CORNHILL COMMUNITY ACTION CIO Minutes of the first AGM on Monday 16th May 2022 at 17.00 via zoom
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Trustees Present: William Carrington Elizabeth Devon Martin Devon Anne Legge David Richmond Oliver Wright Apologies Steve Wright
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Statutory business - no changes of trustees and no amendments to the constitution, Everyone voted their agreement to continue as we are for the next year.
3. Chairperson's report:
The chronology of all the actions of CCA over the last year may be viewed in detail at https://www.ccal.uk/
Summary:
On 19th May 2021, Cornhill Community Action became a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) and the company limited by guarantee was subsequently dissolved.
In June and July 2021 pre-planning and planning applications were made and, after much negotiation and time, planning was approved in January of this year.
In September 2021, the formal draft CAT transfer was received from NCC. The secretary of state gave approval for the CAT. The transfer was finally completed on 13th May 2022.
In November, all remaining equipment was removed from the school and taken either to Norham school or to charity shops.
In January there were four bookings of the units. For various reasons, now there is only one firm booking remaining and two possibles.
Building work started in March this year and great progress was made. Work had to be stopped partly because of no electricity or water connections. There is now assurance from NCC that the costs of these will be paid this week. Hopefully, the re-connections will happen soon and building work can resume. Replacement external joinery was expected in May but will now not arrive until June.
Great difficulties have been experienced in obtaining a bank account but finally an agreement was reached earlier this month. It will now be possible for funding applications to be made. The current financial situation is not good. There are outstanding bills to be paid at the end of May (about £4,000) and at the end of June (about £8000).
Fliers were sent around the village in September last year. As soon as renovation work is complete, there will be a publicity drive to advertise the units for rent. An Open Day will be organised when the building will be open for everyone to view. Fund-raising for furniture for the community space will be organised.
Martin Devon, May 2022
William raised the point that the money needed should be divided into manageable chunks. Martin has recently done that and sent it to Steve who should now be able to apply for specific grants for specific purposes. The total required is about £44,000.
4. Financial report:
After lengthy and tedious negotiations Anne succeeded in obtaining a bank account with NatWest on Friday 6th May. The funds ring-fenced and held by the Parish Council will be transferred to this account.
Elizabeth mentioned that none of this money should be used for the refurbishment of the school, However, some money has been offered from the community fund to the Village Hall for a tree to be planted at the Platinum Jubilee celebrations on 3rd June.
5. Funding report:
Steve has been unable to make much progress with this until CCA had a bank account. However, he later reported that he has sent out two applications for a total of £15,000 and will be doing more soon.
6. Publicity report
Two publicity items have appeared so far, in The Fourum and in Glendale Live. Oliver has not done any more because he thinks it's really important that it's managed properly and we only say something when we have something to say. He is planning to set up some social media, Facebook particularly. He would like us to take some photos but in the meantime will use some from the website.
He raised the point about email addresses. He would like a special one. Martin will do this for him - press@cornhill communityaction.org.uk
He will also sort out the security certificate which has expired.
When he is next home, he suggested taking some photos with trustees in hard hats etc. Now that the CPC actually own the site it may be time to start telling the press. Oliver also suggested we could say we were looking for funders for the next phase of development. Everyone thought this was a good idea. William said that, although it might be contentious we could say that after closure of the school ten years ago, the community now owns the site.
7. Health & Safety report
David reported that he had been reading through the relevant legislation. The Act of Parliament 1974, covers businesses, employers, employees and people visiting sites. He said he was gradually getting a handle on it all but there are volumes and volumes of it. He thinks he will
speak to someone at NCC who is directly involved with H&S to make sure we are working as NCC does. He has checked and agreed with the CCA policy.
- Date of next AGM - May 2023 when both David and Oliver reach the end of their first term. They are eligible for re-election.