Pomeroy War Memorial Hall Annual General Meeting
At The Duke of York Pomeroy
Wednesday 12th June 2024, 8pm.
Attendees: Representing:
Jean Brown (JB) Vice Chair of Committee
Rebekah Dicken (RD) Committee Member
Lloyd Melland (LM) Committee Member
Jess O’Dwyer (JOD) Secretary and Treasurer
Philip Wheeldon (PW) Chair of Committee
Ben Wilson (BW) Committee Member
Sarah Wilson (SW) Committee Member
01/0/24 Welcome and Introduction
Summary of Discussion:
PW welcomed all to the meeting.
02/06/24 Apologies and Expressions of Interest
Summary of Discussion:
Apologies from Jenny Cooper (JC) and Ian Webster (IW) were received and accepted.
03/06/24 Minutes of Previous Meeting dated 13th March 2024 and Minutes of
Previous AGM dated 28th June 2023
Summary of Discussion:
The minutes were accepted as a true record of the meeting.
04/06/24 Matters Arising
Summary of Discussion:
Memorial Plaque – JB obtained quotes for various wall mounted plaques from a company
Price ranged from £282.54 to £487.24 depending on material to be used.
Names on war memorial – JOD has established that Thomas Abbott was not one of the names that should
be on the Pomeroy memorial.
JB circulated a second quote at the meeting. Same size – A3 sandstone Corian plaque which could have the
Pomeroy logo and a funders logo etched onto it. Price inc. P&P and VAT is £488.66.
Newspaper Article – sent it to all the local newspapers. The Peak Advertiser asked for this to be shortened
before being published. No response or interest received following articles.
Letter to HRH Queen Camilla, – This was forwarded to the War Memorials Trust, of which Queen Camilla is
patron. The War Memorials Trust already know about us having helped to fund our feasibility study. No
further contacted us as a result of that letter.
Becoming VAT registered – Most halls being registered charities are exempt from VAT. We are not so
looked at the possible advantages of registering for VAT. Advice received – anything gained from being VAT
registered is lost in accounting time and cost. Better to use contractors who are not VAT registered. Having
a scheme from the Charity Commission (CC) does not make us VAT exempt. However, following information
from the CC about “Recognition for your charity” from HMRC. JOD has started the process, with an
application to HMRC regarding VAT.
Meeting rooms – JB has investigated the cost of room hire. Flagg village hall has already been used. JB has
not heard back from Earl Sterndale Church. Sterndale Moor club – depends on when and what is required.
Gambling licence – RD to look into.
Pomeroy Hall on Google maps – the hall was incorrectly marked on Google maps. All other information was
correct, it proved impossible to get the pin moved, therefore requesting that Google delete the entry. If you
Google Pomeroy War Memorial Hall, information comes up on the Derbyshire War Memorials page, our
Facebook page, information printed in the Peak Advertiser and The Pomeroy Trust website etc.. SW
suggested we put “what three words” on the Pomeroy Trust website so people can find the hall that way.
BW/SW to sort.
05/06/24 Chair’s Report
Summary of Discussion:
PW said that things are moving forwards steadily.
06/06/24 Clerk’s Report
Summary of Discussion:
This year we have had a couple of major breakthroughs!
First is planning. We originally gained permission to renovate the hall but were advised by the National Park
planners to remove all reference to accessing the hall. On getting planning permission just for the hall, it
quickly became clear that it was worthless without adequate access. After appealing for help to the local
MP, Sarah Dines, we were able to meet with key representatives from Derbyshire County Council who
eventually agreed that “in view of the recent consent for the refurbishment of the building and associated
community use, it is unlikely that the Highway Authority would be in a position to object should a
further/revised application be submitted.” We then submitted a complaint to the National Park planners,
objecting to have to pay to re-submit the exact same application we submitted in the first place. As such,
they agreed to waive the planning fee as long as we submitted the application within 2 months. We did as
requested and were finally given permission to resurface the verge crossing and widen the gateway in
October 2023.
