ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 23  SEPTEMBER 2020 at

Attendance: 47 participants, including all the Directors and 1 member of staff.  (Another member of staff attended but not counted in the numbers as they are not a member of the ELA.)

Directors at the AGM;   Charles Clarke (Chair), John Pitts (Vice Chair), Trevor Southgate (Secretary), Chris Kew (Treasurer), John Bannister, Peter Bussey, Peter Mitchell, Paul Newson, Jake Parker, Phil Walters

Apologies for absence;  5 members sent their apologies.  CC thanked them for doing so.

Acceptance of minutes of AGM held on 3rd May 2019; TS proposed, JP seconded, accepted.

Chairman’s Report: CC welcomed everyone to the ELA’s first virtual AGM via Zoom.  The Chairman’s report and all other papers had been circulated to all ELA members three times on the four weeks leading up to the meeting and therefore it was expected that everyone had read them.

Financial Statements year end 31 December 2019: CC said that a question had been sent to the office and asked AG to read it out, “I note the Association is very profitable. What happens to that profit?”CC responded that the surplus of the profit and loss account has been used to improve the working environment of the ELA Office for both staff and members who visit by installing air-conditioning, (which also heats the Office in winter).  It is also used to improve benefits for members, e.g. all adverts on Zoopla are now free for members.  The Board want to add to these benefits once Covid restrictions ease.

Another member had queried the drop in surplus from 2018 to 2019.  As CK was not available to respond CC responded that this was because the mortgage on the Office building, (which includes two flats above), was paid off and the air-conditioning was installed.

CC asked for someone to propose accepting the accounts.  TS proposed, JP seconded. 40 voted in favour. Agreed.

Appointment of accountants for the year ending 31st December 2020: Lovewell Blake have been used for several years and the ELA has a good working relationship with them, particularly Colin Fish. CC asked for someone to propose reappointing Lovewell Blake. TS proposed, PB seconded. 40 voted in favour.  Agreed.

Appointment of Directors: There were three Directors whose term was coming to an end in May 2020.  In January, all members were contacted and invited to stand for election as a Director. No nominations were forthcoming.  Therefore, as the three Directors whose term was coming to an end were happy to stand again an election was not required and the Board remains the same.  CC read out the names of the Board of Directors.

Any other business: CC requested that any questions were sent to him or via the ELA Office and that they would be discussed at the Board meeting on the 28th September and then responded to.

Close of AGM: CC closed the AGM at 1911hr