## **Barham Village Hall: Chair’s report for the AGM (21/11/2022)** 

Following the lifting of the Covid restrictions 2022 has seen the return of regular hirers and a number of parties/weddings. Things are almost back to ‘normal’ and there are very few times when the hall is not being used. 

At the last AGM it was agreed that the hall would convert to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The hall was previously an unincorporated charity. The new CIO was approved by the Charity Commission on the 19[th] November 2021. Following this the assets of the old charity were transferred to the new CIO on 21[st] March 2022. The formal transfer of the buildings and land by the Land Registry has proved to be more time consuming. The Big Lottery (now the Communities Fund) has a charge on the hall land because they granted us £580,000 in 2015. The lottery requested that the named people on the grant agreement be updated to include current trustees. A novation agreement has been prepared to allow the Land Registry to alter the ownership to the CIO. 

In December 2021 and January 2022 we received a Covid Recovery grant from KCC for better covid signage/information, hand sanitisation points and for improvements to the cleaners room to allow the hall to be more easily kept clean. 

In March sound absorption panels were installed in the Grabham Room. This has reduced the amount of reverberation and has limited the echoing and background noise. During the spring a lightning surge protector was installed to protect the electrical systems and the timber floors were given a ‘freshen up’. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee picnic also took place and was greatly enjoyed. 

During 2022 it became clear that the shop’s storage shed was not big enough and that a larger space was required. The costs of building an extension to the hall on the site of the shed were explored and found to be prohibitively expensive. The possibility of utilising the old kitchen in the hall was suggested and the shop committee considered that it would give them the extra storage required. The old kitchen was cleared (with items being moved under the stage) and has been recently fitted out with shelving. 

The Barham Downs History Society (BDHS) have wanted to build a ‘heritage room’ on the hall grounds for some time. They investigated an extension to the hall or the construction of a timber framed kit building. Neither of these options proved to be financially viable. In July the hall trustees agreed that the BDHS could occupy the committee room and the adjoining cloakroom for use as an archive/heritage centre. Alterations will be taking place shortly. 

Lastly some Thank Yous.  Thanks to: 

- all the regular hirers for returning to the hall. 

- to the Coffee Stop and 100 club for their contributions (financial and social). 

- to Geoff, Steve, Roger and Andy for their help looking after the hall and grounds 

- to Linda, Kim and Alison for doing a great job cleaning the hall 

- to Alison carrying looking after the bookings, and 

- to the trustees for their help and advice, in particular to Alison for taking over the treasurer role, for Delia being an excellent secretary and to Carol for her seven years as treasurer **.** 

## **DAVID KINCAID** 



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