INotes from the Wimbledon Civic Forum’s Second Annual General Meeting held on 28th November 2001 at the Polka Theatre

Peter Davis (Chairman of Wimbledon Civic Forum) took the chair. He explained that because there were several other important local meetings taking place that evening he would like to take points 1,2,4,5 and 6 on the Agenda, returning later to point 3. This would allow some members to attend other meetings. There were no objections to this.

Apologies were received from Lola Barrett, Sheila Dunman, Muriel Martin, Adrian Barnes, Janet Koss, Belinda Leathes, Jane Bretton, Martyn Harman and Father Gerrard Mitchell.

Item 1
PD put forward the annual report from the Executive Committee. He highlighted the fact that the grant from the Community Fund is now being paid quarterly. This has made possible the appointment of a part time Manager and a part time Volunteer and Events Co-ordinator.
There has been a full programme of Forum meetings and a Special Forum on licensing although the Local Area Forums have been more sporadic because the LBM has started its own Local Area Forums. The WCF has offered to co-operate with LBM on these.
PD reported that the Friends Group has been vigorous and active. There have been several successful events, specifically the Martin Bell and the John Humphrys evenings which were held at the Polka Theatre.
The WCF website is currently being refurbished.
Attention was also drawn to the Awayday which was financed by the Camden Governance Project and which resulted in a new strategy and a new vision.
The membership stands at over 2000

Item 2
PD introduced Colin McDermott, the Honorary Treasurer who was appointed in March 2001. CMcD explained that during the past year there has been a transition from Wimbledon Civic Trust Ltd. to the Wimbledon Civic Forum although the limited company remains dormant in case it is needed in the future.
He thanked Strover Leader & Co. Chartered Accountants, for preparing the accounts.
The goal of the Finance Committee is to see the WCF becoming financially independent when the Community Fund grant ends. CMcD made an appeal for help with fund-raising.
There were no questions and the Accounts were approved.

Item 4
PD announced the retirement of the following Advisory Council Members:
John Merivale, Pat Keith, Stephen Saul, Mohammed Hassan, ,Lady Judy Vereker, Rabbi William Wolff and Professor Rod Bugg.
The following Advisory Council Members have agreed to stand for re-election:
Sheila Dunman, Russell Humphreys, Bert Johnson, Councillor Karim, Belinda Leathes, Luc Moens Leonard Mostyn, Elizabeth Nelson, Stuart Page, and Gene Saunders.
All of the above members were individually re-elected to the Advisory Council.
Item 5
The following members were re-elected as Honorary Officers:
Honorary President : Roger Casale MP
Honorary Treasurer : Colin McDermott
Honorary Secretary : John Crossman
Item 6
Strover Leader & Co., Chartered Accountants of 20-22 Worple Road, London SW19 4DH were unanimously re-elected as Auditors to hold office until the conclusion of the next AGM.
PD thanked John Strover, Dave Roberts and the team for all their hard work. He also thanked John Strover for making an office available to the WCF.
John Ellison expressed concern that the LBM appeared to be taking over the Local Area Forums and the Youth Forum which were both initiated by the WCF. He felt that the LAFs were very successful and that WCF should not lose them to LBM.
PD explained that he had talked to LBM officials but that they want to go it alone with their four proposed meetings. PD and Roger Paine (Chief Executive) of LBM will meet again at the conclusion of the programme of meetings.
JE believes that WCF can do it better and should not be held back by LBM.
Item 3
PD proposed changes to the structure and the Constitution of the Forum as outlined in the note that had been made available to members. He said that these would have to be ratified at an Extraordinary General Meeting which would probably be held in Spring 2002.
Mr Waller of South Ridgway Residents Association asked for further definition of the different types of membership.
A question was raised about whether WCF should charge a small entrance fee to Forum meetings but this was generally felt to be contrary to the stated aims of WCF to be free and open to all.
It was asked if the meeting rooms were provided free and this was confirmed.
Ellen Eames asked whether a small charge could be made for membership but PD said that this would go against the WCF philosophy and would, in any case, cost more to administer than could be raised.
There was no other business. The meeting closed at 7.50pm and the members adjourned for a glass of wine.

Accounts for 2000