Minutes of AGM Saturday 9th November 2024
Attendance
Board Directors
Michael Shepherd (Treasurer)
Murray Knight (Secretary)
Keith Hicks
Siobhan McElhinney
Dave Earnshaw
Apologies
Ian Goodwin. Bob Morrisey (illness) Scott Goulding Charlie Stansfield
Trust Members
20 Trust members, including Board members, attended
13 Proxy votes were registered
Welcome and Introduction
The Secretary welcomed members to the AGM, thanking them for attending the meeting, and confirming that the combination of those participating and the lodging of Proxy votes by other members formed the quorate necessary to allow the meeting to take place. All members had been emailed the agenda, statement of accounts for the year ended 30 June 2024, and the Chair’s report. At this stage, the secretary paid tribute to George Brigham, who has stepped down from the post of Chair, due to work pressures, and thanked him for the work carried out in his time in the position.
Treasurer’s Report & Accountants’ Statement
Prior to the acceptance of the accounts for the year ended 30th Jube 2024, a motion was proposed that these accounts be accepted as unaudited, as the cost would be £3450, as opposed to £450, for the production and approval of the accounts as at present. The motion for acceptance of unaudited accounts for the accounts ending 30th June 2024 only was proposed by Vince Ashall, seconded by David Wright, and overwhelmingly approved by members present. This motion would have to be an item at each future AGM for approval.
With regard to the acceptance of the accounts for the year ended 30th June 2024, clarification on points arising from the floor was provided by the treasurer with any changes required being applied before submission to the Financial Conduct Authority. The move for acceptance of the accounts subject to these changes was proposed by Vince Ashall, seconded by Colin Cavanah, and overwhelmingly approved by the members present.
Re-appointment of Accountants
Michael Shepherd proposed the re-appointment of the current Accountants – Horsfield and Smith, seconded by Ian Bailey, and overwhelmingly approved by the members present.
Resignation of Directors
Resignations received from the current Board Directors for the year ended 30th June 2024:
Jane Prince Rhys Clough Matt Devine
Re-election of current Board Directors
As has been the practice in previous years, all current Directors are seeking to retire and have confirmed their application for re-election to the Board.
Additional applications for Board membership
Ruby Loynd (currently co-opted members)
Harry Holt (currently co-opted members)
Jake Dowd (currently co-opted members)
Board Appointments
Proposed Seconded
Chair (position vacant)
Michael Shepherd (Treasurer) Murray Knight Vince Ashall
Scott Goulding Dave Earnshaw Paul Hanson
Keith Hicks Paul Hanson David Wright
Siobhan McElhinney Ian Bailey Kath Campbell
Bob Morrisey Avis Gilmore Matt Devine
Ian Goodwin Vincent Ashal l Dave Earnshaw
Charlie Stansfield Paul Hanson David Wright
Dave Earnshaw Matt Devine Kath Campbell
Ruby Loynd Dave Earnshaw Janet Grant
Harry Holt Matt Devine Antony David Pease
Jake Dowd Dave Earnshaw Harry Holt
Having been proposed and seconded, the resultant votes for each applicant received were overwhelmingly in favour of confirmation of their appointments to the Board.
In addition, the Trust are grateful for the agreement by James Devine (Media) and Emma Loynd (Coach Travel Co-ordinator, to assist the Board in a volunteer capacity.
AOB and Questions
- Some members are not receiving information emailed out – eg monthly Newsletters, and, in some cases did not receive the documents regarding the AGM. There were also some members not recorded on the membership database, and these errors/omissions will be investigated.
- Matt Smith raised the question as to why the monthly Newsletters emailed to all members are not recorded on the web site. The web site was checked and they do appear under the heading “General”
- Reference was made to the statement made by the Club regarding the new format of future AGMs, without the opportunity of a forum taking place once AGM business is concluded. A date for a Fans Forum will closely follow the AGM to allow participation to include all fans, and not limited to shareholders.
- The funding of the Squad Builder and the Fighting Fund launched at the 2023 AGM, and strongly supported by BOGS, should have been reviewed at the end of last season. This did not happen, and there are suggestions for alternative projects to be considered. In the meantime, the SB and FF funds will continue to benefit from donations made until a change, if any, is made to support an alternative project. Those currently donating will then be advised whether or not to support either the current projects, or any new project adopted. However, if any new project/s is/are adopted, the final balance for the SB and the FF will be ring-fenced for use for those specific projects only.
All matters pertinent to the agenda of the AGM having been concluded, thanks were given to all who attended and the meeting was closed