St Andrew's

Psalter Lane

Church

Latest ECC minutes

ST ANDREW’S PSALTER LANE CHURCH

Minutes of the Ecumenical Church Council meeting, Wednesday 17th September 2025

Present: Anna Calvert (AC) in the Chair, Jenny Bywaters (JB), Jenny Carpenter (JC), Caroline Cripps (CC), John Cripps (JCC), Joseph Dey (JD), Clare Loughridge (CL), Mary Mitchell (MM), Peter Mitchell (PM), Alastair Morris (AM), Rachel Morris (RM), Rev Joy Rulton (JRu), Pete Sandford (PS)

  1.   The meeting opened with prayer  
  2.   Welcome  AC welcomed everyone to the meeting.

.           Apologies had been received from Revd Naomi Cooke, John Harding, Anna Harvey, Anne Hollows, Janet Loughridge, Jan Owen, Judith Roberts.

 

  1.  Items for Any Other Business:
    1. Street Pastors (JRu)
    2. Richard Andrews at a conference in Sheffield (JC)

 

 

  1.  Minutes of the ECC meeting held on 22nd July 2025 were accepted as a true record and signed.

The Minutes of the Extraordinary Church Meeting held on 3rd August 2025 noted, but not signed. To be signed during next church meeting.

 

  1.  Matters arising not already on the agenda:
    • PS had been licensed and expressed his gratitude for all the support he had received.
    • Prayers for Peace in August: JC reported that an additional 8 people, not including those already present at the Wednesday service, attended over the four weeks.
    • Line Management: MM confirmed that a discussion with CL regarding CL’s line management had taken place.  No further action was required.

 

  1.  Staffing update
  1. Musical director: contract had been amended to 15 hours as agreed; annual leave to be adjusted as a result of this change – MM to speak to Liz Dey.
  2. Lay Worker for hospitality, pastoral care and children: Sophie commenced in post on 1st August 2025 and is using the autumn months to get used to the role and its requirements.
  3. Sound technician:  after discussion about the advantages of having a paid sound technician for key streamed services (could mix sound properly with the new digibox, which is too high tech for volunteer sound people) it was agreed that MM would contact Simon Dumpleton to confirm that a sound technician is wanted for the Advent Carol Service (am 30th November) and the Carol Service (pm 21st December). JD will inform Chris Heald about the consequent addition to this year’s budget. To be reviewed after these events.
  4. Line management: JD was confirmed as Line Manager to Chris Heald in the absence of NC. The ECC voted –– All in Favour.

 

  1. Mission Action Planning. A new questionnaire from the Diocese has arrived for completion in 2025. Jan Owen has agreed to lead on this, but contributions from others will be required. The deadline is thought to be the end of the calendar year; if the report is to be presented to the ECC beforehand this may need to be online because the next ECC meeting is 24th November 2025.

 

  1. Outreach  
  1. Christmas postcards: Rodney Godber is no longer able to prepare and arrange distribution of the postcard. PM to take on this responsibility, CL as communications officer to proofread before the printing is arranged.

 

  1. Saltmine Theatre Group visit: AC reported that she had had little success to date communicating with local schools about a theatre visit. Plans would need to be confirmed within two weeks for a Christmas performance to be organised. CC said that CASTS was keen to have a Christmas event with SAPLC; CL suggested they could have their Christingle Service here. However, a theatre visit need not be confined to Christmas, perhaps an Easter related visit may be preferable. CC will help with the school contact.
  2. Mapping exercise: Cheryl Collins (CCC) is collating information about activities in and beyond the parish. PS reported his experience with a similar exercise in a previous parish. JD has submitted a list to CCC with names of users of SAPLC and Shirley House.

 

  1. Church working parties: AC reported on behalf of Jan Owen. An indoor, as well as outdoor, working party had been held on 6th September. Two rooms were cleared, the one adjacent to the vestry and the flower room, as well as other areas. The certificate confirming SAPLC becoming an LEP was found in a broken frame, this will be replaced and then the certificate will be rehung. The next indoor working party to be on 27th September.

 

  1. Reports for discussion
  1. Safeguarding
  1. Toddler group at Highfield Trinity: to be re-started by Sophie Peel-Yates. After discussion about who is responsible for safeguarding, SAPLC as Sophie’s employer or Highfield as the venue, it was Agreed that SAPLC would do the DBS checks for Sophie and the Highfield volunteers. Sophie and Iain Cloke to discuss any safeguarding concerns. It was noted that some DBS checks have to be submitted to the Barring list, as well as the enhanced check.
  2. Taxis: best price found was £20 each way subject to availability. Suggestions included using taxis and volunteers alternately, possible help from City of Sanctuary or the Refugee Council, Community buses. AC to discuss with Anne Hollows and the family.
  1. Property and Finance report: JD expressed the ECC’s profound gratitude to JCC and Rodney Godber for all their work on the church property for many years.

Toilet renovation - Darren Coggins is working on this.

Lighting phase card – to be referred to P&F

JRu reported a broken bench.

  1. Policies and Communications Officer’s report
  1. Volunteer management policy – question about whether we keep a file on every volunteer, as part of Safer Recruiting.
  2. Records retention policy – what format are church events record kept? Where are records of correspondence about the spire project, solar panels etc kept? JD to forward all his records to the Church Office for archiving; will need to be catalogued.
  3. GDPR policy – All in Favour
  4. Equality, diversity and inclusivity  – All in Favour
  1. Treasurer’s report, receipts and payments. Report received. 
  2. Health and safety – Jan Owen had sent an updated report.  Comments:
    Car park could be dangerous; car park warden when big services? – No; could have a Car Park Full sign.

JCC said P&F should review the report.

PM expressed the ECC’s gratitude to Jan for all her work on this matter.

 

  1. Reports noted
  1. Eco group report 
  2. Peace and Justice report 
  3. Interfaith report

 

  1. No report
  1. Children’s work
  2. Worship planning

 

  1.  Any Other Business
    1. Street Pastors: JRu asked who information should be sent to – Janet Loughridge for the newsletter
    2. Richard Andrews at a conference in Sheffield: JC informed the ECC about the Reflect Open Day Conference 2025, to be held on 1st November at Victoria Hall 10.30am-3.30pm.The keynote speaker will be Rev’d Richard Andrew, President of the Methodist Conference 2025-2026 (and a former SAPLC minister)

 

  1. Dates of next meetings

 ECC meetings:

 2025 Monday 24th November;

 2026 Wednesday 11th February 

 Annual Church Meeting 26th April 2026         

 

  1.  Closing Prayers. The meeting ended with the Grace.

 

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