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Minutes of the meeting of November 24^th 1999

There were three amendments to the minutes:

1. 8/99 The notice boards had been made and not purchased
2. 30/99 The younger youth club had been disbanded rather than the older one
3. 32/99 The Chairman had reported on this matter

The minutes were signed by the Chairman as an accurate record of the meeting

Matters arising from the minutes

8/99 Church Grounds. The quotation for the floor of St. Mary’s had not been obtained. Notice of the quinquennial review had been received and this would take place on February 3^rd. There is no longer a diocesan lighting advice and so Peter Bradley will be consulted. The Council for the Care of Churches in London has somebody who will advise on lighting if requested.

The gardens of remembrance at St. Mary’s have been reshaped and will eventually form a cross.

15/99 Millennium. The Chairman reported on the success of the Millennium event. He read out a letter from a parishioner congratulating the Vicar and congregation on the service and thanking him for the party.

17/99 Parish Hall. Mr. Griffin reported that the ladder had now been replaced. One of the toilets had been repaired and the heater in the committee room had been repaired. He commented that there was still no volunteer to take on the role of committee chairman. Mr. Griffin said that a carpet had been found and he was looking to see whether it would be suitable for the committee room.

19/99 Autumn Fair and St. Barnabas’ Fair. The jumble sale would be held on the following Saturday and a date was set for the 18^th November 2000 for the next autumn fair.

20/99 Child Protection. Item postponed to next meeting.

New items for this meeting:

In the absence of the treasurer, the Chairman reported the treasurer’s view that the financial situation for 1999 was optimistic, but that for 2000 we would need to find an additional £4000. The Chairman also reported that the Church had received two bequests of £1000 each from the estate of the late Miss Wyn Sayell.

There was discussion of a request from Roger James, the director of Cottesloe, to rent a room in the cottage during the week. It was agreed that a presence in the cottage would be beneficial. The request was approved and it was agreed to ask Mr. James to make an appropriate donation, should he be happy with the proposed room.

The Chairman announced his intention to organise a P.C.C. retreat in order to discuss Professor Stannard’s paper on declining church membership and other relevant issues. He said that it would be good for the council to take itself away for a day, and proposed Sunday 7^th May or Sunday 21^st May at Turvey Abbey. The day would involve driving to Turvey for worship, lunch, discussions during the day, evensong at Turvey and departure during the early evening. The Chairman said he would like every member of the council to attend, and that settling a date as soon as possible was therefore a priority.

The proposal was unanimously welcomed and May 7^th was agreed as the best date.

The Chairman and churchwardens had had a very profitable meeting with the organist. They were keen to move forward on the proposal to appoint and understudy to the organist. This matter would be investigated.

It was suggested that the Sparklers could use the downstairs room currently used by Wyn Jones until the committee room is carpeted.

39/99 Refurbishment of the West End of the church.

The chairman commented on a feeling that some members of the congregation were not entirely supportive of the proposals and hence the idea had not had much discussion recently. In particular, there was the need to remove the pew at the front of the church. There was no intention ever to consider a nave altar, but it would allow the family service and the music group to function more effectively. It was agreed to take the issue for discussion to the APCM and announce that a decision would have to be taken very soon thereafter.

40/99 AoB

40a/99 It was agreed to change the way in which the APCM functions by trying to reduce the length of some of the spoken reports.

40b/99 Mrs. Jones reported on a Deanery meeting on Friday 28^th January to discuss the proposed reduction in the number of clergy. Representatives from the parish were sought. The chairman agreed to hold a brief meeting after Sunday service. On January 29^th, the evangelist would be holding a meeting on the subject of Deanery mission.

40c/99 The Chairman reported that so far 31 weddings had been booked for this year.

40d/99 Mr. Gill reported that the mayor, Mr. Hinchliff, had paid the bellringers a visit on New Year’s Day.

40e/99 The district chair’s civic service would be on February 20^th and the mayor’s civic service would be held at St. Barnabas’ on March 19^th.

The meeting closed with prayers at 9.20 p.m.