Notice of AGM 2014 - Birmingham Botanical Gardens...Thatwithe ffectfrom1A pril2 015thea nnualcharg...

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of Birmingham Botanical and Horticultural Society Limited will be held at the Botanical Gardens and Glasshouses, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham on Monday 22 September 2014 at 6pm to transact the following business: 1. To receive and adopt the statement of accounts for the year ended 31 March 2014 and the reports of the Trustees and of the Auditors. 2. To re-elect Members of the Committee: Mr P.H. White, Mr A.J. Jones, Ms P. Pickavance, Mrs K. J. Hartigan, Mr J. R. Taylor and Mrs C. Clutton-Brock. 3. To approve the following resolution: That with effect from 1 April 2015 the annual charges for membership of the Society, inclusive of Value Added Tax shall be: (i) Family Membership (Entry for up to five people from the same family) £65 (ii) Annual Membership (Entry for two people from the same family) £40 (iii) Single Membership (Entry for one person only) £35 NOTE: A discount of £2 is allowed to Family, Annual and Single Members who pay by Direct Debit. Guest tickets at £13 are available to Single, Annual and Family Members who wish to bring an additional person to the Gardens. Season Tickets are also available: Senior Citizen at £27.50, Weekday at £29. 4. To re-appoint the auditors, Mazars LLP, and authorize the Committee to agree their remuneration. 5. To transact any other business which may be transacted at an Annual General Meeting. BY ORDER OF THE COMMITTEE M. A. LIBERSON Chairman and Honorary Secretary Registered Office: Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses Telephone: Westbourne Road +44(0)121 454 1860 Edgbaston Facsimile: Birmingham +44(0)121 454 7835 B15 3TR email: 20 August 2014 [email protected] The notice of the year’s Annual General Meeting appears opposite. A full copy of the Annual Report and Accounts for the Society is available as a PDF on our website: www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk or on request. OVERVIEW OF THE YEAR We report below the key achievements in pursuance of our aims and objectives during the year ended 31 March 2014. Highlights of the year included an exciting new catering and hospitality offering, replanting of our Terrace and Glasshouse plant collections, further development of our education partnership with Birmingham Metropolitan College and a substantial improvement in the finances of the Charity. Thanks are due to Trustees, Volunteers, Staff and above all, to our Visitors. Your invaluable support enables us to continue to open this beautiful historic site for the benefit of all who visit. Horticulture Highlights of our horticultural year included the renovation of the Rock Garden and the achievement of a Silver Medal for our apprentices’ show garden at Gardeners World Live. Education The Charity’s educational activities with schools, higher education students and leisure learning continued to thrive. These activities received great praise from visiting students and teachers during the year. The Charity’s new partnership with Birmingham Metropolitan College went from strength to strength with student numbers and the range of courses on offer continuing to increase. Maintenance The Charity’s listed and historic buildings continued to receive the expert and costly care required for them to offer the unique glasshouse and landscape environments on which our plant collection depends. We are proud of our Grade 2* status as a heritage site and will continue to devote every effort to securing its future for future generations to enjoy. Commercial activities The Charity’s trading and fundraising activities showed positive progress. Our new caterer Ampersand, completed a plan for change designed to deliver a much improved catering offer. The plan began with a comprehensive refurbishment of the gardens’ catering and conferencing facilities including updated kitchen equipment and decorations. This required a substantial investment of funds which is worthwhile because our catering generates essential financial support for the organisation’s charitable work in addition to entertaining many thousands of satisfied guests each year in a unique environment. We are confident that this investment will deliver a substantial dividend in improved custom, visitor satisfaction and increased income from catering activities in the future. Finance The Charity’s total annual income increased by £111,336 during the year, an encouraging result. The financial results for the Charity continued to be in deficit at £60,465 but this was a great improvement on the loss of £213,717 in the previous year. We continue to strive for a surplus and are reviewing all sources of income and are raising awareness that we are not a municipal body but a charity reliant upon donation and gifting. The Charity requires funding from sponsorship, bids to funding bodies and legacies to support the ongoing maintenance of the facilities of the gardens. The Charity is currently developing a campaign to raise funds for this purpose. Cash outflow was just £9,026 after taking significant capital expenditure into account. Four important income streams showed increases. The number of day visitors increased by 19% from 41,383 to 49,083 and receipts from this source from £208,190 to £262,564. Notice of AGM 2014 page 1 Wednesday, 20 August 2014 16:28 Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

Transcript of Notice of AGM 2014 - Birmingham Botanical Gardens...Thatwithe ffectfrom1A pril2 015thea nnualcharg...

