Lithuanian club is saved from closure

Jul 3 2008 by John Rowbotham, Hamilton Advertiser

LANARKSHIRE’S Lithuanian Club has been saved from closure.

The social club’s committee, who had previously proposed closure, have agreed to “retire”.

They will be replaced by a new committee who will re-open the club, probably by the end of this month.

The move is a victory for members who reacted angrily to the controversial closure decision.

That was taken at an extraordinary general meeting of the club held in May.

Treasurer Cathie Blue had said the club, in Calder Road, Mossend, lacked a cultural identity and faced dwindling membership. Members voted 41-35 for closure.

However, an action group of members began a fight to reverse the decision.

They claimed the vote was invalid and applied for and were granted an interim interdict preventing the committee from selling off the club or its fixtures and fittings.

They demanded another EGM to discuss a vote of no confidence in the committee and that was held last Wednesday.

In a statement to that meeting, attended by about 60 full members, Cathie Blue said the controversy over the closure had acted as a “wake-up” call to members who had not turned up for the first EGM.

She was delighted that members wanted to keep the club open and she and other committee members, including president Alex Paton and vice-president Alan Poutney, were prepared to step aside and allow a new committee to be formed.

Mr Poutney said after the meeting: “I am glad the club is remaining open but I don’t want to comment further.”

North Lanarkshire councillor for Bellshill Harry Curran, one of the leaders of the fight to save the club, was delighted with the committee’s decision and said any planned legal action was at an end.

He thanked the committee for their work and praised their financial stewardship of the club.

“It is unfortunate that it took this turn of events, with lawyers involved and votes of no confidence,” he added.

“A new committee will be elected and, hopefully, they will work hard for the club.”

Members agreed that the club should remain open and elected an interim committee to work with the outgoing committee up until a special general meeting on July 31.

A new committee will be formed at that meeting. Councillor Curran was elected to the interim committee along with Joe Paterson, Mandy Murray and Joan Paton.

Councillor Curran said that damage to the club, caused by a break-in, should be repaired in time for the July 31 meeting. Several thousand pounds had already been spent on work to repair the damage.