6 th RICKMANSWORTH SEA SCOUT GROUP
Minutes of the AGM held on Monday 17 June 2024
Present: Des Geoghegan (Chair), Chris Doran, Pauline Wilson, Chas Wilson, Michael Quinn, Jean Edmonds, Steve Jones, David Matthews and Rosy
Wassell
1. Introduction and Welcome:
The Chairman, Mr Des Geoghegan, welcomed everyone, thanked them for attending and explained where the emergency exits were situated.
2. Apologies for Absence:
None
3. Governance Topics:
a. Approve the minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 19/06/2023 The minutes were APPROVED by the members at the meeting. b. Adopt the 2023 draft constitution based on Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR) The committee AGREED to adopt the 2023 draft constitution. It was noted that a copy of this document is available to view. c. Note the Group’s financial year
The accounts for the financial year 1 January 2023 – 31 December 2023 had been audited. They had been scrutinised and agreed by committee members at the meeting of 29 April 2024.
The accounts were APPROVED by all those present at the AGM. d. Approve appointed community members of the Group Scout Council The meeting APPROVED the appointed community members. e. Agree the number of members that may be appointed to the Trustee Board The committee recommended a minimum of five members and a maximum of 12; this would include the executive officers and trustees to a maximum of 10. The meeting AGREED and APPROVED this recommendation. f. Agree the quorum for future meetings of the Group Scout Council (excluding this AGM)
The meeting AGREED on a quorum of five persons.
4. Review of the previous year: a. The Group Lead Volunteer’s review of Scouting in the Group
Group Annual Report – 2023
Fundraising events were planned for the year ahead returning to the pre-Covid years: Jumble Sales were held in the Spring and Autumn along with the evening Book Sales. A Stall at the Rickmansworth Festival, A Stall at the Croxley Green Revels and a Stall at the Parish Advent Fayre here and at St John’s Church Christmas Bazaar.
The programme of upgrading the Headquarters continued with work in the entrance lobby, electrics and plastering to provide a cleaner smarter appearance.
The Group provided major support to the Parish in the organisation and running of the Three Parish ‘Brass on the Grass’ Event in July. Tentage in the form of the Marquee and Shelters were used in hosting the event on the field, as well as the preparation,
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cooking and serving of a range of barbequed food. The Group Leaders also provided a presence and support for a Youth Mass in December. Sections:
Beavers: The provision for Beavers is still in abeyance until volunteers come forward to reopen and run the Section.
Cubs: A regular programme of activities was provided during the Spring, Summer and Autumn Terms. Appropriate activities are provided on a weekly basis to the members. Numbers are still much lower since Covid, with a gradual increase as the year progressed including some girls joining the section, sadly they were only participating for part of the year. A joint Cub and Scout Meeting was held at the end of the Summer Term which should help with retention between sections.
Scouts: A regular programme of activities was provided during the Spring, Summer and Autumn Terms. Appropriate activities are provided on a weekly basis to the members. Numbers are still much lower since Covid, with a gradual increase as the year progressed.
Group: An appeal to encourage Volunteering and Participation was made by me from the pulpit during all the masses in two of the Parishes over a weekend in May. As a Trustee Board/Group Committee we are very thankful for the support shown by our parish Priest Fr Andrew and were delighted when he joined us for a meeting in July. I am extremely grateful to the our amazing Leadership Team who work tirelessly each week in providing activities for our young people and my thanks also to the Trustees/Group Committee for their help, work, support and commitment to the Group and ensuring that the provision of Scouting Activities is ready and able to continue within the Parish and the wider community. Thank you.
- b. Receive and consider the Annual Report of the Group Trustee Board, including the annual Statement of the Accounts
It was reported that our finances are in good shape. The Annual Statement of Accounts had been received and approved. The Independent examiner’s report was acknowledged.
Thanks were expressed to all those who deal with our accounts and financial details.
5. Making appointments:
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a. Appoint the Group Chair, following recommendation from the open selection process initiated by the Group Trustee Board Des Geoghegan was proposed and appointed as Group Chair.
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b. Appoint the Group Treasurer, following recommendations from the open selection process initiated by the Group Trustee Board
Pauline Wilson was appointed as Group Treasurer.
- c. Appoint members of the Group Trustee Board, following recommendations from the open selection process initiated by the Group Trustee Board
Rosy Wassell was appointed as Administrator and Jean Edmonds, Steve Jones, Mike Quinn and Chas Wilson were also appointed as nominated members of the Board.
- d. Appoint the Independent Examiner Rob Riddleston was appointed to continue as Independent Examiner as agreed by members of the Group Trustee Board.
Closing Remarks:
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Des thanked everyone for their industry over the previous year and all those who had helped in any way.
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He pointed out that it had been unfortunate that there had been no Rickmansworth Canal Festival in 2024 as this had seriously affected the group’s fundraising.
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The number of children attending the sessions is rising although it was acknowledged that it would take a further five or six years to achieve the numbers we had had in the past, following the effects of the Pandemic Lockdowns.
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Des asked all trustees to sign a document to confirm their understanding and eligibility of the role and of completion of the Scout Association Training, which was circulated amongst the trustees.
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Finally, Des thanked David Matthews for attending the AGM; David replied that he had been asked to extend the thanks of all the parents of the cubs and scouts who are regular members to the leaders and volunteers of the Group.
The meeting started at 7.30 p.m. and finished at 7.50 p.m.
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Independont examlnefs report to the trustees of 6 Rickmansworth Sea Scout Group report to the trustees on my examination of the acry)unls ol the 6 RickmansvKrth Sea So)ut Group for the year ended 31 Dember 2023. Responsibilitles and basis of report As the tharity trustees of the 6 RickmansNwrth Sea So)ut Group you are rnsponsibl8 lor the prèparation of the accounts in accordance th the r8quirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Act'i. I report in respect of my éxamination of the 6 Rickmansworth Sea Scout Group accounts rArried oul undèr section 145 of the 2011 Act and in Carn9 out my examinalion I have follod all the applicable tl'rections given by the Charty Commission under section 145(5)(bl of the Act. Independent examlnerfs statement I have completed my exanNnation. I confimi that no material matters have com? to my attention in connection with the examinalion giving me cause to believ8 that in any mat6ri81 r8swd'. accounling rerdS not kept in respect of the 8" Rickmansworth Sea Scout Group as r8quirèd by section 130 01 the Act.. or 2. the accounts do not accord wlh those records. I havo no con(xms and have corm across no other mattérs in connéction *ith the 8xarrMnatron lo which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper underslanding of the acctsunls to be reached. Slgned.. Name.. J&KES Relevant professional qualifitiOn or membership of professional bodi89 (rf any).. Address.. SSQCI4Tt- CHW£TLf. ts i N57irE OF G£S c4016) && AVENJL)i, LiC<MAhJsuTpJ, thE£ffj wJD3 7, 15.52A Date: