Portishead Church of England Parochial Church Council

Transcription

1 1, Prayers Chris Young Portishead Church of England Parochial Church Council Minutes of Meeting held on Wednesday 29 th March 2017 at St. Nicholas Church at 7.30 pm 2. Apologies Chris Harries Stephen Head Will Stubbs Rupert Kiero Watson Simon Stevens Janet Turner Present Rev Rob Eastwood Dewing (Chair) Rev Christine Judson Christine Brownlie Chris Young Stephanie McGilvary Jenny Adams Ruth Foss Fran Smettem Pauline Wigmore Michael Wigmore Paul Jeffery Andrew King Peter Turner Pearl Walker Mary Gilbert Carolyne Howe Doris White David Tyers Brenda Greenham Hilary Finch Gill Colston (Minutes) 3. Notify matters of A.O.B to be discussed under item a) Christians against Poverty RED b) Risks assessment reports/insurance. MW 4. Minutes of Meeting held on 17 th January 2017 Amendment to Minutes Item 6f-Buildings-Ecclesiastical Risk Assessment- David Colston (not Chris Dimond) had been tasked with arranging for reports to be done. This amendment was accepted and it was proposed by Christine Brownlie, seconded by Pearl Walker and agreed that the Minutes should be signed as a correct record. 5. Matters Arising from the Minutes Parish Magazine on web site and large print copies to be produced. 6 large print copies of the April magazine have been produced. Take up will be monitored. Difficulties with putting the magazine on the web site have been encountered. Produced in wrong format to be transferred, concerns re effect on numbers of printed copies produced/advertisers. Suggestion that individual articles of general interest could be put on web site. Action Communications Group Choir Account to be closed On-going. Action Michael Wigmore Children s information to be updated on web site. Basic text has been done. Photo consents for Pebbles and Youth Event complete. Pitstop consents to be updated. Action Fran Smettem Church Wardens photos on web site. Completed Overview of web site. Completed Letter to council re stone wall. Letter written and notice put up. Council to cordon off area. On-going Great Wood Parish weekend. See item 11 Chalice/paten approval sought. Letter written awaiting confirmation. On-going Thy Kingdom Come Archbishops Appeal to pray. Further details awaited

2 Amendments to Table of Finance Systems & processes. Children s Area proposal See item 10b Risk Assessment reports on-going Action Clergy/Wardens Altar Rail at St. Peter s Item ordered. On-going Action Buildings /DC Chancel Lighting Grant application has been submitted to Transition Portishead. Reply awaited Action Buildings/JN Handrail at St. Peter s Steps It is understood that North Somerset Council do not have the funds to do this. Buildings to be asked to organise. Action Buildings Church opening hours sign on-going Action Buildings/Communications Fixing for Churchyard gates on-going Action Buildings Community conversations. Four people are attending the session on 8 th April. Let Fran know if you would like to join them. Cheque to Samaritans. Done 6. Minutes of Extraordinary PCC Meeting held on 18 th February 2017 Amendments. Add Carolyne Howe, Doris White and Christine Brownlie to list of those present. Add Gill Colston s apologies. With these amendments accepted it was proposed by Peter Turner, seconded by Carolyne Howe and agreed, with 4 abstentions, that the Minutes should be signed as a correct record. 7. Church Matters a) Team Pilgrim vacancy. Rev Rob Eastwood Dewing reported that David Tyers and Pearl Walker would be our parish reps (agreed at PCC meeting 18 th February 2017) The deadline for applications is 2 nd April and shortlisting will take place on Monday 10 th April. Candidates will visit the parish on Tuesday 24 th April with interviews on 26 th April. There has been a positive response to the Profile issued and there have been 10 enquiries with 1 application received so far. Please continue to pray for this process. b) Terrier exhibited and left out for examination. Christine Brownlie explained that this is a log, with photographs, of all church items. It is brought up to date and checked annually. Many thanks to Geoff & Jane Vian for updating it this year. Other volunteers may be needed for subsequent years. Letter of thanks to be sent to Geoff and Jane. c) Membership number and category for In progress Action CB/PW d) New Safeguarding Policy and Updates. Jenny Adams reported that the new policy had been circulated. A sentence re concerns/disclosures had been added and as requested a flow chart had been attached. An amendment to the first paragraph was pointed out. Children s Act should be Children Act. Policy to be formally adopted by new PCC in May (Dates on policy to be amended) Action Jenny Adams. Jenny also reported that her DBS check has been completed and she has made contact with Helen Humphries at the diocesan office. She now has DBS packs available. Rev Rob Eastwood Dewing thanked Jenny for all her work on the new policy. 2

