Nacton Village Hall AGM 2021
Chairman's Report
Although the last 12 months have been turbulent for the world and country at large, they have been relatively quiet for Naton Village Hall.
For most of the time regular hirers have been staying away. Only the Nacton and Bucklesham under 5 pre-school group has continued to use the hall. The Membership Secretary will report on the extent that normal service has started to resume. But it is with regret that we note that the Scouts have in the mean time made alternative arrangements.
The treasurer will speak in more detail about the finances but the support of the NBU5s and the local authority grant at the start of the lockdown have kept us whole.
We have thus been able to keep on top of the ongoing maintenance task.
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The external panels on the south wall which had started to rot have been replaced under a contract let to Carl Watts who has done an excellent job
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A volunteer task force finally fixed the defective paint work on the north wall panels under the expert guidance of Mark Wilson
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A leak on the foul outlet from the NBU5 children's toilets called for an urgent response. Mike Whybray rose to the challenge in exemplary fashion.
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Finally we had to undertake a major project on the sweet chestnut tree which involved the replacing of and additions to the bracing. This was exclusively the responsibility of experts and should ensure that the ongoing safety of this edifice
I am afraid the first three items resulted from some work of questionable quality by earlier contractors . This time care has been taken to upgrade as well as repair. The tree remains an ongoing responsibility and opinions differ as to whether it is an asset or a liability.
Prior to the first lockdown we had set up a sub-committee to produce a long term plan for the care and development of the Hall, and we had reached a point where we wished to invite input from villagers and designed a questionnaire to be delivered with the next Parish Council Newsletter. However Covid intervened and newsletter and questionnaire went out electronically. We received no response from this so our task now will be to work up actual ideas and circulate these in turn for comment.
We were all sorry to hear that Mandy who had been our cleaner for many years had decided she wanted a change. But we have been very lucky to find Hannah Watts to take on this vital responsibility
Finally I would like to record my thanks for the ongoing dedication of officers who give very generously of their time and carry out their various responsibilities with a high degree of professionalism and to all the other volunteers who turn a hand to keeping the Village Hall such an important asset of the village.
And to close with a plug: the Hall is a charity registered with Amazon Smile so if you use Amazon please register yourself with Amazon Smile and nominate Nacton Village Hall CIO as your charity