Present:
- Fr Kevin Thornton
- Anne-marie Appleton
- Belinda Barber
- Clare Byrne
- Jacinta Campbell
- Mike Campbell
- Jim Conway
- Gill Foster
- Anne Green
- John Green
- Derek Hemmingfield
- Eva Kaltenthaler
- Alex Krzyz
- Jayne Middlemas (minutes)
- Paul Middlemas
- Stephen Parker
- Lindsey Reynolds
- Greg Ryan
- Anne Shepherd
- Stephen Spooner (chair)
- Dave Stanley
- Suzanne Staub
1. Fr. Kevin led the prayer.
2. Annual Report.
Stephen explained that five Parish Councillors were stepping down as they had served three years. He expressed his thanks to John Green, Jim Conway, Gill Foster, Jacinta Campbell and Jayne Middlemas.
John Green presented the reports from the Justice and Peace and Maintenance sections. Greg Ryan presented the report from the Youth and Nurture section. Belinda Barber presented the report from the Pastoral Care and Community section, Jacinta Campbell presented the report from the Spirituality and Liturgy section and Jayne Middlemas presented the report from the Communications section.
See Parish Council Annual Report May 2014-15 for more information.
3. Finance Report.
Derek Hemmingfield presented a report on the finances of the Parish.
Stephen invited questions from the audience. Mike Campbell asked how many people gave by standing order and Derek informed everyone that 57 people gave by this method. Mike suggested that the Parish Council should encourage more parishioners to give in this way. Stephen agreed that the Parish Council would discuss this at their next meeting.
4. Views and suggestions from the Parish.
Father Kevin asked if parishioners could make more of an effort to be on time for Mass.
Clare Byrne reported that she had been approached by one of the alter servers about kneelers. It had previously been agreed that a group of parishioners would make kneelers for them but the plan had been put on hold. It was agreed that it should now be revived. The Parish Council agreed to provide a small sum of money for materials which Clare would purchase. Once the project was ready to begin she would advertise in the Franciscan for volunteers to sew them.
Mike Campbell observed that driving out of the church car park can be difficult as cars drive very fast down the hill. He asked whether the Parish Council could write to the council expressing their concern and asking for a ‘smiley face’ sign to
be placed on the road. Stephen agreed to write to the Council.
Suzanne Staub asked if we could advertise in the Franciscan again for a volunteer to organise something for the youth again on a Saturday or Sunday evening. Others commented that it may be better to try to organise an online youth community first. It was agreed that the Parish Council would look at this issue further.
Anne-marie Appleton asked about a suggestion that had been made at the Parish Day to hold a monthly afternoon tea club to replace the lunch club which had had to end. The Parish Council gave their approval for this to go ahead.
5. Election of new Parish Councillors.
Three new Parish Councillors, Lindsey Reynolds, Dave Stanley and Suzanne Staub were elected. Stephen also reported that he had had one other volunteer but needed to check as the person was not present at the meeting.
6. The meeting closed with a prayer at 8:40pm.
Following the meeting, wine, cakes and a chat were enjoyed.
Action points.
- Parish Council to discuss whether to encourage parishioners to give by standing order at their next meeting.
- Clare Byrne to organise the making of kneelers and to advertise for volunteers once the project was ready to begin.
- Stephen to write to the Council about the speed of cars on Sandygate Road.
- Parish Council to discuss the provision of activities and evangelisation for the youth at their next meeting.
- Anne-marie Appleton to inform those organising the afternoon tea club that they could go ahead.