The figures are much larger than we expected, or hoped for, and mostly complement what we got done in 2001 to 2002 when we were concentrating on improving our facilities. Much of what we are now addressing is to preserve the integrity of our buildings by getting stonework, guttering and drainage repaired to stop the possibility of further water leaks. That is in addition to the work on the Hall changing the floor, the heating and the lighting as well as repairing windows and stonework. The current budget total for the phase to March 2011, net of a VAT refund, is circa £380,000.

In July, I advised the congregation present that we had been notified of a legacy that enabled us to extend our plan of work from just relating to the Hall to other aspects. The legacy is such that we can allocate £250,000 towards financing the works. That makes it easier for us to apply for funding from other bodies as does our splitting of the work into what we would like to do by 31 March 2011 and what would be better done after that date despite the expectation of not being able to recover any VAT that we can recover currently. However it still leaves us a lot of money to raise, even for the first phase, and that will be organised under the chairmanship of Ian Thomson.

We have agreed that it is best that one contractor deals with the major items and hope to issue tender documents early in September with the target of getting work started in November. In the meantime the repairs to the new roof and work on electrics are likely to happen during September so we have heating until work on the Hall commences in late November. We have also submitted our applications for permission and financial support from Synod and we should receive responses in September.