Page 1: Notice of AGM 2014 - Birmingham Botanical Gardens...Thatwithe ffectfrom1A pril2 015thea nnualcharg esform embershipo ftheS ociety, inclusiveo fV alueA ddedTaxs hallb e: (i) FamilyMembership

NOTICE� IS� HEREBY� GIVEN� that� the� Annual� General� Meeting� of� Birmingham�Botanical� and�

Horticultural�Society�Limited�will�be�held�at�the�Botanical�Gardens�and�Glasshouses,�Westbourne�

Road,�Edgbaston,�Birmingham�on�Monday�22�September�2014�at�6pm�to�transact�the�following�

business:�

1.� To�receive�and�adopt�the�statement�of�accounts�for�the�year�ended�31�March�2014�and�

the�reports�of�the�Trustees�and�of�the�Auditors.�

2.� To�re-elect�Members�of�the�Committee:�

Mr��P.H.�White,�Mr�A.J.�Jones,�Ms�P.�Pickavance,�Mrs�K.�J.�Hartigan,�Mr�J.�R.�Taylor�and�

Mrs�C.�Clutton-Brock.�

3.� To�approve�the�following�resolution:�

That�with�effect�from�1�April�2015�the�annual�charges�for�membership�of�the�Society,�

inclusive�of�Value�Added�Tax�shall�be:�

� � (i)� Family�Membership��

� � (Entry�for�up�to�five�people�from�the�same�family)� � £65�

� � (ii)� Annual�Membership�

� � (Entry�for�two�people�from�the�same�family)� � � £40�

� � (iii)� Single�Membership� � � � � � �

� � (Entry�for�one�person�only)� � � � � � � � £35�

NOTE:�

A�discount�of�£2�is�allowed�to�Family,�Annual�and�Single�Members�who�pay�by�Direct�

Debit.�

Guest�tickets�at�£13�are�available�to�Single,�Annual�and�Family�Members�who�wish�to�

bring�an�additional�person�to�the�Gardens.�

Season�Tickets�are�also�available:�Senior�Citizen�at�£27.50,�Weekday�at�£29.�

4.� To�re-appoint�the�auditors,�Mazars�LLP,�and�authorize�the�Committee�to�agree�their�

remuneration.�

5.� To�transact�any�other�business�which�may�be�transacted�at�an�Annual�General�Meeting.�

� � � � � BY�ORDER�OF�THE�COMMITTEE�

M.�A.�LIBERSON�

Chairman�and�Honorary�Secretary�

Registered�Office:�

Birmingham�Botanical�Gardens�&�Glasshouses� � � � Telephone:�

Westbourne�Road� � � � � � � � � � � +44(0)121�454�1860�

Edgbaston� � � � � � � � � � � � � Facsimile:�

Birmingham�� � � � � � � � � � � � +44(0)121�454�7835�

B15�3TR�� � � � � � � � � � � � � email:���������������������������������

20�August�2014�� � � ���������������������[email protected]

The�notice�of�the�year’s�Annual�General�Meeting�appears�opposite.� �A�full�copy�of�the�Annual�

Report� and� Accounts� for� the� Society� is� available� as� a� PDF� on� our� website:�

www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk�or�on�request.�

OVERVIEW�OF�THE�YEAR�

We�report�below�the�key�achievements�in�pursuance�of�our�aims�and�objectives�during�the�year�ended�31�March� 2014.� �Highlights� of� the� year� included� an�exciting�new� catering� and�hospitality� offering,� replanting� of� our� Terrace� and� Glasshouse� plant� collections,� further�development� of� our� education� partnership� with� Birmingham� Metropolitan� College� and� a�substantial� improvement� in� the� finances� of� the� Charity.� � Thanks� are� due� to� Trustees,�Volunteers,� Staff� and� above� all,� to� our� Visitors.� � Your� invaluable� support� enables� us� to�continue�to�open�this�beautiful�historic�site�for�the�benefit�of�all�who�visit.��

Horticulture�

Highlights�of�our�horticultural�year�included�the�renovation�of�the�Rock�Garden�and�the�achievement�of�a�Silver�Medal�for�our�apprentices’�show�garden�at�Gardeners�World�Live.�

Education�

The�Charity’s�educational�activities�with�schools,�higher�education�students�and�leisure�learning�continued�to�thrive.��These�activities�received�great�praise�from�visiting�students�and�teachers�during�the�year.��The�Charity’s�new�partnership�with�Birmingham�Metropolitan�College�went�from�strength�to�strength�with�student�numbers�and�the�range�of�courses�on�offer�continuing�to�increase.�

Maintenance�

The�Charity’s�listed�and�historic�buildings�continued�to�receive�the�expert�and�costly�care�required�for�them�to�offer�the�unique�glasshouse�and�landscape�environments�on�which�our�plant�collection�depends.��We�are�proud�of�our�Grade�2*�status�as�a�heritage�site�and�will�continue�to�devote�every�effort�to�securing�its�future�for�future�generations�to�enjoy.�

