## **AGM 2023 Minutes Held at 11am on 23rd January 2024** **Present** Simon Arnold, Ken Baker, Ray Cartwright, Dave Chamberlin, Austen Coleman, Doug Davidson, Geoff Edwards, Mike Evans, Chris Forde, George Griffiths, Frank Hulse, Dave Humphreys, Jez Inglis, Hilbre Jones,, Dave McLardie, Steve Mitchell, Paul Noon, Mark Openshaw, Barry Pinel, Neil Ree, Jack Roberts, Andy Thomas, Mike Thomas, John Welch, John Williamson, Jon Woddy, Chris Wright. **Apologies** David Bates, Mike Bossen, Dave McLachlan, Kev Walker, Colin Pratt. ## **Chairman's Remarks** The Chairman for the meeting was John Williamson as voted by the attendees. John welcome everyone, thanked them all for coming today and read out the apologies. Before starting John stated that there were some general housekeeping matters: There was no Fire Drill this morning therefore if the alarm sounded could we all assemble at the Fire Point to the right of our compound by the fence. To avoid unnecessary interruptions please switch off mobile phones. Those that have not signed in could you please do so now. John stated the current Health & Safety issues relating to ear and eye protection. John asked the Acting Secretary, Doug Davidson, to read out the minutes of last year’s meeting. ## **Minutes of last AGM meeting** The adoption of the minutes was proposed by Chris Wright and seconded by Ken Baker. These were passed unanimously. ## **Matters Arising** The only matters arising related to a visit to Cosford and a Barbeque. Jon Woddy agreed to progress. ## **Secretary’s Report from Ken Baker** Good morning all, 2023 has been a very busy year for the shed. Projects completed include a new roof over the passage between the canteen and the woodworking shed, re-insulating the canteen, installing a diesel heater in the art shed and a decking patio at the rear of the canteen. The original plan for a small porch between the doors of the canteen and the workshop was dropped, and instead a full roof was installed to the full length of the passage, this was paid for by a grant of £750 from Violia, and has been a great success. Thanks to Andy for his hard work on that. It was decided by the trustees that, in view of the rising cost of electricity, the insulation in the new canteen needed to be replaced. Colin Pratt volunteered to Project Manage this and went ahead and ordered the materials at a cost of £1500. The insulation duly arrived and, very unfortunately, at this point Colin was taken ill. We had an agreement in place with the Showground that we could open for a full week, to do this work, so, no other dates being available we had to press on without him. Thanks to everyone who helped to strip out the old lining, move everything up to the art shed and then replace the insulation and inside walls and then paint them. Hard work, but a lot of fun and banter. A special thanks to Andy Thomas who took on the project managers role and did an excellent job of it! Work is still ongoing to improve the ventilation, and stop condensation. A diesel heater was bought, and installed in the art shed, by Chris and Andy, this is now working very well. We have now upgraded our Wi-Fi to 4/5G, so it is now available in all the sheds, thanks to all who helped with this. The up-grading of the metalwork shed is still ongoing, but we should soon have compressed air available in both wood and metal working sheds. We will also have a sand blaster installed, outside, alongside the compressor. While Andy was installing the passage roof he noticed that the woodwork shop roof and guttering needed some maintenance. This is to be inspected when the weather improves and may need professional attention during the Summer. The art shed roof also has a leak, but Andy thinks this can be repaired by ourselves. We have attended fetes at West Felton (didn’t win a prize this year) and Whittington and had stalls at the Oswestry Market and Cabin Lane Church. All of which raised money to enable us to continue to run the shed, and carry on helping the community we live in. Thanks must again go to George for his work making mud kitchens etc. for local schools and hospitals. Well done George! The trustees decided, during 2023, to limit the membership to 50. So we started a waiting list, which is now up to 9. We have been informed by several members that they will not be joining us this year for various reasons so have informed those on the waiting list to apply, and membership is now open again until we reach 50 once more I would like to encourage you all to seriously consider becoming a Trustee of