The second major breakthrough is finally getting recognition from the Charity Commission. Though we are
still not a registered charity owing to our lack of income, we do at least have a “scheme” from the Charity
Commission which once again makes us an official charitable trust and should therefore help with grant
applications. Again, this was not easy, and we went through several rounds of complaints to achieve this.
As part of the planning conditions for the hall, we were required to have a Written Scheme of Investigation
(WSI). This is because planning searches identified that the hall could be on the route of a Roman Road.
Therefore, any digging (e.g., for a septic tank) must be supervised by an archaeologist. We now have a WSI
from Archaeological Research Services in Bakewell. HMQPC very kindly donated £500 towards the cost, for
which we are extremely grateful.
Lastly, we have continued to publicise what we are doing as much as possible. We put an article in every
News and Views newsletter and write articles for local newspapers as and when appropriate. We have
worked hard to generate publicity for our events – our vice chair even went on Twirdle! Though some of our
events have been successful we have not managed to attract any extra interest in helping us out. We will
need to decide what to do next. We cannot continue as we are. To quote our November minutes “are we
sure that local people are that bothered about the hall? There was a low turnout at the games night and if
people won’t come to a fun night at the pub, who will come and use the hall? JB suggested putting on a
couple more events and, if there is absolutely no support, consider shelving plans for restoring the hall.”
07/06/24 Treasurer’s Report
Summary of Discussion:
Our opening balance was £2160.92 (see Appendix 1).
Our income was boosted by the spring fair and other income came from the 100 Club, games nights and a
Christmas fair. This shows we are going out into the community and trying to engage local people/raise
awareness of our charity.
We only spent £218.96. This was on trustee indemnity insurance, architects, membership of Rural Action
Derbyshire and clerk’s expenses (all postage, printing and photocopying expenses).
Our closing balance was £2572.46. Our accounts for 2023-2024 were independently verified by Carl Taylor
FCA on 30th April 2024.
08/06/24 Bank Account
Summary of Discussion:
Our opening balance 2024/25 was £2572.46.
So far, we have paid £300 to T4 Sustainability for the energy survey.
We have paid £540 to Archaeological Research Services for the WSI (with £500 from Hartington Middle
Quarter Parish Council).
We made £29 at Earl Sterndale Fair.
The bank balance just prior to the meeting was £2261.46
Bank cards – LM to be taken off the account, and RD and JC added.
Postal address for the hall changed from the hall to JOD’s house.
Treasurer – We agreed at the last meeting that JOD would continue as treasurer with the help of RD and JC.
09/06/24 Funding
Summary of Discussion:
Parish Council and Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) – JB applied to Hartington MQPC who gave us
£500 towards the cost of the WSI. The WSI has been paid for. JB thanked the Parish Council.
Rural Prosperity Funding – we could apply to this fund for money towards the cost of room hire. JOD found
we were eligible. However, it proved difficult to access, we have been passed from Rural Prosperity Funding
to the Vision Derbyshire Business Start Up fund and back again. Also for events, you need to know what
date(s) you are applying for and have several quotes for room hire. You can’t hold an event before you get
the funding yet there is no guarantee you will get it. They also want to see match funding. It may be worth
saving funding applications for large projects.
Funding for archaeological dig – JOD has applied to the Local Projects Fund through Derbyshire Dales
District Council for £890 to cover the watching brief part of the archaeological work. POST MEETING NOTE –
on 13th June we were awarded £250 by Cllr Chapman towards the watching brief.
10/06/24 Fundraising
Summary of Discussion:
100 Club – JC and RD felt it was best to finish the 100 Club for the time being due to dwindling numbers.
RD /JC to draw the winners for May and June.
Games Nights – We held games nights in November, February and March which raised £ 71.90. We
cancelled the May games night. It seems that bigger events like the Spring Fair are more successful.
Spring Fair Flagg 16th March – This was a great success. We could have had more stall holders in a bigger
hall, or had stalls outside. (Weather dependent). The size of Flagg village hall was a limiting factor, but the
turnout was good. Sterndale Moor Club might be too large. Monyash was suggested as they have a goodsized hall, and similar community spirit, plus we would be supporting/spreading our message to another
local community.( RD to investigate ) As refreshments are very popular, a coffee morning in Flagg was
suggested and a fair at possibly Monyash. Or a walking or car treasure hunt beginning and/or ending at
Flagg village hall for tea and coffee. Another suggestion was a cake competition.
