20th October 2021
Bishop Middleham Village Hall Annual General Meeting
Present.
Trustees:
Carolyn Waterworth (Chair), Sarah Oakley (Treasurer), Jane Dove (Bookings), Jane Brownlee, Elaine Peake, Yvonne Houston
Representatives of user groups:
Pauline Gerighty (Carpet Bowls, WI), Keith Robertson (Aikido), Jane Brownlee (Book Group)
Apologies:
Kate Patchett (Trustee)
1. Minutes of 2020 AGM read and accepted.
2. Accounts. As presented by the Treasurer who has the details.
| Opening Balance |
Incomings | Outgoings | Closing Balance |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | £1,650.14 | £1,148.28 | £1,244.77 | £1,553.65 |
| February | £1,553.65 | £1,069.23 | £109.53 | £2,513.35 |
| March | £2,513.35 | £249.25 | £1,072.02 | £1,690.58 |
| April | £1,690.58 | £10,049.00 | £1,448.34 | £10,291.24 |
| May | £10,291.24 | £30.00 | £969.88 | £9,351.36 |
| June | £9,351.36 | £7,004.00 | £232.07 | £16,123.29 |
| July | £16,123.29 | £4.00 | £7,143.45 | £8,983.84 |
| August | £8,983.84 | £74.00 | £244.33 | £8,813.51 |
| Septemb er |
£8,813.51 | £238.55 | £1,103.77 | £7,948.29 |
| October | £7,948.29 | £11,466.62 | £11,710.79 | £7,704.12 |
| Novembe r |
£7,704.12 | £3,015.68 | £142.29 | £10,577.51 |
| Decembe r |
£10,577.51 | £11,969.00 | £4,968.38 | £17,578.13 |
| 2020 | ||||
| Total | £46,317.61 | £30,389.62 |
Funding was received from AAP & Thompson’s Quarry to support the refurbishment of the kitchen.
A Parish Council grant supported repointing maintenance and funds to explore insulation.
SO to contact HMRC to see if Covid grants are taxable.
Dawn Proctor audited annual accounts.
The accounts were signed by SO and JB on behalf of all Trustees.
As the deadline for handing the accounts is the 30[th] October it is suggested that we hold the AGM earlier in the year.
3. Group reports.
Bookings update; Jane Dove
Regular bookings that have returned following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions:
-
Aikido; Book Club; Carpet Bowls; Cornforth House (Craft Class, Over 50’s Zumba); Horticultural Society; Private music rehearsals; Parish Council; Pilates Class; Social Club (Bingo); Taekwondo, Ward surgeries and Women’s Institute.
-
Brownies & Rainbows are due to return in November 2021. The Local History Society are considering returning.
Regular bookings which have not returned:
- BALM (now meeting at the Church); Bizzy Bees (disbanded); Carrot Club (disbanded); Play group (disbanded). Holiday science club and the Youth Club have made no bookings.
Ad hoc bookings have been received by:
- Allotment Society; Cornforth House (Children’s holiday groups); Sedgefield Harriers; St. Michael’s Church, RSDA performances and PACT meetings.
*History Society; Yvonne Houston
Society members are in discussion and are considering returning.
*Aikido; Keith Robertson
Training ceased in March 2020 and returned in May 2021 when governing body allowed. Some restrictions in place with physical contact until July. Will continue training in such a way as long as restrictions and guidelines allow. Many group members did not return after reopening. Maximum numbers have been 8 (including Keith). Keith will provide information/posters so that Trustees can support in advertising the sessions. Cupboard space to be explored.
*WI; Pauline Gerighty
Returned 2 months ago and will continue to be a regular monthly booking.
*Bowls; Pauline Gerighty
Planned for every Friday afternoon. Concerns raised that due to reduced numbers they may have to cancel some booking. This should be done within 48 hours of booking.
*Book Club; Jane Brownlee
Thanks given to CW for her efforts in supporting the book club to continue throughout Covid, via Zoom and in gardens. The Club will continue with bookings for third Sunday of the month.
*Horticultural Society; Sarah Oakley
The recent show saw a slight decline in the number of entries, but the number of classes entered was on par with last year. Thanks to the Parish Council for the grants which supported the show.
’ Chair s report .
The Hall remains the heart of our community and would be a great loss if we were to lose it, but we struggle to keep solvent, covid 19 funding has in fact been supportive over the last 18 months, so despite being closed we are more financially stable.
Unfortunately, the closure of the Hall has impacted on the groups and activities in the Hall, some of which have stopped running, including Playgroup and Toddler Group. Heating remains our biggest expense, so when the heating was due to be turned on in October 2020, we made the difficult decision to close the hall. The Hall reopened on 17th May 2021, but then closed for the extensive refurbishment of the toilets and washroom facilities.
We would like to support all our groups to return safely to the Hall, we have no plans for further closures.
While we were closed the building was fully repointed and the porch roof repaired, we also secured the funding for the toilet refurbishments from the County Durham Community Foundation and the Area AAP, with support from our previous local councillor.
Bookings have gradually increased over the last few months, making use of our Hall Master bookings system. We have plans for improvements to the heating, drainage works and changes to the outside space, with the support of the parish council. We are also a hub for Rymote broadband in Bishop Middleham, which is to be installed soon.
The Community lottery continues to run, raising money for the Hall. Please sign up if you haven’t already done so. £2/month.
To continue this work we are looking to find funding, plan fundraising events and recruit more trustees to cover a wide variety of roles. Currently there are only 6 trustees on the Committee, most of whom work full time. We have managed to recruit our new local councillor – Elaine Peake. I am unable to continue as Chair due to work and study commitments. So, if you would like to join us, please contact us after this meeting or via email.
On a positive note, we managed to change our utilities company just before the fuel crisis began. Our long-standing caretaker, of 25 years, has agreed to continue her role and we have appointed our part-time Administrator for the Village Hall. They will be contactable by phone and email and in person sometime during the week.
We are also looking for volunteers to help paint the Hall.
We would like to thank everyone for their support over these times, supporting us financially and personally through this time including Cllr Crathorne & Cllr Peake, Harvey Neve & the Parish Council. We look forward to more successful projects and events in 2022.
Carolyn Waterworth; Chair
Trustee Roles
TRUSTEES: Jane Brownlee, Elaine Peak, Sarah Oakley, Kate Patchett, Carolyn Waterworth, Jane Dove.
Current Chair (CW) has stepped down from their position. The position remains vacant.
SO will continue in the post of Treasurer.
A.O.B .
PG noted that the Main Hall has had insulation fitted previously, approx. 10 years ago.
PG asked for storage cupboard for crockery and glasses which is currently in Bowls drawer. Agreed that a kitchen cupboard can be used. YH to assist and log which cupboard is used.
Health and safety concerns raised regarding the hatch in to the kitchen. Further discussions are required.
Noted that lights in Supper Room are very dim.
AGM to take place sooner next year, to enable submission by the end of October.
A total of £520 has been raised from our Lottery programme since it started.
End of meeting 7.25pm
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