LANGHAM COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of a Finance Committee Meeting
held on 11th November 2019 at 7.30pm at Alan’s house

Present Alan Cadman, Liz Winter, Maureen Shouksmith, Martin Bottwood, Sue Armstrong.
Apologies Liz Schofield

Matters Arising
from Finance meeting 7th October and Trustee meeting 24th October 2019

Parish Council meeting 6th November
Payment of the interest from NS&I totalling £2,082.75 had been paid into our Saver account today.
The Parish Council agreed to pay the £1,500 refundable to Enovert in exchange for the Langham Community Council’s waiving their monthly hire charges from 1.11.19 to 31.10.20. This amount had been paid into our current account today. The secretary would write to thank the Parish Council for both these payments. EW
Quotes to trim back the field hedge where the car park barrier is fastened would be sought.
(Meanwhile, Bob Schofield had cut it back around the barrier today to enable freer movement.) The secretary would thank him. EW
Tree roots in drain
Alan had been unwell and busy with other things but would pursue this shortly. AC
Primary School use of our car park
Mr. MacDonald had rung the secretary to say that the School was not thinking of reinstating a “walking bus” with parents using our car park.
Hall Insurance
Although Alan has increased the value of the property, the premium has gone down from £1,886 last year to £1,733.98 with effect from 1st December 2019, making monthly premiums £185.78. He has raised the petty cash limit to £11,000 with a maximum holding at any one time by a single person of £2,500.

Air-conditioning in hall and club room
Chris has completed the wiring for this and Lambrothers will fit the units next week beginning on Monday 18th. Commissioning may continue into the following week.
Liz W asked about booking in the decommissioning of the two boilers and removal of the oil tank. It was agreed that she should contact Ian Phillips to ask whether he could undertake this in early December. His quotation of £1,896 was favourable when compared with the other two received. EW

Replacement hot water system to Pre-School and Shop
Chris had fitted wiring for an under-sink heater below the main sink in the playroom at the Pre-School today. Cadman’s plumber would fit the heater on Wednesday afternoon and Chris would return to make it operative.
We need to organise fitting of the other water heaters and a cool-touch electric heater in the Pre-School foyer.
Other hall matters
The new oven is being fitted by Lambrothers on Wednesday at 9 o’clock. They will dispose of the old one, taking it through the kitchen hatch as the doors are too narrow.
The organisers of Country and Western dances know of a theatre which has just replaced its acoustic curtain and think they may give us the old one, which may be serviceable for now. Sue will wait for contact before doing anything further. Liz Schofield and Andrew Craig had expressed a preference for the lined velvet curtain option, should we go ahead with an alternative, and Liz W agreed. Sue wasn’t sure that this was really adequate and, together with Maureen, prefers the panel option, which can be built up over time.
Dates for Community Café holders had been confirmed. The Bridge Club had been offered next October as the list was full.
Liz W asked when she could get into the hall to check out the disabled ramps and would try them on Wednesday or Thursday this week.
The Divali hire group had damaged the slash curtains but had sourced a replacement. Sue had found some mats at the rear of the stage and would ask The Oaks to remove them.

Financial Statement
The Treasurer apologised for not being up-to-date with the figures owing to a family bereavement and thanked Committee members for holding the fort. Tonight’s balances are Current Account: £12,959.77 and Saver Account: £57,168.42.
Sue said that invoicing for Cygnet was proving problematic as there are several different trainers hiring the hall. She is awaiting clarification from them before sending out October’s invoices. All other invoices from last month have been despatched.

Any Other Business
The RCCE was holding a Treasurer’s Course on 28th March 2020 at Feering 9.30-3.30, which Maureen would be interested in attending.
Saturday 25th January is “Village Halls Open Day” but we are already booked on this date.
A Jamaican friend of Alan has enquired about booking the hall on 25th July next year.
Sue will check when the XLN Broadband package is due for renewal early in 2020.
Sue has replaced five padlocks (skip and car park barrier) as they were seized up.
The Performing Rights Society (PRS) had contacted Sue and attended the hall to listen to the music played at the Country and Western evening.
No finance report from the Pre-School had been received to date.
Sue is spending a lot of time dealing with the air-conditioning in the Pre-School as they are switching it on and off and altering the temperature. She can use blue-tooth to check the thermometer there and will need similar thermometers to monitor the hall and club room in due course.
Sue will ask Chris when the five-yearly electric test is due.

Date of next meeting
The next Finance meeting was arranged for Monday 13th January 2020 at Alan’s.
The next Trustee meeting is on Thursday 30th January 2020 in the Club room at 7.30 pm.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.55 pm.