On Friday, March 18, the CEO of the Parramatta Leagues Club, Mr Bevan Paul, sent an update to all Members of the Parramatta Leagues Club. See below for the CEO's full message to Members.
Dear Members of Parramatta Leagues Club,
It was reported today that Leagues Club Directors had received a pay rise totalling $75,000 and that this pay rise was not approved by the Members.
Every year in General Meeting, the Members approve two payments of $100,000 for expenses and $70,000 for honorarium payments. These amounts have been the same for several years.
In 2015 and following consultation with our auditors and legal advisers, it was agreed that a better and more equitable approach to management of expenses would be for an allowance to be paid to directors in recognition of time and personal expenses involved in fulfilling their duties as a director and this compensation would be for any and all other miscellaneous expenses associated with directors duties (e.g. fuel, phone, travel and time). The total amount for directors benefits remains governed by the amounts approved by the Members in General Meeting.
Directors, in particular the Chairman, attend hundreds of hours of events, Board meetings, committee meetings, community functions as well as spending time travelling between events work and home. This measure is intended to recognise these expenses whilst working within the amounts approved by the Members in the General Meeting.
The Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing is a statutory one and as such OLGR is obliged to respond to any complaint received. I have been in contact with OLGR and will provide them with the relevant club records in order to address any complaint they may have received.
That said, the OLGR will rely upon facts provided by the Club to assess compliance and governance.
It is also worth noting, with respect to facts and governance, that the Parramatta Leagues Club has delivered the following in the last two years:
- Record profits through improved governance
- Millions spent on Leagues Club and Vikings improvements including training facilities for the Eels
- Turnaround in Vikings profitability ensuring that this asset remains a viable one
- Improved integrity of Membership records
- Elimination of long-term debt
- Approval to construct the long awaited carpark at the Leagues Club
As always, Members are free to contact me for clarification.
Regards,
Bevan Paul
Parramatta Leagues Club CEO
