Trustees Report and Accounts for 2019 Past • Present • Future
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sid vale association Trustees Report and Accounts for 2019 past • present • future The Association promotes conservation and heritage, the museum, and facilities for recreational and cultural activities in the Sid Valley www.sidvaleassociation.org.uk Sid Vale Association CIO Owen Fund awards to community groups. He did not foresee any rapid improvements in investment income during 2019. Minutes of the 5th Annual General Meeting of the SVA CIO A number of questions followed: 2.30pm on 22nd May 2019 at The Manor Pavilion, Sidmouth Q Where are the unrealised gains? 63 people attended the meeting A The increased capital value of SVA investments form the unrealised gains. Any decrease in capital value shows as unrealised losses. Richard Thurlow , Chair of the Association, welcomed everyone to the meeting. Q What level of risk is applied? 1 Apologies Brian & Joyce Calloway, Christopher & Maggie Seaton, A Medium risk – we use FTSE 350 and have around 30 stocks Naomi & John Lott, John Warren, Mr Snelgrove, Julie Andrews Q Is there any reason that more stocks could be covered to spread the risk? 2 Minutes of the AGM held on 25th April 2018 – Agreed and signed. A SVA has sold some riskier stocks and has cash holdings 3 Matters Arising none. Q Could SVA use Investment Trust funds so investments are spread across many 4 Election of Trustees stocks The following trustees’ term of office expired as at this AGM and was standing for A Richard explained that Keith Owen had favoured a “DIY” approach to re-election investments but Trustees are now reviewing the risks. • Peter Brookes River Warden Q Is it SVA’s intention to follow Keith Owen’s wishes to invest in income producing • Edmund Harrison Vice Chair funds? • Elizabeth Warren Secretary A Richard said there needed to be a balance between Keith’s wishes and current Richard Thurlow proposed that they be re-elected en bloc. Agreed by the meeting Charity Commission rules so we may need to modify our practice in future. Gary and duly elected. emphasised the need to protect the endowment in line with inflation. 5 Presentation of remaining Trustees Q Is there a list of the current investment funds? • Di Fuller Overview • Richard Huntington Woodlands & Estates A Top 10 are listed on page 14. For a full list please email the treasurer. • Val Huntington Magazine & Publicity Q What exposure does SVA have to risky stocks and has SVA considered • Dr Nigel Hyman Museum professional financial advice. • Richard Thurlow Conservation & Planning A This will be considered as part of the review. • Gary Turner Treasurer Gary was thanked for his work as Treasurer and the reforms he has introduced. 6 Trustees who stood down during the year 8 Appointment of Auditors for 2017 • John Dowell Publications • Stephen Pemberton Events Richard explained that SVA had terminated its relationship with Easterbrook Eaton & Co and proposed that Thomas Westcott be appointed as Auditor/Independent examiner for Although they had stood down as Trustees, they continued volunteering for SVA. 2019. This was agreed by the meeting. Richard introduced the Trustees to attendees and thanked them for their work. He then 9 AOB went on to thank all the other people who had volunteered for SVA in any capacity during the past year. None. 7 Presentation of Annual Report & Accounts Richard Thurlow closed the formal part of the meeting. Gary Turner, Treasurer, presented the Annual Accounts and explained the change of 10 Presentation re Buildings in Sidmouth format that he had promised last year. All the figures were shown in 2 pages. He Nigel Hyman gave a further amusing illustrated presentation about his personal likes and highlighted two key points. Firstly, real income is lower because of the absence of dislikes regarding the buildings and architecture in Sidmouth. legacies. Secondly, there were significant unrealised losses because the investment The meeting closed at 3.25pm portfolio had “taken a battering” in 2018. Legacies form an important source of income Tea and coffee was served in the bar for the association’s activities as most of the investment income is given out in Keith 2 3 Sid Vale Association CIO MEMBERSHIP AND ELECTIONS President – Alan Darrant The Sid Vale Association is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registration Vice President – Brian Callaway number 1154749. TRUSTEES FOR 2019 At the Annual General Meeting, members of the association elect the charity Chairman Richard Thurlow [email protected] trustees for a three year term of office. The trustees have collective responsibility Vice Chairman Ed Harrison [email protected] for the whole organisation and meet every month. Treasurer Gary Turner [email protected] In addition to these responsibilities each trustee takes on the role of