HHS Reporting 2024

Chairman’s Report – year ended 31 December 2024 .
We had a marvelous year with the opportunity to meet our fellow exhibitors and friends and enjoy the wonderful exhibits (and teas!) at our three shows. We also thank everyone who came along for 
a chat and supported us at Fair in the Square – our best year ever. 

Financially, we had a very good year and as the Treasurer has said we are in a good position to continue our activities. We also want, as ever, to increase our membership and encourage more exhibitors. We are always open to suggestions from members about how we can improve the Society and if you want to email us with your suggestions, we will discuss them at our next committee meeting. We are also grateful to members who help on show days and if you feel you can contribute in some way, please let us know. 

Finally, I would like to say once again thanks to the Committee for all the hard work they put into making the shows and Society a success and to thank you all for the support you give us – 
it makes it all worthwhile! 

Roxane Stirling 
Chairman 
20 February 2025

AGENDA
Annual General Meeting of the Society, Monday, 17 March 2025 at 7pm via Zoom 
1. Apologies for absence. 
2. Minutes of last annual general meeting. 
3. Matters arising from the minutes. 
4. Chairmans Report. 
5. Treasurers Report. 
6. Approval of Treasurer's Report. 
7. Membership Secretary's Report. 
8. Election of officers and members of the Executive Committee. 
9. AOB. 

MINUTES OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Annual General Meeting of the Society, Monday, 17 March 2024 at 7pm via Zoom1. 
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Were received from Ms J. Morgan, Ms V. Easlea and Mrs Y. Desbois. 
2. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING: Were circulated to members and were approved for signature. 
3. MATTERS ARISING: There were none 
4. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT: Had been circulated to members. 
5. TREASURER'S REPORT: Ms Sheehan presented the accounts which had been previously circulated to members. 
6. ACCEPTANCE OF TREASURER'S REPORT & APPOINTMENT OF HON. AUDITOR: 
The acceptance of the Treasurer's Report was proposed by Mrs Baylis 
7. MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY'S REPORT: 
Ms Probyn reported that numbers were down from 2023, we have 92 members including 10 new. 
She proposed that Mr & Mrs Dallman be honorary members and this was approved. 
Members were once again encouraged to personally recruit members and exhibitors. 
8. ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: 
The Secretary announced that the remaining officers and members of the committee were willing to stand for a further year and were re-elected en bloc. 
9. AOB: There were none. There being no further business, the meeting closed at 7.35pm. 

Highgate Horticultural Society Accounts for the year ending 
31 December 2024 
Presented at the AGM on 17 March 2025

The Annual Accounts for 2024 are presented, they cover the period 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2024. 
The Income and Expenditure Account shows a surplus of £1,043 compared to a surplus of £562 in 2023, an increase of £481. Expenditure totaled £1,774 compared to £2,166 in the previous year and income was £2,818 compared to £2,728 in the previous year. The main change between 2024 and 2023 is the reduced expenditure in 2024. In 2023 £203 was spent on printing cards for the show.

The majority of expenses relate to the shows – these amounted to £1,351 including printing. In addition, we have insurance and web fees and other expenses totalling £424. The shows raise the majority of receipts. In addition, in 2024 funds were raised at the Fair in the Square and the Eco Fair totalling £668. The table below shows the funds raised at the shows and direct expenses, excluding subscriptions.

Subscriptions have reduced in 2024 to £332.
Over recent years they have been declining, from £550 in 2023 and £721 in 2022.    

The Balance Sheet shows the accumulated funds as at 31 December 2024, which are represented in the bank accounts and cash held. The accumulated funds are £8,635, an increase of £1,043, this being the in-year surplus. The total in the bank accounts is £8,196 and there is £439 held as cash. 

The Highgate Horticultural Society has a healthy cash balance and is in a good position to continue its activities.

HHS Reporting 2023

Chairman's Report to 31 December 2023
Thanks to everyone who came along to the AGM and for supporting our shows. It has been an extremely difficult couple of years for everyone due to the pandemic, but we are now back on track and the Society has survived if not thrived. This is, of course, thanks to our wonderful Committee members and the support of our members. Firstly, I would like to thank my predecessor Alan Dallman for all the support he and his wife Anne, who was the immediate past Treasurer, gave to society and I am pleased to announce that we were able to present the RHS Recognition award to them. Financially, we are in good shape but obviously, we have concerns about the number of members and exhibitors, and it would be lovely to have more younger exhibitors. We are always open to suggestions from members about how we can improve this situation and if you want to email us with your ideas, we will discuss them at our next committee meeting. We are also grateful to members who help on show days and if you feel you can contribute in some way, please let us know.

Annual General Meeting of the Society AgendaTuesday, 16 May 2023 at 6pm at the Highgate Society, 10a South Grove, London N6 6BS. 
1.   Apologies for absence.
2.   Minutes of last annual general meeting.
3.   Matters arising from the minutes.
4.   Chairman's Report.
5.   Treasurers Report.
6.   Approval of Treasurer's Report.
7.   Membership Secretary's Report.
8.   Election of officers and members of the Executive Committee.
9. AOB.

MINUTES OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD AT HIGHGATE SOCIETY 6PM 16 MAY 2023   
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:  Were received from Ms S. Gold, Mrs S. Shillito, Ms L. Allender, Mrs A. Miles, Ms J. Morgan, Ms S. Stanborough, Ms V. Easlea.   
2. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING:  Were circulated to attending members and approved for signature.   3. MATTERS ARISING:  There were none  
 4. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT:  Had been circulated to attending members.   
5. TREASURER'S REPORT:  Ms Sheehan presented the account and commented that we had purchased two Sum Up machines so that non-cash payments could be made.  Subscriptions for the year totalled £721.00 and we had £1,748.00 of income from teas, produce, plants, raffle and auction from shows.   
6. ACCEPTANCE OF TREASURER'S REPORT & APPOINTMENT OF HON. AUDITOR: The acceptance of the Treasurer's Report was proposed by Mrs Baylis   
7.  MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY'S REPORT: Ms Probyn reported that numbers were down from 2022 and members were once again encouraged to personally recruit members and exhibitors.    
8. ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:  The Secretary announced that the remaining officers and members of the committee were willing to stand for a further year and were re-elected en bloc.     
 9. AOB: There were none. There being no further business the meeting closed at 6.20pm and was followed by refreshments. 

Those present: Mrs M. Baylis, Mrs R. Stirling, Ms J. Sheehan, Ms M. Probyn, Mr & Mrs S. Marston, Mr G. Sycamore, Mrs Y. Desbois, Ms C. Davies.  
Highgate Horticultural Society Accounts for the year ending 31 December 2023 The Annual Accounts for 2023 are presented, they cover the period 1 January 2023 – 31 December 2023. 
The Income and Expenditure Account shows a surplus of £562 compared to a surplus of £341 in 2022. Expenditure totalled £2,166 and income was £2,728. The majority of expenses are related to the shows – these amounted to £1,360. In addition, we have insurance and web fees. Subscriptions for the year totalled £550. £1,773 of income was received at the shows from sales of produce, teas, raffle and auction. The Balance Sheet shows the accumulated funds as at 31 December 2023, which are represented in the bank accounts and cash held. The accumulated funds are £7,592. The total in the bank accounts is £7,078 and there is £514 held as cash. Committee members are asked to note this report and the Accounts. Joanna Sheehan Treasurer February 2024.