Fetlar Community Association
Minutes of the AGM 6 August 2022
- In attendance
Ruth B, Graham B, Peter S, Julie M, Janet K, Juliet B, Bob L, Barbara H, Raymond I, Chris B, Kenny R, Paul M, Lucy, Lisa S, Sheila, Becky W, Lee M.
- Apologies
Neil B
3. Chairman’s report
Pete welcomed all those present and thanked them for their attendance.
- The growing project is now going well, thanks to Graham for all the work setting it up.
- The Sheep Dog Trials were cancelled but the Fish and Chips continued and were appreciated.
- Only one Cruise ship visited rather than the proposed four, but it went well thanks to Lucy and others for the catering and Lisa for the Crafts.
- The Sunday teas are going well but would benefit from more marketing. Thanks to Barbara and Mandy for organising.
- The bar takings were initially affected by the Covid closure of the hall but have picked up in the summer.
- The website is nearly ready and is now controlled by the Association.
- There has been a good number of campers at the site.
- Thanks to Tom Allen retiring Secretary who stood down as he is now working away from Fetlar and to Chris who took over at short notice.
- There is a concert being proposed for the 23rd of September.
4. Minutes of the 2020 AGM held on the 3.12.2021
These were available electronically prior to the meeting and were accepted as an accurate record. Proposed by Graham Booth seconded by Barbara Herman agreed unanimously.
5. Financial Report (Graham Booth)
The Finance Report was available electronically prior to the meeting.
Graham Booth presented a summary of the accounts.
The accounts were Proposed by Peter Sawford, seconded by Raymond Imrie and unanimously accepted.
The Bank Balance as of the end of the accounting period was around £33,000 an increase on the previous year of around £3,000.
The Association will now have to move forward to secure funds to replace the roof of the hall. Planning permission has been granted.
Juliet suggested including Solar power in any proposals to support the green agenda.
6. Community Growing Project (Graham Booth)
As noted above the growing project is going well and being enjoyed by the growers and producing a wealth of home-grown food.
Graham thanked Paul Parsons for the help given in the design of the Polycrubs and his ongoing guidance and supervision of the scheme.
Grant funds covered most of the costs, but the Community Association had to use £4,000 of its own funds for items not eligible for grant funding.
There may yet be a need for a building warrant.
Reasonable charges will be maintained.
7. Website (Chris Bolton)
The new website has taken longer than expected but is nearly ready and should go live next week. There will be mistakes and gaps, but the Association will have control of all aspects of the site and those issues can be addressed.
It will be better to have the new site up and running rather than keeping the old site.
Paul M asked if the archives from the old site will still be available. Chris will ensure that this is the case.
8. Proposal to move towards a new Constitution (Chris Bolton)
The draft new Constitution was made available electronically prior to the meeting. Some helpful comments had already been made by Juliet and Lucy.
Chris presented the reasons for moving to a new constitution.
- The association is currently an unincorporated association. This means that assets such as the hall and polycrubs are held in the individual names of trustees some of whom are no longer on the Committee.
- This means that there is difference between the trustees who have legal title and those who have legal responsibility.
- The proposed Scottish Charitable Incorporated Association would address that issue.
- There are also some funders who will not support organisations that are not incorporated.
- Graham also commented that the Association has a bigger brief now than just the hall with the Polycrubs and website.
The proposal was Proposed by Peter Sawford, seconded by Juliet Bellis and unanimously accepted.
9) Election to the Committee (Peter Sawford)
All the FCA Committee stand down each year.
This was done and Ruth chaired the next process.
Janet proposed the existing committee continue to help continuity.
All agreed to stand again.
Juliet Bellis and Raymond Imrie were proposed as new members.
These were all unanimously supported.
The new Committee is, therefore.
Peter Sawford, Graham Booth, Kenny Ritchie, Julie Maguire, Barbara Herman, Chris Bolton. Juliet Bellis and Raymond Imrie. Office bearers to be decided at the first meeting.
10) Any other Business (Peter Sawford)
10.1 Use of the Hall
Lee proposed using the hall for more social/fitness activities such as using the gym and badminton. This proposal was welcomed, and the committee will discuss and arrange suitable times.
10.2 Disused Turbine
Raymond proposed working to bring the disused turbine in the hall grounds back to life.
The logic being that there must be planning permission for the turbine and it could be replaced by a more modern and efficient one.
This proposal was supported and the committee will discuss the feasibility of developing wind power.
Download accounts here