Minutes of the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 7th September 2022
Present:
Mockie Harrison (Acting Chair)
Morag Watkins (Treasurer)
Sophie Finn (Committee member)
Sonbol Perfitt (Committee member)
Martin Russell Jones (Committee member)
Lesley McHale (Secretary)
Jenny Woods, Roger Prowse, Stephen Oliver, Marian Barnaby, Donna White, Sue Hilton, Mark Hughes, Rebecca Moreau, Sheena Herbert, Fran Mole, Jenny Freeman, Hazel Salmon, Shirley McArdle, Barbara Burrows, Toni Walker, Heather Wears, Pat Hopper
1 and 2. Welcome from the acting Chair (Mockie Harrison) and apologies
Mockie Harrison opened the meeting and welcomed everyone present.
3. Acceptance and approval of the minutes of the previous AGM
The minutes of the 2021 AGM were approved by Mockie Harrison and seconded by Jenny Woods. A copy was available on the website and on the noticeboard in the centre.
4. Chair’s report.
A report had been prepared by the outgoing chair, Caroline Jennings and her full report is attached at Appendix A. The highlights included the achievements of the last year including the successful re-establishment of the arts sessions over the last year and the steady increase in membership. A particular tribute was paid to Stephen Oliver and Jette McCowen for all their help in co-ordinating and supporting the pottery sessions.
5. Treasurer’s report
The accounts had been circulated with the agenda prior to the meeting. The report covered the period from April 2021 to end of March 2022 and is attached at Appendix B. From 1st September 2021 a new fees model was successfully introduced and the majority of members now pay online. A 3 months fee holiday benefited members following the re-opening of the centre and the new fees model provided regular income to cover the costs of running the centre. Additional income was generated through the Xmas sale and workshops and a donation was received from the Quakers. The reserves have been maintained during the financial year however the financial climate continues to be challenging in 2022/23 with increasing bills for all utilities and insurance plus an additional bill for wifi. Wifi was recently installed and will benefit members using the centre. There has been an increase in membership, generating additional fees, and the website continues to generate interest from prospective members. The major asset remains the building which is owned by the charity and ongoing works were commissioned and will be completed in the financial year 2022/2023. The reserves will continue to be used to improve the building and to partially fund increases in bills that may not be covered by an increase in fees.
6. Increase in fees
The increasing gas and electricity bills are particularly concerning and hard to predict. Electricity usage has doubled with the increased use of the pottery kilns and the monthly bills have been averaging £91 for gas and £255 for electricity however, these will increase with a rise in prices and usage over the winter months. The committee has agreed that the annual membership subscription will remain at £30 for all members of the centre to be paid by 30th September. A small increase in fees will be implemented from 1st September 2022 to partially offset the increase in bills to run the centre. To reflect the higher usage of electricity by the potters, the pottery sessions will increase by £11 per year moving from an annual cost of £176 to £187. For those paying monthly the cost is £15.60. For all other all year groups eg. Textiles and Friday painting the annual fee increases by £8 from £132 to £140. For those paying monthly, the instalment is £11.70. Life drawing sessions on Thursday evening (including model fees) increases by £5 and moves from £210 to £215 per year or a term fee of £72. Painting sessions on Tuesday morning increases by £5 per year moving from £108 to £113 or a term fee of £38. A poster with the new charges will be placed on the noticeboard and on the website. Consideration will be give to any members who are experiencing financial hardship and please contact Morag Watkins to discuss.
7. Retiring officers
The committee stood down. The acting Chair thanked Caroline Jennings and paid tribute to her extensive work, drive and energy in her role as Chair of the committee and she will continue to support the committee until Xmas. Thanks was also made to Jenny Woods who has contributed to the work of the committee for many years and Fiona Kelly who acted as the health and safety member and the secretary. All the committee members were thanked for their contribution including Sophie Finn who has managed the website, Sonbol Perfitt for her work on health and safety, Morag Watkins for her work as secretary, Martin Russell Jones for managing the building and Elaine Bailey for keeping the centre supplied so it is able to function effectively.
8. Election of officers
At the AGM the three “officers” of the charity are appointed for the year. The following members were proposed for election as Officers to the Executive Committee
Mockie Harrison was proposed as Chairperson and seconded by Sonbol Perfitt
Morag Watkins was proposed as Treasurer and seconded by Sue Hilton
Lesley McHale was proposed as Secretary and seconded by Sophie Finn
There were no objections and the officers are appointed.
The following members will continue to sit on the committee
Sophie Finn, Sonbol Perfitt , Martin Russell Jones, Lizzy Duncan
And will be joined by new members Mark Hughes and Rebecca Moreau.
The committee is always looking for new members and/or volunteers. Volunteers are urgently needed to organise the xmas sale and support on the website. Please contact Mockie Harrison if you can volunteer your time on a one off basis or if you could attend committee meetings on a regular basis (every two months). If you have any ideas or suggestions for improving the centre then please contact any of the committee members who will raise this on your behalf at a future meeting.
9. Any other business
Stephen Oliver thanked all the pottery volunteers for loading and unloading the kilns, mixing glazes and keeping the sump and clay supplies in good order.
Sue Hilton thanked Mockie Harrison and the committee for all their hard work during the year.
Mockie Harrison explained that next year (2023) will be the 130th anniversary of the opening of the building that houses the arts centre and activities to celebrate this anniversary and involve the local community will be planned.
Appendix A: Chair’s Report
Appendix B: Treasurer’s report