Minutes of the meeting of the Village Hall Management Committee held in the Village Hall on Wednesday 28th July 2010 at 7.30 p.m.
1. Present:
Mike Foster. Chair.
David Rossiter. Treasurer.
Caroline Pickering. Secretary.
Dorothy Johnson. Bookings.
Alan Pickering, Jennifer Swales, Carol Cook, Sue Lawton
Apologies:
Di Foster, Glenys Elgie, Jan Cole, Stuart Kerr, John Atkins, Rosemary Lincoln.
2. The minutes of the meeting held on 13th July were accepted.
3. Refurbishment.
There was considerable discussion about how to take the refurbishment plans forward. Alan Pickering advised that it was difficult to see how the work could be done on a piecemeal basis. Possibly we could start with the stairs and postpone the lift and kitchen. The first step would be to extend the building. However his view was that it was an ‘all or nothing’ situation. Planning permission has been granted for all the proposed work.
Davis Rossiter suggested it was time for a ‘reality check’ and to look at what was achievable given existing funds. Possibly consider a lift and upgrade the building.
The question was raised about whether or not planning permission would be needed for just a lift. If this was decided upon this would need to be checked out.
Carol Cook advised the meeting that £10000 of the money had been left to the Village Hall on the understanding that it would be used for disabled access.
This led on to an update on the fundraising situation from Carol Cook. Carol requested support in the form of letters of intent from the different groups to go with applications for funding. Financial support has now been agreed from the Parish Council. Carol has also been exploring all other possibilities. She has been to the loan funders for 2011 and advised there could be £10000 awarded. There might be a further £3000 via the Leader application. Carol also has heard about the Reaching Communities Fund to be applied for in the autumn. Carol is going to go on training in order to be able to put together a Business plan.
It was therefore agreed that we should continue fundraising and at the same time look at the alternative options for undertaking the refurbishment plans. Before the next meeting there will be need to be further discussions/meetings and contact with the builder.
5. Correspondence.
Carol has received a letter from the County Council regarding the land adjacent to the Hall. Apparently a planting licence is required. The council have granted this subject to being informed of any changes because of the wiring. They also needed assurance about the insurance. David will look into the insurance for this piece of land.
6. Any Other Business.
(i) Carol Cook said that she had been asked if the planning meeting for the Classic Car Show could have their meeting free in the Village Hall. This was agreed.
(ii) David Rossiter informed the meeting about the change of electricity provider. The Empire contract expires in November. They were proposing an increase of 59%. David had been able to get this down to 22%. However he also got a quote from Scottish Power which got it down to 13%. He therefore advised that Scottish Power was the best option and this was agreed.
(iii) Carol Cook recommended that it would seem more appropriate for the Village Hall to be called Swainby Village Hall and not Whorlton Village Hall. This could be put to the next AGM.
7. Date of next meeting:
Monday 20th September 2010 at 7.30pm