3 8. A.P.C.M. arrangements a) & b) Rev Rob Eastwood Dewing thanked the following members who had completed a three year term. PCC - Brenda Greenham, Janet Turner, Carolyne Howe, Chris Harries, Pauline Wigmore. Deanery Synod - Chris Young, Stephanie McGilvary, Paul Jeffery, Doris White. 3 5 new PCC members to serve for 3 years will be needed, also 6 people to serve as Deanery Synod Representatives. Suggestions of names of people to approach to serve on PCC/Deanery Synod were put forward and members were asked to contact them. It was also suggested that while Deanery Synod members would be encouraged to attend PCC meetings, they would not be expected to serve on a working group. Rob reported that Margi Campbell is the new Rural Dean, Steve Tilley is the new assistant Rural Dean and Chris Hare is acting Archdeacon between the retirement of Andy Piggott and a new appointment. c) Electoral Roll Revision. The closing date for new entries was March 26 th. Thanks to Judy Sutherland for her on-going work on this. d) Fabric report (previously circulated) Accepted and to be presented at the APCM. 9. Adoption of Annual Report and Accounts (copy previously circulated) Michael Wigmore presented the draft accounts which have been looked at by the Independent Examiner but not yet signed off due to some queries being raised by the Examiner and his recent illness. Revised copies of pages 21 and 22 were passed round. Michael explained that parts of the Accounts are in a different format to previous years and some headings have changed due to new regulations being introduced. He pointed out a surplus on un-restricted funds and a deficit on restricted funds on page 13. This follows a point raised at the 2016 APCM regarding the status of St. Nicholas Church and whether or not the asset should be written off following consecration. Following advice from the diocese the amount has been written off. The 10% retention fee held in respect of building works has now been paid from the Embrace the Future fund. P 14 Reserves are considered adequate P.18 photocopier and computer have been replaced. P.20 a new fund has been set up for donations for the repair of the church clock. P.21 & 22 Wages and salaries now have to be split to show salary/national Insurance etc. P.22 details of pension fund set up for lay staff. P.2 -Doris White queried the parish as a whole would be classified as Group D Michael explained this is the diocesan classification and not necessarily the one in which we had placed ourselves. P20 (10a) It was pointed out that Fran s title is not Youth Worker as described, but Michael replied this is a generic term and not specific to Fran. Description to remain. Michael asked for approval of the Draft Accounts as presented with any changes to be agreed by the Standing Committee. Proposed by Chris Young, seconded by Paul Jeffery and agreed unanimously. Rev Rob Eastwood Dewing thanked Michael for staying on as Treasurer and for dealing with the Accounts in a professional manner and with good humour. 10. Reports a) Finance Report previously circulated. Increase in salaries to be agreed as explained in the report. Proposed by Rev Rob Eastwood Dewing, seconded by Pearl Walker and agreed. Rev Rob Eastwood Dewing told the meeting that an offer had been made by an individual to pay Fran for an extra two hours work per week. This would amount to 1200 plus gift aid, totalling 1500 p.a. There would be no cost to the parish. Agreement of the PCC was given.

