First AGM Minutes

THURSDAY, 01 May 2025 @ 11:00am in the Village Hall

1. Annual report

• There being no further nominations the three trustees: Stuart Purdie, Elaine Marsh and Olly Brown, were elected unopposed.

• Stuart took the Chair and after talking to us through his report about our many and successes and achievements over the last year:

• What a year it’s been.

  After our last AGM, the trustees appointed a management group to help run the shed. We have worked hand in hand over the last year and accomplished a great deal. Here’s a summary:

  The shed

  • We’ve set up as a charity

  • obtained funding

  • purchased the premises

  • got a lease for the land

  • secured all the necessary insurances

  • Had the electrical system checked

  • Changed the locks and installed a security gate

  • Renovated the kitchen

  • developed our policies and procedures

  • Introduced formal membership

  • Our keyholders and trustees are DBS checked

  • We have an active Facebook group

  • Set up online banking

  • Built a website

  • Continued to generate healthy revenue from parking

  • Sold a good number of made and renovated items

  • Got a further grant for a dust extractor

  • Obtained a waste licence

  • Replaced the fire extinguishers

  • Installed locks on the windows

  • About to file our first return to the charities Commission

  • Done work in/for the community

  • Given external talks

  The members

  • Very sadly lost Mike

  • Stuart, Chris and Dick have all had serious health problems

  Going forwards

  • We need to implement stricter PPE use

  • We are looking into better dust management

  • As a shed we are not insured to use heat processes

  • Anything we make for sale needs checking by the Keyholder before advertising

  • We need to declutter our space – inside and out

  • We intend to paint the shed and continue maintenance

  In the Long Term

  • We would like to create a lean-to at the rear of the building

  • We need to replace some of the less capable tools

  • We would like to like to invite other local groups to use the space when we are not using it.

  • We want to grow our membership

• He suggested that the Management Committee should be reconvened with the same membership as last year.

  • This suggestion was supported from the floor.

    
    

2. Financial Report

Martin gave an overview of the accounts and annual income and expenditure, a copy of his report is available in The Shed.

• It was agreed that a £5k buffer should be kept covering running costs for up to one year and any unforeseen issues, and that up to £5k should be spent in this financial year on Shed improvements and tools.
  
  

4. Discussion

• Lance took the Chair and asked for suggestions. The following suggestions were made and will be followed up in the coming months:

  • Likely cost of and permissions for extending the Shed – Simon will talk to Ursula Bradwell

  • After a complete sort out and clean up in early June consideration should be given to the use of space within the building and to the storage of ongoing projects.

  Consider the purchase of:

  • good quality folding chairs and possibly a folding table

  • A moveable work bench for use both inside and outside

  • More and better-quality power tools, including a sander and angle grinder

  • A good quality Band Saw

The meeting closed with thanks to all members for their hard work in making the Shed such a success and a commitment to arranging a social event and BBQ in the summer.