an officer of the association and/or the lead or chair of a working group responsible for a Secretary Liz Warren [email protected] particular activity of the SVA – for example Richard Huntington is our representative Conservation & Planning Richard Thurlow conservation @sidvaleassociation.org.uk on the AONB. A full meeting of trustees and sub committee leaders is held every Woodlands and Estates Richard Huntington [email protected] four months. River Warden Peter Brookes [email protected] The full constitution is available on the website at www.sidvaleassociation.org.uk or Museum Curator Dr Nigel Hyman [email protected] by contacting the secretary 43, Primley Road, Sidmouth EX10 9LF. Publicity & Magazine Editor Val Huntington [email protected] Scrutiny Overview Di Fuller [email protected] Membership Excursions Steve Pemberton [email protected] At the time of writing (January 2020), our total numbers stood at 1872, comprising 1673 life members and 199 annual members. Emphasis will in future be placed on the recruitment of annual members, paying by SUB-COMMITTEES/WORKING PARTIES standing order. At present, just over 10% of our membership now pay an annual Publications John Dowell [email protected] subscription, and we expect this percentage to rise significantly in the coming year. Talks Brendan Lee & There has been a small decrease in life membership due to the normal passage of John Ridgley [email protected] time, but the overall reduction in numbers has been small. Area of Outstanding Natural As always, I express my thanks to my team of over 70 distributors and helpers who Beauty Partnership Brian Hall [email protected] unfailingly ensure that members’ copies of the Annual Report and magazines are Walks Jackie Stokes [email protected] delivered by hand to all members residing in the Sid Valley. I am truly grateful to them Local History Brian Golding [email protected] all, as I could not do this job without their support. Do we have your email address? If you are a member but not getting any emails Footpaths Liaison Officer Phil Bradbury [email protected] from us and you wish to do so, please send your email address to Keith Owen Fund Alan Clarke [email protected] [email protected] Investments Gary Turner [email protected] Andrew Scott Membership Andrew Scott [email protected] Data Protection Regulations Museum Publicity Ann Tanner [email protected] Members’ names and addresses, together with the type of membership they hold Museum Shop Ann Jones [email protected] (Life or Annual), are held on computer file. No details of subscription payments are held on file. This information continues to be held separately. To comply with General Woodlands and Estates Led by Jon Ball and Mike Davies Data Protection Requirements, we are required to notify all members of any information held on computer file, and to give them the opportunity to have such General Enquiries [email protected] details erased. This note is therefore published to meet this requirement, and will be published in each year’s Annual Report. Should any member prefer not to have his/her name held on computer, they should write and inform the Membership Secretary accordingly at The Sid Vale Association CIO, 36a Fore Street, Sidmouth EX10 8AQ. 4 5 Chairman’s Report for 2019 narrow base of the portfolio, which concentrated on income rather than maintaining capital growth, and other issues, were endangering the long-term future of the fund. The Welcome to the Trustees Report for 2019. This contains the Trustees considered all these factors and decided that they would appoint a firm of formal reporting that we are legally required to do on such Investment Managers to manage both the KOF and the SVA investments. It was accepted matters as Finance, but also gives an outline of what we have that the relatively high returns obtained in the past could not be obtained in the future done and achieved in all our various activities throughout the without eroding the capital base still further, and that the level of income for grants year. would decrease. After a tendering process and interviews, Investec Wealth and I only highlight though in my report, the noteworthy issues and Management were appointed in December 2019. The Trustees are confident that this is activities, leaving a more detailed description to Activity the right move, which has not been taken lightly. Further details of this move are given in Leaders. the Treasurer’s report. This year has been a year of consolidation and has brought a Late last year we completed the purchase of the Knapp from EDDC after negotiations more formal approach to our activities and their lasting about two years. The Knapp is an area of about 8 acres of mixed woodland and documentation. We have finished writing and approving numerous policies which are open space near the centre of town, adjoining our existing “Peaslands Knapp”.