## **MINUTES OF THE TRUSTEE’S 2021 AGM HELD AT THE INNOVATION CENTRE, KIRKLEATHAM ON MONDAY 18[th] OCTOBER 2021** ## **PRESENT** Simon Mawson Chair, Trevor Smith CEO, Stan Whalley Secretary, John Finlay Treasurer, Ray Preston Station Controller, Keith Stockdale Deputy Manager & Training Officer. Apologies for absence: Kim Barclay Chair opened the meeting at 10:00am Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as a true account, proposed by J.Finlay, seconded by K.Stockdale. There were no matters arising from the previous meeting. ## **CHAIR’S REPORT** We are now in the 3rd year of Coastwatch being a charitable trust although Covid has had a massive impact on how often we have been able to meet. I remain honoured to be Chair of the Trustees in what is a very professional and committed organisation although I do feel it would operate without the need for an Independent Chair of Trustees. This will be a short report from myself as I know reports from other Trustees who are nearer to the operational issues will cover many of the same items. I would however like to call out the following. Firstly, I wish to thank all of the Trustees and Watchkeepers for their continued support of during what another challenging year this has been. Covid did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of both Trustees and Watchkeeper alike. Without volunteers with commitment and drive, Coastwatch just wouldn’t exist. Secondly on fund raising, to Stan Whalley who has spent many an hour filling in grant application forms, some very successful and some not so. With a charitable organisation such as Coastwatch these sort of funding applications is key to maintaining the operational capability of the stations. To Kim Barclay who in her first year as Fund Raising Manager who galvanised support to complete a bucket collection and is already looking at ideas to raise more much needed funding in the coming months. Finally, we have welcomed Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson as a Patron of Coastwatch. I’m sure that I can speak for all the Trustees in saying we are honoured that she accepted our invitation to become a Patron. ## **Simon Mawson: Independent Chair of Trustees** _**Registered Charity No. 1177709**_ _**Patrons: The Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE, DL David Jamilly (Theme Traders)**_ ▬ _**Bob Fortune**_ ▬ _**Redcar RNLI**_ ▬ _**Cleveland Cascades Ltd**_ **www.coastwatchredcar.org** Stan pointed out Simon was essential to the charity and this was supported by all the trustees. ## **CEO’S REPORT** Its been an unusual year for Coastwatch Redcar. The station came back on line in July 2020 with all sorts of restrictions, we were reduced to single man working this continued until approximately March 2021 then most of the restrictions were lifted and the station was able to get back to some sort of normality. Unfortunately over the restriction period we were unable to arrange any sort of station or trustees meetings, most of the Coastwatch business was conducted vis phone calls e-mails or the media systems. I was able to confer with Stan the secretary due to him being on the same watch as me however Stan resigned his position as watchkeeper in April 2021 but retained his position as trustee and station secretary. He has continued to attend the station on a Saturday to look after any station business requiring attention that might have occurred through the week. During the pandemic we lost one of our long term watchkeepers to cancer Elisabeth Rowlands, she will be deeply missed by us all. Also we lost another long term watchkeeper to retirement Edwin Hall. That has left a slot we don’t seem to be able to fill on Saturday afternoons. One watchkeeper has stepped up to the bar and is filling in some of the afternoons, many thanks go to John Reece for his help with this matter. It would be great if others could do the same. As you may know we lost Kate Bartram as a trustee last year but we were fortunate to commandeer the services of Kim Barclay as trustee and fund raiser. She was welcomed aboard at the last trustees meeting. I would now like to thank all the other Coastwatch officials , Secretary Stan for all his sterling work in raising capital for the stations