Car Treasure Hunt 9th June – Despite the unseasonal weather this made £105. Thanks to RD and LM for
organising and for all the printing.
Earl Sterndale Fair 18th May – We made £29
11/06/24 Planning and Conditions
Summary of Discussion:
We have three years to start work or we will lose the planning permission, (for reference, permission was
granted for the hall on 16 August 2022 and for the access on 3 October 2023). We were going to start by
taking the chimney down, but this has been complicated by the T4 Sustainability ‘survey’ saying that if we
can’t be reconnected to the grid, the best way to heat the hall would be with a log burner. We can start and
take down the small piece of wall and hang a wider gate across the entrance, but this would only deal with
the second planning permission gained in October. Work on the ramp could be started.
12/06/24 Charity Commission (CC) Recognition
Summary of Discussion:
We now have a scheme from the Charity Commission which combines the hall and the field (seen by the CC
as two separate charities) under the one charity of The Pomeroy Trust. This is dated 23rd April 2024. Even
though we still don’t have a charity number (because we don’t earn over £5k per year) we can at least show
this to potential funders as this is now our governing document.
13/06/24 Rural Action Derbyshire (RAD)
Summary of Discussion:
Rona Rawson – Rural Action Derbyshire – has sent a questionnaire – to consider what we want to do, how
we are going to do it, things we need to consider, how we are going to move forwards and how to get more
people interested. This will help with funding and can be the basis of a business plan. Once the
questionnaire is completed, Rona will arrange for her and Neil Moulden from DDCVS to come and meet us
re the next steps. JB suggested we use the next meeting to discuss this questionnaire and to invite John
Beardmore T4 sustainability to talk to the committee about the energy survey.
14/06/24 Groundwork
Summary of Discussion:
PW has located the stop tap but cannot turn it. LM has a tap turner, however we first need to establish
whether this was our responsibility or belonged to the water board. PW to investigate. PW has bought a
manhole cover to cover the stop tap.
Levels – we were going to look at whether there was space to site a septic tank “above ground” in a hollow.
Overgrowth – PW will remove some more of the old overgrowth around the hall and get rid of the new
overgrowth coming back where he cleared last year.
T4 Sustainability Energy Survey 26th April – On the site visit JB and PW, noticed a piece of missing guttering
which was letting water in. PW to speak to IW about repairing it. JB and PW met with John Beardmore from
T4 Sustainability. They explained what facilities the hall had previously and the difficulties of getting
reconnected. John thought it might be worth paying for Severn Trent to do a water pipe survey as a starting
point to find out exactly what we do have. We might discover whether there are electrics in the same
ducting as the water, or whether it would be possible to put new electric cables in there. If we cannot
reconnect to the mains, he felt the best way to heat the hall was with a log burner. John thought that solar
panels along the back wall of the car park would be the most viable renewable solution. Wind power could
also be feasible, especially if it is not possible/viable to be reconnected to the grid or if it gets too
complicated to avoid the gas main to the quarry. The T4 Sustainability Report to be shared with the
committee as soon as we have it. As part of the price of the report, John said he would come and discuss
our options further. We will invite him to the next meeting on 18th Sept.
15/06/24 Website
Summary of Discussion:
BW and SW to put our “what three words” location on the website.
16/06/24 Election of Committee
Summary of Discussion:
Everyone present was happy to stay as they are on the current committee. JOD to remain secretary and
treasurer in name only for the next six months due to work commitments. JB to take minutes and RD to
type the minutes at the next meeting. RD to check with JC, PW to check with IW about being on the
committee. (As they were not at the meeting).
17/06/24 AOB
Summary of Discussion:
‘A’ Frame – PW to make one to display posters at events.
Second key – PW has had a second key cut for the hall.
18/06/24 Dates and Times of Next Meetings
Summary of Discussion:
All 8pm at the Duke of York Pomeroy.
Wed 18th September
Wed 27th November