12 May 2010 DRAFT FOR APPROVAL AT THE 2011 AGM

Present:  The Officers of the Trust and a number of members

ITEM 1 – CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS
The Chairman Philip Butler welcomed everyone to the 41st AGM of the Skelton Village Trust. The agenda for the meeting had been published on village noticeboards. Our Spring newsletter and AGM calling notice had been delivered or emailed to all members. The notice summarised the work of the Trust and gave details of committee membership and the accounts for the year to December 2009.

ITEM 2 - MINUTES
The minutes of the AGM held on 6th May 2009 were accepted as a true and accurate record of the meeting and were duly signed by the Chairman.

ITEM 3 - MATTERS ARISING
There were no matters arising.

ITEM 4 – CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2009/10
I have pleasure in presenting my report for the last year on behalf of your committee.

As usual we held three speaker evenings on a wide range of subjects. Following last year’s AGM Martin Grainger a senior planner in York City Council with strong family links to Skelton brought us up to date with his talk “Planning the Future for York and its Villages” In October we welcomed back the highly entertaining Ian Dewhirst who regaled us with tales of “Life in the 50s” and at our February gathering Ian Drake gave us an insight into the huge contribution made to the conservation of York’s heritage by Dr John Evelyn, illustrated by a wide selection of photos from the Evelyn collection.

 Moving to committee activities: we have monitored all planning applications in and around the village which this year have been noticeably few in number, presumably reflecting the economic climate. We raised no objection to the few that were submitted, although we maintained contact with planning officers over three significant projects involving houses in the Conservation Area. An application to construct a new dwelling to the north of Church Lane, to which we originally objected, was initially refused but has been granted on resubmission. Your committee is of the view that this project could give rise to further development proposals in that area which should be strongly resisted.

In the autumn a new and more wildlife – friendly hedge will be laid followed by wild flower planting and the provision of bird and bat boxes. We carried out our annual bulb planting – the attractive results of which have cheered us all up after the interminable winter. We also donated bulbs to the school and to the Friends of Skelton Pond for their own planting.

Tree work under the stewardship of Ian Richardson has this year concentrated largely on providing sturdy metal guards for the recently planted saplings. These guards are quite expensive so we have to proceed within our budget. You will note they formed our biggest outlay in 2009. Ian – in liaison with Parish Council – also arranged for some of the lower limbs of the trees on the Green to be removed thus improving the view of the church. We continue to seek suitable sites for possible tree planting and welcome suggestions.

Our biggest environmental project is the hedge between Orchard View and Orchard Field. After consultation with local householders, city council and in liaison with the Parish Council a programme of work was agreed. The first stages were to clear the existing jungle like eyesore and the accumulated rubbish within, together with the decrepit fencing. We funded the former and the Parish Council have funded the new fence which is now in place. In the autumn a new and more wildlife – friendly hedge will be laid followed by wild flower planting and the provision of bird and bat boxes. Such a project does not come cheap and our resources are limited. It is pleasing to report therefore that through the efforts of Derek Jackson we have obtained significant grant funding from York Community Pride Challenge Fund and York & North Yorkshire Community Foundation. I would like to acknowledge the effort and time which Derek and Ian have put into this project so far and I know they will welcome any assistance when we come to the next stage in the autumn.

Nancy Spratt continues to oversee the archive, some of the results of which follow this AGM. To further encourage interest an archive open day will be held in conjunction with the school (where the archive is held) on Saturday October 2.nd

We continue to seek a successor to Nancy and welcome a conversation with anyone interested in looking after this small but fascinating record of Skelton’s history both distant and recent.

Diane Thornton continues to refresh and expand our website which receives visitors from all over the world but largely from the UK . It really is a great advertisement for our village as well as an up to date insight into our activities.

Membership. Whilst this is at an all-time high we still represent a small proportion of households in Skelton. We plan to have a publicity campaign and would ask existing members to support this by encouraging friends and neighbours to join. Our Treasurer is standing at the receipt of custom ready to receive subs from members old and new at the amazingly low cost of £3 per individual or £5 per household. Further donations are as always gratefully received.

That concludes my report. Are there any questions?
 
ITEM 5 – TO APPROVE REVISED CONSTITUTION
The Chairman said: “The Constitution of the Trust dates from its founding in 1968. It was last amended in a very minor way and approved at the AGM in 2000. 10 years on your committee has taken a thorough look at the document and now recommends to you changes aimed at both updating and simplification. For example, the original intention was to register as a Charity. This was never done, therefore references to charitable status and associated matters have been removed.

Details of the proposed changes have been posted on our website. An item in the April Parish Newsletter and in our own recent Newsletter to members gave notice of the proposal and offered copies of the proposals via contact with me or the secretary.

You will therefore be relieved to know that I do not intend to go through the document this evening. We have had no notice of disagreement to date so now is the last opportunity for members to ask questions or raise objections. Are there any points to be raised?

In that case may I put to you that the committee’s proposed revised Constitution is accepted”
The motion, proposed by J McMeekin and seconded by C Holland, was carried unanimously.

ITEM 6 – TREASURER’S REPORT 2009
The accounts for year ending 31 December 2009 were given in full in the AGM calling notice. They showed annual receipts as £1271.25, expenditure as £774.43 and a cash balance of £980.85. Ian Hutchinson FCA was thanked for auditing the accounts which were then approved.

ITEM 7 - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2010/11– ANY OTHER BUSINESS
The Chairman reported: “I record my thanks to Chris Holland vice-chairman, Jean Lumley secretary, Ian Richardson treasurer and other committee members for the work they have put in this past year. The current rules state that any Trust member may volunteer – or be volunteered – for committee membership and that after three years service a committee member who is not an officer should stand down if there are any new candidates.

 This year Derek Jackson is standing down. Derek has been a committee member for seven years including two years as secretary and four years handling publicity and communications. He has always involved himself in all aspects of our work and will continue to support us with specific regard to the hedge project. I am particularly grateful for the support he has given to me and wonder how he’s now going to fill in his time.

 I am pleased to announce that Ian Hutchinson has agreed to be nominated to committee membership. Otherwise your committee and officers offer themselves for reelection – may I have your approval”

 The meeting approved the election of officers and committee.

 
ITEM 8 – ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.

 
Philip Butler Chairman Date …………………..