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Report of Trust AGM - Thursday 10 February

16th Feb 2022

NTFC Supporters Trust held its delayed 2021 Annual General Meeting, via Zoom, last Thursday (10 February) with 22 members in attendance.


A summary of the meeting is as follows:-


·         Trust chair Andy Roberts gave a report to the meeting and looked ahead to what promised to be an eventful year.


He said: "Locally, the club is set to reach an agreement on a deal with West Northamptonshire Council which will, at long last, see the East Stand completed.


"Like all Cobblers fans, we are desperate to see the stand completed after many years of prevarication between the negotiating parties.


"But we will be urging the council to retain the club's historic land footprint which is covered by an Asset of Community Value (ACV) as part of any deal.


"And we will be bringing forward plans for a partnership infrastructure foundation - club, council and fans together - to explore ways of building the club's asset base in a way which yields future and continuing investment benefit for the club beyond the stand completion.


"Football reform is packaged and ready to go and the Trust is broadly supportive of Tracey Crouch's review which aims to make English club football more sustainable, accountable and transparent.


"Towards the end of last year, we were delighted that former Cobblers manager Ian Atkins agreed to accept an invitation to become a Trust director. 


"Ian's wealth of experience in all aspects of the football industry will stand us in good stead as we move forward."


·         The Trust’s current membership stands at 705, of which 80 per cent are life members. 


A question was asked about a reported review of membership subscriptions and how this would affect life members.


The chairman responded saying that fees would be reviewed by the new board but that the status of life members would remain unchanged.


Life members were however encouraged to make donations to the Trust if they were able.


·         Treasurer Bob Clarke reported on the club’s accounts which showed a surplus of £2,205 for the 2020/21 financial year, in which the Trust had provided sponsorship for NTFC Women.


This was down from the £7,242 surplus of the previous year but still demonstrated that the Trust had lived within its means in an unprecedented Covid-19 environment.


The balance sheet remains healthy £127,030 including £71,954 shown as fixed assets investment which is shares of £1 in NTFC held at cost. 


Cash held at the Co-op Bank and PayPal was £55,446. This represents our 'rainy-day fund' as voted for by Trust members.


The meeting adopted the Trust’s accounts and agreed that Clifford Towers continue as accountants. 


The meeting also agreed a resolution that the Trust's status enabled it to waive an independent audit requirement.


Cobblers Travel has bounced back well following Covid restrictions, and discussion took place about encouraging more Trust members to use the coaches when travelling to away games.


·         New board members Ian Atkins, Stefan Krywawych and Dave Rawlings were welcomed. Derek Krajewski will seek co-option to the board at the monthly meeting on February 17.


Thanks were given to outgoing Board Secretary Helen Hickman, who had served the Trust for 12 years.


Thanks were also conveyed to the longest-serving board member Stuart Taylor, who has stepped down from the board as Membership Secretary, and to community representative Cheryl Byrne who has also stepped down after many years of service.


Discussion took place about the need to diversify the profile of the current board and to encourage younger members and members from all backgrounds.

There are vacancies so if any member is interested in joining the board please get in touch!

·         Any Trust member interested in joining the board or attending a virtual board meeting, held monthly, should email  ntfctrust1992@gmail.com

 

 

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