Minutes of the Meeting of St Stephen’s DCC
Wednesday 2nd September @ 7.00pm in the Ellen Berry Room
Present: Father Ian Terry, Stephen Chappell, Julian Davies, Jinx Farquharson, Rosemary Hadland, Ian Harrison, Helen Holmes, Andrew Morgan, Brenda Price, Adrian Scott, Diana Shiner, Martin Slade, Lawrence Spicer,
- Opening Prayer:
The meeting opened with a prayer.
- Apologies for Absence:
Maria Mathias, Roger Anderson, Christine Brown, Roger Marley.
- Approval of Minutes 28th May 2015.
The minutes were approved and signed on a general “Aye”.
- Matters arising:
Page 3: Dena Coombes is to continue as a bank signatory.
- Feedback from the PCC meeting on 30th July
Adrian Scott gave a resume of the PCC meeting – the meeting was an account of the three churches in the town centre parish and how we work both individually and as a team. Suggestions were discussed of different groupings within the deanery. The Rural Dean will produce a report in the New Year. There was further discussion of the issues of regrouping, with the idea that the Town centre could be expanded to include St Clements which might produce a second full time vicar. Helen Holmes mentioned that St Clements has a school and this would be a good addition to the town centre. Reimagining was mentioned as an important issue again, and it was stressed that St Stephen’s is not under threat of closure, rather we need to be imaginative in thinking of partnerships that might be mutually beneficial. There was unanimous support for communicating to the Area Dean our desire for St Clements to join BTCP, and the hope that this increase in both churches to be served and geographical area to be pastored (including the school) might justify the allocation of a full-time team vicar to BTCP. St Stephen's and St Clements’s have not dissimilar Catholic spiritualities, with a desire to be inclusive, whilst valuing tradition and Catholic worship. The belief is that they, and we, would be well-served by membership of BTCP.
Distribution of jobs to be taken on by members of the DCC:
Counting money, banking and recording gift aid:
Dena Coombes still needs assistance with this, and it was hoped that a group of people might help. Jinx Farquharson said she would help with this. Thanks were expressed to Dena Coombes for the work she has done particularly with Gift Aid.
- Finance Report (BP)
Brenda Price mentioned that all plate collections are now gift aid recoverable, not just enveloped donations.
In addition there was a legacy to St Stephen’s from Mrs Foltynie.
The Parish Share needs to be set at 60% St Peters and 40% St Stephen’s. There is uncertainty about the St Augustin’s share and so the exact amount is unclear as yet.
Also, there is a reduction in the quota now as we are without a priest.
The DCC was asked to agree to the 40% share.
The Finance Report was agreed, proposed by Adrian Scott, 2nd by Helen Holmes and passed with a unanimous vote.
Thanks were expressed to Brenda!
- Fabric Report (AS)
Adrian Scott took the DCC through the various issues.
It was decided to purchase a 2nd disabled parking sign. Also the “soak away” was not working well so it was decided to get it looked at.
In addition Adrian felt that we should get the “first aid” repair work on the Fleche and Tower done at a cost of £5000.
Adrian Scott proposed this and this was seconded by Jinx Farquharson. It was passed unanimously, 12/0.
Adrian outlined the contract to “Worcester Bosch Care (Graham Moore) part of Wingfield Boilercare Ltd WBC. £2500 per year. There was discussion re this and the contract would be terminated at the end of the year (see section 9).
Thanks were given to Adrian Scott for his work.
- Hall Report (RH)
A maintenance Log for the Hall was circulated.
The DCC was asked for retrospective approval of the hall transactions after the meeting on the 28th June to be paid from the project account. This was put to the DCC by the Rector and received approval.
The Rector added that the standing committee should be used to gain spending approval if matters were not able to go to the DCC. It was also good practice to obtain 3 quotes.
Rosemary talked through the Hall Maintenance Log and Rosemary Hadland and Martin Slade were thanked for their work with all this.
After much discussion it was decided that the contract with Graham Moore (Wingfield Boilercare Ltd WBC) would run to the end of the year. However the contract would not be renewed with Wingfield Boilercare Ltd WBC after December 2015.
This was proposed from the Chair and carried on a general “aye”.
Adrian Scott suggested obtaining quotes from two firms, Statons and Allens.
Thanks were given to Adrian Scott for this and also to Tony Clarke for all his efforts as well.
To end this section Rosemary mentioned that new groups were booking the hall.
- Pastoral Committee Report:
Adrian Scott gave a resume of the activities of the group and that new people are coming to the church all the time. The Rector said it was hugely important work.
- Website:
Julian Davies attended the meeting to give advice about the web site. He now gets the weekly news sheet and the music list, but was keen to receive any information that we were able to send him. There was discussion about a monthly diary in the parish office which could also be available on the web site. Data protection was also a concern and it needed to be discussed at PCC level. Stephen Chappell offered to help with the Data Protection issue.
It was agreed that Julian would receive a copy of our DCC minutes. Thanks were expressed to Julian for his work in this field.
- Any other business:
- Dedication Festival Gift Day Letter:
The Rector signed the letter and it was agreed that it should go out by the 11th October.
- Christmas Services:
There was discussion re the Midnight Mass and issues over enough servers and sidesmen. John Turpin is booked to take all the Christmas Services, so a priest was not the problem. It was decided to leave the decision until nearer the time.
The Sunday after Christmas would be a Said Mass with Hymns.
- Date of next Meeting
Thursday 3rd December, 2015 at 7.00pm
- Closing Prayer at 8:50pm