Present: Alison Teal (Chair), Ruth Hubbard, Paul Selby (Minutes), Isabel O’Leary, Woll Newall, Andrew Kondakor, Sue Kondakor, Anne Barr, Helen McIlroy, Wendy Hawksley, Mark James

Observers: (None)

Apologies: Tina Sampson-Smith

Minutes: The minutes of the last committee meeting (16/02/26) were agreed as a true and accurate record.

Matters arising

1 HM had forgotten again to contact the Woodland Trust. Action – HM will pursue.

2 AT and WN had worked together on the website page linking to the plaque, however, we need to check that SCC received the QR code email that WN sent them (as there seems to be some confusion as to whether they did receive it). Action – AT and WN to work to resolve.

3 HM had contacted one individual to request they become the Trustee, but they had declined. Isabel had contacted another individual but they too also sadly declined. After a discussion, and in the context that the role of Trustee will soon be removed if the draft new Constitution is approved, it was agreed that Ruth would ask a STAG member to sign off the accounts ahead of the AGM. Action – RH to contact the suggested member.

4 WN had refunded PS the £70 he’d donated on behalf of STAG for the two additional Western Road street trees. Matter closed.

5 Subsequent to the last Committee meeting, PS and WN had worked to ensure there was a full Member vote on the Proposal to spend all but £3000 of the General Fund on further funding for the street tree planting initiative that IO is leading. Members supported the proposal For: 50 Against: 2, 96% in favour. Matter closed.

6 WN noted that Fran Halsall had just that day sent a draft document for signing, which would formally transfer the old STAG website to STAG, together with the funds for maintaining it. Action – WN to review the document and sign it on behalf of the STAG EC.

7 IO had shared the draft Sheffield Street Tree Partnership (SSTP) Group Strategy Review outcomes with STAG EC members, and EC members had commented. She had then fed these back to the SSTP. Matter closed.

Items on the Agenda

Item 1
STAG Future. A proposal was made to dissolve STAG. There was a long debate, with this being supported by 2 committee members, but opposed by all others.

Those proposing to dissolve focused on how the original STAG aims were now complete, and how it would be better to start again with a brand new group.

The opposition to dissolving STAG focused on the hard work that had been put in since May 2025 to get STAG better organised, more focused on delivery of new things, and on ensuring the legacy of STAG was preserved. Also, how Members were reacting positively to this and were sufficiently engaged to vote in good numbers whenever proposals were put to them.

While the debate didn’t reach a full consensus at the end, RH pointed out how it had been good to air strong views, as it had clarified her own thoughts on the importance of continuing the good work that had been started.

PS summarised that the debate had revealed that the two opposing views were actually closer in position than anyone had first thought. Everyone around the table wanted new positive street tree initiatives to go ahead in Sheffield, as well as work to preserve the STAG legacy. The debate was more about the specifics of how.

Item 2
STAG Public Facebook Group non-handover. Since the last meeting, Paul has met with the Solicitor. The meeting was positive and the Solicitor had agreed to write a polite letter, pro bono, for sending to the unauthorised Administrators of the STAG Public Facebook Group.

The draft letter was due by Friday 13th, and the EC agreed to check in soon after to ensure the letter drafting was correct.

Action – PS agreed to do a quick poll of times on 14th or 15th March for the online meeting.

Item 3
Plaque unveiling feedback. Those in attendance noted how positive a day it had been, and how it was good to be back amongst friends who had all had the same common purpose.

Item 4
Permanent record of the campaign. Many people at the Plaque unveiling had raised this as a topic they would like to be involved in, and it was felt that this is something that would be good for STAG to be focused on going forward. This would bring together:
The Digital Strategy that AK had drafted
The old STAG website
The previously mooted plans for WN to create an interactive new website.

It was agreed that a future General Meeting should be called to focus on this.

Action – No individual took this action, but we agreed it was something we would return to.

Item 5
Street Tree Planting Initiative. IO reported that things were still on track for the 31st March deadline to agree locations and species that she, via PS, would submit to Amey for approval.

Item 6
Preparation for the AGM, and any activities needed before then.

WN had created a timeline, driving towards the date of 20th April AGM date. WN had sent out the request for nominations by the constitutionally required timescale. One existing EC member had already submitted their nomination, and between 5 and 7 other EC members also said they were likely to.

HM confirmed she had organised the venue.

WN agreed to continue to organise the voting arrangements.

AT confirmed she would continue to prepare the AGM agenda.

RH reminded EC members with named roles (eg Co-Chair, Treasurer etc) that they were constitutionally obliged to provide written reports in advance of the AGM, so they needed to begin drafting them for other EC members to agree.

Item 7
Constitutional Review. RH gave a brief update on progress with the Constitutional Review. She had circulated an early draft to EC members the week before and was meeting Julian Baker later in the week. Julian had offered support as a member outside of the EC.

RH said she would like to briefly discuss the draft with more time at the weekend meeting PS was organising, and it was agreed this would be good.

RH also said she would organise a Members meeting to discuss the draft in the next few weeks, well ahead of the AGM, so that she could take in views, and make tweaks accordingly.

Item 8
Date of next meeting. Action – PS agreed to do a poll of dates in early April, ahead of the AGM.