|
ABERNYTE COMMUNITY COMPANY
FIRST GENERAL MEETING OF MEMBERS
WEDNESDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2006
MINUTES
Present : 27 members and 2 non member residents.
Anne Davies – Director
Malcolm McSwan- Director
Helen Richardson- Director
Helen Richardson acted as Chairperson.
Apologies : Gerard McGoldrick,Gilland David Irvine,William Kinnoull,Evelyn Havranek,Linda and Andy Nicol,Jan and Denis Bethil, Gordon and Norma Nicoll,Peter Buttars,Gareth Penhale,Alan Vardy
1. Introduction and Welcome. Helen welcomed those attending and explained that this was an open meeting but only members could vote. She explained the Agenda and summarised the proceedings of the Open Meeting held on 24th May .
2. Membership Report. Malcolm explained that the leaflet calling the May meeting had been circulated to 120 households which we believed covered all the homes in the Community. 54 households had responded (45%) . This was a better response than had been expected. Currently 87 adult residents and 10 junior residents had applied to be members of the Company. In addition 9 other residents supported registering an interest in the playing field but do not want to be Members.
It was explained that membership was open to residents at any time and hopefully more people will become members in due course.
3. Election of Directors. The three founding Directors will retire at the end of this meeting after the new Board has been appointed.
Malcolm intimated that six Members had been nominated by the Members to be elected as Directors.
Dale Dickinson
Gerard McGoldrick
Malcolm McSwan
Gordon Nicoll
Mark Petrie
Helen Richardson
Each of the above were then unanimously approved by the Members present and this Board will take over the Company from the close of this meeting.
Malcolm then gave a brief explanation of the role of the Directors and stressed that they were elected to act on behalf of the Members and the Community and could not have any personal interests in the activities of the Company.
As Malcolm and Helen had been elected by the Members , Anne Davies who had decided not to be available due to her position as President of the Heritage Group, was the only founding Director who would now retire.
4. Heritage Group and Community Company. Anne Davies gave an explanation of the need for a company and the role of the two bodies. The Heritage will concentrate on its original role based on the history of the area and its people while the Company will pick up the contacts with other bodies and through its membership records and constitution demonstrate that it represents the Community. Both bodies will work very closely together.
5. Priorities and Directions. Helen asked for contributions from the members present on the priorities for the Company and its Directors. It was explained that links will be established with the two Abernyte institutions, the Church and the School, as well as the Community Council and Perth and Kinross Council. Other bodies will be approached when appropriate.
A discussion followed on the possibility of registering an interest in the School Playing field. David Sinclair made a number of comments on the motives of the Company . Malcolm McSwan explained that it was never the intention that this possibility should be seen as an anti- David Sinclair move. All we were seeking was an option to buy the field at open market value in the event that the field came on to the market. We appreciated very much his generosity and we were hoping to ensure the continued availability of the field for the school and the Community. Dale Dickinson said that she was looking to the future and hoped that in 30 or 40 years time the playing field will still be available to future children in the same way as children have enjoyed it in the past. Neil Gray suggested that Mr Sinclair be given specific reasurrance that there were no thoughts that the Company had any development agenda. This was firmly confirmed and an offer to put this in writing was made. Mr Sinclair said that he did not need that. There was some discussion on the demise of the playing field association and that this should be raised with Gordon Nicoll.
Other suggestions from Members included, Litter problems,road speed, an annual “get together”, games, tree and verge planting, and the discouragement of golf in fields used by animals. It was agreed that good communications were essential and that the possibility of using the Abernyte web site be examined . Those residents who did not have web access must also be covered.
6. Any other Business
The members present agreed that company information could be sent by e-mail where possible.
The first meeting of the new Directors will be arranged shortly to take forward the suggestions from this meeting.
Helen closed the meeting by thanking all who attended and for the positive discussion and debate.
|
