Minutes for AGM held Tuesday 3rd March 2026

Held in Ayton Community Hall at 7:00pm.

Present

• Alan McFadzean — Chair
• Trevor Smith — Secretary
• Alison Currie
• Toby Foster
• Amanda Wright
• Paul Cliffe

Members of the Public

• Rob Boyd

Apologies for Absence

• Paul Ingram — Treasurer
• Cllr C Hamilton
• Cllr A Orr
• Cllr J Anderson

The minutes of the previous AGM held on 4 December 2024 were circulated and approved as a true and accurate record. Proposed: Trevor Smith, seconded: Amanda Wright.

Election of Office Bearers

Chair: Alan McFadzean

Proposed by Amanda Wright; Seconded by Trevor Smith

Vice Chair: Amanda Wright

Proposed by Alison Currie; Seconded by Alan McFadzean

Treasurer: Paul Ingram

Proposed by Trevor Smith; Seconded by Alan McFadzean

Secretary: Trevor Smith

Proposed by Paul Cliffe; Seconded by Toby Foster

Chair’s Annual Report

The Chair, Alan McFadzean, thanked all Community Councillors for their continued commitment and contribution to Ayton, with particular recognition given to Margaret Carey, Emily Sanderson, and Darren Hall, who stood down during the year.

He highlighted several key achievements:

• Successful support of the Village Flower Show, including the organisation of a live music and real ale event.
• Completion of the village-wide survey, which was distributed to every household and achieved a strong response rate, exceeding expectations. The findings indicated that residents are generally proud of and satisfied with living in Ayton, while also identifying key areas of concern. These results will inform priorities and planning for the coming year.
• Improved communication with residents through enhanced use of local social media channels, enabling more timely and effective engagement with the community.
• Progress in addressing concerns regarding the upkeep of Ayton Cemetery, with plans in place to improve accessibility—particularly for those with mobility issues—and overall maintenance standards.
• The continued closure of the Hemelvaart Bier Café, now exceeding one year, was noted as a significant concern for residents. While efforts have been made to engage with both the owners and potential interested parties, no resolution has yet been achieved. It is hoped that progress will be made in the coming year.

Looking ahead, the Chair expressed optimism for the year to come. He noted the recent purchase of Ayton Castle by a high-profile individual, which is expected to result in a national television series, potentially bringing positive attention to the village and the wider Scottish Borders. He also highlighted the forthcoming development of a new play park, while acknowledging the ongoing need to secure additional funding. As this marks the final year of the current term, he encouraged continued efforts to make a meaningful impact within the community.

Treasurer’s Report

In the absence of the Treasurer, Paul Ingram, the following account balances were reported:

Project Account: £916.04
Treasurer’s Account: £706.16

A detailed breakdown of income and expenditure will be circulated in due course.

Code of Conduct

The Chair reminded members of their obligation to adhere to the Council’s Code of Conduct. All members confirmed that they had previously received formal training and agreed to comply with the Code during the forthcoming year.

Next AGM

As this meeting marks the final AGM of the current term, it was agreed that scheduling of the next AGM will be the responsibility of the newly elected Community Council.

It is anticipated that elections will take place in March 2027, with the subsequent AGM to follow in April 2027.

Meeting closed at 7:35pm.