Our First AGM: a night to remember

Last Thursday, almost a hundred of you came to Damers Hall for our first Annual General Meeting. Thank you. Here's what happened, and what's coming next.

The room was full, the questions were relevant, and the atmosphere was exactly what we'd hoped for: engaged, warm, and forward-looking. We were honoured to welcome the Mayor and Mayoress of Dorchester, the Town Clerk, Councillors Richard Biggs and William Gibbons, and representatives from the Duchy of Cornwall, the MANCOs, and local business—all of them willing to sit in front of the community and answer your questions. That matters, and we don't take it for granted.

Year 1: what we built together

In just thirteen months, your association has grown from a registered name to something real. Over 800 members. Twenty-five volunteers. A weekly newsletter that 1,400 of you open at a rate three and a half times the industry average. A Virtual Community Hub with 40,000+ visits. Seven doggy bag dispensers. A photography competition with 140 entries. Fifteen community questions answered through our Stakeholder Q&A series. A thousand pounds donated to Pavilion in the Park through Poundbury Good Things. And a discount evening at the Garden Centre attended by 70 members who saved a tidy sum and came away with some beautiful additions for their gardens. The finances are healthy too: almost £14,000 income in Year 1, a strong cash balance, and projected growth of more than 20% for Year 2— all on a model built on voluntary donations, sponsorship, and trading, with no levy and no compulsion.

The AGM business Two of our directors, Sue Cooke and Jerry Cooke, were formally confirmed in their roles by a unanimous show of hands—thank you to everyone who voted.

Our CIC Community Interest Statement has been drafted for filing with Companies House, setting out clearly that everything we do is for the benefit of Poundbury's residents, workers, volunteers, and businesses, and that no surplus goes to directors or members. This is being reviewed by our accountants Edwards & Keeping. Visit here for more information on our governance.

The Q&A: your questions, answered. Steve Newman, Dorchester's Town Clerk, opened the Q&A with a thoughtful reflection on Poundbury's story: how a plan drawn up nearly thirty years ago has held remarkably true, how almost 4,000 people, 260 businesses and 2,700 jobs have taken root here, and how decisions made in Poundbury have shaped the wider town—the Great Field's unsuitability for football, for instance, directly led to the all-weather pitches at the Football Club.

Councillor Gibbons added a lovely note: a dedicated walking tour of Poundbury, complete with its own map, being launched by Discover Dorchester in June. We can't wait!Your questions ranged across road adoption, safe cycling, motorhome and inconsiderate parking, Crown Point planning, fire-damaged buildings on South Street, community safety, and allotments. The Mayor joined the panel directly on policing and community safety. Full written Q&As will be published on the VCH and in this newsletter over the coming months.

What's coming next

The diary is filling up nicely: 8–21 June — Love Poundbury Through Your Lens exhibition and awards at the Duchess of Cornwall Inn

June 3rd — Members' afternoon tea to hear a summary of the AGM

August — Bark in the Park (new!)

October 7th — next Members' General Meeting, 6-8pm at Damers Hall.

Winter — Carols in the Engine Room returns

We need you!

None of this runs itself. We are actively looking for volunteers—particularly someone who could take on a Development Director role, leading on grants, fundraising, and business partnerships—as well as people who can give an hour or two a week to digital communications, noticeboards, events, or membership management. Email: volunteering@lovepoundbury.org or visit lovepoundbury.org to find out more.

The full presentation slides from the evening and the draft minutes of the AGM will be available on the Virtual Community Hub, 'Document Archive' linked to from the Governance Page

We look forward to seeing you at the next meeting!