the shed, we desperately need some new, younger blood on the Board, for fresh ideas in the future. This will be my 80[th] year on the planet, and I have been a Trustee of the shed for 10 of them, so, I think I will make 2024 my last year. As you know I am resigning as Secretary and Doug Davidson is taking over. Please give him the same help and respect that you have given me for the past 2 years and I’m sure he’ll do a much better job than I have. Colin, our treasurer, can’t be here today because he is having treatment in Birmingham, so your new secretary, Doug, will present the treasurers report after this, my last, report. I would like to wish Colin a speedy recovery and all the best for the future and to thank him for the splendid work he is doing as Treasurer. I would also like to thank my Trustee colleagues for their help and friendship over the last few years, and also to you, the members, without you, there would be no shed! I think we do a terrific job here and are a great benefit to our community. ## **Treasurers Report from Colin Pratt** The Treasures Report was sent across from Colin Pratt but Doug could not open them so here is the submitted report post-meeting….. I am delighted to report that financially we have had a good year; our income was greater than our expenditure therefore increasing our funds by £1,208.68. This was achieved whilst undertaking and completing the four projects (highlighted below) at a combined value of £3,492.24, thereby enhancing our facilities together with equipment purchases and ongoing maintenance without adversely affecting our finances. On the 1[st] January 2023 our opening bank balance was £7,844.06, and during the year our income totalled £9,148.48 whilst our expenditure was £7,039.80, resulting in a closing bank balance on 31[st] December 2023 of £9,052.74. See breakdown below. |**Transaction**|**Debit**|**Credit**|| |---|---|---|---| |Broadband|(£134.00)||| |Decking Project
Diesel Heater
Donations
Electric
Equipment|(£422.85)
(£231.97)
(£1,950.48)
(£659.57)|£4,440.93|Unfortunately I am unable to
attend today’s AGM due to
hospital
appointments,
however I would be happy to
continue in the roles as Trustee
and Treasurer if no one else| |Fate Fees|(£15.00)||wishes to volunteer.| |Groundworks Project|(£665.00)||| |Insulation Project|(£1,601.89)||Best wishes to you all.| |Insurance|(£495.13)|£37.00|Colin Pratt| |Internet|(£60.19)||Trustee & Treasurer Oswestry| |Maintenance|(£303.78)||Mens Shed| |Membership Fees
Porch Project Donation||£3,419.00
£750.00|**Trustee Resignations**| |Porch Project
Attending Rod's Funeral
Router
Subscription Nat Mens Shed
Xmas Meal|(£802.50)
(£85.68)
(£45.11)
(£30.00)
(£436.65)|£501.55|We currently have 9 Trustees
and our Constitution requires
that one third resign each year
at the AGM. These are, J.
Williamson, S. Mitchell and A.| |**Grand Total**|**(£7,939.80)**|**£9,148.48**|Thomas. Thanks to them all for| ||||serving us so well for the past| |**Opening Balance**||**£7,844.06**|year.| |**Funds Increase**||**£1,208.68**|**Trustee re-election and new**
**positions**| |**Closing Balance**||**£9,052.74**|Steve Mitchell has resigned as| |a Trustee.|||| Colin Pratt & Andy Thomas put themself forward for re-election and this was passed unanimously. Ray Cartwright was proposed by Hilbre Jones and seconded by Ken Baker. George Griffiths was proposed by ChrisWright and seconded by John Woddy. A vote was taken and both were duly elected. Our Board of Trustees for 2024 now comprises:- Ken Baker, Ray Cartwright, Doug Davidson (Secretary), George Griffiths, Hilbre Jones, Colin Pratt (Treasurer), Andy Thomas, John Williamson, Jon Woddy and Chris Wright. ## **Any Other Business** Jon Woddy asked about the things being stored in the alleyway. John Williamson stated that these were not designated for the dump! Dave Chamberlin has sorted out the Internet connection and paid the fees accordingly. John thanked Dave for resolving this and the costs will be refunded as soon as possible. Frank Hulse wished to state that keyholders were not necessarily Trustees. Ken Baker stressed that any work on a commercial basis could not use the Shed’s facilities. Dave McLardie asked if old compost could be brought in for Andy Thomas for the rear of the Shed. George Griffiths stated that he could arrange the soil for wild flowers so old compost was not required. John Williamson emphasised that subs need to be paid by the end of January, ## **Date of next A.G.M.** The next A.G.M. will be held on 21[st] January 2025. ## **Close** The meeting closed at 11.37am