Wood Street Village Association AGM
Monday, 5th October 2020 (Zoom meeting)
The meeting was due to take place in March but was delayed because of the Coronavirus restrictions.
Alex Waugh introduced himself as Chairperson of the Wood Street Village Association and welcomed everyone to the 50th Annual General Meeting.
There were apologies from: Nicky Parsons, Graham Block, Paul Cragg and Keith Witham.
Present: Janet Sutton, Robert Grimmond, Terry Clark, Alex Waugh, Alex Russell, Alison Johnson, Caroline Mankelow, Helen Bell, Pam and David Hypher, Emma Jones, Bob McShee, David Grey, Kate Overy.
The minutes of the previous AGM had been distributed before the meeting.
The minutes were then proposed as being a correct record of the meeting by Alex Waugh and seconded by Alison Johnson.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Alex reported that 2019 had been a very good year in the village.
The Maypole Dancing was a great success: the team had danced on the May Bank Holiday, at the County Show and also at The Summer Show. Although they were not able to perform in May 2020, due to the Coronavirus outbreak, they had performed at a special event on the Village Green in September. Alex thanked Janet and all her helpers for their hard work.
The Quiz nights in March 2019 and 2020 had both been very enjoyable and it is hoped to hold another one in 2021. Thanks go to Bob for his skills as the quizmaster.
The Summer Show of 2019 was very successful, both financially and for the village. The weather was wonderful and recorded numbers attended. Alex congratulated all those who made it such a special day. A ‘thank you’ evening was held in November and there was a good turnout with around 20 people meeting at The Royal Oak. Alex suggested that a thank you evening should be held after next year’s Summer Show.
The weekend was further enhanced by the Jazz Festival on the Sunday which was organized in support of Challengers. Around 370 people attended and over £6,000 was raised. A socially distanced Jazz Festival was arranged this year at the end of August 2020 and again around £6,000 was raised. Thanks to all the helpers who made it possible and especially to David for all his hard work to ensure this important event takes place.
Regular litter picks have been held through the year and thanks go to Alison Johnson for organizing these.
The Carol Singing in December had to be reconvened again to St Alban’s Church due to the extremely wet and muddy conditions of the Village Green. It was still a memorable event enjoyed by all and raised more than £200 for the Children’s Society. The Carol Singing in 2020 is planned to take place on Saturday, 19th December, provided it can be managed in a socially distanced manner. Alison has already produced a risk assessment but it will need to be updated, in line with current government guidelines, two weeks before the event.
Richard Trinick has kindly agreed to take on the production of the village newsletter, which is an important means of informing people of what is going on in the village. It is hoped that another one can be produced in the coming months. Alex thanked Richard and all the current distributers.
The arrival of a small group of travellers on the Village Green triangle at the end of April led to further consideration by the Parish Council of some form of barrier to prevent future access. Many people commented on the different options put forward, including a bund. There was not a consensus in favour of any one option but a clear majority was opposed to the installation of concrete blocks. Alex conveyed the responses to the Parish Council in May. It was decided to take no further action at that time but to give the matter further consideration in the autumn. Since then, there have been further visits by travellers to the village and concrete blocks have been installed at various locations on common land.
Alex expressed his disappointment that the celebration planned for VE Day on 8th May 2020 had to be cancelled, despite much planning by members of the committee. The silent soldier was installed to mark the occasion and will be put up again at the end of October for a month to mark Remembrance Day.
There were no questions for the Chairman.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Copies of the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2019 were sent out before the meeting.
Terry reported that 2019 had been a successful year. There is currently a surplus of almost £6,500 in the bank.
The Quiz evening in March 2019 had raised £449 and the net amount, after expenses, was given to the Church to help pay for hall improvements.
The Summer Show was well attended and the surplus achieved has enabled more equipment to be purchased for future years. Sadly, the Covid-19 problems dictated that the 2020 Show needed to be cancelled. Expenditure, such as insurance and electricity, will however continue and it is therefore likely that the expenditure for the current year will exceed the income (if any).
There were no questions on the accounts. Alex thanked Terry for all his hard work as Treasurer.
The acceptance of the report was proposed by Alex Waugh and seconded by Robert Grimmond.
SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL
There was no report from Surrey County Council.
GUILDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL REPORT
Bob McShee stated that he had submitted a report about the building at Roundoak which is being carried out without planning permission. He has asked planning enforcement to act quickly on this development but fears this will not happen, particularly in the present situation.
There were no questions for Bob.
PARISH COUNCIL REPORT
There was no report from the Parish Council.
ELECTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Alex emphasised that we are always looking for new ideas for events and also new people who would be welcomed to any WSVA meeting. He thanked all the members of the committee for their support and hard work in organising different events over the year.
Alex read out the names of the committee members and asked if they were all willing to stand again:
Treasurer- Terry Wright
Secretary – Alison Johnson
Minutes Secretary – Caroline Mankelow
It was agreed by everyone present that the whole committee be voted back ‘en bloc’.
This was proposed by Alex Waugh and seconded by Bob McShee.
The Chairperson will be elected at the first WSVA meeting after the AGM.
Alex stated that the next meeting would be on Monday, 9th November at 8pm 2020 and again is likely to be held using zoom. He encouraged everyone to join the meeting.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Alison has received an email from the village school which outlines the increasing problem of litter being left around the school gates, in the car park and in the woods. The children move around in these areas and are being faced with dog mess and flytipping as well as evidence of drugs and other rubbish. It has been reported to both the Parish and the Borough Councils. Alison suggested that signs could be put up at the entrance to the village asking people not to drop their litter. It was agreed that more bins would be useful in the area around the school. Alison and Bob will talk to the Headmistress, decide if anything more can be done and possibly draw up a rota of people so that the area can be cleared on a regular basis.
Alex Russell explained that she was looking at the organization of Church services. At present, only 30 people are allowed in St. Mary’s Church for a service and only 20 in St. Alban’s. No singing is allowed by the congregation. The Christmas services will need to be well publicised so that people get the chance to book a place.
Robert feels strongly that the bulrushes need to be cleared from the village pond as they are choking up the pond and spoiling the fishing. They could be taken out completely. It was agreed that Robert would find out the cost of removing the bulrushes before the next WSVA meeting and then it could be discussed with the Parish Council.
Alex presented a suggestion that has been made to the Village Association about the gates at the end of Frog Grove Lane into the village being painted as a rainbow and to include an acknowledgement of the work of the NHS during the Coronavirus pandemic. It was agreed that this idea should be supported and Alex would reply to Gaynor.
It was suggested that Peter Sutton could join the meetings and give a report on the work of the Surrey Wildlife Trust in the area. Janet said that she would ask him.
Construction work at the SANG seems to have halted. It is supposed to be finished and handed over in October but they still need to finish the entrance and the car park. Alex will try to find out who owns/oversees the SANG from either Bob or Paul Cragg.
The next Wood Street Village Association meeting will be held on Monday, 9th November 2020. Everyone is welcome to attend and a reminder (and possible zoom link) will be sent out nearer the time.
The meeting closed at 9.10pm.
