AGM and Trustees Meeting
7 November 2023
1. Trustees
There were no changes in Trustees.
James Forrest was re-elected Chairman.
Alan Hawes was re-elected Vice-chairman.
John Field, Mike May and John Wall retired by rota, and were re-appointed as Trustees.
James Forrest was re-elected Chairman.
Alan Hawes was re-elected Vice-chairman.
John Field, Mike May and John Wall retired by rota, and were re-appointed as Trustees.
2. Stanaway Farm Yard
It was agreed to improve safety by redesigning traffic flow to the farmhouse, commercial units and farm buildings.
3. Hope Farm development
The planning application to build houses on Hope Farm, had been withdrawn, with a view to submitting a new proposal in due course.
4. Income and expenditure
Income for April 2022 to March 2023 amounted to £274,703. Of which, 81% came from rents and 18% from COIF dividends and interest.
Expenditure of £239,273 was accounted for by £138,495 (57%) for charitable activities, including property maintenance and professional fees, and £100,778 (42%) for investment management and support costs.
There was a net cashflow of £35,430 which was added to reserves.
5. Grants awarded
16 new grants were awarded during the year, with a total value of £58,750, for ten student education grants, one public education grant, three research grants and two for environmental projects.
A total of £1,741,977 has been awarded in grants from April 2007 to July 2023.
6. Suffolk Rural College
It was with great sadness that Trustees learnt of the untimely death of Viv Gillespie, Principal of Suffolk New College. Mrs Gillespie had been instrumental in turning the Otley site of the failed former Easton & Otley College into a vibrant successful campus as part of Suffolk New College.
Trustees are pleased that Alan Pease, formerly Deputy Principal, has been appointed the new Principal, and look forward to supporting him and his team in further developing Suffolk Rural as a successful centre of further agricultural education in Suffolk.