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STOP PRESS: Great News!

Present: Dilys Skan, Janet Dickson, Rafe Clutton, Barbara Cornwell, Chris Rumary, Fran Kinderman, Alex MacGillivray, Hedley Cornwell, Derek Stewart, Nick Gant, John Simpson, Alan Cannings, Ruth Wallis (for Playgroup)

1. Apologies for absence: Received from Ray Hepple, Nick Lear, Janet Hughes, Philip Evans, Betty Roper.

2. Minutes of the 27th November were to be amended and would be signed by the chair at the next meeting.

3. Matters Arising: It was agreed that some items of the agenda would be taken out of order.

4a. Sign at Cobbs Mead: The application for planning permission for the sign had been turned down by the Planning Department. It had been rejected due to an objection from Highways, and on amenity grounds. Dilys had been advised that we would be able to reapply for a smaller A1sign at no cost. No decision was reached.

4b. Progress with ‘green’ architects - Nick Gant: From the list of contenders produced by Nick Gant, a sub-committee of Nick, Dilys, Alex and Janet Dickson had produced a shortlist of three - Lee Evans Partnership, Bill Dunster/Zed Factory and Duncan Baker-Brown of BBM Architects. A contact of Nick Gant’s from Satellite Architects had agreed to look at this list and advise on how we should proceed next with selection. Nick Gant was arranging that the two companies we have not seen visit us with a presentation as soon as possible.
The committee agreed that Rafe would contact Robert Shepherd to let him know that we are looking at other ‘green’ architects. Rafe to remind him that he is holding the site survey and the road survey. He would also enquire as to whether the plans belong to us, or in law to Mr Shepherd.
The question of when the old hall should be marketed was raised. Rafe advised that there were two possibilities - we could raise money for the build from a bank using the hall as collateral, or we could find a builder who would accept the village hall in part payment.
With regard to the appointment of a project manager it was agreed that we would probably have to ‘shop around’ other architects to find someone with the appropriate experience.
Some of the committee expressed concern at the likely lasting-power of a hall built with sustainable materials and it was agreed that this should be one question we would ask the firms when they came to make their presentations to us.

5. Treasurer’s Report: Ray Hepple had reported that there was £22,675.35 in the CAF Gold account, to which a further cheque was to be added, giving a total of £22,885.35. It was queried as to whether or not the donation to Cooksbridge Village Hall had been made, or accounted for, in this total. Dilys said she would check.

6. Fundraising: Nick Lear had emailed Dilys to confirm that seven local benefactors had promised to donate a total of £285,000 and that he had arranged for the payments to come through Stewardship Services. Some of the donors are “very keen” on an ecological building. It was agreed that we should check whether The Village Hall Trustees could accept anonymous payments under the Charity Commission Scheme governing the village hall charity. Dilys and Alex will look into this.
It was proposed to thank Nick Lear and to put an article in the Barcombe News thanking all who had contributed, with a donation slip for those who now felt inspired to do so, especially in the light of our intention to make the hall ecologically friendly. Nick Lear and his family have raised the amazing sum of £694 over the winter by selling logs. A member of the committee reported that they had downloaded and completed a direct debit form in respect of a regular donation, and forward it some time ago but that it did not appear to have been acted upon yet.

7. Any other Business: David Lang is to hold a slide show entitled ‘The Red Rice Route’ on 28th March, proceeds to be to the new hall - the committee thanked him for this. Janet Hughes was apparently keen to have a summer ball in a marquee on the field - maybe we could also sub-let it to the school .P.T.A. for their summer dance.

10. Date of next meeting: T.B.A. - Nick Gant will let everyone know when he can arrange the presentations.