Heritage Now #10

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Our treasurer, Leslie Du Cane, presented the accounts for the year ending 2023. It was noted that net assets had decreased by approximately £28,000, but that the investment portfolio was spread widely to manage risk and that the trustees expect it will perform better as the global situa tion improves. It was noted that income in 2023 was lower than the previous year, due largely to a significant legacy landing in 2022. Gratitude was expressed to Historic England and Cadw for continuing to support HB&P with casework grants totalling approximately £46,000. Mr Du Cane then explained that expenditure had increased, a consequence, in part, of higher sup plier costs due to inflation, a significant one-off cost for the digitalisation of Transactions and legal fees in acquiring CIO status. The move to 37 Spital Square should enable the Society to save money on premises costs. In general, the Society is in a reasonably secure financial position. The accounts were approved by members and the charity’s au ditors reappointed. The meeting then proceeded to the elections. The president stressed that the elected term was only for the final few months, until the CIO pro cess was complete. Election of officers followed − Anthony Peers, deputy chairman; Leslie Du Cane, treasurer; Kathy Fishwick, secretary and board members Giles Adams, Phil Thomas, Bob Kindred and Jill Channer.

The 100th AGM

available via the website. He finished by an nouncing that he would be stepping down after the AGM and a new chair, Sara Robertson, would succeed him. Liz Power thanked all for joining the Society’s centenary AGM. She also welcomed a group of four students from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts, who were undertaking a seven-week internship analysing and report ing on HB&P’s casework data. Mrs Power ex plained that the Society was going through the legal process to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), which was a more modern and suitable legal charity structure. The reason for the change and a resolution to amend the constitution were shared with all members in advance in the AGM notice – a vote was passed by 26 members and eight trustees. Mrs Power added that six new shadow trustees had been recruited but were not standing for election at the AGM as they would join the Society officially once the CIO process was completed in the summer.

Thanks to all who supported the event and to our speakers, Eamonn Canniffe and John Schofield.

We are grateful to our guest speakers - Eamonn Canniffe, who leads the MA Architecture + Urban ism at the Manchester School of Architecture, and John Schofield, editor-at-large of Manchester Confidential , the city’s largest independent maga zine.

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HISTORIC BUILDINGS & PLACES