## **Annual Trustees Report2025**
## **Presented to AGM Nov 2025**
## **Organisational**
Firstly we thank our volunteers who have kept up a presence at the Mill and given many hours between them to be available for passers-by and general upkeep on Weds and Suns and we have welcomed a few new volunteers who live on the doorstep as well as those who travel to be with us on our Open Weekends. We have supported Kent Big Weekend; National Mills Weekend with the Local Radio Society set up returning and Heritage Open Days. We received around 700 visitors this past year. .
We are most pleased to have been given an upgrade of our listed status to Grade II* and we thank those who persevered in the process. Out of this the Mill has received significant publicity with Historic England producing a very informative short reel of 1.5 mins and KMTV produced a 2.5 video for KentOnline on the press call day.
We have continued to try and raise our profile with the local MP and Margate’s Mayor and volunteers have attended by invitation Margate Mayoral fundraising and Ceremonial Occasions. KCC’s new Environment Cabinet Member paid us a visit accompanied by the Heritage Team Officers when they were able to observe the Mill at work.
Owing much to the above we continue to increase our Social Media presence with 590 followers on f/book; 406 followers on Instagram with significant 750 “likes” of ours and Historic England’s joint post receiving 20k views. We published 4 Quarterly Newsletters for 155 subscribers.
## **Special Openings**
The volunteers are pleased to have welcomed several more school age groups this year including Holy Trinity Yr 1; Manor House Nursery; Dame Janet Reception along with Scouts and Cubs and a very large Summer School contingent of around 75 children.
London Walking Group for ex-pat Japanese residents returned with a group of around 12.
Lastly our demonstration flour has been donated to a project at UCA for research into early spaces and food production in Thanet.
Anny Squire (Vice Chair DWT)
## **Maintenance Report Appendix I attached**
## **KCC 2025 Summary Appendix II attached**
## **Appendix 1**
## **Drapers Windmill Maintenance Report for AGM 22nd Nov 2025**
**Nov 24**
1. Remove remaining shutters in preparation for fitting new whips **Jan 25**
2. Approval received from KCC for the volunteers to undertake grinding using the gas engine. **Feb**
3. Asbestos inspection all clear.
4. Rebuilt tension pulley on Gas engine drive belt
- **March**
5. Whips replaced by Tim Whiting on site 1 week
6. Drilled out seized bolts to shutter triangles on .whips. **May**
7. First grinding by volunteers using gas engine. **July**
8. Volunteers did a demonstration to KCC members using the gas engine to grind. **Aug**
9. Repairs to the fantail staging and fitting new fantail blades was undertaken (3 weeks) and some works remain outstanding
- **Oct**
10. Volunteers did grinding using the gas engine. Problems with belt slipping.
11. Refitted front fence, removed to give crane access and as part of the works installing new Whips.
The above include monthly condition checks by Cam Southcott Millwright
## **Future Ongoing**
1. Remove the remaining furniture from the whips to reuse
2. .Cut up and dispose of old whip frames.
3. Shorten the drive belt on the gas engine.
4. Undertake painting of staging and guard rails
## **Future Major works**
One of the major work items is refitting the shutters. However before this can be costed, KCC
has asked that to keep costs down, the Volunteers undertake the following;-
1. Inspect all the shutters and identify those which can be reused.
2. Those which can be repaired
3. Those that need replacing
4. Evaluate what is involved with making repairs/repainting
- G. Hutchison (Health and Safety Coordinator)
## **Appendix II**
## **KCC 2025 Summary**
Kent County Council consulted the public in November 2023 on the future of the eight windmills that it owns, including Drapers. The consultation was about seeking alternative ownership arrangements for the windmills to save the council future maintenance expenditure. The overwhelming response to the consultation was a negative one and a frequent comment was made about the very small cost to the council’s total budget. The consultation was needed to allow KCC’s Heritage Conservation Strategy to be changed.
After the consultation, councillors decided to continue with divestment but by a method that ensures that they have a sustainable future in which they appropriately cared for as community assets. The consultation had raised many concerns about mills falling into private ownership and being neglected and not open to the public.
Drapers Windmill Trust responded to the consultation and expressed our concerns. We also converted our charity to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and registered the mill as an Asset of Community Value.
Following the council elections in May, we have been waiting for the views of the new administration at County Hall. We now know that the plan is still to divest to the community and we have expressed interest in being granted a 25 year lease. that KCC. We as a Board of Trustees have a number of “red lines” which include KCC retaining the freehold, insuring the mill and handing over the mill at the start of the lease in good repair with current restoration work completed.
KCC appear to be moving more slowly with the divestment process and still need to amend the Heritage Conservation Strategy. The reorganisation of local government is also on the horizon and the possibility of new East Kent Unitary Authority taking responsibility for the mill in this area. But whatever develops, we as a board are doing our very best to ensure a sustainable future for Drapers.
## **DRAPERS WINDMILL TRUST**
## **Annual General Meeting 2024**
## **FINANCE REPORT**
The new CIO Drapers Windmill Trust was registered with the Charity Commission on 1[st] March 2024 and the first financial year ends 31[st] August 2025. This report is an interim statement of the current financial statement. The new Trust began operating on 13[th] June 2024 and the assets of the old unincorporated Trust were transferred to it.
A summary of our financial position is as follows:
|A summary of our financial position is as follows:||
|---|---|
|RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR PERIOD
13THJUNE TO 31STAUGUST 2024||
|Cash transferred to new Trust|£
6905.12|
|Receipts|950.44|
|Sub-total|7855.56|
|Payments|657.02|
|Cash at 31stOctober 2024|7198.54|
## Overall Position
The interim report covers most of summer of 2024 and Heritage Open Days . The result has been a small surplus at the present time. There is within the funds, ring fenced funding (currently £350) for the electric motor to start the gas engine and grant aid from Kent County Council (£2675) for replacement doors to the workshop. The funds not ring fenced total £4173.54.
## Receipts
The receipts shown in the table above are broken down as follows:
Sales £308.49
Thanet Community Lottery £58.00
Donations £583.95
Donations include cash collected at the mill, including for refreshments. Lecture fees have also been donated by two trustees.
The new Trust is registering with the HMRC to enable Gift Aid to be claimed. It is anticipated that most of the donations received will qualify under the GASDS rules. Several donors have also made Gift Aid declarations.
## Payments
The payments shown in table above are broken down as follows:
Maintenance £ 258.28
Souvenirs £328.32
Admin Supplies £47.97
Refreshments £22.45
The maintenance expenditure includes bottle gas for the engine. The admin supplies are printer ink and paper.
Kent County Council insures the mill and the Trust’s volunteers and it also pays the bills for electricity and water supplies, together with other health and safety inspections.
## Registered Charity
Drapers Windmill Trust has re-registered a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) as this structure creates a legal identity which protects the trustees who could have been personally liable when the Trust was previously unincorporated.
As a Registered Charity with an income of less than £25,000, there is no requirement for the accounts to be independently examined. Reports are submitted regularly to the Operations Committee meetings and to the Board of Trustees. The Trustees are aware of the financial position and question the treasurer at or between meetings. All financial transactions of the trust involve the approval of two officers and all major decisions are made in consultation with the Board.
## **Robin Colyer** (Treasurer)
## 2.11.24