4 Future arrangements as from APCM Treasurer Tony Stubbs, Book keeper Theresa Park Payroll and Pensions Michael Wigmore, Envelopes TBC b) Children YP & Families Report previously circulated Children s area. Fran Smettem told the meeting that changes to the children s area had been trialled. Members of the 9.15 and congregations had been consulted and those spoken to were happy with the arrangement. Discussion followed and the following comments were received. *Request for two rows of chairs to be replaced after 9.15 service for use by congregation. * *Concern noted but this would entail someone being responsible for doing this and would result in this being effectively the default set-up. Chairs will be re-set for large services. *The area is well used at Baptism services. *The re-siting of the welcome desk has made more room for people to enter and leave through the main door and has also opened up the space for the entry of the coffin at funeral services. *It is a busy area- has re-siting the welcome desk helped? *Have other areas been investigated? There would be extra cost to using other areas i.e. the font plinth would need to be covered if that area were was to be used for children. * The current area is dark. Fairy lights are to be put up to brighten the area. *General verdict was that the new position for the welcome desk is an improvement. It was therefore proposed that the trialled layout should be adopted with a review after one year. Proposed by Jenny Adams, seconded by Steph McGilvary and agreed with 2 against and 1 abstention. Adoption of Trinity Toddlers The group is currently covered under parish insurance and DBS checks are carried out by the parish. It was therefore proposed by Steph McGilvary, seconded by Michael Wigmore and agreed with 2 abstentions that Trinity Toddlers should officially become part of Portishead Church of England. Oasis at Trinity Rev Rob Eastwood Dewing told the meeting that Karen Twyford, who had been leading this ministry with parents and children, was leaving Trinity school for a new job elsewhere. The school is committed to continuing this role, but due to financial restrictions is only advertising internally. Please pray for the selection process. c) Nurture Report previously circulated d) Communications Report previously circulated. People for parish profiles are needed. Suggested that members of the PCC could be approached. e) Buildings Report previously circulated PCC approval needed for re-submission of faculty for the following items. Stone repairs and replacement of ferrous cramps to choir vestry parapet, also North aisle pinnacles Re-hang the nave E apex bell and stone repairs Conservation cleaning and repair to tower masonry. N and S openings, and also chancel N Removal of iron dowelling/cramps from tower parapet and stonework repairs 4

5 Repair/renewal of clock dials Re-fix the Egerton Still memorial The architect has advised it will require approximately 50% of his 9.5% fee estimate to take the project through to evaluation of tenders, including the creation of the specification document. We estimate 50% to be around 3K + VAT. Approval proposed by Christine Brownlie, seconded by Pearl Walker and agreed. Concerns expressed about vulnerability of lead roofs while scaffolding is in place and a possible effect on weddings. Wedding couples to be advised when dates are known. f) Welcome Report previously circulated Partnership Giving. Wellspring Counselling Service is a charity set up by church leaders and G.P s in Nailsea. It offers counselling to local people and is also being used by people from Portishead. Proposal to replace Contact the Elderly with Wellspring Counselling. Proposed by Doris White, seconded by Carolyne Howe and agreed. Change to take effect with the 2016 contribution payable in May Michael Wigmore expressed concern re access to the restricted funds held in the Accounts for Relate Avon. g) Worship Report previously circulated Purchase of bibles for the churches. A donation of 200 towards the cost has been received. Proposed by Rev Rob Eastwood Dewing that 20 bibles for each church are purchased. Seconded by Carolyne Howe and agreed. h) Deanery Synod The last meeting to be held was a service to install Rev Margi Campbell as Rural Dean. It was reported that it was a nice service with refreshments following. i) Diocesan Synod Rev Rob Eastwood Dewing reported that the last meeting had focussed on legacies. Finance Committee will discuss this issue. 11. Church weekends Great Wood - 7 th 9 th July Fran Smettem reported that a planning group had been set up. Archery, low ropes and a life guard had been booked. The cost would be 50 per adult and 30 for under 12 s. A bursary is available for subsidies if needed. the Church Weekend at Home 2018 Rev Rob Eastwood Dewing said that a weekend at home is being considered and Dave Hopwood has been provisionally booked for 22 nd -24 th June There would be no charge for events and there will be a cost to parish in the region of Agreed. Weekend away 2018? Steph McGilvary asked if a weekend away is being planned as she felt it is important for people to go away together. To be considered. 12. Correspondence Letter of thanks received from Samaritans for our donation of 50 5

6 Letter from Senior Citizens Supper committee requesting a donation. 100 agreed by the Standing committee. Subsequent letter of thanks received. Letter received requesting donation to Archdeacon Andy Piggott on his retirement. 250 agreed. Action GC 13 Prayer/Compline leaders for next PCC. Not required 14. A.O.B. Christians against Poverty Rev Rob Eastwood Dewing explained that this had been set up 15 years ago to help people out of debt. Churches Together in Portishead are looking at setting up a local group, but would need to raise 300 per month to enable it to happen. The clergy and wardens have given the idea their backing, but the agreement of the PCC to explore this further is required Agreed. 15. Compline led by Christine Brownlie. Rev Rob Eastwood Dewing apologised for the late finish and the meeting closed at 9.50 p.m..... Future PCC Meetings - all at 7.30 pm. April 26 APCM St. Peter s Church May 25 July 18 Sep 28 Nov 22 St. Peter s Church St. Barnabas Centre St. Barnabas Centre St. Nicholas Church 2018 Jan 25 St. Peter s Church 6

7 Mar 20 St. Barnabas Centre 7