7.30 pm in Harwell Village Hall
Minutes of Annual General Meeting held at 7:30 pm on 6 October 2021
9 members present in the village hall (including committee) and 7 members joined the meeting remotely via Zoom.
Apologies from Chair (GB) who had had a hospital appointment that day. One other apology had been received (SGB)
Minutes
Minutes of the 2020 AGM were agreed.
Chair’s report
Martin Gibson read out the Chair’s report.
Treasurer’s report
The treasurer presented the accounts
Many thanks to The Hive Market for the contributions totalling £350.
The group is now in a good position to cover incidental expenses (e.g. hall hire) and to fund small projects such as tree planting.
Election of officers
Sustainable Harwell has a Chair, a Treasurer and a Secretary. These posts were all up for re-election.
The current officers were all willing to stand again and no new candidates came forward. The following officers were elected unanimously:
Chair – Giles Barwell (proposed Graham Sumner, seconded Martin Rickets)
Treasurer – David Marsh (proposed Martin Rickets, seconded Alan Spence)
Secretary – Martin Gibson (proposed Martin Rickets, seconded Mick Storey)
End of Formal AGM
Talk by Dr, Graham Sumner
Climate Change – Then & Now (Powerpoint. 10MB)
Discussion and review of possible projects
Martin Rickets reported that OCC will soon be publishing their plans for the High Street – traffic calming and speed limits, etc. Discussion over whether or not to support a 20mph limit. More research needed on relative fuel economy (20mph v 30mph). Meeting agreed that SusH should engage with and respond to the OCC proposals.
Swift boxes. Good idea. Some scepticism that they would work in Valley Park because all the habitat they would need will have been destroyed.
Home energy use. Experience with a Cosy Homes survey (recommended) and the need for insultation (expensive) reported. Members urged to review their own situations.
Infra-red camera. Has been discussed and available before, but limited by the need for very cold nights whilst we have loan of the camera. Limited support.
Plastic free community. Whilst the meeting felt it was a laudable goal, with limited resources there was no support for taking it forward
Community Buildings (e.g. Village Hall, Harwellian, Church Hall). Challenge of reaching net-zero was discussed. How to heat then in the post-gas boiler era? How to make use of solar panels. Recognised that resources needed to support a project and real technical expertise needed to advise on best approach.
Meeting finished about 2100. Next meeting on first wed of December.
Philippa Morris says
You may be able to help me – when I was a child there was a stone at the bus stop, just outside Mrs Freeman’s house (later Alan Spence), it was a big rectangular stone that had to business to be there, but had apparently been there for a very long time. Is it still there? Has any research been undertaken into its origins?
Webmaster says
It’s called the Bargain Stone, and there’s more about it here
https://harwellvillage.uk/the-geology-of-harwell-parish/#g5
and here
https://www.village4a1000years.com/1945-1985-2/the-whit-monday-feast/
“the stone outside Winterbrook House, known as the bargain stone, is said to have been used at these horse-fairs for paying the money; some people believe that it may have been an earlier altar-stone. ”
and here
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC7273N_the-bargain-stone