2 nd Crawcrook Scout Group Scout Council 24 th February 2025
Meeting opened at 19:15
Present
Ian Millar (Chair) Amy Holliday (SL.B) Clive Richardson (Acting GLV) Steve Holiday (SL.C) Val Pauw (Treasurer) Chris Drew (SL.S) John Below (Secretary) Don Fairless (SL.C) Brian Edwards (Trustee) Colin Hirst (DC) Apologies David Below (SL.S) Lyndsay Henderson (OH (B))
Opening comments from the chair (IM)
IM welcomed all to the meeting. Apologies were noted, as recorded above.
Minutes of last AGM in 2024
These had been circulated circulated. As Chair, IM proposed they were accepted, seconded by BE and approved.
Governance
IM noted that last year the Group had adopted the SA model constitution. He proposed this should continue in place. This was seconded by JB and agreed.
IM confirmed that the financial year would remain from 1[st] January to 31[st] December. IM noted that the Group Scout Council can admit other people to membership. He recommended that all those present to be members of the GSL. This was agreed.
IM recommended that we retain the decisions made last year regarding the number of trustees, seconded by CD and approved. Appointments would be made later in the meeting. IM recommended that the numbers required to achieve quorate for the Council and Trustee Board meetings be unchanged, seconded by JB and approved.
Change of name
For most bodies the group is known as 2[nd] Crawcrook Scout Group. However, the title of the Group has never been changed with the Charity Commission, which requires a resolution approving this from the Group Scout Council. As girls are now welcomed in Scouting, and indeed Crawcrook has and has had a number of girls in the Group, the Trustee Board recommends that the name of the Group as recorded by the Charity Commission should be changed from 2[nd] Crawcrook Boy Scout Group to be 2[nd] Crawcrook Scout Group. This was seconded by AM and approved. CH asked us to check whether we needed to change the name of the bank account: this is already just 2[nd] Crawcrook Scout Group.
Review of the previous year, 2024
Chair’s report on behalf of the Trustees by IM was in the papers Written reports on all sections, and from the GLV, were also in the papers.
Treasurer’s report
The accounts had been scrutinised by Howard Smithson and accepted by the Trustees. IM thanked VP for her work as treasurer. CH confirmed that it was sufficient to have the accounts scrutinised rather than for a more formal audit to be required.
Scout report by CD
It had been a good year for Scouts, ending with 10-12 although the number will increase to approaching 20 shortly with recent new starters and thus nearly at capacity. There had been lots of activities throughout the year, including a focus on map work, knots and traditional Scouting activities, including going over to Hill 60 to practise pitching tents. Last summer’s Norway trip had been a great success and prompted very positive feedback from both Scouts and parents. They are now planning for this summer’s camp near Edinburgh. CD concluded by thanking DB, DM, AE and AlayaW for all their help and support.
Cub report by SH
Numbers had stayed at about 12, and now post-covid things were back to a normal sort of pattern with lots of badgework, resulting in 65 badges being given out, including 7 for ??? badges and one Chief Scout Silver award again this year. They took part in the District Cub Camp and Winter Walk, which were both attended well and which the Cubs really enjoyed. They still have to return to organising a Group Cub camp. SH gave thanks to all those who have helped during the year, including DF, Andy, AnnaW, SoH and JJ and the Young Leaders Louisa, Ellie, Grace and Bobby.
Beaver report by AH
Beavers has remained more or less full throughout the last year. Sensing some post-covid concerns which needed countering, the leaders have tried to do a lot on teamwork, communication and team games. They have included a wide range of activities, often being outside during the summer months (eg. going to Sled Lane pond or Hill 60) and having a night hike which they loved. They did a variety of Christmas activities, with 72 badges being given out, and they engaged with the Crawcrook Christmas Tree festival, and (after covid) it was good to get them back to being seen in the community. AH thanked all those who had helped, including Helen, SH, LH and YL Louisa.
GLV report by CR
CR began by noting that he was confident that the Group met all the requirements of the SA and thanked all those involved, specifically including partners at home for the commitment they make to Scouting.
Our finances are stable and secure; he gave thanks to VP, who has been treasurer for the last 34 years.
The building is in the best shape it has ever been in following maintenance and improvements in a variety of areas in the last two years. The equipment is all in excellent condition, and we now have computers and a projector available in the hut, as well as air rifles locked away in their secure cabinet.