activities, he no doubt will mention these in more detail in his report. Station Manager: Ray Again thanks to him for all his work during a very difficult Year. During the shutdown period Ray was looking after the station seeing all was kept in start-up condition. Training officer: Keith Thanks to Keith for his work as deputy manager and restarting the training program afresh, hopefully to produce trained up watch keepers . Treasurer: John My thanks go to John. As a none operational watchkeeper, he looks after our books and sorts out all our money problems. He is a stalwart member of our team. Charity Chairman: Simon My thanks also go to Simon, Although we have not had meetings for a while Simon is always there to help at the end of a telephone, text or e-mail. Trevor Smith Coastwatch Redcar C.E.O. October 2021 _**Registered Charity No. 1177709**_ _**Patrons: The Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE, DL**_ _**David Jamilly (Theme Traders)**_ ▬ _**Bob Fortune**_ ▬ _**Redcar RNLI**_ ▬ _**Cleveland Cascades Ltd**_ **www.coastwatchredcar.org** COASTWATCfrI OOA Th¢ E$pl&Ma>e REDCAR North YoA¢$htr¢ Tsio IAH Tcl.. 01642 491606 LANT ASSISTING IN THEPROTECTIONAND THE PRESERVA TION OF UFEATSEA STATION CONTROLLERS REPORT S/4 Iithl C￿lLEt> I OCTo&¥< rx*C afJ21 04>fwAICA( tr)C4£ 1rf4S ¢)PArri ide. AJ 7 )4Ys A Q•y> A Y￿£ 4w) /WZ C¢JVw> 168&k /+V.- /N 2021 S•rff4*>￿ /+VVifE> Tv r A'l.Ftssf Registered Chority No. 1177709 *De P&trt)t)s.- Tht Boroness Grey-Thompson DBE. DL DovldJ&mlllylTheme Trodersl Bob Fortune Redcor RNLI Clevelond Ct¥SCt¥des Ltd www.coastwatchredtar.org ## **TRAINING OFFICER’S REPORT** Coastwatch AGM 2021 Training Officers Report ## **Watchkeepers** Since the last AGM four of the ‘new’ (pre / post Covid intake) volunteers who undertook to cover for the missing watchkeepers who had either sadly passed away or who did not return, are now established as Senior Watchkeepers and I would like to place on record my grateful thanks to them, as without them, we would not have been able to cover enough of the watches to fulfil our commitment as a DFS station during the period after lockdown. A further two trainees who returned to ‘formal’ training after the Covid break in operation have recently joined their own watch rota with a senior watchkeeper on a Tuesday and Thursday pm. Currently we have 25 watchkeepers (22 senior watchkeepers) on the rota and I do not anticipate that it will be long before these two trainees will be rated as senior watchkeepers We have one watch covered by watchkeepers doing a double watch and one watch not covered on a regular basis (Sat pm). ## **Recruitment** Currently I have three volunteers on hold, I remain in contact with them and they understand the situation. Now that the training time has been freed up after the placing of the two trainees into a watch, I will approach the waiting list to see if a Saturday pm watch would be a possibility for them. A further two potential volunteers have been in contact. Due to our current waiting list no new adverts or articles have been placed. ## **Sea Cadets** The annual Redcar Sea Cadets RN Inspection Parade where we present the Coastwatch Trophy to one of the Sea Cadets for outstanding performance was cancelled. ## **Pocket Book** The ‘Pocket Book’ continues to be updated as required including position finding and laying off a track to an object using the navigational chart in case of radar failure. _**Registered Charity No. 1177709**_ _**Patrons: The Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE, DL**_ _**David Jamilly (Theme Traders)**_ ▬ _**Bob Fortune**_ ▬ _**Redcar RNLI**_ ▬ _**Cleveland Cascades Ltd**_ **www.coastwatchredcar.org** ## **Additional Aids** Additional help aids on operating station equipment have been provided eg radio operation, Taiyo direction finder and using radar position finding and tracking of a target. If anyone would suggest any others I will be happy to provide. Training on the new CCTV cameras will be given when they are fully operational and a ‘help aid’ will be provided. ## **RNLI Community Lifesaving Plan** I will be working closely with John Reece (Water Safety Advisor and ultimately as the Water Safety Officer) to establish how we can support the RLNI plan and then subsequently