Minutes of meeting 19th December 2004
Present: Chris, Ryan, Nick, Dan, Duncan, Marie, Ras, Jane, Neil, Robin
AGENDA
1. NEW YEAR PLANS
2. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH VISIT
3. RYAN’S NON DEPARTURE
4. THINGS TO DO WHILE CLOSED
5. TUESDAY MEETING TIME CHANGE
6. THE FUTURE
7. FRIDGES
8. ACAI
9. CAR
10. ZAPATISTA GRANT APPLICATION
11. RATES
1.
The Forest will be semi-open, in a semi-private way, using only the
upstairs, which we’ll try to get from the settlement as cheap as possible.
Jane and Mikey are to co-ordinate the whole shebang.
2.
Environmental health paid a less than spontaneous visit to the Forest. They
found the kitchen in good order, but pointed out a few other things that
needed attention, some of which have been done (like fixing the fire door,
thank you Robin), and some which still need doing, like putting chicken wire
round the motors and securing the electrics in the upstairs toilet. Ken has
been asked to take care of these undone jobs.
3.
RVW notified the committee that it is now his intention to return,
triumphant, after his return home in February. The committee thanked RVW for
informing them of his intention.
4.
The café will be officially closed on the 24th and 25th, though any one who
wants to come in and do stuff can. It will re-open after that subject to the
whims of those willing to work.
5.
Tuesday’s meeting about the whole Smirnoff upstairs thing will now commence
at 6p.m.
6.
Ras suggested that more could be done to integrate the workshops into the
regular events, which would also help to avoid clashes (loud interpretative
flamenco during a meditation and stillness workshop). One way to do this is
to make sure all workshops are written into the events book and in the
events listings in CIA, The List, The Metro et al.
7.
Our little fridges are not energy inefficient, require substantial bending
down to, and are prone to frosting up. Marie suggested we get one of those
big walk in ones. This was thought to be a good idea, but there’d need to be
a think about how this would affect the working space in the kitchen, as it
would mean a loss of workspace.
8.
Palmer claims to have located a source of ACAI, the Brazilian nectar he goes
on about. He says he has ordered “samples”.
9.
The car is now due it’s MOT. A quote will need to be obtained for the work
it will doubtless need in order to pass. Also, the massive settlement van is
also available for cheap hire, and some kind of sharing arrangement might be
possible, said Dan.
10.
The Zapatista mural maker’s grant application was approved, with up to £100
for costs involved with travel, though they will have to pay for paint out
of that, and the project will need to be documented.
11.
The rates dilemma worries on. On the plus side it’s easy to get Matthew’s
name off the rates. On the less than plus side, there doesn’t seem to be
much progress on the council front. Duncan spoke of the possibility of
making a parallel application for charitable status via Oswald’s, who he ha
already contacted and will send further details of our situation to. All
agreed this was a good idea, what Palmer, in a desperate (but successful)
attempt to have himself quoted, called having “two stones in eight baskets”.
OTHER BUSINESS
It was sensibly suggested that turning the light off in the hall and on the
stairs to the church might stop people from hanging out/sleeping/cooking
pasta out there.
Date of Next Meeting: 2005.