BRERETON AND RAVENHILL PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Hall Management Committee held at the Parish Hall, Ravenhill
Park, Brereton, on Wednesday, 7th February 2018.
Present
Councillors R Easton [Chairman], K Ansell, Mrs DM Easton and Mrs G Harvey.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs P Ansell, Miss IJ Brown, H Farnath,
Miss C Harvey, GN Molineux and Mrs HJ Southwell.
Mr PG Davies [Parish Clerk] was also present.
1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No declarations of interest were given at the commencement of the meeting.
2. MINUTES
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the meeting held on 10th January 2018, be approved and signed as a
correct record.
3. PARISH HALL – PROGRESS REPORT

Hire Fee Income – Update

The Committee noted details of hire fee income for December 2017 and January 2018.
Kitchen Fund
The Clerk reported that £3,765.84 remained in the Kitchen Fund.
Following the invitation to hirers of the kitchen to offer suggestions for future improvements,
one response had, to date, been received requesting the reinstatement of the paper towel
dispenser.
The Committee considered the possibility of transferring £1,765.00 from the Kitchen Fund to
the general Parish Hall Fund to facilitate further improvements in the building. In this regard,
the Chairman undertook to investigate the cost of providing twenty new chairs for the
Conference Room.
RESOLVED
1. That the Finance and Management Committee be recommended to authorise the
transfer of the funds.
2. That the Clerk arrange for the reinstatement of the paper towel dispenser.
Seating Fronting Parish Hall
The Committee considered the possibility of either removing or relocating the table and chair
feature immediately in front of the Parish Hall. Such action would deter instances of
nuisance and anti-social behaviour, including the drinking of alcohol in an area immediately
fronting the building.
The Committee acknowledged that for the benefit of the whole community, it would be
preferable to retain the seating for the time being and review the situation on a regular basis.
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The Chairman did indicate, however, that he would arrange to improve the lighting at the
front of the building in order that any instances of anti-social behaviour would be more easily
captured on CCTV.
4. BRERETON CARNIVAL
BRACE had requested the use of the Parish Hall Function Room, kitchen and bar area for
this year’s carnival which would be held on 14th July 2018.
RESOLVED
That the request from BRACE be approved and that a basic charge of £75.00 be made for
the use of the facility.
5. NEWMAN GROVE ALLOTMENTS
The Chairman welcomed Mr Jim Cusack and Mr Rob Paul to the meeting.
The Committee discussed the following matters relating to the new building structure which
had been sited at the allotments:-
Ownership
Safety
Insurance
Visits to the new facility
The allotment holders advised that an adjacent allotment holder to the new structure was
enquiring as to the cost of including the building in his own insurance.
The Committee noted that school children visiting the site were covered under the school’s
own Public Liability insurance.
The Clerk undertook to ascertain the cost of the Parish Council insuring the building and he
would report back thereon to the next meeting.
The Chairman thanked Mr Jim Cusack and Mr Rob Paul for attending the meeting.
6. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
The Chairman welcomed Mr David Lusty from Lighting Futures to the meeting.
The Clerk advised that the five-year contract with Lighting Futures had expired in January
2018 and the Committee were invited to consider how they wished to proceed going
forward.
The Chairman expressed some disappointment with the standard of the recent displays and
he hoped that these would be improved in future years.
Mr Lusty, in noting these comments, assured Members that he would make every effort to
meet the Parish Council’s expectations. He undertook to send the Clerk a brochure setting
out different types of features for the Parish Council to choose the style, design and colour
for future years.
The Chairman indicated that the Parish Council would be proposing to provide 25 lighting
features, an increase from the 22 for this year.
Mr Lusty was asked to provide an indication of costings to enable the Parish Council to
decide whether to renew the contract. He would also include a price for fitting digital timers
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to the columns.
7. FINANCE REPORT
The report of the Clerk on the financial position of the Parish Hall as at 31st December 2017,
was submitted for information and noted.
8. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
RESOLVED
That the next meeting be held on 7th March 2018, at 7.30 p.m.