Fakenham Area Partnership
A Community Interest Company
Annual General Meeting – Held at Fakenham Community Centre on 28th July 2011 at 7.00pm.
Present: Jim Harding (Chairman FAP), Tony Irons (Company Secretary FAP), Jenny Rest(Director), Gloria Lisher (Director), Becky Palmer (District Councillor, Raynhams), David Callaby (County Councillor, Fakenham), Celia Lee (Fakenham CCS), Brenda Coldrick (Fakenham CAB), John Lingwood (Fakenham Chamber of Trade), John Lisher, Cheryl Anderson (admin FAP), Janet Holdom (Coordinator FAP), 1 member of the public.
Apologies: Brett Corder, David Cubitt, Pauline Chamberlain, Steven Ward, Stuart Ashman.
Chairmans Welcome and Report:
The chairman welcomed everyone and reviewed the partnership’s year. There was reason to take pride in achievements, long standing local initiatives continue to flourish thanks to the time, labour and expertise invested in them: Fakenham In Bloom, Christmas Lights, Farmers’ Market, Tourist Information Point in the Library which had been very busy with over 1,800 callers up to July 23rd, a significant increase on last year. Support from the Town Council has been crucial to the success of these initiatives.
The Millenium Park project had been slow in its generation but funding from the Fakenham Recreation Ground charity had been secured to start a 5 stage development programme.
Some years ago the partnership secured water meadow land at Edmondsons’ Acres. This SSSI site abuts a similar acreage owned by the Town Council. Initiatives for this land, including rural walks are constrained by grazing obligations during part of the year. Thanks to members of FACT for their voluntary work on the site.
The Partnership operates a Community Bank two sessions per week under the auspices of the Norfolk Credit Union.
A Community Car Scheme has been running successfully for 6 months thanks to the efforts of Karen Nicholson and Celia Lee. A small team of drivers enables people without transport to get to surgery appointments in the town.
The Speedwatch team are struggling to make the kind of impact they would like, due to a drop in volunteers-3 at the last count.
The Partnership had been preoccupied over recent months with a significant investigation into the viability of a multi-functional resource centre in the town. A grant from the Social Investment Business Community Builders fund has enabled the commission of a feasibility study, and a public meeting preceded the draft report and plans, which focus on the site containing Fakenham Community Centre, Fakenham Connect, the scout hut and the library.
Overarching all these achievements and visions had been the dedicated commitment of the coordinator Janet Holdom, who wins this years’ prize for sitting through the most meetings, and still retaining some sort of sanity and understanding. The chairman closed by wishing all the directors the best of luck as he hands over to his successor from the next meeting. The chairman closed on good news from the chief executive NNDC confirming that NNCP funding was assured until 31/3/2011 although there was no surety beyond this date.
Minutes of the 2010 AGM were proposed by Jenny Rest, seconded by Brenda Coldrick.
Matters arising from the minutes: It was confirmed that Gloria Lisher who had been an NNDC representative director in 2010 is now a director in her own right.
Annual Directors Report:
Financial Report: Income for the year ending 31/3/10 was as follows £57,942 of which £43,255 was in grants. Expenditure was £57,948 which ended in an operational deficit of £6.00. Bank interest produced offset this balance to zero.
Tony Irons delivered the Company Secretary’s report, which will be submitted to Companies House. - The Company had continued to give small grants to encourage new community activities. In cooperation with the High School and about 20 local firms, an ‘ecologically friendly’ bag was designed, manufactured and marketed. The Community Car Scheme was fully operational and the Community Bank was very active. The first stages of a Community Park plan had been agreed and a contribution of £19,000 had been set aside by the trustees of Fakenham Recreation Ground charity.
Investigations into a Community Swimming pool proceeded slowly.
A Community Builders grant of £16,000 had been awarded to carry out a feasibility study to assess service delivery from the buildings off Oak Street, including the Community Centre, Fakenham Connect and the library. By 31/3/11 the selection and appointment of consultants had been completed, monies drawn down from the funding body and the survey begun.
Election of one director:
There were 2 nominations, Pauline Chamberlain (Fakenham Learning Community) and Stuart Ashman (Salvation Army). A vote was taken by a show of hands with 5 votes (Gloria, Tony, Brenda, Jim and Celia) cast for Pauline Chamberlain and 1 vote (Jenny) for Stuart Ashman.
Co-option of Directors:
The two NNDC representatives were confirmed as Becky Palmer and Steven Ward.
Appointment of auditors:
Stephenson Smart were appointed as auditors as previously.
Vote of Thanks:
Gloria gave a vote of thanks to Jim, Tony and to all the community groups for their valued support and presented Jim and Tony with a thank you gift from herself, Jenny and Janet.
The next meeting was proposed for September 28th, 6.00pm at the Health Centre.
The chairman closed the business meeting at 7.22pm with an invitation to stay for refreshments and further discussion.