Pomeroy War Memorial Hall Committee Meeting
At The Duke of York Pomeroy
Wednesday 29th November 2023, 8pm.
Attendees: Representing:
Jean Brown (JB) Vice Chair of Committee
Brian Burton (BB) Local Resident
Jenny Cooper (JC) Committee Member
Rebekah Dicken (RD) Committee Member
Lloyd Melland (LM) Committee Member
Jess O’Dwyer (JOD) Secretary and Outgoing Treasurer
Christine Riley (CR) Trustee
Ian Webster (IW) Committee Member
Philip Wheeldon (PW) Chair of Committee
Ben Wilson (BW) Committee Member
Sarah Wilson (SW) Committee Member
01/11/23 Welcome and Introduction
Summary of Discussion:
PW welcomed all to the meeting.
02/11/23 Apologies and Expressions of Interest
Summary of Discussion:
Everyone was present at the meeting.
03/11/23 Minutes of Previous Meeting dated 27
th September 2023
Summary of Discussion:
The minutes were accepted as a true record of the meeting.
04/11/23 Matters Arising
Summary of Discussion:
Memorial plaques – JB has found suitable memorials on various websites. We think we have all
the names of the fallen in WW1 from Pomeroy and Sterndale Moor. There are four names on the
Earl Sterndale War Memorial relating to WW2 and we need to find if any of these should be on
the Pomeroy Memorial or if there is any we are missing from any other war.
Service bugle playing – Carol says we need a cornet player to play the bugle. Harpur Hill War
Memorial Service uses a recording of the last post. We could approach Burbage Band when the
time comes.
Parish Council help with Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) – the Parish Council are willing to
consider contributing to the cost of the WSI at their next meeting on 11th December but require
more detailed information.
JOD mentioned that our planning application to improve access to the hall has been sent out for
consultation. Archaeology have requested the methodology for surfacing the verge crossing. This
will be tarmacked. There is no need to dig down further than the original hard standing below.
JOD to report this back to Rachael Doyle at PDNPA planning.
JB had asked County Drains how long it would take to dig out the ground for a septic tank but had
not replied. PW thought it was possible to do in a day.
Newspaper article/letter of support –We could do a newspaper article to ask for more volunteers,
committee members, help from local businesses e.g., architects/builders. JB added that next year
lots of village halls will be celebrating their centenary. Many halls were built in 1924 as the
government gave out loans to local communities to build halls and improve community spirit. Our
hall was built in 1920-21 by public spirit and fundraising. Surely that makes our hall special and
should not just be left to rot. Who knows, the article in the Buxton Advertiser about the opening
of Pomeroy War Memorial Hall could have been the inspiration for lots of other halls? JB has
looked and cannot find another hall as old as ours. There are older halls which were built for a
different reason, and some were converted to war memorial halls, but ours was purpose built.
Ours could also be the highest war memorial hall and possibly also the smallest population! JB to
draft an article for the committee to read and add to.
The Nat West in Bakewell is earmarked for closure – JB suggested writing a letter of support from
a charity to the Nat West (or fill in the survey subsequently sent out by Nat West and sign the
petition by Sarah Dines MP about the closure of Nat West in Bakewell).
Help with planning – JOD has not heard lately from Luke Wilkinson and has only heard once from
Nicole Roe. Therefore, they might not be worth pursuing. BB still has a contact who may be able
to help.
05/11/23 Bank Account
Summary of Discussion:
JOD will step down as Treasurer at the next AGM.
The bank account balance as of 25th Nov was £2060.92. Nothing has gone out of the account. We
have had one payment in for £12 for the 100 Club.
We raised £88.50 at Earl Sterndale Christmas Fair and £42 at the games night which will need to
be paid into the account. JOD to pay the cash into the bank account. RD to pay in cheques.
06/11/23 Funding
Summary of Discussion:
We have not applied for any funding recently as we are still sorting out charity registration (which
will allow us to apply for funds from a wider selection of funders) and we are waiting to hear
about our planning application to improve access to the hall.
Funding meeting – JB attended the High Peak CVS funding fair on 14th November. Of particular
interest are the Enterprise Support Alliance and the Rural Prosperity Fund. JOD has shared the
slides from the funding fair presentation with the committee via email. PW to speak to Neil
Moulden about Rural Prosperity Fund.