Commercial�activities�

The�Charity’s�trading�and�fundraising�activities�showed�positive�progress.��Our�new�caterer�Ampersand,�completed�a�plan�for�change�designed�to�deliver�a�much�improved�catering�offer.�The�plan�began�with�a�comprehensive�refurbishment�of�the�gardens’�catering�and�conferencing�facilities�including�updated�kitchen�equipment�and�decorations.��This�required�a�substantial�investment�of�funds�which�is�worthwhile�because�our�catering�generates�essential�financial�support�for�the�organisation’s�charitable�work�in�addition�to�entertaining�many�thousands�of�satisfied�guests�each�year�in�a�unique�environment.��We�are�confident�that�this�investment�will�deliver�a�substantial�dividend�in�improved�custom,�visitor�satisfaction�and�increased�income�from�catering�activities�in�the�future.��

Finance��

The�Charity’s�total�annual�income�increased�by�£111,336�during�the�year,�an�encouraging�result.��The�financial�results�for�the�Charity�continued�to�be�in�deficit�at�£60,465�but�this�was�a�great�improvement�on�the�loss�of�£213,717�in�the�previous�year.��We�continue�to�strive�for�a�surplus�and�are�reviewing�all�sources�of�income�and�are�raising�awareness�that�we�are�not�a�municipal�body�but�a�charity�reliant�upon�donation�and�gifting.�The�Charity�requires�funding�from�sponsorship,�bids�to�funding�bodies�and�legacies�to�support�the�ongoing�maintenance�of�the�facilities�of�the�gardens.�The�Charity�is�currently�developing�a�campaign�to�raise�funds�for�this�purpose.���

Cash�outflow�was�just�£9,026�after�taking�significant�capital�expenditure�into�account.��Four�important�income�streams�showed�increases.��The�number�of�day�visitors�increased�by�19%�from�41,383�to�49,083�and�receipts�from�this�source�from�£208,190�to�£262,564.���

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���

Revenue�from�banqueting�and�conferencing�delivered�by�our�subcontractor�Ampersand�increased�by�over�£53,000.��Income�from�education�increased�by�more�than�£31,000�largely�due�to�rental�income�received�from�our�partnership�with�Birmingham�Metropolitan�College.��The�contribution�made�by�the�Shop�at�the�Gardens�increased�by�£12,093.��Membership�numbers�decreased�by�11%�from�4,971�to�4,421.��Member�visits�were�down�by�6%�from�46,310�to�43,685.���

We�will�be�redoubling�our�efforts�to�reverse�this�decline�in�membership�numbers�during�the�coming�year�by�improving�our�membership�offer�and�marketing�more�effectively.��We�know�membership�offers�great�value�for�money�to�our�regular�visitors�and�is�greatly�appreciated�by�them.��It�also�offers�the�opportunity�for�supporters�to�make�a�regular�financial�commitment�to�our�charitable�work.�

The�Charity’s�costs�fell�by�£41,916�in�the�year,�reflecting�increased�productivity�and�our�determination�to�secure�value�for�money�on�all�our�expenditure.��Capital�investment�in�the�year�amounted�to�£182,236,�a�substantial�investment�in�our�future.��At�year�end,�the�Charity’s�cash�reserves�amounted�to�£305,471,�a�prudent�reserve�and�a�strong�foundation�for�the�exciting�new�developments�we�have�planned.�

The�Charity�continued�to�restructure�staff�and�key�job�roles�to�reflect�the�changing�requirements�of�the�business.��Several�new�Trustees�joined�the�board�this�year,�bringing�fresh�ideas�and�introducing�new�skills�which�will�be�useful�in�helping�the�Charity�address�the�opportunities�that�lie�ahead.��We�thank�our�Trustees,�Friends�and�Volunteers�for�their�essential�work�on�the�Gardens’�behalf.��Volunteers�provided�us�with�7,000�hours�of�work�during�the�year.��The�Charity�is�now�recruiting�new�Trustees,�Volunteers�and�Staff�to�enable�us�to�provide�a�continuously�improving�offer�for�all�our�visitors.��For�further�details,�please�contact�the�Chief�Executive�or�view�the�Charity’s�website�www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk.�

We�appreciate�the�loyalty�of�all�who�visit.��We�will�continue�to�work�hard�to�improve�the�gardens�for�your�benefit.��The�Charity’s�five�year�business�plan�is�focused�on�developing�the�business�on�a�sustainable�financial�model�in�a�rapidly�changing�economic�environment.��We�look�forward�to�the�further�implementation�of�our�plans�to�secure�the�future�of�the�Charity�and�to�raise�our�attraction�to�a�new�level�of�excellence.�

� � � �B I R M I N G H A M �

GARD EN S �BOTANICAL��

THE�

Notice�of��

2014��Annual��General��Meeting��

and��

Overview��of�the��Year��

President��Sir�Euan�Anstruther-Gough�

Calthorpe�Bt�

AN�EDUCATIONAL �CHAR ITY�

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