Committee matters

The information on this page is intended to show the steps by which the committee has arrived at the current position and to indicate the difficult decisions which are involved.

These are summary notes of committee meetings. The full minutes are available from Wendy Statham. In addition there were numerous informal meetings with officers and agents of NYM National Park, Ryedale and North Yorks Councils, architects and regeneration agencies. These matters were reported to the committee contemporanously.

November 2004

The committee was reconstituted. A constitution was adopted, essential work considered, two members reported on a meeting held at Chopgate about green alternative village hall buildings. New hiring fees were fixed. The Xmas party and a presentation to John and Margaret Richardson were arranged.

February 2005

The Parish council was appointed as custodian trustees of the building. A structural survey was commissioned. The billiard table was levelled

March 2005

Open gardens, film night, BBQ were discussed. Awaiting structural report

April 2005

Local matters, AGM arranged

June 2005

Open gardens raised £1000. Structural report received (fee £352). Preliminary discussions with national parks, architects grants etc. Sketches to be prepared.

August 2005

Parks senior planning officer visit report. Reports on a visit to Lockton village hall which had cost about £300,000. A rolling phased redevelopment scheme was discussed

November 2005

Sheena Spence (Advisor NYRCC) attended. Outline plans drawn by Mr Nicholls discussed. We were advised to seek support from PROHELP. Funding agencies were outlined.

January 2006

Partial draft business plan presented. AGM arranged. Further plans to be drawn up by Phil Nicholls.

May 2006

Sally Walker (Native Architects) studied the structural survey and suggested two main approaches: a clean sweep rebuild and a two phase replacement which however, required a small piece of land to be purchased. Agreed to apply for planning permission.

June 2006

Sally Kirk made a presentation on Welburn Hall which is similar to what we envisaged. Much discussion on detail. Aluminium roof, wood frame and clad. Its acceptability to village and NYM National Park.

July 2006

Reports back on correspondence between architect and park, alternative cladding in stone dicussed, concern about floor for dancing and wall height for staging.

August 2006

Detall of plans to be submitted were scrutinised.

December 2006

Further details on plans amended, discussion of funding options in connection with green and traditional build where different funders would react differently to each type of proposal.

February 2007

Jo Crossley (Pro Help) spoke to the meeting, fees revised .

May 2007

Mr Gilruth appointed treasurer. Architect suggested costs were to be of the order of £400,000 of which about £30,000 would be professional fees. Ways of reducing these large up front costs discussed. Without another £1000 or so for a quantity surveyor we are unable to cost alternative proposals for funders. Letters to be sent to every household in village seeking ideas and comments.

July 2007

Kevin Rice of Mason Capitano spoke to the meeting offering aid with business plan and funding via the Pro Help scheme, request for £1000 funding sent in to Ryedale.

September 2007

All building options discussed. A 6 week timetable agreed to complete documents. Insurance matters and electrical survey discussed.

November 2007

Mason Capitano reported their dicussions but regrettably failed to complete the work by the deadline.Bluefish Regeneration (www.bluefishregen.com) were appointed in their stead and the grant application was extended to February deadline.

May 2008

Some uncomfortable realities re the state of the hall, the lack of any substantial grant funding, and the difficulty of producing a viable business plan were faced. A simplified structure built with local oversight was suggested. Demolition in 2009 with the building of a new hall to start straight away was proposed and agreed by the committee. Residents were to be informed of the new strategy.

July 2008

New plans have been drawn up to the brief given and discussions ar ongoing with NYMNPA about planning permission. There has been a site meeting about demolition and samples have been taken for analysis. Responses to the appeal letter have been very good and suggest that we may have raised £50.000 by the end of 2008. A grand Christmas Draw is to be organised and a superb range of prizes has been put together. Possible sources of grant are still being explored.

October 2008

The bat survey and asbestos survey have been completed. There would be a planning requirement that the old village hall be demolished before the end of March 2009 to prevent interference with bat roosting. Asbestos had been found in three situations and the demolition contractors would be required to take appropriate action. New plans had been submitted to NYMNPA and a quantity surveyor was preparing detailed costings. A variety of grants had been applied for.

December 2008

Target date for demolition is 2nd March 2009. Wood will be made available to village. Storage container for the billiard table and other items to be put on site. Other possible storage venues to be investigated. An inventory to be carried out and services disconnected. Building work is VAT exempt. Planning permission granted. Fundraising discussed, grants being explored.