Post date: Oct 31, 2016 4:28:2 PM
North Chelmsford Community Trust AGM
14th September 2016, 7pm
At St Andrew’s Church, Melbourne Avenue
In attendance:
Stephen Robinson
Jude Deakin
Karen Whybro
Darren Moore
Jill Smith-Hughes
Paul Greenland
Ruth Hughes
Edith Miller
Sayed Rahman
Agenda
Agree minutes of previous AGM
Update on council decision regarding former St. Peter’s site.
Financial update
Election of trustees and officers
Proposed register of Writtle Wick as a community asset
The minutes of NCCT’s September 2015 AGM were discussed & agreed and are available on the website at www.northchelmsford.org.uk
2. Stephen Robinson described the update on council’s decisions regarding planning for the old St. Peter’s College site. Essex Education have decided that two special needs schools would be provided on the site and the rest to be sold for development.
The NCCT proposes to:
Gather community views on use of site according to needs
Consider housing, open spaces & community facilities
Create a credible business plan for a community hub to include space for local community, recreational facilities, changing facilities for sports associations, co-working space for local businesses, working space for charities
Stephen had agreed with Simon Carpenter (former head of St. Peters & trustee of Kids Inspire) that he could help with business plan writing. It was noted that County Cllr. John Spence had been instrumental in ensuring that the PRU did not relocate to the site. He could be a good advocate for NCCT plans.
It was agreed that NCCT’s plans could help meet community needs identified by the County and City Councils e.g. reducing unemployment, social exclusion, skill shortages.
Ideas already discussed include:
Co-working space in collaboration with Daniel Kenning from Ideas Hub
Collaborative work space with on-site creche for working parents in collaboration with Karen Whybro from Stay, Play & Work
In collaboration with The Ideas Hub in town, it has been suggested that NCCT might temporarily use space in Threadneedle House in Chelmsford City Centre to road-test the ideas of coworking & creche. The Ideas Festival taking place on Friday 11th November has already advertised to local community for taster day for co-working space.
3. Financial Update by Paul Greenland (treasurer)
Current financial overview stands at:
£1,000 loan (required minimum balance for a charity account)
£185 in bank from donations & some subscriptions for this year
No spending
NOTE: Membership year needs clarifying. It was agreed that this should probably be a couple of months before the AGM in future. Stephen Robinson suggested we discuss & decide at next Trustees meeting.
No questions.
4. Election of trustees
Ruth Hughes proposed (seconded by Sayed Rahman) all of the following:
As Trustees and Officers
Stephen Robinson: Chair
Karen Whybro: Secretary
Paul Greenland: Treasurer
Other Trustees:
Jude Deakin
Darren Moore
Jill Smith-Hughes
Stephen thanked Karen and Darren for agreeing to become Trustees.
5. Writtle Wick Family Centre
Stephen Robinson explained that the local Family Centres were being closed at Writtle Wick & Witham, to be amalgamated at Duke Street in early 2017. Writtle Wick has facilities that would make it ideal for use as a first community hub for NCCT to pursue its community objectives, including for creche and associated working space.
Stephen therefore proposed that NCCT nominate Writtle Wick as an Asset of Community Value to avoid Essex County Council selling the building to developers for at least 6 months. All agreed.
7:45pm AGM formally closed.
Post-meeting note: other Trust members were contacted after the AGM and gave their assent to Item 5.