Present: Fr Peter (Chair), Nicola Avery, Fiona Couper, Gemma Fleming, Steve Jackson and Catherine Jones (Secretary)

Apologies: Martin Aspel and Rob Hughes

1. Minutes of the last meeting

It was agreed that the minutes of the meeting of the Group held on 9 June 2009 be approved as a correct record.

2. Matters arising

a) Colensos' garden party

It was noted that the garden party at Mr and Mrs Colenso's on 3 July had been a success and had raised £200.  It was noted for future years that there was an expectation that parishioners would advertise the garden party and make and sell tickets

Action: PSG

b) First Communion

Fr Peter proposed that a meeting of potential First Communion catechists be convened in September to discuss the development of a parish-based preparation programme for First Communion.

Action: Fr Peter

3. Health and safety

Fr Peter reported that Brian Kelly had resigned from the position of parish health and safety co-ordinator. It was agreed that health and safety should be a standing item on agendas for PSG meetings and that the duties of the co-ordinator role could be covered by the various members of the PSG.

Action: Catherine Jones (agenda); all PSG 

It was noted that Paul Sutton was arranging for the electrical appliance testing to be carried out for all four parishes in the LPA.  Steve and Fiona reported on the items in the Stanley Hall which might pose health and safety risks and Catherine did the same for the church grounds. It was agreed that these should be compiled into a list and action taken/required should be monitored at each meeting. Martin would be asked for his list of items in the church.

Action: Steve Jackson, Fiona Couper, Catherine Jones, Martin Aspel

In relation to specific items identified:

Gemma agreed to make a copy of a notice instructing people to gather on the front lawn of the presbytery in the event of a fire evacuation from the church or Stanley Hall.

Action: Gemma Fleming

Steve agreed to get a 'caution: wet floor' sign and a sign indicating where the first aid box in the Stanley Hall is kept. He would also do a COSHH assessment of the cleaning chemicals.

Action: Steve Jackson

Fr Peter agreed to arrange for annual servicing of the boiler and cooker in the Stanley Hall and the boiler in the church and to investigate whether these contracts could be let through an arrangement with the LPA churches.  He also agreed to consider the repair/replacement of the gate to the church grounds from the A41, to look into appointing a contractor to remove various tripping hazards (sandstone blocks, tree stumps etc.) and to seek advice as to whether the pine trees on the A41 side of the graveyard should be taken down.

Action: Fr Peter

It was noted that the hire conditions of the Stanley Hall included disclaimers related to food preparation.

Fr Peter raised the possibility of creating space for the burial of ashes alongside the wall on the A41 side of the graveyard and burial plots on the lawned areas between the church and the car park.

4. Parish events

a) September Garden Party