Minutes of the Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of Shareholders

The minutes include copies of the Directors' Reports and Balance Sheets and are signed by the Chairman, Deputy Chairman or Secretary Directors' Reports cover the general health of the company and its finances, the condition of the works, the water supply, tariffs of charges, details of calls on new shares, appointments and vacancies in offices, and name the Directors eligible for re-election.

The first General Meeting of Shareholders was held in July 1846. After this meetings were held half-yearly (Feb and Aug)1846-1926. The York Water Works Order of 1927 ensured that half-yearly meetings were no longer obligatory, thus meetings were held annually from 1927-1963 (Feb 1927-1950; Mar 1951-1963) at the Merchant Adventurers' Hall in Fossgate. Extraordinary meetings, when called, were held immediately after the business of the ordinary meeting had been completed in order to pass special resolutions (particularly with regard to raising additional capital).
Shareholders (stockholders from Jan 1931) received the Directors' Statement of Accounts in advance of each meeting. The meetings were presided over by the Chairman and followed a standard format. First, the advertisement convening the meeting was read. Then the Directors' Report and Balance Sheet were presented and recommendations were made concerning the dividend to be paid to shareholders. The Company seal was affixed to the Register of Shareholders produced at each meeting. Resolutions were passed adopting the Directors' Report, declaring the dividend, re-electing the Directors, electing company auditors, fixing the Secretary's salary, fixing the Directors' remuneration and thanking the Chairman for conducting the meeting. Other types of business discussed include scales of charges (commencing 1 Apr 1850) and engineer's reports on the progress of works at Acomb Landing (1878).

For share records, see YWC 4. See also YWC 3/1

Published