There were 40 members at our September meeting at which the main business was the progress of our Development Project.
Jim Robertson, the Project Treasurer, reported on the project finances. We have £73,000 in the bank and, with pledges and grants and committed expenditure taken into account, this will rise to about £114,200 by January 2008.
Robin Ramsay gave details of the proposed next phase of the project, the refurbishment of the vestibule. It will take 2 to 3 months to complete the work and with a January start we could be finished by Easter. The costs do not include the sliding glass doors, but the necessary preparatory work for their installation is in the £70,000 estimate.
Questions related mainly to how we will use our premises during construction especially our social and fundraising events. There will obviously be disruption and interested parties will need to get together to agree details when we know more about the start and duration of the works. The meeting then voted on the resolution:-
“The Church Meeting approves the plans to renovate the vestibule at a cost of £70,000 including VAT; this being the next phase of the Project. The meeting approves that the project group award the contract for the vestibule renewal and associated works”.
The resolution was approved with a majority of 92%.
Gil Dye advised the meeting about the application to the Big Lottery Fund Community Buildings Programme which requires congregational approval when we submit our bid at stage 2 of the application process. Concerns were expressed about using funds generated by gambling and the meeting was told that the URC centrally has recently advised there is no intrinsic objection to applications for lottery funding. The meeting then voted on the resolution:-
“The Church Meeting approves the application to the Big Lottery Fund Community Buildings Programme for a grant of £150,000 towards the cost of implementing the Development Project. The meeting authorises the church secretary to sign the application on behalf of the congregation”.
The resolution was approved with a majority of 83%.
In other business, the Elders advised the meeting of interim arrangements for children during Sunday morning worship while we seek new Junior Church leaders. The Elders also advised that we should maintain our present arrangements for charitable giving; that after a commitment is deducted from the proceeds of the Christmas Fayre and Nearly New events half to be for church funds and half for charity. This arrangement will run for a further two years..
Fred Milligan,
Church Secretary
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