Minutes of the Joint Meeting of Church Council and Parish Trust of the Russian Orthodox

Minutes of the joint meeting of Church Council and Parish Trust of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God and the Holy Royal Martyrs of Russia, London, 16 September 2012

Attendees: Archpriest Peter Baulk, Archpriest Vladimir Vilgerts (partly), Churchwarden Vera McClenaghan, Treasurer Galina Shirokova, Secretary Reader Oleksiy Danylenko, Reader Nicolas Mabin, Vadim Ermolenko, Andzej Strucinskij

Absent: Subdeacon Alexander Shadrin, Trustee Sophia Goodman, Trustee Ktitor Pavel Lisitsin, Trustee Aleksey Samarenko, Trustee Andrei Tolstoy-Miloslavsky, Trustee Gregory Wolcough, Assistant Treasurer Ivan Larin, Head Sister Sofia Michailidou, Choir Director Anna Kobrina, Youth Representative Darja Scukina

Opening of the meeting

The meeting opened with prayer at 13:30.

Minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the joint meeting of the Church Council and Parish Trust, which was held on 12 August 2012, with changes, were unanimously approved for publication on the Church website and notice boards.

Fr. Vitaly Serapinas

Fr. Vitaly Serapinas having received release from his previous diocese has joined the clergy of our parish with H.E. Archbishop Mark’s blessing, and has been invited to participate in future Church Council meetings.

He will be at Church on Saturdays and able to teach at the parish school and perform church services. The Council approved payment for Father’s loss of income, and Gregory Wolcough will need to set up the relevant payments to Fr. Vitaly.

Church fence

Churchwarden Vera McClenaghan reported that the local council had expressed concerns about the proposed design of the fence foundation by Milton Keynes. Vera has been discussing an alternative proposal from another construction company and reminded the Council that 27 October 2012 was the deadline for starting work on the fence construction. It was agreed that Council needs to apply to Hounslow Council for an extension of the planning permission.

Treasurer's report

Treasurer Galina Shirokova presented financials for the first 8 months of 2012. Both regular and total cash flows are in surplus, but there have been some exceptional expenditure for repairs etc which was unplanned.

Structural surveyor's report

A surveyor from Britain Hadley inspected the Church Hall and provided a surveyor report. He did not have immediate concerns for the Church Hall but gave a few recommendations. He thought that the cost of a proper foundation for the conservatory would make its construction uneconomical. He did not have concerns about construction of the additional floor on top of the Church Hall as was originally planned. The GBP 480 cost of the survey was approved unanimously by the Church Council.

Belfry

Ivan Larin informed Fr. Peter that permission from the local council had been received to proceed. There are 3 proposals for construction of belfry which will be presented to H.E. Archbishop Mark and to the next Church Council meeting. An insurance risk assessment form will need to be filled in and submitted to the insurer by the successful contractor.

CCTV

Patrick Duncan has failed to finish CCTV installation at the church within the agreed timescales. The Church Council therefore unanimously agreed to terminate the oral contract with him and will find alternative ways to complete the work.

New website

The new website has gone live. Vadim Ermolenko will review the initial feedback and fix outstanding issues.

Other matters

Fr. Peter will finish confirming nominees for Health & Safety roles. He will also meet Vladimir Dubarenko on 23 September 2012 to agree on adopting and implementing the Health & Safety policy.

Fr. Peter will mark the church vessels, crosses etc with Smart Water on 23 September 2012.

Equipment for hearing loop installation at the upper church has been delivered. Vadim Ermolenko will test it and install by the next Church Council meeting.

Double glazing at the Church House should be completed by the end of October 2012.

Car park builder's shed has been extended for external storage.

Nicolas Mabin has sent out a full list of planning permissions for the church, but there was no firm evidence of any planning permission for a car park, and even if there had been any it would have expired anyway.

Fr. Peter has written to Svetlana Zaychenko to agree to electronic payments at the School, but has received no reply yet.

Andzej Strucinskij and Fr. Vladimir will discuss lighting the altar in the upper church.

Nicolas Mabin has updated the inventory and there was nothing to report. He will give a memory stick with the inventory summary to Fr. Vladimir.

Nicolas Mabin has prepared a summary with a list of people who contributed to building our church for a review of H.E. Archbishop Mark.

The cost of trimming the trees on the church’s property is estimated at around GBP 1,000, but permission to proceed is required by Hounslow Council.

A proposal for buying a new oven for baking prosphora at a price of GBP 5,000 and a possible donation were discussed.

Nicolas Mabin has received a GBP 585 + VAT proposal to build electronic metallic shutter for the niche in the upper altar. Fr. Vladimir has supported the proposal which was approved unanimously by the Council. Andzej Strucinskij will install the electric supply for the shutter.

Discussion of the fresco painting of the upper church was postponed until the next Church Council because of absence of Gregory Wolcough and Pavel Lisitsin.

Date of the next meeting

The next meetings will take place on 14 October 2012, as planned.

Closing of the meeting

The meeting closed with prayer at 15:41

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