2024 Annual General Meeting
March 2024
A good number of members, both in person and online joined the Trustees for the 51st Annual General Meeting. Peter Stock, Chair, reported that during 2023, the logo change to A Voice for the Hill is now embedded as part of the culture and is met when there are budget or action decisions. The financial resources available has also helped establish admin systems and processes with support staff, to put on a professional footing for all GDPR, membership & volunteering records, sales and assist the trustees.
For 2023 the Work Parties held a full year, now supported with an Outdoor Coordinator for planning and leading. Battery operated tools are now permitted and these are being purchased for the 2024 work parties. Onboarding of volunteers is now largely automated.
The BLPG has created a Colony Management Plan, and this will assist the management of preserving the historic sites. Broadleaf planting started by the Bede House for the Community Woodland Project. The Pittodrie Dig in 2023 was very successful, with the highlight of finding two medieval corn drying kilns. There was a successful 2 day conference called the Cultural Landscapes of Northeast Scotland which will be published during 2024.
The Wildlife Group held many well-attended walks over the course of the year and planning for an Environment Report with actions into 2024.
The 50th Anniversary was very well received and celebrated. The Bailies commissioned some classical piano music from Phillip Cooke, traditional music composed for Bennachie from Ian Thow, and also commissioned a play by Alan Bisset called The Hill that was a Home. Also notable in this anniversary year was the publicly voted award for Community Initiative Award from the RSPB.
During 2023 there was a loss of Trustees for various personal reasons, and those Trustees were thanked for their many years contribution. Ann Baillie and Donna Taylor had stood down at last year’s AGM, and through the year Fiona Cormack, Kim Morgan, Margaret Garden and Jim Herbert (4 Jan 2024). Also thanked was Jill Matthews for her contribution as the Wildlife Group Leader. New Trustees were being actively sourced and David Caney was introduced as having been co-opted on early Jan 2024.
Alan Henderson, Treasurer, reported on the Accounts of the Bailies of Bennachie. With the legacy, the majority of our income now is Bank Interest and Dividend income. Expenditure had increased mostly due to investment management fees and the costs in relation to the 50th Anniversary. Overall, the year end funds balance had increased. Rathbones, who manage the investment, have met the Bailies twice now, for full review. All Trustees oversee the financial picture at every Trustee meeting.
The eight current Trustees, David Bale, Lorna Bell, David Caney, Alex Doig, Alan Henderson, William Linklater, Peter Stock and Allan Will are all prepared to stand for another year, and more Trustees will hopefully be welcomed and co-opted on over the coming year.
Peter Stock then gave a look ahead to 2024 to be a year of progress. With the financial security, investment was to go ahead with projects that align with the aim of A Voice for the Hill. Continuing programme of Work Parties, BLPG Archaeological Digs and Colony conservation by implementation of the Colony Management Plan and Environmental projects.
A presentation and talk then followed by Veronica Llorente of RTS Forestry on their 20 year plans for the Bennachie area, along with how we are working together to preserve the archaeology on Bennachie.
