Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at the Court Hill Centre, Wantage, at 2.00 pm on Sunday, 15th March, 2009

An Attendance list was circulated confirming the presence of 39 members, including 3 organisations represented, and 2 Visitors, namely the Hon Auditor and invited Speaker, Sarah Simmonds.

A quorum being present, the Chairman, Ian Ritchie, called the Meeting to order, and expressed the appreciation of those who had joined a very enjoyable walk to Segsbury Camp in the morning for the excellent commentary provided by Dr Gary Lock and Jim Gunter.

1. Apologies: At the Chairman’s request, the secretary read the list of members who had expressed apologies for non-attendance, including the President, Vice-Presidents Sir Patrick Cormack MP and Richard Benyon MP, and also Mr Christopher Loyd, who had very kindly again sent a £50 donation, for which he was warmly thanked.

2. Minutes: The Minutes of the 2008 AGM held on 16th March, 2008, as approved by the Executive Committee on 13th May, 2008, and signed by the chairman, were agreed to be a correct record, subject to the correction of the list of Vice-Presidents at Minute 6.

3. There were no matters arising.

4. Annual Report: The Chairman referred to the Trustees’ Annual Report for 2008, which had been circulated to all those attending.  He noted that the condition of The Ridgeway Trail, following the motor vehicle ban and restoration work, is now the best he has seen it for eight years.  There is still more to do, particularly to achieve a year-round Traffic Restriction Order from a recalcitrant Wiltshire Council.  However, we are now able to focus on the wider aspects of the ancient Ridgeway, along the chalk from Lyme Regis to Holme-by-the-Sea, and on encouraging more people to enjoy it. The objectives of the original Ridgeway Conservation Conference are still valid. 

The Committee is also taking steps to get closer to the membership, and the Chairman welcomed the initiative by Roger Griffin, David Axford and others to form a Local Group for the Vale of White Horse, which he hoped would be the first of many along the route.

As a first step in our wider focus, the Committee is promoting an extension of the Trail southwards from the A4 and the Sanctuary to Stonehenge, and onwards to Salisbury.  Most of the route has already been mapped.  Although the military obstructs the direct route over Salisbury Plain, high and low level alternatives are feasible and attractive.  This new Great Stones Way is likely to be very popular.  However, its development will require money, to match grants available, and the Committee expects to have to ask for members’ support in raising funds.
The Chairman mentioned the overdue Review of National Trails by Natural England, which may lead to the adoption of some additional, second-rank Trails, but seems unlikely to result in any new resources or relief from the current budgetary squeeze.

Finally, the Chairman thanked the Committee, mentioning new members Jim Gunter and David Axford. Adoption of the Report was proposed by Jim Gunter, seconded by Mary Keyte, and agreed unanimously.

5. Annual Accounts: The Treasurer, Anna Hanslip, reported that receipts rose by £1,329 during the year to £5,014, with increases in both subscriptions and donations, and sales of the new postcards contributing £489.  Despite expenditure of £1,588 on the 25th Anniversary Brochure and printing costs for the postcards, expenses were down by £717 to £4,550.  The result was a net surplus of £464, which brought our current funds balance to £8,475.  Adoption of the Annual Acccounts for 2008 was proposed by Lady Treitel, seconded by Bridget Benn, and agreed unanimously

The Chairman warmly thanked Anna Hanslip for her long and efficient service  as Treasurer, and presented her with a bouquet of flowers as a token of appreciation.  She would also be given life membership of the Association, but is already a life member. 

6. Change of Objects: The Chairman introduced the proposed Special Resolution, of which due Notice had been given, to amend the Constitution of the Association by changing the Objects Clause C to read as follows:

“The Charity’s Objects are the preservation, for the benefit of the public and in the interests of social welfare, of all the natural aspects and features of the ancient Ridgeway track-ways along the chalk downs of Southern England, including The Ridgeway National Trail and any extension thereof, and of their associated features, monuments and access paths; and the provision of recreational and educational facilities and events relating thereto”.

The Chairman noted that the amendment reflects the wider focus of the Association already mentioned, and enables us to undertake projects such as the Great Stones Way.  The amendment has been approved by the Charity Commission.  After asking for any questions, and for anyone who may wish to speak for or against the motion, he called for a show of hands, which was observed to be in favour.  The Chairman noted that 11 proxies and 2 letters had been received, all also in favour of the Resolution, which he declared duly adopted. 

7. Election of President and Vice-Presidents: The Chairman welcomed the acceptance by John Howell, MP for Henley-on-Thames, replacing Boris Johnson MP, and by David Gauke, MP for South West Herts, of his invitation to become Vice-Presidents of the Association; and also welcomed John Howell’s presence at the Meeting. He expressed his thanks to Boris Johnson, who had strongly supported the Association’s efforts, particularly on behalf of cyclists; and for the continued support of the President and all the Vice-Presidents.

The re-election en bloc of the President, Lord Bradshaw, and of Vice-Presidents Michael Ancram MP, Richard Benyon MP, Paul Goodman MP, David Lidington MP, Anne Snelgrove MP, and Edward Vaizey MP, was proposed by Sally Barnes, seconded by Peter Gould, and agreed unanimously.

The election of John Howell MP and of David Gauke MP as Vice-Presidents was proposed by Richard Duggan, seconded by Marion Young and also agreed unanimously.

8. Election of Officers and Committee Members/Trustees
Chairman:  The Chairman, Ian Ritchie, stood down at this point, and the Secretary, Jeff Goddard, expressing pleasure that Ian Ritchie had agreed to continue in office, proposed his re-election, which was seconded by Peter Gould, and he was unanimously elected, and resumed the Chair.
Secretary:  Jeff Goddard was proposed by Janet Hierons and seconded by Jim Gunter as Secretary, and was re-elected, nem con.
Treasurer: Following the resignation of Anna Hanslip, Sally Barnes was  proposed as Treasurer by Janet Hierons and seconded by Ian Ritchie, and was elected nem con.
Members:  The Chairman noted that John Templeton, after many years service representing the Youth Hostels Association, and Simon Bunyard, after all too brief a tenure, had decided to stand down as Trustees and members of the Committee, and he thanked them both for their contributions.  He welcomed Marion Young, who had volunteered, with Sally Barnes, to serve on the Committee and as a Trustee.  He had by due date proposed her, seconded by Janet Hierons, and she was unanimously elected.
The following, having signified their willingness to continue to serve as Trustees and members of the Executive Committee, had also been nominated and seconded by the due date, as follows:-
Janet Hierons, proposed by David Axford and seconded by Peter Gould;
Jim Gunter, proposed by Jeff Goddard and seconded by Janet Hierons;
David Axford, proposed by Anna Hanslip and seconded by Ian Ritchie.
By agreement of the meeting they were all unanimously re-elected en bloc.

9. Honorary Auditor: The Hon Auditor, Tom Webb, reported that adequate control systems are in place and that both the Annual report and the Accounts fully comply with the requirements of the Charities Acts.  Having expressed willingness to continue in office, his re-election was proposed by Anna Hanslip and seconded by Jeff Goddard, and agreed unanimously; and the Chairman warmly thanked him for his valued services as Hon Auditor.

10. Other Business: The Chairman expressed appreciation for the excellent lunch provided by Jane Ebbutt and Barbara Owen, who were thanked by applause.
           
There being no other business the Chairman declared the Meeting closed.  The formal Meeting was followed by a talk by Sarah Eve Simmonds, Avebury World Heritage Site Officer, on the protection of the archaeology of the Avebury monuments including The Ridgeway.