PCC Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the PCC Meeting held via Zoom on Monday 14 September 2020

			Action
1		The meeting opened with prayer

2		Attendance
		Online: Rev Melvyn Pereira (Chairman), Carolyn Beck, Jeremy Bullock, Helen Cracknell, David Downey, Heidi Ellson, Chris Gledhill, Elizabeth Holbrook, , Maria Seaman, and Fiona Clarke (Secretary) Apologies: Graham Earl, Rev Ali Middleton, Sue Suter

2a		PCC Membership
		Graham Earl and Sue Suter have resigned and Rev. Ali Middleton has left to take up a new post. With Rev. Melvyn Pereira retiring later this month there will only be eight members of the PCC until Rev. Dawn Airey joins the church at the end of the year. As there are usually 12 people, up to three more may need to be co-opted to act until the next APCM, at which time they can stand to be voted in for a term of five years. Members to converse by email to put forward suggestions for new members for discussion. N.B. the deadline for holding the APCM has been extended until 31^st May 2021 so it is likely that APCMs for 2020 and 2021 will be held as one meeting.	All

3		Previous Minutes
		The Minutes of the Meeting held on 22 June 2020 were agreed; proposed by Chris Gledhill, seconded by Elizabeth Holbrook and carried unanimously.

4		Matters Arising
	a b	Vacant Posts - The following posts have still not been filled Safeguarding Officer Admin Post – sending out Church News etc. PCC and Ministry Leaders Day Report - Has been done and sent to all church members	Melvyn

5		Ministry Leadership Team Reports
	a. b. c. d. e. f. g.	The only report received back was from Helen Downey. Ali and Mark Middleton usually do a couple of the reports but with them moving on their responsibilities are being shared out. The only reports outstanding are from Jackie Brooks-Cheesman and Melvyn Pereira’s which are updated below. Chris and Elizabeth will be ensuring that there is a contact for each area of the Church program for the future. Prayer – prayer meetings and bulletins continue Pastoral Care – No changes Children’s Work – Ruth, Maria and Sally will work as a team and produce future reports Youth – 1. Maria and Ruth will look after Ignite 2. One of the older youth groups has been disbanded 3. Reboot – struggling to man – meets monthly – needs a leader – Elizabeth is liaising with Mel re maintaining contact at present – young people outside the Church family also go to this group so it is important to keep that link and not lose those youngsters who don’t have a natural Christian sense of leadership, and this is a good area for praying over 4. Melvyn , Elizabeth and Chris to discuss whether one of the children’s leaders should come to the Ministry Leaders Team meetings Mission/Evangelism – Nothing to report Friendship – Homegroups – one of the homegroups has been disbanded due to several members moving to pastures new. The continuing members have been divided up between the remaining homegroups. The Ladies group needs a new leader as June will no longer be available, but it is hoped that Dawn will take this on when she takes up her new post. The group has about 12 – 13 members and have been meeting face to face but are no longer able to with the Covid Rule of Six. Worship - Melvyn has completed the leading and preaching rota until the end of January 2021. Maria Seaman is a new leader and preacher. Re the Sermon Series we continue until the end of the Sermon on the Mount; in November there is a Remembrance Service and a Stewardship Service; then the Advent Series “preparing for Jesus”; In the New Year there is a short series on the Spirit Filled Life. Melvyn has asked Rob if he will oversee this	Elizabeth Melvyn/Chris/ Elizabeth Melvyn

6		Parish Boundary Discussion
		After an extensive discussion – *see Appendix 1 attached* – it was decided that Chris, Elizabeth and Melvyn will discuss it further at their meeting tomorrow and report back to Archdeacon Richard.	Melvyn/Chris/ Elizabeth

7		Finance
	a. b. c.	Treasurers Report – We are doing quite well Helen reports that people are transferring funds in by the Parish Giving Scheme We have managed to pay nearly 70% of the Parish share Acts Two Fund still has money in it – only Melvyn and Helen know the details of who receives money from the fund. With Melvyn leaving it was proposed that Chris Gledhill will be the second person – proposer Jeremy, seconded by David, all in agreement. Weekend away deposit was returned and refunded to everyone who had paid it. Payments are reduced due to lack of hall hire and the only additional payment is for our two Zoom licences. It is hopeful that we will end the year in the black – positive. Signatories/ new accountant updates - Sally Quincey is now an official online authoriser as well as Chris, and they can both authorise payments. Melvyn’s laptop – Cost £490 in April 2018 plus software £158. Melvyn had discussed it with Clive Wagner who has suggested it is now worth £200 - £245. Melvyn has offered £200. It was agreed that files need to be removed beforehand. All church items are in a folder that has been given to Chris and Elizabeth and the final items will be handed over at their meeting tomorrow. After Sunday 27/9/2020 the items can be deleted from the laptop or ideally Melvyn remove his personal files and format the laptop so that nothing could be retrieved. Software should be reloaded afterwards. Clive has stopped doing this type of work but Tim may be able to do it. Chris and Melvyn to also look at the set-up of the Zoom account to optimise it. Elizabeth proposed that if the laptop can be handed over safely then Melvyn can have it for £200. Seconded by Helen and all in agreement (barring Melvyn). It was thought that Dawn would possibly bring her own or funds may be available later.

