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The factory extension meeting
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The Company is expanding, and the present factory is rapidly becoming too small to cope with the increase in production. Some months ago it was decided that the Company would have to build an extension to the present factory. An architect, Mr. Norman Phillipson, was called in, and given the job. He drew up the plans and the firm applied for an I.D.C. (Industrial Development Certificate), which is granted, given, by the Board of Trade. This was granted provided that the Fuel and Paint Stores were put in a different position. The authorities are very strict in seeing that certain rules are obeyed. Possible dangers to health and safety are carefully considered. When Harper & Grant's new extension is built on, added, to the existing area they will have three more bays, divisions of a factory floor, but the present Fuel and Paint Stores would be too near the new extension. As both these materials are highly inflammable, it was considered that a fire could spread to the new extension very easily. The proposed new Paint Store will be protected by the fireproof wall of the main factory. The County Planning Authority will also have to approve the plans.
Mr. Grant has called a meeting of a committee who are dealing with the new extension, with the architect present, to discuss progress. Mr. Grant is the Chairman in charge of the meeting. Also attending are Peter Wiles, Production Manager; John Martin, Sales Manager; William Buckhurst, the Company Secretary. Also present is Ian Hampden, who is the Personnel Manager; he is in charge of all personnel, the employees, employed by the Company. The meeting is just about to begin.
(In Hector Grants office)
HECTOR GRANT: Is the Board Room ready for the meeting, Miss Corby?
ELIZABETH CORBY: Yes, Mr. Grant.
GRANT: Where's the agenda?
ELIZABETH: It's in the folder. Also a copy of the minutes of the last meeting.
GRANT: I shall need the drawing of the new extension. Where's that?
ELIZABETH: It's in the folder, too.
GRANT: You haven't forgotten anything?
ELIZABETH: I don't think so, Mr. Grant.
(The meeting has just started.)
GRANT: Well, gentlemen, I don't think we need to read the minutes of the last meeting, as copies of them have already been circulated to you. (Murmurs of agreement) Right. The minutes of the last meeting are taken as read. Now, let's get on. Mr. Wiles, will you report, please, on the result of your interview with the Building Inspector?
PETER WILES: Yes. The delay in getting by-law approval was largely owing to the fact that the architect had not supplied detailed plans of the foundations of the new building.
NORMAN PHILLIPSON: I've now given the Building Inspector the
detailed plans.
PETER: May I go on, Mr. Grant?
GRANT: Yes, Peter.
PETER: As you know, at the speed we're growing, I have felt right from the beginning that we ought to have planned a much larger extension.
GRANT: No. We mustn't grow too quickly. Slow but sure is the way this business will grow. But we went over all this in our original discussion, so there's no point in going over it all again.
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PETER: But what will happen, Mr. Grant, when we need to expand again? If we have to build another extension in a year or two it will be exasperating to have to go through all this work again. It's taken a long time to get permission to build, and to reorganise the machine layout, not to mention the building costs, which go up every year. Wouldn't we be saving time and money, if, even at this late date, we build six bays instead of only three?
JOHN: I'd like to have a regional sales office on the new site, too. PETER: If there is any additional space, Martin, I need it for production or stores.
GRANT: May I remind you gentlemen that the space you are arguing about does not exist. We stick to our present plan. Now, time's getting on. The next item on the agenda is the report from the Personnel Manager about the additional labour that's going to be required. So far, Ian, we've had no difficulty in obtaining skilled workers, but is this situation likely to continue or not?
IAN HAMPDEN: Well, the position is this: skilled labour is getting harder to find. There's plenty of unskilled labour, and I think we should start a training programme now. Then by the time the new extension is ready we should have the right number of trained men.
GRANT: Let's see. Phillipson, how long will the factory take to
build once we've got our permission?
PHILLIPSON: If the contractors are very efficient I'd say five months, possibly less.
GRANT: Well, Ian, can you produce enough skilled workers in, say, six months from now?
HAMPDEN: Yes, I think so.
GRANT: Very well, I think we all agree that a training programme should be started immediately. (Murmurs of assent) Good. You will minute that, Mr. Buckhurst won't you? Also that Mr. Hampden will make an estimate of the cost. Now we come to item number three on the agenda. Peter?
PETER: Our I.D.C. was granted provided the Fuel and Paint Stores were placed in a different position to avoid the danger of fire.
Mr. Phillipson has now proposed that we rebuild the present Managers' garage as a Paint Store. This would be a great saving in time. It's on the other side of the delivery bay, and would halve the time taken to unload and store the stuff.
