Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of The Kentmere Institute
held in the Institute immediately following The Autumn Assembly of the Kentmere Parish Meeting on Tuesday 14 November 2023
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Present: Christine Hevey (Chairman), Sandra Johnston (Secretary), Iain Johnston (Treasurer), Richard Allen, Tricia Broomby, Hazel Brownlow, Roger Dewhurst, Hilary Fry, Jackie Green, Margaret Harrison, Christine Hevey, Steve Hirst, Sheila Hirst, Peter Lansberry, Carol Lansberry, Ian McIvor, Simon Racle, and Jim Stilling.
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Apologies for absence were received from Sally Allen, Maureen Baldwin, Robert Courtier, Clare Courtier, Jo Racle, Chris Sanderson, Jim Sharp, and Gay Talbot.
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The minutes of the previous AGM held in November 2022 had been circulated before the meeting and were accepted by all present.
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There were no matters arising.
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The Annual Report was given by the Chairman who said that this had been an unusual year for The Institute which is almost 100 years old and was built at the suggestion of the then president of the Kentmere Women’s Institute, Mrs Little who lived at Greenhead. Once opened it was used as a community space on every night of the week and had a caretaker. One of the tasks on a winters evening would be to light the fire in a fireplace in what is now the kitchen. The room was lit by paraffin lamps and the ladies had a toilet but the men had to go outside. Since those far off days it has only had had one major refurbishment in the late 1980s when a proper toilet extension was added and a proper kitchen was installed.
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This year the trustees had embarked upon the first stage of another refurbishment to bring the building into the 21st Century. It had started with the hall. This has meant that the hall has not been available for some of the year but we must be grateful to Tony Harrison and David Harrison for undertaking the insulation and dry lining work and to Neill Tedcastle for the electrical work. The project has meant a reduction in takings this year as we have had to turn down some bookings but we did manage to host the usual annual sporting fixtures in the summer, including the Lakeland 100 event and The Kentmere Horseshoe Race.
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In between the work the hall has continued to be used by the Kentmere Film Club and we must extend our warmest thanks to Steve and Sheila Hirst and their small committee for arranging those evenings and also for the theatre performances which have been very well received. Jo Racle has arranged table tennis evenings and there have been a few family events. Perhaps the warmer and more welcoming environment will encourage more.
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Refurbishment : Iain reported on what been achieved so far in Stage 1 of the planned work - fitting under-floor insulation, replacing all windows with double glazed units, stripping out the wood panelling and seating and dry-lining the walls, replacing panelling, re-siting and increasing the number of electric sockets, installing new
lighting and fitting new external doors. Still to do will be the refurbishment and sealing of the floor, decorating, fitting blinds and hanging new curtains.
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Financial report : Iain showed the draft balance sheet for the year ending 31st October 2023 which showed that so far the refurbishment had cost just over £55k. We had already received a large proportion of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant - amounting to over £33k. As a result the expenditure over income amounted to £17k. At the end of the financial year the total financial assets are £51,023.82. Acceptance of the report was proposed by Christine Hevey, seconded by Sheila Hirst and carried without dissent.
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Appointment of Management Trustees : The following were appointed to serve in this capacity until 31st October 2024 - Chairman: Christine Hevey, Secretary: Sandra Johnston, Treasurer: Iain Johnston, Clare Courtier, Tony Harrison, Sheila Hirst, Peter Lansberry and Sue Rowland. Hazel Brownlow was thanked for all her years as a trustee.
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As there was no further business the meeting was closed and members adjourned for refreshments and social time.
At a virtual meeting meeting of the Kentmere Institute trustees held today all members were given a copy of this balance sheet which reflects the draft version presented at the Annual Meeting in 14th November 2023.
All trustees agreed to approve and accept this balance sheet.
.................................................. Christine Hevey: Chairman of Trustees
.................................................. Iain Johnston: Hon.Treasurer
7th February 2024
Independent Examiner's Report Reportto the Trusiees of: The Kentmere Institute On accounts for th& y¥8r: 31st October 2023 Charity Number 225721 I repJrt 10 the trusiecs on my examination o., the acLY)iJni8 ol ihe thve charity r'the Tru3t") for the year J111012023 a5 s out on page l above. As the tharity's Irustees, you we r&8pon$itrJe lor tlie prepwation of the account5 in cordance witn Lhe requirtsmcJ)ts of the Ctrharities Ac; 2011 1.the A¢t-l. I report in rÉspect ol my exanination ol the Trust'"8 ArxxJuni8 C8rr1j out under ser4lOll 145 ot tme 2U I l and Ir. caTring Out mi, cxaminatiop,. I have fol.owéé all the appliGable th"rtiOnS giv by the chtY Commission unoer section 1451allbl ol Ihe Act. I have complete¢ my examinion. I contirm that no matters have to my tention In connection with the exwrination i.thich gives &3use to tdieve ihat. In y rTldleridl re¥FX1- the accobnting rLxords wttc not kept in aCCordce with sli0n 130 OT ihe Chari:. ie5 Act., or he xcounLS (fi4Y not r¢ with thexcounting rKorUs: or the CoUntS did not comply wth the applicthe requirements concerniIig the form d content ot xcobnis se: out In '.he Charities (Account5 an¢ RewrtS1 Regulation5 2008 olher Ihwi any reqIlre[lY,ll iyai Ihe ac(X>15TI'S (jive 4 'lFiJe and 18ir vievu whith is not a natter consiaered as sat ol an Indegendent examinat,.on. I have no CncernS and h&ie cornexr05s no m*tws In conn10 vlilh the mination to whith attwt10n should ijrai'rfii iri tlii¥ report in oro'¥ to wable propw undw818nding of the untS to be re&hed. Signal: R.M. 8id 201 Sijririy Brow. Maytirne Road Ker)dd, Cumbria