Thorncombe Village Trust / Thorncombe Environment Group
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Thursday 19th May 2022 at 1930 at Thorncombe
Sports and Social Club
Trustees Present: Mark Agnew (Chairman & Treasurer), Richard Holt (Secretary), John
Whitbread, Janet Walker, Neil Croton, Peter Waller, Diana Berry, Nathan Berry.
1 Apologies: None
2 Minutes of last meeting. The minutes of the Annual General Meeting on 25th May
2021 were read and approved, and were signed by the Chair.
3 Matters arising. The gate for Johnson’s Wood has been purchased, and will be fitted
in place soon. The recent tree planting still requires signs to provide information
about their significance and a map of the distribution in the village is still to
be prepared.
4 Chairman’s Report. The Trust had since 2015 been offering and granting funds to
local projects that met the aims of the Trust. However, applications had fallen off
and it seemed there was no longer a need for the Trust in its then form. One application
was approved, and £400 was allocated to the Club for replacing a hedge. Last autumn
a series of public meetings were held to see if there was an interest in relaunching
the Trust. This was indeed the case and a new constitution was debated and drawn
up. This was to be approved at this meeting. It was suggested at the public meetings
that the Trust should once more hold meetings and events. A very successful guided
walk around the village was held last Sunday, and at the end of this meeting there
will be a talk on the West Dorset Beaver project by the Dorset Wildlife Trust. The
Chairman thanked all the Trustees for their hard work and contribution to keeping
the Trust going and bringing it to the point of being relaunched. He particularly
thanked Kate Cahn for her leading the Trust and to Richard Holt for his work as Secretary.
5 Treasurer’s Report. The balance of the funds stands at £5319.41. There was one
grant of £400, costs of £95 for trees, £84 for web hosting, £43 for Trust meetings
and £42 to Dorset Wildlife Trust membership.
6 Election of Trustees/Committee members. In accordance with the Constitution, all
trustees are required to resign at the AGM, and may then put themselves forward for
re-election. Neil Croton, Nathan Berry, Diana Berry and Peter Waller offered themselves
for re-election. Fiona Waters, William Bragg, Susan Kent and William Wilding offered
themselves as new members. Since this number is below the maximum specified in the
Constitution, there was no need for a formal election.
7 Election of Chair. Neil Croton offered to become Chair. Proposed by Sue Goodlet
and Seconded by Sally Welford. All were in favour, none against, and Neil was duly
elected Chair. Mark Agnew handed over the chair to Neil.
8 Officers of the Group. The new chair suggested that the committee should meet after
the AGM at an early opportunity and decide on duties. This was approved.
9. Changes to the Constitution and name of the Trust. Neil Croton suggested that
much work had already gone into the shape of the new Group. A draft Constitution
had been drawn up and a new name suggested. He asked if there were any objections
to the name Thorncombe Environment Group, or suggestions for another name. There
were none and by unanimous vote, this name was adopted. He then asked if there were
any suggested changes or additions to the existing draft Constitution. No new changes
were suggested and the new Constitution was unanimously approved.
10. Membership arrangements. It is hoped that the Group will embark on more activities
in the parish going forward, and these will require funds to achieve. In view of
the healthy state of the finances, there is no pressing need to raise funds immediately,
so it was suggested that membership be free of any subscription for the first year,
but that annual fees could be agreed at the next AGM. This met with approval. The
question was asked, how does one become a member? We have a contact list of the people
who have provided their e-mail addresses to be kept informed and that this will suffice
as a membership list for the present.
11 Any Other Business. The outgoing Chair/Treasurer and Secretary said that they
would be available to handover files and information to the new Officers of the Group
once they are appointed. The TVT Bank account is with Lloyds Bank. The current signatories
for cheques are Kate Cahn and Richard Holt. Once the new Committee is settled they
will need to instruct the bank about the change of the Group’s name and the new personnel.
The TVT is a member of the Dorset Wildlife Trust. They also need to be informed of
the change of name for the Group and of a new correspondence address.
12. Date of next meeting. The provisional date for the next AGM is at 1930 on Tuesday
18 th May, 2023. This will be confirmed in due course. The meeting closed at 2010.