HAMPDEN: Where shall we put our cars?
JOHN: Well, they can stand in the car park like everyone else's.
GRANT: Just a minute, gentlemen. What is all this going to cost?
PHILLIPSON: I propose to extend the present garage to meet the west wall of the delivery bay and knock in a door here. The present Paint Store can then be used for other storage.
PETER: Splendid! Just what we need.
GRANT: Very well — yes, this does seem a sensible solution. If we are all agreed... (Murmurs of “yes”.) Right. I presume there is no other business? (Chorus of “no's”, “don't think so's”.) Very well, the meeting is over. Thank you very much, gentlemen...
TERMS IN THE INTRODUCTION
1. an extension new building added to an existing one
TERMS IN THE EPISODE
1. board room the room in which the board, or group of directors who control a business, meets.
2. agenda list of points, items, to be discussed at a meeting.
3. folder a kind of a file in which papers can be kept.
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Usually the papers are loose.
4. minutes a written summary of what is said at a meeting. It is a
legal requirement in Great Britain that minutes are kept of board meetings, and all those attending as directors must sign them.
5. taken as read a phrase used when it is decided not to read the minutes of the last meeting aloud. According to the rules governing official meetings, the minutes must be read aloud if they have not previously been circulated.
6. building in Britain, as in most countries, you have to get
inspector permission from the local government authority to
construct new buildings. The building plans must be submitted and accepted. Later the Building Inspector will come to make sure you build exactly according to the plans.
7. by-law building by-laws are rules and regulations drawn up by the government concerning building in the area.
8. foundations all buildings have foundations; nowadays they usu- ally consist of a concrete raft or metal piles driven deeply into the ground.
9. machine the way in which machines are placed inside
layout buildings; the disposition of machines.
10. item on item here means a subject to be discussed; the agen-
the agenda da is the list of these subjects.
| 11. skilled workers | workers who are expert in some particular general skill, e.g. capstan-lathe steers, press setters, kiln operators or machine fitters. They earn more than unskilled workers. Tradesmen are skilled workers in a specific trade, e.g. bricklayers, carpenters, electricians and painters. |
12. training a plan for training unskilled workers in certain skills.
13. contractors an outside firm doing a special job under contract. Usually associated with building work.
14. estimate a forecast of the cost of goods or services on which a decision to proceed or not can be made
VOCABULARY EXERCISES
I. Give the English equivalents to the following words and expressions:
увеличение объема производства; дополнительный заводской корпус; пригласить работников; придерживаться правил, легковоспламеняющийся; невоспламеняющийся; раздать (2); протокол
предыдущего собрания считается заслушанным; площадка;
невыносимый; придерживаться плана; записать что-л. в протокол;
подрядчики; разумное решение; экономия времени
II. What stands for these definitions?
1) to change the way in which machines are placed inside a building;
2) a written summary of what is said at a meeting;
3) a list of items to be discussed at a meeting;
4) a plan for training unskilled workers in certain skills;
5) a rule made by a local authority for the regulation of its affairs or management of the area it governs;
6) an outside firm doing a special job under contract;
7) a construction below the ground that distributes the load of a building;
8) a room or rooms added to an existing building;
9) capable of resisting damage by fire.
III. Fill in the gaps with the words from the box:
site; foundations; stick; flammable; by-law approval; sensible; call in; folder
1) You will find the documents you need in the……………….....in that
drawer.
2) If you want to build a playground here, you will first have to obtain………………..
3) The………………….of this building are designed so that they could resist earthquakes.
4) There is a construction……………………near our house and the noise never ceases.
5) In your work you'll have to…………………..to the plan approved of by the Board of Directors.
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6) This is a really difficult problem to solve, but I still believe that the Board will be able to find a………………….......solution.
7) The sink in the kitchen is blocked. I think we'll have to a plumber,
8) As this material is highly ………………………you should keep it out of reach of children.
IV. Add some more synonyms to the following groups (at least one word comes from the unit):
1) escalation, increment, boost……………….
2) canon, guideline, tenet, order, precept…………….
3) aggravate, annoy, irk, infuriate…………….
4) acquire, get,................
5) sanction, approval, consent…………………
6) babble, hum,................
7) reasonable, sane,..........
V. Complete the following sentences:
1) They have decided to build a new extension in Harper and Grant pi ant because
2) The demand of the authorities to put Fuel and Paint stores in a different position was quite rational because.................................... ……….
3) Mr. Grant has called a meeting with the aim of……………..
4) Peter's idea is to......................................
5) Ian Hampden proposes to start a training programme because ….
