MINUTES
MINUTES of a meeting of the WINDMILL SUB-COMMITTEE held at 7.00pm on Wednesday 7th December 2022 in The Mountfitchet Exchange, Crafton Green, 72 Chapel Hill, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex
PRESENT Cllr J O’Brien (Chair), Cllrs M Caton, J Kavanagh and F Richards.
Jeff Bowie, Tudor Owen and Richard Thomas
ATTENDING Mrs Ruth Clifford – Parish Clerk
Mrs Emma Philbrick – Deputy Clerk
1 member of the press
265 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – None
266 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – None
267 TO RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS HELD ON 30TH MARCH AND 11TH MAY 2022
RESOLVED To approve the minutes of the meetings held on 30th March and 11th May 2022 as a true and accurate account
268 TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE SINCE THE LAST MEETING
No action points
There is no movement on the fire alarm. Quote received for £4,000 which is not affordable so has been put on the backburner for the time being.
269 TO NOTE THE APPOINTMENT OF NEW CO-TRUSTEE, JEFF BOWIE
The Chair welcomed Jeff Bowie and the Clerk advised that she will contact him again once she had been in touch with the Charity Commission and received a new Trust Deed for signing.
270 TO CONSIDER A REQUEST TO REPLACE THE SIGN ON THE MILL GROUNDS GATE
Richard Thomas tabled pictures of the current one which is being held together with tape. New size and colours were discussed as the current one is also ignored and people are parking in front of it. The Clerk advised that the office would look into what options were available and these would be circulated to the group before anything is ordered.
271 TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE FROM THE MILLERS ON MAINTENANCE
The biggest project which was completed in July 2022 was the installation of the stock clamps. Richard tabled the finances of the project which totalled £14,534 which was 50% more than the original estimate due to a number of factors. There was still £3,983 left to be paid back to the Council which he has set up a payment for today and is waiting for it to be authorised. The original quote did not include the hire of the cherry-picker, the assistance from Steve Mansfield throughout the project or the 16 new shutters.
They had hoped to continue with the repointing work but the quote received was for £55,000 plus VAT. They had approached the Lottery Heritage Fund for a grant but this had been unsuccessful on the grounds that they did not feel it benefitted enough of the community. They will be looking at what alternative grants that are available and Trevor Lloyd is looking at approaching the Manchester Airport Group for a grant but the application cannot be submitted until January. The options are to either
search for a larger grant or do the work on a piecemeal basis as and when they can. This would not be ideal as would require the scaffolding to be put up and down as and when any work in completed. This should be added to a future agenda for discussion. Tudor Owen commented that the work was not urgent so no rush but it is something that should done at some point. Cllr Richards asked if Crowd Funding was an option as this could spread wider than the community and would get some funding. Cllr Caton agreed this was a good idea as people are fond of the Windmill. It was also commented that this could help towards match funding.
272 UPDATE FROM THE MILLERS ON FUND-RAISING AND ACCOUNTS
Richard Thomas tabled a copy of the accounts and the balance sheet to date is £7,225. This will be depleted by the £3,983 which he had put forward for payment today. The takings from the fete in 2021 were £6,100 and £4,500 for 2022. This was due to the lottery grant of £4,000 not being given this year. The District Councillors Melvin Caton, Ayub Khan and Geoffrey Sell did give a District grant of £1,200. The attendance in 2022 was down which was expected but it was a very good and successful day. In January they will be looking how to finance next year’s fete and the Clerk confirmed it was on the Finance agenda to discuss the Council underwriting the costs again even though this was not required this year.
Cllr Richards asked if the Windmill was still doing school trips and Tudor confirmed they were. Discussion took place around visits from groups staying at Gorsefield and Cllr Caton advised that there could be a modest income stream from this. Cllr O’Brien asked if they had planned to do anything for the Coronation next year and they confirmed that they had not started thinking about this yet.
Meeting closed at 7.32pm
ACTION POINTS
270 Office to look at new sign ideas and forward to committee
271 Repointing work to be put on the next agenda
AGENDA
You are summoned to attend a meeting of the WINDMILL SUB COMMITTEE to be held at 7.00pm on Wednesday 7th December 2022 in The Mountfitchet Exchange, Crafton Green, 72 Chapel Hill, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex where the following business will be transacted
1 To receive apologies for absence
2 To receive Declarations of Interest
3 To receive the minutes of the meetings held on 30th March and 11th May 2022
4 To receive an update since the last meeting
5 To note the appointment of new Co-Trustee, Jeff Bowie
6 To consider a request to replace the sign on the mill grounds gate
7 To receive an update from the Millers on maintenance
8 Update from the Millers on fund-raising and accounts
Ruth Clifford, Parish Clerk – 1 December 2022