providing a linked in training plan for Coastwatch. Keith Stockdale Deputy Station Controller and Training Officer ## SECRETARY’S REPORT January 2021 I submitted the annual return containing management reports and accounts to the Charity Commission. Records were also updated. To secure some form of income during the Covid lockdown I installed a donation platform on our website. To date the site has raised over £1500. (Including camera campaign) In late November 2020 I approached Ward Councillor and Labour Leader Carl Quartermain for a donation towards the cost of our PPE, he kindly obliged with a donation of £100. Early May 2021 I wrote to Carl Quartermain and a meeting was arranged to discuss the possibility of mounting a CCTV camera on a lamp column on the seaward side of the Esplanade to view the area of Granville Terrace hidden from the lookout. Carl was sympathetic to the idea and the possibility of a camera to view Coatham Bay was also mooted. Carl later contacted me with encouraging news and supplied contact details of various personnel within the Council. Numerous emails followed to formulate plans, locations, costs and formal agreements between Coastwatch, RCBC and Marske Alarms. The original plan to mount a camera on the new Regent Cinema was shelved in favour of a lamp column on Newcomen Terrace, this is due for installation in the Spring of 2022. At the time of writing, the camera to view Granville Terrace has been installed. Part of the agreement with RCBC is they be allowed access to the cameras should the need arise. The funding application to Sofia Windfarm via TVCF in April 2021 was successful, hence the new binoculars. ## _**Registered Charity No. 1177709**_ _**Patrons: The Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE, DL**_ _**David Jamilly (Theme Traders)**_ ▬ _**Bob Fortune**_ ▬ _**Redcar RNLI**_ ▬ _**Cleveland Cascades Ltd**_ **www.coastwatchredcar.org** In September 2020 I asked Bob Fortune if he would care to come onboard as a patron, he kindly and enthusiastically agreed. In June 2021 I approached The Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE DL asking her to join us as a patron, she kindly agreed with the same degree of enthusiasm. During the lockdown we received confirmation from HM Coastguard of our key worker status. To indicate this status, I designed and printed new ID Cards for most of our volunteers. These were to be produced along with a letter from HM Coastguard should any of them be challenged when travelling to and from duty. A funding application in March to Sirius Minerals was unsuccessful due to their Covid recovery criteria. However, they have stated more opportunities will become available in 2021-2022. Currently we have a funding application to Tesco Community Grants (July 2021) This was delayed due to their request for a full copy of our constitution not being acted upon following their receipt. I was not aware of their inaction until they requested it again two months later. Another copy was forwarded along with details of former action and email details. The funding application to Middlesbrough & Teesside Philanthropic Foundation in July 2021 was successful. They have granted us £1220 towards the cost of the Newcomen Terrace CCTV camera. A funding application in August 2021 to Boulby Potash for £500 was more than successful, they very generously increased the application to a magnificent £1000! In August 2021 I ordered hi-vis vests with printed Coastwatch Logo, ID badge holders and lapel stickers for street collections. In July 2021 by way of a donation I paid the £20.72 annual domain registration for www.coastwatchredcar.org In September 2021 I applied for funding to the Cleveland Police Property Act. This was unsuccessful due to their criteria not extending to the purchase of CCTV equipment. The long-awaited replacement ceremonial flag Is now ordered. Flying Colours of Knaresborough are the suppliers. An item raised in the September Trustees meeting was the Council’s purchase of the old M & S building and the possibility of redevelopment. The AtoN for the Lade channel is installed on this building and must be considered if demolition was in RCBC’s plans. I wrote to Councillor Quatermain on the 29th of September outlining our