Low Row and Feetham Literary Institute AGM
26th March 2025

Meeting opened at 7pm
 

Committee Members/ Trustees present – Louise Waller, Neil Jackson, Rik Lewis, Sue
Calvert, Andrew Calvert, David Calvert, Raymond Alderson, George Brown, Ann Brown,
Alan Thorogood, Julia Thorogood, Andrew Silver

 

Village Members – Kate Roxburgh, Gaynor Voice, Mike Betterton, Sue Alderson Apologies - Ray Calvert , Norman Sunter

 

Minutes of the previous AGM meeting held on 12th March 2024

Neil asked if everyone had read through these previous minutes. This was agreed unanimously and that they should be signed off as a true record.

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Chairman’s Report
Neil updated everyone on the woodworm treatment and toilet refurbishment, decorating,
new electric fuse board, cooker, water boiler.
He discussed the new groups using the hall and the events which have taken place during
the year and events yet to come. He particularly noted the 150 year celebrations and
thanked again Alan and Julia Thorogood for their huge effort making this happen.
He discussed the party on the pasture and all the fundraising and donations forwarded to
the institute to allow all the work at the hall to happen.
The lottery 100 club continues to make a huge impact per month on the funds and overall
the institute is in a financially healthy position moving forward.

 

Treasurer’s Report
Sue Calvert presented the accounts, year ending 31/1/25, examined by Ray Ford.
The lottery 100 club had been separated this year as requested at the last AGM. Donations
had been generous and this year for the first time, gift aid from the HMRC was claimed , Sue
thanked Alan and Julia Thorogood for their help with this.
Expenditure included painting externally, woodworm treatment, new water boiler for
the kitchen, radiators, hand dryers, lottery winnings,

 

Election of officers

The current committee members, Louise Waller (Secretary), Neil Jackson (Chairman),
Sue Calvert (Treasurer) and Rik Lewis (Management team member) all decided they
would stand down this year. The following new members were elected and voted in –
Kate Roxburgh – Secretary (seconded by Louise Waller)
Charlotte Roberts – Chairperson (seconded by Neil Jackson), although Charlotte was
unable to attend the meeting, she had already expressed an interest in this role.
Mike Betterton – Treasurer (seconded by Sue Calvert)
Gaynor Voice – Management Team Member (seconded by Rik Lewis)
 

All meeting attendees were asked if they were happy with this decision, a
unanimous agreement was made, thanked by everyone for replacing the original
members.

George Brown thanked the original members for all their hard work, seconded by all
other attendees.
The new committee members would need to be added as trustees and be on the charity
commission, Alan Thorogood agreed he would do the relevant paperwork for this, needing
information from the new committee members. Neil Jackson, Sue Calvert and Rik Lewis
agreed to stay on as trustees but Louise Waller asked to be removed.
The original committee members agreed to meet up on Charlotte’s return to have an official
handover and discuss any problems, also continuing to be available for anything that crops
up in future weeks/months.

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Update regarding the trustees on the Land Registry
Currently Raymond Alderson. George Brown and Matt Spenceley are recorderd on the
Land Registry as trustees for the institute. It was suggested that we replace Kenneth
Barningham (dec’d) who was also on this document with Andrew Calvert or Andrew
Silver.
Mr Alderson spoke regarding recent newspaper articles he had read noting that you only
had to have three people on this document not four as previously thought, so a unanimous
decision was made to leave the current three on for now and review at a further date as
and when needed.

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Safeguarding Policy Review
Rik Lewis updated everyone on the safeguarding policies, something he will follow through
with the new committee members. He also spoke about all the equipment manuals which
he had been updating and fire safety regulations.

 

Hall Hire Agreement Review
It was decided that the new committee members would review these costs

Sue Alderson questioned why we called ourselves Melbecks when we are Low Row. We as
a committee hadn’t ever called ourselves Melbecks, this was a misunderstanding with the
What’s App Group created by Elizabeth Bedford and Delyth Rennie. Sue Alderson was
happy with this answer.

AGM closed at 7.42pm