2022 ANNUAL REPORT

MINUTES OF THE 2022 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 59 demonstrated that it had the values, desire and ability to make collabo- rative decisions for the good of the game as a whole; that it shared the belief that the professional and recreational games were inter-reliant and of equal importance to the task of inspiring a generation of boys and girls to say that cricket was a game for them; and that it shared a commitment to defining the experi- ence of cricket as one of togetherness and inclusivity in-keeping with the values and spirit of the game. Despite the pressures and differing views which would mark the years ahead, the Chief Executive said that all must show respect for each other and continue to work together to protect the game they all know and love. She concluded by saying that the support and patience of members in those endeavours would be critical. Ms Pursehouse then took questions. The first was from Dr R Murray who asked for information in relation to the club’s approach to sustainability. Ms Pursehouse responded by saying that sus- tainability and the green agenda were very important to all at Trent Bridge. The club was in the process of setting up a working group to embed sustainability across the venue and within the game in the county.The club’s aspirations around develop- ment of the Pavilion had already been touched on during the AGM, and it was critical to the club that suitable materials would be used in that development. By way of further reassurance to Dr Murray, she noted that the club would be in bid for major matches by November and one of the factors that would affect any award would be venue approaches to sustainability. Ms Peasey wished to seek clarity on the process relating to the require- ment for members to book reserved seats for matches in theVitality Blast. Ms Pursehouse said that the implementation of a reserved seating model had become important in the context of attendances pre-Covid consistently exceeding 12,500 atT20 matches.There had been instances where members and supporters had arrived before the start of play and been unable to sit together.This particularly affected young families and those arriving after work, both groups being key to rebuilding the game after the ravages of the pan- demic. Members should see this as a positive means of facilitating growing the game. Furthermore, a seating contingency would be held for mem- bers right up to the day of the game and the system would not prevent any member from attending any domestic game at Trent Bridge. Ms Pursehouse took a question that had been submitted by Ms Lindsay Chapman via Zoom. She asked if the CEO believed that The Hundred would still be successful in 2022 given that Covid restrictions would be fully lifted and people would have the choice of many more things to do in their leisure time. Ms Pursehouse said she believed that The Hundred would continue to be a great success, not least because of the exponential growth of the women’s game. It had also been a huge hit on social media and the broadcasters had loved it as a televised product. Samuel Bruning thanked the Chairman and Chief Executive for the strong messages they had both given in relation to EDI. He asked Ms Pursehouse to give members an update on progress with the club’s EDI plan, and wondered if members would be given the chance to input into it. Ms Pursehouse said that the club would publish their EDI plan in the summer of 2022. She observed that the importance of the equity, diversity and inclusion agenda was not new to the club and that all at Trent Bridge genuinely believed that cricket should have no barriers. MandyWright and Mark Clifford, from the club’s community and development team and charitable trust respectively, would say more about that shortly. Ms Pursehouse continued by stating that the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) had been established in March 2021.The commission would examine questions of equity in relation to race, gender and class within the sport including access to the sport, the pathways to the professional game and barriers to access and progression through such pathways. She said that, whilst the ICEC will examine and consider written and oral evidence, whether current or historical, it will not investigate individual complaints. Furthermore, Nottinghamshire were set to be one of nine First-Class Counties, along- side the Marylebone Cricket Club, that would undertake in-depth work alongside the ICEC as part of their research programme.The ICEC had selected certain counties to ensure that they would gather evidence from a cohort of First-Class counties that would represent the diversity across the game in terms of size, budgets and geographies i.e., urban vs rural.This would assist the commission in ensuring that any recommendations made in their final report would be fit for purpose and reflect the realities faced across the game. Nottinghamshire were proud to be part of the vanguard of this work. The Chairman wished to build upon Ms Pursehouse’s reply by making three pledges to the members: if allegations were made, then the club would undertake full investigations; the club was already doing a lot to advance EDI, but he undertook to ensure that the club communicated the valuable actions it is taking to its members; and the club was committed to continuous improvement in the EDI space. In response to a question from Ken Machin via Zoom, Ms Pursehouse confirmed that the Derek Randall Suite would be available to members for County Championship games wherever possible, providing a pleasant and warm atmosphere which she was sure would be appreciated in the chillier early months of the season. Ms Karen Greenwood did not have a question but wanted to place on the record her thanks to the club. After supporting Notts from afar for