Minutes of the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 25th June 2025 at 8pm at the Chorleywood Community Arts Centre

 

Present:  see end of minutes                                                                                           

Apologies: see end of minutes

1. Welcome from the Chair (Mockie Harrison) 

Mockie Harrison opened the meeting and welcomed everyone present. 

2. Acceptance and Approval of the minutes of the 2024 AGM.

The Minutes of the 2024 AGM were approved, proposed by Karen Thomson and seconded by Mandy Berman.  

3. Chair’s report (Mockie Harrison)

"We continue to thrive as a Community Arts Centre with eleven pottery groups and seven art groups including a new evening one. I’m confident that we’re meeting our primary charitable aim of educating people in the Arts as we’ve also had a variety of workshops through the last membership year, some organised by Rickmansworth and District Arts Society (RADAS) with whom we’ve developed a strong relationship. The  kids’ after school sessions that were due to begin in April didn’t materialise, but we now have another art class business interested in doing the same thing on Wednesday afternoons which should start in the autumn. Excitingly, they’ll be running kid’s workshops in August.

In terms of a platform to discuss best practice and ideas for improving everything for all 144 members, both the Pottery Forum and Art Forum are the place to bring your ideas and energy. I hope everyone has enjoyed all the art and pottery that have been displayed through the year, I know I’ve loved seeing the variety of work. We’ve also changed to a new format newsletter which I’ve had a positive response to in terms of easily of being able to click through to email replies and website links. If anyone hasn’t received their newsletter, please let me know. Google seems to love to sweep newsletters into Spam and Promotions folders.

At the last AGM we mentioned space and mobility access challenges we face. Unfortunately the feasibility study hasn’t progressed as much as I would have liked. We also discussed installing solar panels but sadly Three Rivers District Council turned down our application for prior approval. However Bob Woolley and I recently met with one of the Chorleywood Residents Association members who specialise in planning applications and the Secretary of the Parish Council and they both gave us some helpful advice which we’re acting on.

As always, my thanks go to everyone who’s put in extra time keeping our arts centre running smoothly. The potters keeping the firing system going, group leaders, gardening volunteers and the Trustees committee. Being a self-funding membership charity who own their premises has many benefits, however, without any paid workers it does mean that we all need to keep offering any help that we can, otherwise it falls on the same shoulders all the time. In particular my thanks go to Morag Watkins as Treasurer who invests a lot of her time into CCAC. This year she’s significantly reduced our energy bills and did a fantastic job organising the Exhibition in October. Lesley McHale, who does a great job recording committee meetings and pottery forum minutes, Sonbol Perfitt who takes responsibility for Health and Safety and kindly painted our front door. We welcomed David Gabriel onto the committee and he has kindly taken responsibility for the pottery waiting list, much to the Chair’s relief! We also welcome Hilary Walker who will take responsibility for membership. Last but not least of the current committee, Bob Woolley, who looks after Premises, who has certainly had his hands full this year!

In the last committee meeting, we expressed our thanks to Caroline Jennings who has given at least six years to the committee, serving as Secretary and Chair in her time through the stressful period of Covid lockdown and re-opening, plus financial restructuring, but has now stepped down. She will continue enjoying her time with her pottery and painting groups. Due to work pressure, Marion Clayfield has also stepped down, but is still helping us with architectural drawings for our solar panels application. We are also saying a sad farewell to Beki Moreau who will not only be leaving the committee, and in particular her role as Chair of the Pottery Forum, but she’ll even be leaving the country! The time, energy and guidance she has given to many potters and the centre and her personality will be sorely missed.

The reason I am putting emphasis on voluntary efforts, is that we’re down in numbers on the committee, so please talk to me afterwards if you can help. We particularly need someone with the skills to administer the website.

My thanks go to all the members for their continuing support. I wish you all a great 2025/26."

4. Treasurer's Report (Morag Watkins)

 

The accounts for the year had been circulated in advance and provided in hard copy at the AGM. The money received for 24/25 was £33,905 and the outgoings were £26,420 leaving a surplus of £7,484 resulting in the accounts holding £26,836 (current) and £87,580 (savings). There was less surplus than 2023/24 as a large donation had increased the surplus for that year. The electricity and gas standing order charges had been renegotiated and decreased our costs. 85% of the electricity bill is the cost of running the kilns and why potters pay higher fees. The coming year will hopefully see the installation of solar panels and a re-arrangement of the pottery studio to place the clay sump outside which will incur refurbishment costs. 

 

5. Fees for 2025/26

There are no changes to the fees for the coming year.


6. Election of officers

 

The committee stood down. All committee members were thanked for their contribution. At the AGM three officers of the charity are appointed for the year. The following members were proposed for election as Officers of the Executive Committee. 

  • Mockie Harrison was elected as Chairperson, proposed by Jane Jackson and seconded by Delia Su

  • Morag Watkins was elected as Treasurer, proposed by Mockie Harrison and seconded by Mandy Berman

  • Lesley McHale was elected as joint Secretary, proposed by Morag Watkins and seconded by Barny Jackson

  • Hilary Walker was elected as joint Secretary, proposed by Chris Jones and seconded by Jane Jackson

 

There were no objections and the officers are appointed. The following members will continue to sit on the committee

    • Bob Woolley

    • Sonbol Perfitt

    • David Gabriel


 7. Any other business 

 

Morag asked everyone to carefully recycle and place the correct materials in the available bins.  

  

 8. Close of meeting

 

Mockie thanked everyone for attending and the meeting was closed.

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Attendees:: Stephen Oliver, Beki Moreau, Karen Thomson, Alison Knowles, Mandy Berman, Richard Berman, Chris Jones, Barny Jackson, Roger Prowse, Robert Southall, Debbie Edwards, Marlene Read, Judith Kollo, Michael Peters, Christine Stevens, Fiona Ryan-Watson, Bob Woolley, Delia Su, Barbara Burrows, Hilary Walker, Jane Jackson, Sandie Holland, Claire Fallowfield, Mick Flinn, Mockie Harrison, Morag Watkins and Lesley McHale.

Apologies: Patricia Barrett, Debbie Bloomfield, Ros Asher, Dawn Kite, Christine Plumb, Ann Taylor, Natalie Jenkins, Lois Baxter, Martin Clayton, Fiona Kelly, Fenella Mowbray, Nadia Geller, Graham Ralph, Barbara Jorgensen, Sarah Crickmore, Elaine Pollecoff, Karen Fielding, Janet Allen, Fred Pratley, Sarah Moss, Donna White, Deborah Blackmore, Sonbol Perfitt, Sue Wharton and Sharon Carter.