Minutes of the Annual General Assembly of EHEN

Date:    Friday 6th October 2006

Location:    Municipality of Sigulda, Latvia

Start Time:    09:30

Finish Time:    10:30

1.0    Present:

Ken Nunes Chairman EHEN), Gordon Malcolm (Tresurer EHEN) John Kernahan (EXCO EHEN), Luc Stijnen, Lena Graham, Colin Wright, John Molloy, Erik Christiansen, Tony Book, Rudolph Halberstadt, Anna Rodriguez-Gabriel, Gordon Snape.

2.0    Appointment of Chair of AGM

Ken Nunes was proposed as Chair by Anna Rodriguez-Gabriel and seconded by Gordon Malcolm.

3.0    Annual Report from Chair of EXCO

Ken Nunes advised that he would report back as far as the Glasgow meeting, as he had been unable to attend the AGM in Copenhagen due to a family bereavement.

Ken Nunes reported as follows:

At the Glasgow meeting it was decided that the management of EHEN should be split into three elements:

•    General Management by Ken Nunes supported by John Kernahan and John Goulding.
•    Finances and budgeting by Gordon Malcolm supported by Erik.
•    Marketing and Communications by Pari Barbour with support from others.

The intention had been to strengthen the processes to deliver conferences, workshops, website content and publications.  Unfortunately shortly after the Glasgow conference both Pari Barbour and John Goulding withdrew from these commitments. 

Good conferences had been held at Glasgow and Copenhagen in 2005 and at Cardiff and now Sigulda in 2006.

It was now considered appropriate to revisit the potential for EU funding for EHEN.  No news was available in respect of the EU submission by Besel.

Ken Nunes identified the nature and extent of hits on the website and identified that investment was required in the website and its content needed expanding.  Concern was expressed that members did not make sufficient use of conference contacts – and Ken cited the case of regeneration potential identified at the Glasgow conference.  He went on to challenge how members could use Sigulda contacts to mutual benefit.  Particularly how the knowledge and experience in EHEN could be used.

Ken concluded his report by reviewing things well done and not so, and the following were identified:

Well done:  conference contacts and relationships, new website.

Not so well done:  commitment to involvement, communications, support with website content, involvement outside of conferences, support for EU proposals and failure to appreciate value of EHEN and its potential.

4.0    Presentation of Accounts

Gordon presented the accounts for 2005/06, and particularly noted the fall in subscriptions and the reduced year-end balance compared to recent years (circa 5,200€ compared to 8,500€ last year).

An extended discussion took place regarding both the level of the membership subscription and options for charging for conferences.  There was some diversity of opinions on these issues, however a consensus was agreed.

John Kernahan proposed that conference attendees should be obliged to pay their subscription before attending.  This was seconded by Colin Wright and approved by the meeting.

Gordon Malcolm proposed that subscriptions remained at current levels and the meeting also supported this.

5.0    Notice from Chair - Election of EXCO for 2006 / 2007

Ken Nunes advised the meeting that it was his intention to resign as Chair of EXCO at the Autumn 2007 meeting, giving members 12 months notice of the need to find a replacement.  Despite strong support for his continued good work, Ken was keen to see new leadership evolve.

6.0    EHEN Membership Fees

Colin Wright proposed that EXCO membership fees should continue as existing, and this was seconded by Anna Rodriguez-Gabriel and approved by the Assembly.
 

Post Meeting Note

Following the meeting an extended discussion took place regarding the potential to develop an EHEN approach to the refurbishment of buildings, and in particular to make this a common theme in conferences. 

It was agreed that there is a significant amount of investment in the existing housing stock across the EU and that good practice in one state could be extended elsewhere.  The potential to submit a bid for an EU wide review and report was discussed, and it was agreed that this should be further explored.

The meeting minutes were written by Gordon Malcolm and approved by other members of EHEN EXCO (Ken Nunes and John Kernahan) before circulation to EHEN members.