16th February 2010
St.Peters Journey So Far.....
Progress report
St Peter's finally became our property in August 2009 - the completion of a process of purchase that started back in October 2007.
Right now it is a bit of a mess - more of a building site than a place of worship. At the beginning of August 2009 a series of surveys commenced to assess what work is needed for foundations for the new steel frame we will insert as well as checking the roof at wall plate level. The report shows no unforeseen problems and the rest of the structural design work can proceed.
Progress has been slower than what we would have wished but progress is being made and our preference is to get it right, acting as we are, as agents on your behalf in the many and varied aspects of this project.
Church Sharing Agreement
Right from the inception of this project, our intention was to share this building with Open Heaven (a Pioneer church) with whom we have an excellent relationship. While there was general agreement about the contents of the church sharing agreement, it was agreed that some details could best be resolved sitting around a table rather than by means of a continual and confusing flow of letters and emails. On 17 November 2009 Howard Needham and Paul Stevens attended a meeting in Birmingham at which representatives from both churches with their solicitors were present. The meeting was aimed at identifying and dealing with those details. Work on this is still in progress which is delaying commencement of the building work. As soon as it is completed we can move forward on the project.
Building Committee
We have agreed that three months before the building contract is completed, a building committee consisting of four representatives from each congregation, including someone recognised as church leader, will be formed to be responsible for the running of the building. For the first year this will be chaired by Paul Stevens, the following year by the OH leader and rotating annually from then on. We have calculated that the running costs will be in the region of £1000 per month per congregation and that this will be deposited in a fund from which this committee can draw to pay for maintenance, utilities and wages.
Building Design
The meeting we held with the stake holders about the design of the building in October 2009 was a really profitable exercise. Our thanks to all who attended, your input was appreciated and most, if not all, of your suggestions have been incorporated in the latest designs.
Refining detail for the provision of electric sockets, IT network, PA, stage lighting and kitchen is complete. This phase of the project has meant numerous meetings by certain of our leaders and also with those in OH who are responsible for these areas. The goal has always been to have as much of these planned in now to prevent complications and additional costs at a later stage.
Tendering
The tender documents were despatched to a number of contractors and these were returned on Friday 28 May 2010. There has been an ongoing discussion with our preferred contractor since then and we are now nearly ready to sign the contract that will see the work commence.
We believe we now have a clearer understanding with regard to the payment of VAT on this project and the processes we need to go through to obtain VAT relief for the new parts of the building. We also believe that we can claim VAT back from another source for repairs. You will recall we asked you to pray about this element at our first St Peter's presentation. Please continue to pray that we will get cooperation from the architect and contractor for this to happen.
In all of this we have been very aware of your support financially and in prayer. At times it has been really hard work but we would rather put in the time and effort to get the project right than rush at it and fail to fulfil our responsibilities to you.
Our current building
On the advice of Mather and Jamie we have held back from putting this property on the market. Their advice is that we should do this no earlier than 9 months prior to completion of the St Peters contract. What we did agree was that the details should be put on their web site but with no suggested price. We are encouraged that there have already been a number of enquiries. The fact that we say this building will not be available until late 2012 does not appear to be a deterrent and we are greatly encouraged. Some have also enquired about leasing the building. No negotiations have been entered into nor will they until the buidling work commences.
