LAND TRUSTS ASSOCIATION

Annual General Meeting 4 December 2002

Chairman's Statement by James G Ruddock

Committee Meetings

During the year there were meetings on 1 November 2001 at Milton Keynes Parks Trust and on 22 January and 26 April at.Smiths Gore, Little College Street, London. I am grateful to both these hosting organisations for allowing us to have our meetings on their premises.

Membership and Finance

The membership at 30 June 2002 stood at 92 and the funds at that date were £3,083 after a deficit for the year of £92.

Seven new members joined during the year.

Technical

Work was done on the compilation of a first time newsletter which was decided to be entitled 'Briefing Notes.' These have been distributed to members since the year-end and incorporate several topical legal and technical issues.

We continue to get approaches asking the Association for advice and assistance and one new Scottish member requested several Papers going back to 1989 and we were pleased to supply these from our archives.

The PIU Report from the Government Strategy Unit on revision of charitable objects and other charity matters was anticipated throughout the year and was finally published after the year-end.

Literature and Website

Revised publicity material for the Association was updated and issued in May. Thanks are due to the Treasurer for doing the bulk of the work..

Our Website continues to be updated and there are several 'hits' from interested parties throughout the year. I am grateful to Thomas and Richard Sowler for keeping this operational. My thanks to the Secretary for arranging link-ups with two related organisations, the CLA and the Landmark Trust.

Occasional Papers and Articles

Occasional Paper No. 8 was issued to members in April with a first time colour photograph on the front cover of the Torbay Coast. Total printed were 2,500 and major quantities were delivered to the CLA and RCIS for selected circularisation. I am grateful to Charles Cowap and Gill Tidmus for producing this important document for the Association.

Case Studies

Case Studies incorporated in the Occasional Papers were written on Stansted Park, Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, the Laxton Estate and the Titsey Foundation. Other studies are in progress.

Conferences, Seminars and Tours

A follow-up circular was done to traceable delegates at the Blair Castle conference in 2000 and some new members in Scotland were signed up.

Plans were commenced in January for a conference at Clandeboye Estate, Northern Ireland which was held after the year-end.

Last year's AGM held on 27 September was at Poundbury, Dorset in the lovely new Market Hall known as the Brownsword Hall. After the meeting and an excellent lunch the Agent, Simon Conybear, gave attendees a most interesting tour of the new urban village pioneered by Prince Charles and the Duchy of Cornwall.

Committee Members

We congratulate Philip Merricks on being awarded the MBE in the Birthday Honours List in 2001.

I am grateful to all Committee members for their service during the past year and particularly for the support from the officers on whom I rely, especially Roger Gardner as Treasurer, James Dennis as Secretary and Clare Gore his assistant who do much of the paperwork for seminars and meetings.

Tom McCaw retired at the last AGM and Bruce Monnington resigned upon leaving the CLA on 30 April. Rhoddy Voremeberg was elected at the last AGM.

Honorary Membership

I am pleased to propose at this meeting the election to the position of Honorary Member three stalwarts who have served the Association magnanimously for several years in the past. These are Michael Boddington, one
of the founder 'drivers,' Professor Charles Miles, Vice-Chairman and first Editor of the Occasional Papers for many years and Tim Heymann, a speaker at the very first seminar and a past Chairman. I fully support this recommendation to the meeting.

Lastly, I have to report the death last year of Sir Ralph Verney who was one our original pioneer figureheads along with Sir John Lawrence who died the year before.