Meeting minutes 29-10-21

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Date: 29/10/21

Time: 3pm

Attendees: Lynne Caulfield (Trustee Chair), Sandie Emmerson (Treasurer Trustee), Michelle Cusick (Secretary), Sylvia Simmonds (History Trustee).

1. Welcome from the Chair: Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and ex- plained that a decision needs to be made for the wellbeing of the Charity, the Trustees and the community as a whole by bringing the situation between CuriosiTEA room and the Charity to an end. After 5 weeks it is becoming clear that CuriosiTEA rooms and their supporters are intent on continuing their campaign of harassment with a view to forcing the trustees to revoke their decision. The harassment is disturbing for the Trustees and the community as a whole and it is difficult to imagine running the Charity in these conditions until June 2022. Sec- retary also stated that the harassment has become personal and damaging to individual businesses and is not acceptable.

2. Discussion: The only recourse open to us at this time would seem to be to cut short the tenancy of a business that is behaving in such a hostile way to the Charity and to the Trustees. Treasurer pointed out that we must be sure that this is our only option, because people’s employment is at stake.

A general discussion followed about the different ways this situation might have evolved, had it not been for the campaign of abuse and the consequent break- down of relations between the Trustees and CuriosiTEA . Chair noted that we had all hoped to be able to work amicably with CuriosiTEA rooms until the end of their Lease and this was the reason we gave them advance notice of it.

Sadly the online campaign of intimidation and insults towards both old and new Trustees was started immediately without any attempt to maintain good rela- tions. There has been no attempt by CuriosiTEA to correct any misinformation and there has been no (or very slow) removal of detrimental remarks on social media about the Charity and its Trustees.

The harassment of the Trustees by CuriosiTEA rooms has been going on in various forms for several years but it is now also being carried out on social media to the detriment of the Charity and the volunteers who work for it. Trustees, volunteers and other villagers who are thought to support the Hub have been subject to verbal abuse and some are even reporting that they feel uncomfortable just walking around the village.

The intention of the Hub has always been to bring the village together and this toxicity is splitting the community and must come to an end.

The Trustees believe that the situation has got to the point where our only re- course is to give notice of termination of the Lease.

3. Conclusion: Chair provides a copy of the letter prepared by the Hub Solicitor which provides two months’ notice of termination of the lease.

Chair proposes a vote, seconded by Sylvia Simmonds.

Vote is unanimous in favour of serving CuriosiTEA room with two months’ notice.

Motion passed.