8		Trustees Report/ Annual Report/APCM
		Two documents for approval Electoral roll figure for April 2020 is actually 96. APCM Bishop has said that this doesn’t have to happen until May 2021 so we can have a double annual meeting but Melvyn can send out report for 2019 now. The legal aspects –changing PCC members - PCC can stay the same until the APCM if people are happy to stay on, accounts have already been submitted for the year. Trustees Report has already been agreed. Chris proposed that we approve the Church Annual Ministry Report, seconded by Carolyn and agreed by PCC	Melvyn

9		Safeguarding Policy
		Melvyn has produced the new Safeguarding Policy based on the new Diocesan Safeguarding Policy adapted to fit the Parish: The main addition is a section on transporting children. The main exclusion was a section on bell ringing. As most PCC members have not had an opportunity to read through the policy it was decided to hold over its acceptance until the next PCC meeting.

10		Interregnum preparations
		Melvyn has gone through all his files and whittled them down to ones that Dawn will need. Chris, Elizabeth and Melvyn will be looking at other required preparations at their meeting tomorrow Melvyn has also looked at the resources books etc. and Dawn will be able to look to see if there are any that she doesn’t want. Ministry areas are mainly covered. Nothing much has happened re the Men’s and Women’s ministries Email address for Ignite. Melvyn has set this up for the purpose of communicating with Ignite families, with Maria looking after it. Zoom for Ignite - Chris has a second Zoom Account that will be allocated to Sally Quincey to use for Ignite meetings. Nativity Carol Service – Maria and Ruth feel that they should do something else for the children this year following feedback discussions after last year’s Nativity Carol Service. Melvyn has agreed and says that it is for Ruth and Maria to decide what they wish to do. At present it is uncertain whether there will be Christmas Services in church or whether they will be on Zoom. Melvyn expressed his admiration for the strength of leadership across the board at Gleneagles and so things can continue pending Dawn’s arrival. Melvyn and June would like to meet up with people but due to the Covid Rule of Six it is difficult to arrange and to keep numbers small. There is currently no back-up plan if the Church cannot return to using the school. Possibly, another Church, e.g. St Mark’s or Great Harrowden, would allow us to meet using their facilities at a different time/ day than when they meet. Elizabeth reports that the current rules are for up to 30 people with for up to 40 minutes with no singing or chatting before or afterwards, i.e. just to listen to the sermon and readings. A worship band can play and sing properly distanced from everyone else and each other but no one can join in the singing. To comply it would probably mean ticketed meetings, wearing masks and socially distancing. Additionally, a full risk assessment would be needed and agreed with the proposed venue, and measures put in place, such as a one way system in/out, wiping chairs down before and after. For only 40 minutes, and not being able to socialise, it does not seem feasible and it would be better to look at other options for meeting up with people and stick to Zoom Services for the time being and monitor Government Guidance in case it changes again Whatever is decided needs to be consistent for people and not keep changing. It was acknowledged that people are missing others and that even catching someone’s eye or waving is still nice. However we have to be seen to be following Diocese and Government Rules. Chris suggested discussing it further at the Ministry Leadership meeting	Melvyn/Chris/ Elizabeth

11		Hope into Action – update
		Melvyn, as the Vicar, is the church representative for Hope into Action, so dawn will take over when she is in post Melvyn has emailed Ed to ask if cover is needed in the interim period. Ed has said ‘no’ and asked if Dawn could be in touch with him once she is in post. Both of our tenants are doing well.

12		Churches Together in Wellingborough and Deanery Synod
		Nothing to report

13		Any Other Business
		Redwell Primary School has emailed Melvyn to advise that the church is not able to use the building at present due to issues with cleaning etc. They will review the situation at Half Term – near the end of October Sue has stepped down from being PCC secretary. Elizabeth will organise sending a card and flowers/pot plant Last meeting discussed the possible Church School on Glenvale Park Melvyn wrote to Duncan Mills the CEO of Peterborough Diocesan Education Trust (PDED) to say we are keen and would be happy to support. He has received a reply which is attached – *See Appendix 2* For future reference Duncan’s mobile no. is 07523 512956	Elizabeth

14		Date of next meeting
		APCM – TBA – Deadline is now 31^st May 2021 PCC and Ministry Leaders Day – cancelled PCC meeting – Monday 16^th November 2020 at 7.30 pm – Chris to chair

15		Chris thanked Melvyn on behalf of the PCC for his, and June’s, service over the last 13 years and wished him the best to enjoy his new life. – God’s got More! The meeting closed with prayer

Appendix 1 – Parish Boundary

Background:

