Committee Meeting

1. Welcome.

• Sally welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for attending.

• The AGM will consist of looking at past year, readopt and assign policies then a chance to meet keyworkers.

• Sally explained the set up and history of Portishead Playgroups. The Constitution and Policies were signed and readopted.
   
  • Constitution Proposed - Rachael Hollier; Constitution Seconded - Lisa Morgan
  • Policies Proposed - Lisa Haines; Policies Seconded - Peter Noble

2. Agree and sign minutes from last meeting.

• These were signed and agreed.

3. Matters arising from last meeting.

• None.

4. Chair's Report.

• This is Sally’s second year as Chair, we have had quieter year.

• Policies:  These have been rewritten and they are a requirement from OFSTED and are available for everyone to read.

• Committee Newsletter: This is still published following every committee meeting and is available to read on the website. It informs everyone of events taking place.

• Website:  Valuable tool with over 1,000 hits in last year and a half. It consists of all the information needed on the playgroup, links to OFSTED, Preschool Alliance, topics, etc. A big thank you to Peter Melson for updating website. 

• Fundraising: Various events happened, firstly Victorian Evening, thank you for donations and a lot of monies raised. Secondly, Carnival, great fun selling sweets, books, etc, good pitch, raised a lot of money. Thirdly, the Fete, we raised as much this year as previous year in the heat, Sally wanted to formally thank Leah Spering with the owl and guinea pig, Pete Cook for sound system and the Trio consisting of Rachel and Jon Hollier and Adrian playing cello, piano and violin . Finally the Quiz Nights, a big thank you to Kath and Chris Holden for organising such a fantastic evening, another one expected in the future.

• Staffing: Much quieter this year, we unfortunately lost Elaine Peszynska and recruited Caroline Peakman at Brampton and Sally Targett at Hilltop.

• Railings and Colour: Railings at Hilltop have finally been painted by North Somerset Council after been trying for at least the last 5 years. There has also been some colour given to the previously white cupboards. Thank you to the staff of Hilltop.

• Support: It was pointed out that the playgroup is a charity and relies on fundraising and supporting of events to enable us to purchase new toys and equipment for our children.

• Parent Reps: Sally thanked parent reps for all their work, support and ideas.

• Committee: All committee members were thanked for all their hard work in the past year. Congratulations were extended to Julie Kirk who gave birth to Harry and Ruth Mitchell with Callum.

5. Treasurer's Report.

• Julia explained financial statements for our last financial year, which runs from 1 September 2005 to 31 August 2006.

• Our total income for the year is shown as £101,819 an increase of £9,477 on the previous year. This is largely due to the revaluation of an investment made by the group trustees, which increased in value by £8,342.
  The amount of income generated by fundraising, is £2,580. Grant and fee income is used to cover the cost of staffing and building and fundraising income to purchase equipment for playgroup.

• Expenditure for the year totalled £93,645 an increase of £5,689 on previous year due mainly to wage increases which are kept in line with inflation..

• Profit and loss in accounts show an excess of income of £8,174, better reflection of running costs show a small loss of £168 for the year.

• Expenses continue to rise in line with inflation and to meet future costs the fees per session will rise to £7 from 1 January 2007. Government grant funding is £8 per session which should also rise in April.

• Overall, drop in income with at the end of the year £22,629 in bank accounts which represents reserve fund.

• Julia finished off by thanking everyone involved with the group for past assistance as she has finished her time as treasurer.

• The Accounts were accepted:

• Accounts Accepted - James Colburn
• Accounts Seconded - Neil Collins

6. Brampton Report.

• Hilary spoke About the past year and the fun they had had at Brampton – including a ‘people who help us week’, Christmas parties, outings and leavers parties. She also spoke about the connection the pre-school have with all the local primary schools.

7. Brampton Parent Rep's Report.

• None.
  

8. Hilltop Report.

• Carole spoke about the busy year they had had at Hilltop. Including the Queens birthday, visits to local farms and Christmas parties. She also mentioned the changes that have taken place in the group since September. The 2-3 year old session remains popular and full, and relationships with the local schools remains excellent.

9. Hilltop Parent Rep's Report.

• None.

10. Election of new Committee Members.

• Sally firstly explained committee roles and purpose and then went onto election both old and new committee members being, Sally Melson as Chair , Ruth Mitchell as Secretary, Lisa Morgan as Treasurer, Rachel Hollier as Fundraising coordinator, and Julie Kirk as fundraising coordinator.
  

• Parents Reps are Nola Shanks, Clare Taylor, Denise Murphy and Paula Hanson for Brampton and Mel Prideaux, Sue Major, Alsa Milnes and Melanie Callas for Hilltop.
  

11. Any Other Business.

• Heaters at Brampton are currently not working. Sally to investigate.
  

• Alarm system needs to be addressed. Sally to action.
  

• A big thank you to Julia and Kath – flowers presented. 
  

• Meeting closed at 20.45 and parents evening began. 
  

12. Next Meeting.

• Next committee meeting will be held at Brampton on Monday 15 January 2007.
  

• Next AGM will be held at Brampton on Monday 12 November 2007.