Highlights: An offer of a purchase price for the village hall land has been received. The committee felt the offer was far too high and have drafted a letter in response.
The Planning Application is now only waiting on clarification on pricing before going live on the ELC website.
Works is under way to get OCA SCIO officially recognised as a VAT-exempt charity. This will save us substantial amounts on the hall build.
Highlights: Planning Application for the village hall has been submitted! Still waiting for it to be live on the East Lothian Council website, but a real big step forward!
The committee is pursuing an official VAT exemption certificate from HMRC, base on our charitable status.
Points from the community regarding bike racks in the village, and on disabled access to the new hall across the village have been noted.
Highlights: Committee agreed to instruct CSY to go ahead with Planning Application!
The latest report from our QS showed substantial rises in costs since the first estimates, 2 and half years ago. The committee has spent a great deal of time going through costs with the QS and the increases are now in line with what would be expected, considering the national levels of inflation, particularly in the construction industry.
The committee discussed the need for a small petrol generator to be kept on site. This is for emergencies only, so that the hall can be a reliable warm space during extended power cuts. It will work in tandem with solar panels and a battery, and can therefore be smaller than would otherwise be needed.
Highlights: Committee physically pegged out and decided upon an amended land purchase area, based on concerns over possible land slippage from the steep slope at the back border. New border will be few metres lower down.
Meeting planned with CSY to make some adjustments to drawings that will be soon submitted for Planning Application with ELC.
Funds finally transferred from old OCA accounts to new OCA SCIO one, meaning that the first deposit into the interest bearing Community Benefit Fund can be made.
Highlights: OCA SCIO, as a charity, has access to up to £80k of grant money from Local Energy Scotland for any measures that reduce the carbon footprint of our new hall. Should enable us to really maximise our use of renewable energy.
The new bank account for OCA SCIO has finally been opened! This means funds can start to be transferred from OCA, and we can then make our first substantial payment into the Community Benefit Fund.
Highlights: First proper committee meeting since the AGM, as such tasks for all members were formally defined. Dates for committee meetings for the whole year were decided. Letter to Savills regarding land purchase is on hold, awaiting further details, but this does not specifically hold up Planning application for the hall.
Highlights: Well attended AGMs including presentation from CSY architects, showing the up to date plans for the new village hall, including a scale model!
Followed by first meeting of the new committee. Members elected office bearers.
Highlights: Largely prep for the upcoming AGMs. CSY to present a draft presentation to the committee beforehand. Selection of investments for the Community Benefit Fund has been done at a Balanced Risk level.
Highlights: The committee were joined by representatives of CSY who presented revised design ideas, based on both community and committee feedback. Various points of detail discussed. CSY will make present to the community at the AGMs, including a 3D model, and will take questions from the community afterwards. AGMs are decided to be held Sunday 29th January was confirmed, 2 – 4pm in Village Hall.