Email from Pat Sutton – JOD to share Business Funding Email from Pat Sutton with committee,
pub and CR.
Funding from Parish Council for WSI – This was discussed earlier.
07/11/23 Fundraising
Summary of Discussion:
100 Club Update – We have sold 24 numbers which means the 100 club has taken £288.
Earl Sterndale Christmas Fair – JC, RD and JB had a stall with “Guess the name of the teddy”, a
teddy tombola and a chocolate tombola plus we sold knitted items. All the prizes were donated so
the stall only cost £5 to run (the price of having a stall at the fair). It was very busy, and our stall
made £88.50.
Games night – This made £42. It might be possible to bring the cost of future events down by
applying for a grant. There are funds available for community groups needing meeting rooms etc.
Unfortunately there were a lot of other events on the same week and night.
Spring Fair – The teddy and chocolate tombola were so successful we will do them again, maybe
with easter eggs? JB suggested plants too. LM to ask his mum about plants.
Raffle on the bar – We had a gaming licence which has now expired. RD to look into another
games/lottery licence. We will do a raffle on the bar in the run up to Easter.
Booze cruise update – we have still not found a way to raffle this prize. JB wondered whether it
had to be a booze cruise? What if we could use the transport for something else? RD thought it
had to be a booze cruise. To be discussed further at the fundraising meeting.
Other ideas – Another car treasure hunt was suggested. RD volunteered to devise an easier
treasure hunt, this time around Earl Sterndale. LM could attend with the ice cream van.
Regular fundraising subgroup meeting – This was arranged for Wed 17th Jan, 7.30pm at the Duke
of York. PW, JB, JC, RD and Bridget to attend but all welcome.
08/11/23 Charity Commission (CC) and Rural Action Derbyshire (RAD)
Summary of Discussion:
JOD reapplied to the CC to be a charitable trust but under the current rules we are unable to
register. There are complex issues to resolve and referred us to the Commission’s Regulatory
Authority Team. They have advised us to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
and have advised us of three ways to achieve this. Rona at RAD is going to have a look at the
information with her colleagues and advise us what to do next. PW to show this information to
Neil Moulden and see what he says. JOD to report back what Rona says.
09/11/23 Planning
Summary of Discussion:
The planning application was resubmitted. We have a new planning officer (Rachael Doyle) to deal
with our application. We have responded to comments from Highways and Archaeology.
The application was due to be decided on 5th December, but it is unlikely that date will be met.
10/11/23 Groundwork
Summary of Discussion:
Stop Tap – PW has not yet located the stop tap. PW to do.
Other groundwork – We previously discussed PW and IW starting some of the work so that our
planning permission would not expire. They could take down the chimney and patch up the roof.
They could also widen the ramp, reduce the gradient on the ramp and replace the handrail. PW
and IW to start work on the ramp and the chimney.
Levels – PW/IW/LM to work this out for the septic tank.
Septic tank – There is not much difference in the depth to be dug out for whichever septic tank we
choose. However we will still need to dig for the drainage/filter bed and so we will definitely need
to pay for a WSI. JB to ask the Parish Council for funding for the WSI. If they are unable to fund,
JOD to look for alternative sources of funding.
11/11/23 Website
Summary of Discussion:
SW has put the poster asking for volunteers on the website. No response has been received. SW
has also put the thank you poster for the Christmas Fair on the website. JOD put both posters on
the Facebook page.
12/11/23 Correspondence
Summary of Discussion:
RAD membership – membership has been free up until now but will have to charge in future. The
price is £30 per year from January. The committee voted to pay the £30 for membership. JOD to
arrange.
100 years since most halls built – this was discussed earlier.
13/11/23 Any other business
Summary of Discussion:
Local village hall support group – the main topic was the cost of gas and electricity. Other halls
seemed to think we would be better on a generator. They advised us that if we do have mains
electric, to do as much of our own digging as possible, to get our own electrician to do as much as
possible and to get the electricity board to do the absolute minimum necessary.
14/11/23 Date and Time of Next Meeting
Summary of Discussion:
All 8pm at the Duke of York Pomeroy.
Proposed for 2024:
Wed 13th March
Wed 12th June
Wed 18th September
Wed 27th November
JB to confirm with Bridget at the pub
Meeting finished 10 pm.