It was a momentous day last Wednesday as the West of England Premier League (WEPL) AGM took place at the County Ground, Bristol.

The main event on the evening was a vote on the future structure of league cricket in the region.

The eight key organisations (three cricket boards, the league and four feeder leagues) involved in administrating cricket in the region had agreed on a league structure for club cricket in Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire that is fit for purpose for the foreseeable future.

This is the first time that such collaborative working has occurred which demonstrates a recognition from those involved in managing the game that change is needed.

The 2014 national players survey and increasing problems for WEPL in managing promotion and relegation across such a large structure had been the catalyst for change.

There is no longer a second team structure, meaning that second XIs currently playing in the WEPL 2nd XI pyramid will now be able to progress up and down within the same structure as their first teams.

A total of 66 out of 77 WEPL clubs in attendance voted in favour of the change, which means the new structure will come in to play for the 2016 season.

The new structure achieves reduced travel, day length and overs played for some teams.

Now that the new structure has been adopted there is going to be a lot of work conducted between now and March to ensure that clubs are fully aware of how finishing positions in 2015 will influence where teams are placed in the 2016 season.

This affects teams at all levels, from WEPL right through to all divisions of the feeder leagues, including the Wiltshire County League.

WEPL, the Boards and the feeder leagues will be meeting and setting up consultation groups of current players to agree on where teams currently in WEPL should be placed in the new structure.