Melvyn contacted Archdeacon Richard and asked him what can be done about the Parish Boundary as Gleneagles would like the whole of Glenvale Park to come within our Parish, which makes sense as Glenvale will be part of Wellingborough Borough and it would be odd for part of it to come under Great Harrowden Parish.
Archdeacon Richard organised a meeting with Melvyn and Rev. Toni Smith (Vicar of Great Harrowden) to discuss it.
It initially met with some resistance but Rev. Toni agrees that she sees the sense of Gleneagles working in Glenvale. Melvyn suggested Gleneagles and Great Harrowden working together. However, as pointed out by Archdeacon Richard, Great Harrowden does not have the resources and only has an older membership of about 10 - 15 people in their Parish. Richard suggested producing a set of questions for the PCCs to discuss.
Toni’s PCC met and felt that they didn’t have the resources but how would Gleneagles feel about having Great Harrowden in Gleneagles’ Benefice. This adds another question about waiting until Dawn comes into post as the new vicar.

Discussion:

The Gleneagles PCC felt it unfair to discuss it without Dawn being a part of the discussion as she has just accepted the post of Gleneagles’ vicar and may not wish to take on the added responsibility of being Vicar for Gleneagles Anglican Church and Great Harrowden Church.
Another option suggested was for Great Harrowden to close and the members go to Little Harrowden.
Chris and Elizabeth have the email chain with discussions between Richard, Melvyn and Toni so far.
One concern raised by Chris for taking on Great Harrowden is the Church building itself, which has historical significance with wall paintings etc. and is likely to need substantial funding to maintain.
Helen pointed out that funding for this would be available and suggested gathering information so that we have some knowledge to discuss with Dawn when she is in post, e.g. What funding is available?; grants?; what architects have done in similar buildings?; possibly someone to visit the church itself to have a brief look at the state of the building?; look into whether there is a Trust fund attached to it for maintenance?
Chris suggested he and Elizabeth meet with the Churchwardens of Great Harrowden.
Elizabeth pointed out that we need to tread carefully without giving the impression that this has already been agreed.
Jeremy guided the meeting back to the main question – Firstly,
- Do we want the whole of Glenvale Park and possibly Great Harrowden in our Parish?
- If yes, then what are the possibilities and what do we need to know beforehand?
- Do gentle research
Elizabeth emphasised that we need to remember that Great Harrowden are a Parish in their own right and we should not be giving the impression of a takeover.
Chris suggested postponing it until Dawn is in post and for her to decide and possibly meet Vicar to Vicar.
Melvyn reminded the meeting that some of the discussions have already been done
Elizabeth suggests that if we are considering speaking to Great Harrowden, Chris and herself should first speak to Archdeacon Richard to establish the legalities and sensitivities and discuss the way forward.
Carolyn had been doing some desk research and Glenvale will have about 9000 people and could grow to 12000 within 10 years
Jeremy reminded that Dawn will not be in post until the end of the year and will need time to settle in and look at the plan for the next five years so realistically it will probably be six months before being ready to consider this and proceed formally.
Heidi also reminded the meeting that they haven’t started building the houses yet so there isn’t any urgency
Melvyn feels it will be a good idea to visit the church, find out a bit about the building, such as whether it has toilets and running water, and do some basic research, and Chris and Elizabeth to speak to Archdeacon Richard first and come up with a plan as to how to research/ proceed.
Jeremy suggests there is value in having an informed discussion with Dawn and proposes a kind of business position paper to set out in one place the background/ context/ possible options to think about and discuss before Dawn arrives so that it can be put to her as, “This is what we are thinking about, this is how we may go about it, this is how we have been feeling about it and praying about it”. Jeremy is happy to help with it. Melvyn says there is already the beginnings of this sort of paper and Chris, Elizabeth and Melvyn to discuss it further at their meeting tomorrow and feedback to Archdeacon Richard.

Appendix 2 – Possible Church School in Glenvale Park - Reply from Duncan Mills – CEO of PDET September 2020

My understanding from discussions with the schools’ strategic planning manager at Northamptonshire County Council is that the first school for Wellingborough North (Glenvale) is planned to open in September 2022 or September 2023. The second school is planned September 2030. Before then, we have been made aware that the consultation on a new school for Stanton Cross will held in Spring 2021.

Currently, these schools are likely to be subject to the ‘Free School Presumption’ process i.e. mini competition run by the LA. We are currently in the process of making a similar application in Towcester for a school due to open in September 2021. Of course, with the demise of NCC we will be dealing with a different body in 12 months’ time, that being the successor unitary authority and things may be different. Assuming that the new unitary authorities do not change how they manage these processes (and that is a huge assumption - new bodies can sometimes do things differently, if only to show that they are different), we just need to monitor when the consultations take place and respond to the application processes, when and where we decide it is appropriate to do so. We are unlikely to be successful in all of the Free Schools bids and there would be questions about our capacity to manage too many in any case. All we can do is monitor for the consultations and make the applications. Support from you and your colleagues will be welcomed.

For anyone who wishes to make contact with Duncan Mills please call 07523 512956