There are now 19 volunteers listed in the SA system, across Scouts, Cubs, Beavers and Trustees, with over 300 years service between them, giving an average of about 15 years – whereas the SA estimate the average service within a Group is about 2 years. Nevertheless, we still have a need for further leaders, as there have been occasions when we have had to cancel a few sessions (which no-one likes doing) because of a lack of leaders on a particular evening. During the year SH stood down as GLV and we have not made any progress in finding a replacement, nor additional Beaver leaders, so we are now advertising on social media as we look to find the people needed.
All the volunteers are still getting used to the new SA IT system.
In December we were approached by Ryton Scouts following the discovery of a significant problem with their building, and so their Scouts and Beavers are currently meeting here regularly and having the occasional Trustee meeting in our hut.
CR noted that we do regularly review any Safety and Safeguarding matters and confirmed that there had been no significant concerns this year.
CR concluded by noting that on 13[th] March 1944 was the date of the first registration of the 2[nd] Crawcrook Boy Scout Group.
Appointments and elections
CR took the chair and noted that the Trustees recommend that IM continues as Chair and he was willing to continue for a second year as a Trustee. This was seconded by SH and agreed. IM resumed the chair and noted that JB was willing to take on the role of treasurer (and thus be a Trustee in that role, for his second year) taking over from VP after 34 years in the post. This was Proposed and seconded by SH and VP and agreed.
SH had ceased to be a Trustee when he resigned as GLV, and VP had been a Trustee through her position as treasurer. Both were willing to be elected as Trustees and this was approved. (As there had been a break in SH’s role, this was to be his first year in a new spell as a Trustee. VP was remaining as a Trustee, just in a different role, so this would count as her second year.) IM noted that BE and CR were willing to continue as Trustees, both going into their second year.
VP had approved Harold Smithson to continue as scrutineer, seconded by the Trustees and this was approved.
District report by CH
CH noted how 2024 had been a challenging year for the District, but no problems had arisen from Crawcrook. He reiterated how the sections had a lovely programme, and was really impressed by the Norway trip, especially noting the strong paperwork. CH believes that we are getting things right at Crawcrook with about average numbers in the sections compared to other Groups across the District.
He noted how the Great Orme coroner’s report had made a significant impact at higher levels of the SA, so more was now expected of volunteers, but they (we!) still do it. He reminded those present that there is new training on Safety and Safeguarding to be done by all by 27[th] July, and reminded people if the Yellow card expectations. There had been an incident at the Cub camp but CH believe that was dealt with correctly. There is now more onus to get procedures right, which might make recruitment of future volunteers harder, although the procedures are there to protect volunteers. CH reinforced the need for appropriate forms to be completed in advance for Nights Away and any Out of Hut activities (although confirming that for Crawcrook we do not need to do so for trips to Sled Lane and Hill 60). CH is encouraging YLs to keep involved in Scouting when they move on, encouraging them to return to their home Group. He ended his report by making an award of a Wood badge to AH.
Closing remarks
CR thanked everyone for coming, and let people know that CD had some photos of last year’s Scout activities for anyone wishing to stay to see them. The meeting was closed at 7.50pm.
Income and Expenditure and Balance Sheet
Year ending 31 December 2024
| Income Balance B/F Subs Scout Camp Scout Camp 2025 Norway Confdo Pantomime Total income Natonal Savings Balance B/F Lloyds Bank Balance B/F Income |
Expenditure 7528.42 Eon 5198.60 Wave 167.54 Scout Associaton Fees 346.50 Scout Insurance 22797.87 Churches Fire Services 650.00 Norway Deposit 68.00 Pantomime Scout Badges Beaver Expenses Cub Expenses Scout Expenses Scout Camp Scout Camp Deposit 2025 Group Expenses WiFi Renewal Confdo 36756.93 Total expenditure Account Balances at 31 December 2024 3728.60 Cash in Hand £3728.60 7528.42 Expenditure 29228.51 Cash in Hand £36756.93 |
761.68 306.84 2295.00 746.46 60.67 22857.87 68.00 37.50 340.04 113.36 208.35 228.51 346.50 412.79 69.31 680.00 29532.88 3728.60 £3728.60 29532.88 7224.05 £36756.93 |
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