AGM & Trustees meeting, 6 november 2018

1. Trustee retires
Mr Stephen Miles retired after five years as a Trustees due to pressure of business.

2. Trustee appointed
Mr Robert Baker was appointed as a Farmer Trustee.  Robert farms at Elmswell and Drinkstone, and has given many years of public service to agriculture in Suffolk, including being Director of the Suffolk Agricultural Association 2013-16.  He had previously served the Trust since 2003 incuding as Vice-chairman during a period of great change when the decision was made in 2006 to cease operating as a demonstration farm in order to provide grants to a wider range of beneficiaries.

3. Trustee reappointments
James Forrest, Pamela Forbes and Alan Hawes were reappointed Trustees to sserve for another three years to 2021.

4. Chairman and Vice-chairman
James Forrest was re-elected Chairman and Alan Hawes was re-elected Vice-chairman to serve ubtil the next annual general meeting.

5. Stanaway Farmhouse
Planning and listed approval has been granted for the full restoration and extension of the Grade II listed house.  The work is due to start by Spring 2019.

6. Hope Farm dvelopment
Agreement with promotion partners is at an advanced stage for submitting a planning application for the residential development of part of Hope Farm, Sproughton.

7. Grant awards
Trustees agreed to make seven awards, six to students for further and higher education and training and one for public education.  Total value of grants awaarded was £47,400.

8. John Forrest Memorial Award
16 applications had been received for the next training course in effective communications, to be held at madingly Hall, Cambridge, 2-4 january 2019.  The committee will agree the successful eight by email.
An alumni event will be held to mark the tenth anniversary of the Award.

​9. Easton and Otley College
.  Mark Pendlington, Chair, and Jane Townsend, Principal of Easton and Otley College attended to report on their plans to improve the college Ofsted rating from 'inadequate'.  Trustees agreed to consider grant applications to support the College.