concerns over recent media reports on the building. _**Registered Charity No. 1177709**_ _**Patrons: The Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE, DL David Jamilly (Theme Traders)**_ ▬ _**Bob Fortune**_ ▬ _**Redcar RNLI**_ ▬ _**Cleveland Cascades Ltd**_ **www.coastwatchredcar.org** His reply was…” I will request a plan regarding the navigational light and request that advice is taken should the building eventually be subject to demolition.” I also took the opportunity to thank him for his help in the CCTV result. ## **TREASURER’S REPORT** At 31/3/20 the Coastwatch cash balance was £13293.19, held either in the bank or in cash waiting to be banked. The total income for the year was £8360.62, the main sources of income were £4000 from the Tees Valley Community Fund, £600 from DJ and donations amounting £3200. The £4000 from the TVCF was the final payment from the fund for administering the safety at sea project for local fishermen. Thanks again to DJ for his donation. General donations were well up on the previous year. Expenditure amounted to £3779.93 which is a usual amount in a year where no major expenditure is required, therefore our target income must be £4000 to meet our general running costs each year. Which meant at the year end (31/3/21) the charity held £17951.88 in it’s account. Again the bank paid no interest on the account. Analysis of the accounts are: - 1) We could “survive” for 2 to 3 years without any additional income and hold some in reserve for a major equipment failure. - 2) We are in a strong financial position at the moment but we must aim to raise at least our annual running costs so as not to squander the position we are now in. - 3) We need to be mindful that the TVCF grant is ended, there is no doubt that this has led to our current strong position and we must not fritter it away. 4) Behind the income/expenditure figures is hidden the impact of covid19 – we have lost income from the bonus ball and collecting boxes – we have had to spend £334 on PPE to make the station as safe as possible, however R&CBC made a payment of £100 towards this expenditure. Summary: Firstly a general comment, the station continues to thrive thanks to every-bodies input to the station. However I must thank our secretary for his hard work in securing grants for replacing worn out equipment rather than using our general income. _**Registered Charity No. 1177709**_ _**Patrons: The Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE, DL**_ _**David Jamilly (Theme Traders)**_ ▬ _**Bob Fortune**_ ▬ _**Redcar RNLI**_ ▬ _**Cleveland Cascades Ltd**_ **www.coastwatchredcar.org** We need to be mindful that covid19 has not gone away and we may suffer further loses and expenditure in order to keep on top of the position. Overall a good set of figures bearing in mind the overall circumstances that ran through the year. J Finlay – Treasurer ## **Chair Thanked all present for their input and closed the meeting at 10:40am** ## **ACCOUNTS TO 31/03/2021 ON FOLLOWING PAGE** _**Registered Charity No. 1177709**_ _**Patrons: The Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE, DL David Jamilly (Theme Traders)**_ ▬ _**Bob Fortune**_ ▬ _**Redcar RNLI**_ ▬ _**Cleveland Cascades Ltd**_ **www.coastwatchredcar.org** COASTWATCfrI OOA Th¢ E$pl&Ma>e REDCAR North YoA¢$htr¢ Tsio IAH Tcl.. 01642 491606 LANT ASSISTING IN THEPROTECTIONAND THE PRESERVA TION OF UFEATSEA COASTWATCH AccouNfs APRIL 20 TO MARCH 21 COME: Donations: From DJ: ColleCtll￿ boxes: Tees Valle), COInnn￿ty Fulld. Poppy refulld: PPE from COU￿￿. SSG insurance refund: 3199.47 600.00 189.15 20.00 100.00 252.00 £8360.62 Stationery: Repaus & renewals: Phonelinternet" Power: surance" Rates" New badges: SSG subs" PPE: 93.50 1147.00 481.61 88.06 298.20 25_00 334.26 TOTAL: 3779.93 IN BATrIK at 01104120: 13293.19 IN BANK at 31103121: 17951.88 Notes: in baA)k at 3 110312 1 n)ade up of cash held £869.5 1 and £ 17004.37 in The TVCF grant of £4000 is the final PaY￿￿￿t. No bonus ball income diwmg year di￿ to CoNrydlstats'on closure Donations ￿cludeS mcon]e from ￿vIng web pages Registered Chority No. 1177709 *De P&trt)t)s.- Tht Boroness Grey-Thompson DBE. DL DovldJ&mlllylTheme Trodersl Bob Fortune Redcor RNLI Clevelond Ct¥SCt¥des Ltd www.coastwatchredtar.org