe the lies rather than seek the truth.
What has followed in my opinion, shows the outcome of this bad decision.

Right Stuart, so you were definitely NOT suggesting a previous Chairperson had been part of a 'most supportive Committee' you were talking about an entirely different person being supportive of the Committee and the Club in her post as Manager of the Club. I'm pleased you cleared that up, as I thought you had been taken over by some 'Alien' and were now offering an opinion that was in direct contrast to the one you have long held! Lol.
I totally agree, with your thoughts on the Manager that was dismissed years ago. I said at the time, that I thought the person had been unfairly dismissed particularly after such a long unmarred history with the Club and should have had a chance to offer her side of the story. The sudden dismissal made absolutely no sense to any fair minded person.
It proved to be a great loss to the Club, one of a great many mistakes from which only now can we hopefully begin to recover from with our new and more professional committee.
Ronnie