VI. Translate the following into English:
1) Компания постоянно расширяется, и имеющаяся у нее фабрика с трудом справляется с увеличивающимися объемами производства.
2) Отсрочка с получением разрешения от местных властей произошла потому, что архитектором не был представлен подробный план фундамента под новое здание.
3) У нас ушло много времени на то, чтобы получить разрешение на строительство, перестановку оборудования, не говоря уже о расходах на собственно строительные цели, которые растут с каждым годом.
4) Сертификат на строительство был выдан нам при условии, что мы изменим расположение складов с топливом и краской во избежание пожаров.
5) Я думаю, нет необходимости читать протокол предыдущего собрания, т.к. его копии уже розданы. Протокол считается заслушанным.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1) What for is the new extension being built?
2) What formalities should be performed before a company builds an extension?
3) What is the agenda of the meeting?
4) Why was Mr. Phillipson invited to the meeting?
5) What was the final solution to the problem of extension?
ADDITIONAL VOCABULARY
Meetings
Before the meeting takes place, it is important to invite participants to propose items or points for the agenda. Drawing up the agenda is usually the responsibility of the secretary or the chair. When the chair opens the meeting, it is usual to run through the agenda quickly. The first item is usually Matters Arising, to allow participants to go through the minutes of the previous meeting. After this, the discussion of other points can begin.
Translate the following sentences into Russian:
• The main point on the agenda was the election of a new chairman.
• You could hear the performers running through the whole programme in the background.
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• At the beginning of the meeting the minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved by the participants.
During the discussion, participants make recommendations and proposals in order to solve problems. If the meeting is scheduled for a whole day, it is typical to take breaks and to adjourn for lunch. Of course, it is necessary to resume after lunch. In the middle of the afternoon, participants often ask for a time out if they are feeling tired. At the end of the meeting, the last or next-to-last point is often AOB (Any Other Business) which gives participants the opportunity to raise other issues not included in the main agenda. During the meeting someone is nominated to take the minutes and after the meeting this person will write up the minutes for circulation to the other participants before the next meeting. Finally, the chair will close the meeting.
Translate the following sentences into Russian:
• The supply of raw materials was scheduled to be a main item on the agenda.
• The secretary was taking notes that he was going to write up afterwards.
• The chair announced that the meeting would be adjourned for two hours.
Meeting combinations
Match the following definitions with the expressions from the box.
1) A meeting where intensive discussion takes place to generate ideas.
2) A meeting called for solving major problems or difficulties that occur in a company or in an aspect of the company's work
3) A meeting at which detailed information or instructions are given
4) To fix a new date or time for a meeting (2 expressions)
5) To order a meeting to be postponed indefinitely, to call it off
6) A meeting characterised by observation of conventional forms of ceremony, behaviour, dress, etc.
| brainstorming formal briefing meetingtroubleshooting to rearrange to reschedule to cancel |
Look at the following verbs and give corresponding nouns. Then fill in the blanks with the nouns you have formed:
To discuss
To propose
To decide
To recommend
To summarise
1) We have had………………..with Members of Parliament about the new immigration laws.
2) There is a controversy about a ……………………to build a new nuclear power station near the capital.
3) Shortly after the meeting the government announced its ………… on the future of railways in the country.
4) The decision that is taken will depend largely on what ……………… they make to the Prime Minister.
5) The ………………… of findings of the expedition was published in 1984.
Fill in the gaps using the words from the box:
agenda apologies castingvote chairperson consensus
circulate items arising conduct minutes
1. In all formal meetings and most informal meetings, there is a
.............. whose job is to ……………. the business of the meeting and to ensure that the meeting's objectives are achieved.
2. It is helpful in both formal and informal meetings to have an
.............., listing the points that are to be discussed. It is usual to
.............. this in advance so that participants can prepare adequately
for the meeting.
3. If there are too many ………… on the agenda, it is inevitable that
the meeting will be over-long and so less effective.
4. After formal meetings, the secretary writes up the …………….., an official record of the discussion that has taken place,
5. If you cannot attend a meeting, it is customary to send your
………… to chairperson, who reads out the names of any absentees at the beginning of the meeting. After naming absentees, the
chairperson may ask if there are any matters ………… out of the
minutes of the last meeting.
6. When decisions must be taken, the chairperson hopes there will
be a............. on what should be done. Otherwise, a vote must be
taken and sometimes the votes for and against are equal. If this
happens, the only way to break the deadlock is for the
chairperson to give his or her…………….
Text
Read the following text and be ready to answer the questions,
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