Woburn Heritage Centre CIO
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting for the year ending December 2023
Held on 16 February 2024 at 1 Leighton Street, Woburn
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Present: Gill Green, Ann Ledger (chairing and taking minutes), Gala Hunter-Brown, Jana Veyres, Jill Brace, Linda Thornett, Rasa Nyderiene
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Apologies for absence: Diana Kesterton
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In attendance: Emma Calver (Museum Development Officer), Helen O’Hara (Accreditation Mentor), Terry Thatcher (prospective trustee - treasurer) Debra Barker (prospective trustee)
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Minutes of the previous AGM for the year ending December 2022 were signed by the chairman, Gill Green, as a true record of the meeting.
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2.1 Matters arising – there were none
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Chairman’s Annual Report for year ending 2023
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Gill reported that 2023 had been a successful year for the Heritage Centre in terms of visitor numbers, but overseas visitor numbers were still down.
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The acquisition of a Georgian dolls house resulted in an increase of visitor numbers and Woburn Lower School made several visits to see it.
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The 2023 volunteer rota adequately covered the change of opening hours - Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Open Gardens weekend in June was well attended and brought in revenue in the region of well over £2000.
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Ann Haynes, a WHC volunteer, continues to make handicrafts for sale on the market stall and the stall is very successful.
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A volunteer lunch was hosted in February 2023 and a group visit was organised to the Higgins Museum in Bedford.
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During the year maintenance had been carried out on the C18 Vulliamy clock in the Heritage Centre tower, a valued landmark in Woburn, and the Parish Council have agreed to pay the cost of the works.
For the 2023 Heritage Open Days event an exhibition was mounted to display the works of local artists and remained on view until the end of the season.
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Approval of Income and Expenditure Accounts for the year ending 2023 The accounts were approved
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Appointment of Independent Examiner for the Accounts for year ending 2024 It was agreed that Gill and Terry will liaise over this matter.
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6. Continuation of Paul Buchanan as a trustee
Paul had voluntarily agreed to step down.
7. Re-appointment of Gala Hunter-Brown for a second term (3 years)
- Gala formally agreed to continue as trustee for a second term.
7.1 Rasa Nyderiene – Rasa formally notified Gill that she wished to stand down as a trustee but would continue as a volunteer at the Heritage Centre. Rasa was thanked for her valued contribution to the work of the committee and presented with a token of appreciation.
8. Appointment of new trustees
The formal appointment of Terry Thatcher (Treasurer) and Debra Barker as trustees was agreed. The WHC CIO now has a full complement of nine trustees.
8.1 Terry said that his role as Treasurer would not involve the day to day running of the Heritage Centre, this would still remain with Gill, and he would deal with banking matters including online banking transactions. He would prepare annual Income and Expenditure Accounts and interim Receipts and Payments Accounts for committee meetings throughout the year.
9. Approval of amended Forward Plan 2022-2027
Helen gave a brief résumé of the amendments and the Forward Plan was approved.
10.Any other business
- There was none
– 11.Date of the AGM for the year ending December 2024 7 February 2025
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Ineam• & Exp•nditurn Aeeounts WOBURN HERITAGECENTRE CIO For the year tndlng 31 De¢ember 2023 INCOME Vi$itors' donations at Heritag• C•ntre Sales at Heritage Centr8 Donation from will of Simon8 8ai18y Market Sl811 & Christmas Foir Sab6 OF*n Gardens Weekend Parish Counal Grants Ann Ledgerfs guided walks 587.00 91800 250 00 2268.00 2225.00 114300 95.00 Total lrtc¢)m 7486.0 EXPENDITURE Insurance Eledricty Maintenaneè Liquid Design (new sign h)ardl Clock pair Coth13n SloTre Inew dehumhaffieroulleti Fire chk Electricity check useum expenses 4649.88 1379.30 210.00 193 00 1010.00 630.00 272.40 97.09 en Iture 8813.67 Transfer to new Sawngs Aoxjunt Defictt for 2023 6000.00 1327.67 Opening bank balance at 01 January 2023 Closing bank bdance 31 December 2023 20271.45 12946.67 HonTre8surer......................... l fy1hat these unt$ afft corred arzording to the inforrnation and explana.ons pmwded Examiner......