Blairlogie Community and Heritage Trust
Minutes of AGM on Thursday 21st September 2023 7.30pm in the Reading Room
Clem Flanagan (Chair), Tim Beechey (Treasurer), Claire Beechey (Secretary), John Randall, Sheila Randall, Angus Annan, Lys Hansen, Ian Doyle, Peter Jennings, Una Bryce, Susan Allen, Mike Allen, Gaye Clark, Bill Clark, Selina Makower, Mike Makower, Mary Maxwell-Irving, Georgina Cairns
Robin Kelsall, Craig Bryce, Rory Bailey
These were approved - proposed by Clem Flanagan, seconded by Mike Allen
Receival of report and accounts for year 2022-23
Clem gave the summary report as attached.
The accounts are with the auditor Anne Knox, still awaiting approval.
There were no questions regarding the annual report and accounts.
Nominated
Seconded
Angus Annan
Clem Flanagan
John Randall
Ian Doyle
Ian Doyle
Peter Jennings
Rory Bailey, John Randall and Mike Allen have retired from the board at the end of their 4 year terms.
Craig and Una Bryce have been renting the garden to the rear of the Reading Room for 19 years, paying a nominal £1/year rent and would like to purchase it.
There is no access for hall users to the garden and it was felt that it makes sense to sell it to them, with the proviso that we retain access for maintenance etc. This would be noted in the deeds.
Profits raised could be used to fund essential maintenance on the hall such as the painting and repair of the windows and guttering.
The garden has been valued at £750 by the surveyor DM Hall. The Bryces have generously offered to pay £1000, plus any costs incurred.
The proposed sale of the garden was put to a vote. A majority of 13 were in favour of the sale, and there were no objections.
Angus Annan – thanks to John Randall for running the 100 Club again this year, a good source of income for the hall.
Susan Allen – would like to restart coffee morning as a joint event with the baby group, and asked if there was any preference for morning or afternoon. Two preferences for morning were expressed. Clem suggested a poll on WhatsApp, and also asked for advance notice so that it can be added to the booking calendar. First meeting will be 11th October.
9th November 7.30pm in the Reading Room.
Reminders will be sent out by email to trustees.
Summary of the BCHT’s 2022–23 annual report
Achievements and performance
With the pandemic lockdowns lifted, the Reading Room has enjoyed a period of renewed activity, with plenty of bookings from customers old and new. Bookings are split between commercial and community-led activities, and have included:
a private Christmas party
a village Christmas quiz
community council meetings, before the council was dissolved
weekly yoga classes
workshops by UNDO Carbon and the Future Forest Company
weekly meetings of the Chatty Crafters
and monthly Coffee Mornings and the Infants & Elders Group.
John Randall has also continued to run the 100 Club.
Financial review
Total income for the period 2022–23: £4,951.92 (2021–22 £1,890.17)
Grants received from Stirling Council: £1,000 (2021–22 £900)
Total expenditure: £3,503.15 (2021–22 £3,191.58)
Profits made: £1,448.77 (2021–22 -£1,301.91)
An offer to purchase the hall garden has recently been received from Craig and Una Bryce. The garden has been valued at £750 by DM Hall and the offer is £1000 plus any legal costs involved. ‘Access by private agreement’ would be added to the deeds of Hillside to allow access from the hall if this should ever be required.
There is currently no access to the hall garden from the Reading Room, and the sale of the garden will generate income that can be put towards essential maintenance.
This income will fall into the 2023–24 financial year but is worth noting now as we look towards the future of the Reading Room.
Future plans
The BCHT has plans to attract more local businesses to hire the hall and will also continue to organise popular community events such as the annual village barbeque, ceilidhs and a Christmas quiz. We will also continue to seek funding from Stirling Council.
The Reading Room is also in need of maintenance: the gutters and windows are in need of repair and painting. The BCHT is enquiring about costs.