Present:
John Skrine [chair], Charles Mossman [vice-chair], Anne Tucker
[treasurer], Linda Lever [minutes secretary], Esther Mann, Gerald
Conyngham, Sarah Green, John Downes and Anne Hughes [all Core Group
members], Dee Ross, Maggie Stewart, Alan Stewart, Ian Doswell, Dave
Dann, Claire Duthie, Laura Conyngham, Ed Sharpe, Julie Lowenthal,
Jill Baines, Paula Mossman, Pete Mason, Leslie Hampson, Eve
Malster, Ann Varker, Hazel Underwood, Nick Way, Andy Chapman, Nancy
Dowling.[28 people]
Apologies:
Chris Bury, Lynne Richards, Christine Marshall, Anne Stobart
Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The minutes of the previous AGM were approved.
Matters Arising
There were no matters arising.
Past Year's Activities
Reports on the past year's activities [illustrated with
projections of photos from events, see above]
Waste Action Group [Esther Mann]
Avery successful year including: Christmas Tree Festival,
plastic collections [4.1 tonnes collected], a recycling award to
Charles for the plastic collection in Cheriton Fitzpaine and a
'Give and Take' pop-up-shop. The latter resulted in over 7,000
visits, the reuse of 7,000 kilos of unwanted goods, TV coverage and
increased activity in the High Street - all very positive and
enthusiastically welcomed by the public.
Woodland and Hedgerow Group [Charles Mossman]
Coppicing and hedge laying have continued with a core group of
6/7 people and 3/4 others who come occasionally.
Transport Group [Laura Conyngham]
Cycle rides have continued and a leaflet of rides around
Crediton been distributed; work continues on a cycle route from
Newton St Cyres to Half Moon with much enthusiasm and the Belle
Parade route has been established.
Food Group [Dee Ross]
A foraging walk, jam and chutney making and a salad bar at the
Food Festival were all successful. Community markets were less
successful in 2014 and these have been discontinued at present. The
5th annual Seed Share was very well attended, running
out of seeds, and enhanced by stalls, lunches and music from the
Woodmen. Wild flower kits have been distributed. The chief
executive of Garden Organic visited to promote saving of local seed
varieties.
Other Events and Action [Gerald Conyngham]
We have helped to organise two election hustings, responded to
MDDC local plan review with comments on energy and housing in
particular, reached a different audience at the Justice event
organised by local churches, taken part in the Christmas parade and
helped with Crediton's Neighbourhood Plan.
Energy Group [Charles Mossman]
A large grant was gained to fund a feasibility study looking
into community energy. This has involved public meetings, meetings
with business owners, a meeting with Crediton Learning Community
and surveys of lots of large roofs. The report should be finished
soon and we are hoping for a viable project.
Website [Sarah Green]
The site has had a major upgrade and 3 more editors have been
trained. 219 new pages have added to the enormous amount of
information available. Use is increasing all the time [8400 people
have used it this year] and use is enhanced by Facebook posts. The
newsletter goes out via the website to nearly 700 people, a 14%
increase this year. Sarah reminded us about the market place
facility for members on the site.
Paula Mossman proposed a vote of thanks to Charles for all his
work keeping the newsletter published every month and to the Core
Group for co-ordinating everything; this was endorsed by those
present.
Treasurer's Report
Anne reported the 2014 income was £23,142 and expenditure
£18,993 giving us a surplus for the year of £4,219 and an end of
year balance of £9,323 [all figures to nearest £]. She pointed out
that most of the income was from grants to be spent on particular
projects and that a large payment had yet to be made for the
Community Energy Feasibility Study. There is about £3,200 in
general funds. The written report included a break-down of income
and expenditure for our 26 events; these made a small loss. The accounts had been audited and approved by Peter
Moffett.
Paula Mossman proposed the approval of the accounts, seconded by
Claire Duthie and agreed unanimously.
Election of Core Group and Officers
There were no new nominations for these positions, but all the
current people were willing to stand:
Chair - John Skrine; Vice-chair - Charles Mossman; Treasurer -
Anne Tucker
Gerald Conyngham proposed that they be re-elected, seconded by
Claire Duthie and agreed.
Linda Lever [minutes secretary], Esther Mann, Gerald Conyngham,
Sarah Green, John Downes and Anne Hughes proposed as ordinary
members by Paula Mossman, seconded by Claire and agreed.
AOB
The 'Get Active and Involved in Crediton' on 11 July was
advertised, as was a fund raiser in Bow for the Nepal
earthquake.
The meeting ended at 8.35. It was followed by some very
enjoyable music from the Woodmen, chips and dips, and even some
dancing!