August’s board meeting summary

The Dons Trust Board (DTB) held its monthly meeting at The Cherry Red Records Stadium on Thursday, August 20. Ahead of publication of the redacted minutes, this article summarises the main points that were discussed.

Erik Samuelson was in attendance, representing the Football Club Board, and he presented his monthly report. An update on the club’s planning application figured prominently following submission to Merton Council of a substantial amount of detailed analysis in response to the initial feedback. Among the other items covered were that the new club training kit is selling very strongly and the Plymouth match produced record takings over the bar for an ordinary league game.

Although she wasn’t in attendance at the meeting, Kay Skelton had submitted a report updating on activity with the AFC Wimbledon Foundation. Primary school sports delivery had ended in July with 19,800 participants having been involved over the year, a 120% increase from 9,000 the previous year. The partnership with Down’s Syndrome Active had seen over 100 participants in the 12 weeks to the end of July. And a link-up with National Citizen Service would see 12 young people helping to run the forthcoming Minithon.

The majority of the meeting was spent discussing a forthcoming stadium-related campaign and arrangements for the votes necessary to pass a Restricted Action to authorise the board to sell The Cherry Red Records Stadium. This discussion followed-up on work carried out by Mark Davis and a large number of volunteers to bring a number of different strands together.

With the time gone 10:30pm, other items on the agenda – including DTB members’ attendance at board meetings and the proposal to facilitate Trust members in the matchday boardroom – were deferred to a later date.

But the meeting did cover some ‘any other business’ including:

  • The Webjam users’ group which had reported back the previous night; Jane Lonsdale and David Growns would come back to the board with a recommendation in light of its feedback
  • Agreement that the new 9 Years podcast could provide a useful communications platform (e.g. board member interviews where appropriate)
  • The imminent arrival of the new Dons Trust kiosk (scheduled to be installed before the Exeter City game) which should help provide a matchday focal point for the Trust
  • Agreement to support a petition created by supporters’ trusts from a number of other London clubs calling for a public inquiry into West Ham United’s deal to play at the Olympic Stadium

In attendance from the Dons Trust Board were: Matt Breach, Mark Davis, David Growns, Nigel Higgs, Zoe Linkson, Jane Lonsdale, Sean McLaughlin and Kris Stewart. Apologies were received from Moorad Choudhry.