THE MARLOW SOCIETY

Registered Charity No. 262803

Minutes of the 49th Annual General Meeting

Held in Liston Hall, Marlow, at 2000h on Tuesday 28 April 2009

Present:  Sir Keith Stuart (President), Mr R Waters (Chairman), Mr M Blunkell (Hon. Secretary), Mr John Richards (Hon Secretary) and 43 members of the Society.

 Item 1 - Chairman’s Opening Remarks

1.  Mr Waters welcomed everyone to the 49th AGM, a mandatory meeting at which the Society conducted its legal business.  There were nine items of official business, after which there would be a presentation on Red Kites in the Chilterns. 

 2.  The Chairman noted the sad loss to the Society of Mrs Ann Irvine. Ann had been a stalwart Membership, Communications and Events member of the Executive Committee for many years. Her contribution would be sadly missed.

3.  The Chairman invited Sir Keith Stuart, the President of the Society, to assume the Chair for the AGM as, according to the Society’s constitution, he had to stand down at this point.

Item 2 - Apologies for absence

4.  Apologies for absence had been received from:

 Item 3 - To receive and adopt the Minutes of the 48th Annual General Meeting

5.  Mrs Rachel Brown proposed and Mr Tony Reeve seconded that the minutes of the 48^th AGM be adopted as a correct record.  All members present voted in favour. 

Item 4 - Matters arising from the minutes

6.  There were no matters arising.

 Item 5 - To receive and adopt the Chairman’s Report

7.  The Chairman’s report had been included in the 2008/9 Annual Review which had been distributed to all members.  Mr John Evans suggested that as Marlow Bottom had a separate Parish Council and hence a separate identity it should be recognised as such in the Society’s Constitution. He also commended the Society’s contribution to the Marlow Museum Centre Project. It was proposed by Mr Mike Overall and seconded by Mr John Evans that the report be accepted.  All members present voted in favour. 

Item 6 - To receive and adopt the Annual Statement of Accounts

8.  The Hon Treasurer, Mr John Richards, gave a report on the Society’s Annual Accounts which had been audited by Mr D Postlethwaite of Colston Bush. With the approval of the members he was to thank the auditor formally for his pro bono contribution. A copy of the report is attached. The Annual Accounts, once accepted, would be published in the Society’s next Newsletter.

 9.  The Society had incurred a number of non recurring costs including the visit by the Hungarian Ambassador, an upgrade to the web site and the purchase of a digital projector. There were no matters of particular concern.  It was proposed by Mr Derek Done and seconded by Mrs Enid Briggs that the report be accepted.  All members present voted in favour. 

 Item 7 -  To elect the Officers of the Society

10 All nominees for election as Officers of the Society had declared that they had no financial or professional interest known or likely to be of concern to the Society in accordance with paragraph 6 of the Society’s Constitution. All had been nominated and seconded by society members according to the Society’s constitution.

11.  The President advised that two of the Officers of the Society had offered to serve for a further year. These were:

Mr R Waters           Chairman

Martin Blunkell        Honorary Secretary

The President advised that one of the Officers of the Society had offered to serve for a further year in the role of Vice Chairman.  Mr Bob Savidge was proposed as the Vice Chairman, Trustee and Environment/Planning member.

Their re-appointment was proposed by Miss Patricia Burstall and seconded by Mr Derek Done. The meeting confirmed their appointment unanimously.

12. Mr Peter Welch had resigned as the Honorary Treasurer and the Executive Committee had co-opted Mr John Richards in his place. The President thanked Mr Welch for his valued contribution to the Society. Ms Harriet Wilson proposed and Mr Barry Lea seconded the appointment of Mr Richards as Hon Treasurer. The meeting confirmed his appointment unanimously.

Item 8  - To elect an Executive Committee of not less than 5 and no more than 15 members.

13.  The following members of the Society had offered to serve on the Executive Committee for the next year:

Mr Derek Done        – Planning

Mr Mike Overall       – Transport/Planning

Ms Sarah Pratt        – Membership

Mr David Steele       – River Thames Group                

Ms Harriet Wilson    – Editor of the Society Magazine           

Mr Geoff Wood       – Licensing  

Their re-appointment was proposed by Mrs Louise Blunkell and seconded by Dr Davina Embleton. The meeting confirmed their appointment unanimously.                                

15.  The President advised that the Committee sought members willing to serve in an official capacity and to offer their skills to support Committee members. He would be pleased to hear from a member willing to undertake the role of Events Member. The committee was able co-opt new members prior to formal ratification by the AGM. 

Item 9 – Appointment of Independent Examiner

16.  The Charities Act required the accounts of the Society to receive an external examination. Mr David Postlethwaite of Colston Bush had provided this service to the Society free of charge for many years for which all were very grateful. The Hon Secretary proposed and Mr David Steele

seconded the motion that Mr Postlethwaite be invited to examine the 2010 accounts and that he be thanked for his kind work in the past year. The meeting confirmed the re-appointment unanimously.

Item 10 – Address  by President

17.  The President expressed his appreciation for all the efforts and achievements of Mr Ron Waters and his Executive Committee during 2008-9. He noted a number of disappointments and highlighted a number of successes, especially those affecting the preservation and development of Marlow. The overturning of the rejection of the Harleyford Marina development and the lack of support by the Town’s elected representatives in countering the appeal was to be deprecated. The Society’s role in protecting and enhancing the Town was constructive. It included stopping things that were not right for the Town such as development on the surrounding green space and over development in the Town. The Society could not counter the economic downturn and the consequent number of empty commercial properties but it would strive to maintain the Town as an attractive location that drew in shoppers and visitors. The Society was formed by the threat to the Bridge. It continued to have a vital role in preserving and enhancing the Town. 

18.  The President, Sir Keith Stuart, then returned the Chair to Mr Ron Waters who thanked Sir Keith for chairing the meeting. Before closing the formal part of the meeting he made a special mention of the valuable work of the Society’s History Group and the quality of its research.

Item 11 – Other Business

19.  Miss Patricia Burstall observed that the Bridge needed repainting and wood sections needed replacement. The Chairman advised that the County Council had allocated insufficient funding for the necessary maintenance and the Society continued to press for properly funded maintenance programme to be instituted. He noted that overweight vehicles still crossed the Bridge and this had been drawn to the attention of the Thames Valley Police Neighbourhood Action Group.   

20.  Mr John Burnham observed that the most pressing issue in Marlow was the impending evolution of the Special Parking Area [SPA]. He had believed that the Wycombe District Council [WDC] was to enforce the existing regulations for 6 months before opening a public consultation. It now appeared that WDC had asked Parish Councils to collate feedback received to date and that this was to be submitted by 30 Apr 09. He urged all members to respond. Mr John Laker observed that the enforcement of regulations had made parking in the Town easier and more beneficial to traders. Mr Barrie Briggs thought it to be essential that a balance be struck between the needs of residents and visitors to the town. Mr Mike Overall observed that residents only parking would have to be considered.

21.  Mr John Evans supported the Chairman’s efforts to force the John Lewis Partnership to clear up the Portlands site. He also drew the attention of the meeting to the opening of the Marlow Museum in May 09.

22.  Mr Mike Overall advised that the Civic Trust had recently gone in to administration. The Society would continue to be an active member of ANTAS.

23.  There being no other business the meeting closed at 2045h.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Ron Waters                                                                      Martin Blunkell

Chairman                                                                         Hon Secretary