## **Friends of LITTLEWORTH STATION** _**DRAFT**_ ## **MINUTES of FIRST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING** **Tuesday 17[th] June 2025** at 5.35pm via “Teams” videoconferencing ## **PRESENT** Louise McGuinness (Chair), Tim Stevens (Secretary and Minute-Taker), Andy Croyle. ## **1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:** Jim Musicka, Owen McGuinness, Nicholas Watts. NOTE: Deborah Croyle has resigned as a Trustee and committee member, and is therefore not attending. There being three Trustees present, the meeting was declared quorate. ## **2. REPORT FROM THE CHAIR: Louise McGuinness** The year had started with FoLS intending to acquire the Littleworth station building for repair and renovation as a community resource and “hub”. Unfortunately a grant application to help fund an initial building survey was unsuccessful. It was then learnt that an offer had been made by another party to purchase the building, although the outcome is currently not known. There is more positive news on the signal box (which was part of FoLS’ initial application), as Network Rail is very supportive of the project. The Trustees have agreed to keep the charity in existence, at least for the time being, to keep a “watching brief” on developments. ## **3. FINANCIAL REPORT, ACCOUNTS and CHARITY COMMISSION** FoLS has had no income or expenditure during the year. Therefore there are no accounts to present. As there are currently no financial transactions, it is not urgent to set up a bank account. However, this will be kept under review. It was noted that the Metro Bank would be a good bank to use, as their fees for charities are competitive. As Secretary, Tim agreed to deal with the Charity Commission reports, which include the Annual Return and the Notification of Changes to Trustees _[item 4 below]_ . **ACTION: Tim** Page 1 of 2 ## **4. CHANGES TO TRUSTEES** Deborah Croyle has notified that she has resigned as a Trustee and committee member. Andy Croyle has notified that he has resigned as a Trustee and committee member. That leaves five Trustees in place: Louise Mc Guinness, Tim Stevens, Nicholas Watts, Jim Musicka, Owen McGuinness. At the meeting, Louise McGuinness and Tim Stevens declared themselves willing to remain as Trustees. As they were not present at the meeting, Nicholas Watts, Jim Musicka and Owen McGuinness will be asked to declare whether they wish to remain as Trustees or to resign. **ACTION: Tim** To avoid confusion in future if a bank account is set up, Tim will notify the Charity Commission that his first name should be recorded as “Timothy”, not “Tim”. **ACTION: Tim** ## **5. ANY OTHER BUSINESS** - Andy: In view of the low volume of emails, and difficulties some people have had with using it, the “Friends of Littleworth Station” email address should be discontinued. This was **agreed** . - **ACTION: Andy** - Andy: The documentation regarding setting-up of the Charity, and associated matters, will be retained, and can be made available to any officer of FoLS who needs to refer to it in the future. There being no further business, the meeting closed at 6.00pm. SIGNED: ………………………………………………………………………………….. Louise McGuinness, Chair. Date…………….. …………………………………………………………………………………... Tim Stevens, Secretary. Date…………….. Page 2 of 2 ## **Friends of LITTLEWORTH STATION** _**DRAFT**_ ## **MINUTES of MEETING** **Tuesday 17[th] June 2025** at 5.00pm via “Teams” videoconferencing ## **PRESENT** Louise McGuinness (Chair), Tim Stevens (Secretary and Minute-Taker), Andy Croyle. **APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:** Jim Musicka, Owen McGuinness, Nicholas Watts. NOTE: Deborah Croyle has resigned as a Trustee and committee member, and is therefore not attending. ## **1. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING 8th April 2025, AND MATTERS ARISING** Minutes of 8[th] April 2025 were **agreed** as a true and correct record of the meeting. Signal Box future plans: Louise had contacted Jonathan Boot, Public Affairs Manager, Network Rail East Midlands Route, who was very supportive of the idea of restoring the signal box for community use. He asked for background information/history about the signal box. ACTION: Louise to supply the relevant documentation to Mr Boot. Support of local authority and Mayoral candidates: Louise had contacted candidates to canvass support for reopening Littleworth station. Local councillors are Raymond Condell, Ingrid Sheard, Gary Taylor, Susan Woolley, Robert Gibson. Also, Peter Hiller of Peterborough City Council may be supportive. ## **2. LITTLEWORTH STATION BUILDINGS UPDATE** It is understood that an offer to purchase the station building had been made, but this had not been accepted by the vendor. No further information is known at this stage. FoLS will continue to monitor the situation. ## **3. SIGNAL BOX FUTURE PLANS** The village questionnaire will seek residents’ views on the signal box. Questionnaires are due to be returned by end of September, and analysed by end of October. Tim: The support of Network Rail is encouraging _[see above]_ . With the future role of the station buildings being uncertain, perhaps the signal box will become the main focus for community involvement. Page 1 of 2 ## **4. LITTLEWORTH STATION RE-OPENING UPDATE** Network Rail will work with local authorities and councillors to push for reopening of the station. South Lincs Connected (SLC) will continue to campaign for Littleworth and Donington station reopening. ## **5. FINANCIAL MATTERS, BANK ACCOUNT** ## **6. CHARITY COMMISSION/ADMINISTRATION** _These matters are dealt with at the AGM following._ ## **7. FUTURE SITUATION FOR FoLS** In view of: (i) the continuing uncertainty over the future of the station building, i.e. it might once again become available for community use if the private sale falls through; and (ii) the positive at ude of Network Rail towards the signal box, it was **agreed** to keep the FoLS charity in existence, at least for the time being, until the situation becomes clearer. Andy is stepping down from the group for the time being as nothing is happening, but would be prepared to become active again if/when there are any developments in future. ## **8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS** - Louise: Need to arrange another SLC meeting. ## **DATE OF NEXT MEETING: to be arranged** Page 2 of 2