Minutes of the CSPA Executive Committee Meeting
Held on Tuesday May 11th 2010, Barham House, Cranbrook School
Executive Committee members present:
Richard Callan (Chairman)(RC) Lynn Curtis-Woodcock (Sec)(LCW) Vicki Ingle (VI) Kate Biggs (KB) Annette Fettes (AF) Christine Newman (CN) Caroline Braybrook (CB) Julie Griggs (JG) Liz Prentis (Treasurer)(EP) Mike Bull (MB) Alistair Hamilton (AH) Elise Sanderson (ES) Simon Cullen (SC) Caroline Hornsby (CH) Guests: Jenny Thomas, Karen Radford
Apologies for absence: Angela Daly, David Hensley, Helen Jewsbury, Bob Payne
1. Welcome The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed Karen Radford, the bursar, who stood in in Angel Daly’s absence.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 23rd March 2010 – were read and agreed and signed as a true record.
3. Report from the Chairman
Following the recent resignations of Caroline Hornsby, Lynne Kemp, Christine Newman, CN will remain officially the chairman of the Ed Support Sub Committee until the AGM in November but ES has agreed to take over duties from now. MB will stand in as Chair of the spending committee. It is a priority to recruit new committee members, CSPA forms will go out at the New Parents’ Evening on June 25th. Current members will attend to recruit.
Giftaid – EP and CB to contact Philippa Marshall for the file. It was suggested we need a dedicated member of the executive committee to take it on.
4. Treasurers Report
EP reported there is approximately £18.000 available in the funds. The new spending rules have made the process much better and there are fewer outstanding items. The committee was informed that at the time of writing, if we sell the 320 ball tickets we will break even and will be reliant on wine sales to boost profits.
EP confirmed that we need to show our continued support for the students and that they should have the new bidding process explained. AH to liaise.
KR to have conversation with Nick Martin regarding the best position for the new site map.
5. Matters arising from the last meeting
Gym equipment – has been purchased and is currently housed in the hut behind School Lodge, by the climbing wall. It was thought membership charges would be £10 a term for the usage.
Update on student council input and bids - electronic noticeboard for the Quad and Sixth Form Centre in hand (KR) and AH liaising regarding branding for the newspaper, debate club etc) and progress of “The Crane Newsletter”.
Signage for toilets from the Queen’s Hall and a Map and whiteboard by the entrance – the school is looking into this as well as updating the toilets in the Queens Hall block.
Ball cause – it was agreed that the fundraising should go towards new seating in the Queens Hall as this would benefit all the school plus the wider community. The sports pavilion is a long term plan. Short term there will be work on the outside including the addition of shutters to make it more secure. KR explained there are also long term plans for the Science labs which could be proposed as the fundraising cause for the Ball 2012.
6. Report of the Spending Sub-Committee
There was no meeting this half term due to no bids at this time, however there was a retrospective bid of £1900 for the stainless steel benches for the swimming pool which is due to open after half term. Vote carried and a CSPA plaque will be visible in the area.
The decisions of the Spending Sub Committee were under New Bidding Process were agreed by the Executive Committee as follows: CSPA26 - Seating for the swimming pool – Karen Radford. £1900 bid. Approved
7. Report of the Social Committee
750 club revamp – AF has agreed to be in charge of the 750 club now. JL redesigning following a meeting held in the George. Will be done in time for the new parent’s evening.
Dragon Boat Race – ongoing Bill Bloom has agreed to captain the boat. It was agreed that sponsorship forms should go out as quickly as possible once received.
8. Report of the Ball Committee – presented by Jenny Thomas
All arrangements in hand and underway. Will need someone for the bar (18+) and general helpers - under 18’s to collect glasses and do the car park. Possibly to raise cash for the Tanzania fund. Jenny to check how many helpers required and to find the costs in question. LCW to ask Charlie about photos from the Burns Night.
9. Report of the Education Sub-Committee
Cross-curricular evening has been postponed.
Evening forum being planned – drugs/drink/internet safety/eating disorders/sexual health. The subcommittee suggested more advertising was needed and may do something different for the AGM.
Min-Enterprise Scheme – we need to encourage more parents to help out.
Careers Fair – held every two years, date TBA. It was thought this time we could hold themed evenings, twice a term: e.g. legal, medical, university admissions, and open it to other schools. Ideas to be discussed also at the Old Cranbrookians day.
10. There was nothing to report this time from the Communications Committee
11. AOB
There was much discussion regarding the £15 voluntary contribution from parents. There is no opportunity for parents to opt back in if they opted out when they received the new parents pack. It was agreed to send a letter out at the beginning of each year with the invoices to give them the option again and say what has been purchased throughout the year with CSPA funds.
It had been suggested that a crèche service could be offered to people attending the ball and run by some of the boarders. This was declined on grounds of health and safety and logistics.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.55pm
11. Dates for the diary
- Mid Summer Ball – June 19th
- New Parents Evening – June 25th
- Next Spending Comm Meeting – TBA
- Next Social Comm Meeting – TBA
- Next Ed Supp Comm Meeting – TBA
- Next Executive meeting – TBA
- Saturday 26 November 2010 - CSPA Quiz Night
- Saturday 22 January 2011 - CSPA Burns Night Celebration
- Saturday 2 July 2011 - CSPA Family Fun Day
