St Andrews Psalter Lane Church
Property and Finance Committee Annual Report 1st April 2023 – 31st March 2024
The P&F committee met 4 times during the period.
Property
Quinquennial Inspection (2019): Various issues were highlighted and progress since 2020 is as follows:
Essential in next 12 months (likely to cost £7000-£9000):
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Fire protection to doors in Shirley House (Fire retarding paint is being applied to doors)
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Repairs to rainwater pipes, eaves gutters and timbers to Shirley House (Some completed)
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Reconstruct cellar entrance at Shirley House (Done in 2017)
Essential in next 5 years (inc work at Shirley House-likely to cost £10000-£15000):
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Rising dampness in Church (Some done)
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Repairs to fleche (spire) to roof (Completed)
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Penetrating dampness in toilets in Church (In progress)
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Dampness in Shirley House porch. (Being checked)
There were no items of the utmost urgency, advisable within 5 years or requiring further investigation.
Our experience is that the cost of work considerably exceeds the surveyor’s estimations.
Shirley House
Leases: All offices are let. A midterm rent review was carried out for room 7 and one for room 9 is due – We are checking whether a new valuation is required.
Solar Panels: A generous donation will enable us to install solar panels on the roof of Shirley House, where there is high day-time consumption. We are in the process of obtaining quotations and permission for the installation.
Repairs: The fire door in Room 1 and various windows in the caretaker’s accommodation were
renovated and the electrical system was upgraded to conform with current standards.
Church:
Spire: The architect issued the Certificate of Completion for this work on 1st November and we recieved the Contractor’s final invoice. An inspection of the work will be carried out at 12 months and if everything is satisfactory we will pay 2.5% of the total cost: the agreed amount withheld from our payments to the contractor. The contractor also secured / replaced loose and missing slates on the main roof, resplaced worn flashings along the edge of the west tower and replaced the door from the tower to the western aisle roof. It is hoped that the flashing and replacement door with cure the leak into the creche. The Architect is planning to enter the Spire project in the Ecclesiastical Architects & Surveyors Association Awards next summer.
He noted that there are wide open gaps in the parapet copings and some movement cracks in the parapets, meaning there are cracks running down 3 or 4 courses, allowing water into the wall core. Repointing will be required in the near future.
We held a community Garden Party with music, games, bouncy castle and refreshments to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the LEP, the spire project and the coronation at the Kenwood Hall Hotel on Monday 8th May.
A Thank You event attended by about 20 people took place on 5th October. The contractors‘ staff and architect were invited to lunch in the Nathex during which they were thanked for the conscientious and professional operation they had undertaken. Some attendees ascended the scaffolding to view the spire at close quarters.
We will review to total cost and consider what money we will return to funders and can spend on environemntal improvements in the Church.
Morris School stained glass: This project, the result of a generous donation, to install a light box was successfully completed in June.
Audio equipment: Improvements include new hand-held/lectern and lapel microphones. We have also acquired a new sound mixer, stage box rack and a digital cable link to the equipment on the balcony. These improvements are to facilitate connection of more inputs to the system, increase its versatility for performance and conference events and remove eliminate the present bulky cable.
Heating system: Following a series of breakdowns a new pessure vessel was fitted, but system is still loosing pressure at times resulting in the need to run the heating for longer periods, which has increased gas consumption. We are planning to fit a new pressurisation pump.
Decorating: The kitchen and vestry have been redecorated and a quote has been obtained for the large meeting room. Following damp proofing and replastering in the vestry, the wall has taken a long time to dry out. This is being monitored.
Improvements and modernisation of the toilets off the narthex are being considered, including repairs to the flashings and roof drainage, installation of new sanitary ware and redecoration to make them more welcoming.
Drains: Debbie Thirtle found water several inches flooding the cellar on Friday 20th October 2023. This was found to the due to tree roots near the sycamore tree in the drain. The insurance company appointed a contractor to carry out a CCTV survey and jet the drain. Further clearance work is required and it will probably need to be lined to prevent the regrowth of roots.
Church library: A Church library is being located in the rear corner of the nave and the model of Horizon Church has been moved to the east transept.
Carbon and energy reduction schemes: We have applied for energy audits and advice for Shirley House and the Church respectively under the Sheffield City Low Carbon Scheme and the Communities and Cultural Low Carbon Scheme. The audits include the identification of 3 ways for us to reduce our carbon footprint and energy consumption and half funding for work costing up to £25,000 for each building. Possible measures could be double glazing, replacement of main doors, heat pump, solar panels, LED lighting (SH) and under floor insulation (SH) etc.
St Andrews Church Centre: The rent was revised in accordance with the lease and this is being paid.
Grounds:
Garden working parties: These were organised on the first Saturday of each month. Thanks are expressed for grass mowing, leaf sweeping, weeding, trimming, shredding and other tasks carried out by hard-working attendees.
Christmas tree: As previously decorated tree was erected on the porch roof. This suffered wind damage and a larger decoration other than a tree might be better.
Staffing
Caretaker: Debbie Thirtle retried on 31st December after 26 years of service to the Church. Linnea Petterson was appointed and took up her position on 8th January. She and Harley were welcomed to the Church during the service on 24th March.
Health and Safety:
Fire evacuation: Instructions for emergency evacuation are being shown on a slide before each service and the warden / steward should emphasise the points from time to time. The wheelchair is kept in the east transept, in case of rapid evacuation.
Food hygiene – Soup and Puddings: The food hygiene inspector doesn’t want people cooking soup at home that is then reheated at Church. We have fitted a draft excluder to the kitchen door to prevent access by mice.
JCC 3rd April 2024