--- a/MHMC/2025-10-20/notes.txt	Fri Oct 24 15:01:19 2025 +0100
+++ b/MHMC/2025-10-20/notes.txt	Sat Oct 25 16:06:20 2025 +0100
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
 Meeting House Management Committee Agenda 2025-10-20
 Monday 20 October, 5.15 p.m., in 7 Victoria Terrace
 
-* Attendance Draft minute: JP Ascher (via Zoom), Eliza Giles (observing), Rachael Fitzgerald
-  (from ???), Chris
-  Jardine, Katrina McCrea (via Zoom), Jackie Noltingk, Laragh Quinney,
-  Sammi Searle, Henry S. Thompson, Andy Tucker, Duncan Wallace
+* Attendance: JP Ascher (JP, via Zoom), Eliza Giles (EG, observing),
+  Rachael Fitzgerald (RF), Chris Jardine, Katrina McCrea (via Zoom),
+  Jackie Noltingk, Laragh Quinney, Henry S. Thompson (HST), Andy
+  Tucker (AT), Duncan Wallace (DW)
 
 * Convenor's report
   * Change of representative from Treasury Team
 
-    Draft minute: We welcome Chris Jardine, the new AM Assistant
+    We welcome Chris Jardine, the new AM Assistant
     Treasurer, and say goodbye to Jackie Noltingk, with a very warm
-    'Thank You!'  for your long service and many contributions to the
+    'Thank You!' for your long service and many contributions to the
     work of this committee and your frequent help for its convenor.
 
   * Suggestions from Local Meeting
@@ -20,15 +20,15 @@
     Henderson regarding the provision of something to help keep folk
     warm in the Meeting Room: it was _blankets_, not gillets.
 
-    Draft minute: We welcome the offer from Central Edinburgh Local
-    Meeting to purchase a number of blankets to be made available for
-    people attending Meeting for Worship as the temperature drops and
-    ask them to liaise with the Managers about practical details such
-    as storage, signage and cleaning.
+    We welcome the offer from Central Edinburgh Local Meeting to
+    purchase a number of blankets to be made available for people
+    attending Meeting for Worship as the temperature drops and ask
+    them to liaise with the Managers about practical details such as
+    storage, signage and cleaning.  *Action HST* to inform LM
 
   * Unpaid leave for Eliza Giles 3 months in August-November 2026: EAPPI
 
-    Draft minute: We are happy to agree to Eliza Giles taking three
+    We are happy to agree to Eliza Giles taking three
     months of unpaid leave August--November 2026 to be a volunteer
     with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and
     Israel and wish her well in that very important and challenging
@@ -48,40 +48,62 @@
     * Windows 10 support
 
     HST and AT have worked together successfully to extend the
-    provision of security updates to our Windows 10 PCs for a further
-    year to 1 October 2026.  *Action* HST to check with User 2 about
-    the newest machine vs. Windows 11.
+    provision of security updates to three of our Windows 10 PCs for a
+    further year to 1 October 2026.  *Action HST* to check with User 2
+    about the newest machine vs. Windows 11.
+
+  * Dundee Friends Property Trust (DFPT)
 
-  * Dundee Friends Property Trust
+    In response to a request from the trustees of DFPT for information
+    as they prepare to replace their single, part-time, employee, HST
+    shared some salary and job description informaiton based on
+    publicly available information.
 
-    HST did this.  Share info on DFPT management plan.  Relationship
-    with a peer Meeting House.
+    DW suggested finding out more about DFPT's management plan,
+    suggesting that it might be useful to develop a relationship with
+    them or some other peer with a Meeting House to manage.
 
 * Managers' report
 
   * Defend our Juries
 
-  Didn't need us.  
+  There were only two people taken in to custody immediately after the
+  demonstration at the Scottish Parliament on 6 January, and they were
+  both released later that day to friends and/or family, so the
+  Meeting House wasn't needed as a fallback recovery venue.  HST and
+  Sammi Searle had been monitoring events via a Signal group so we
+  knew when we could stand down.
 
   * Area Meeting 10 September
 
-  AT and how the Warm Spaces had gone (well), but it's not
-   going ahead this year.  EG and AT about answered some things about
-   the Fringe.  We were reminded that in 2024 we put up the programme
-   in the Foyer ahead of time.  We were asked to make it more obvious
-   that this was a Quaker space.  Invite old Friends to get in touch
-   with Hartley?
+  AT introduced himself and Sammi.  He reported to AM how the Warm
+  Spaces had gone (well), but it's not going ahead this year.  EG (who
+  was also there) and AT answered some questions about the 2025
+  Fringe.  We were reminded that in 2024 we put up the programme in
+  the Foyer ahead of time so Friends could review and comment.  We
+  were asked to make it more obvious that this was a Quaker space,
+  which we have taken on board for next 2026, and already discussed
+  with Hartley Kemp, who was receptive.
+
+  Perhaps we might reach out to Quaker groups who performed at Venue
+  40 to encourage them to consider coming again and telling them how
+  to get in touch with Hartley?
 
   * New Casual Staff
 
-    Two new starting as we speak, shadowing three times 
+    Two new casual staff are starting, they will each shadow existing
+    staff for three hires before starting on their own.
 
   * 2026 Room Hire pricing
 
-    At least as much as RLW goes up.  RF helped in 2024.  Already
-    enquiries for 2026.  HST and Managers to share a proposal with RF
-    and DW by 10 NOvember.  RLW might be 7%.  *Action* RF to share the
-    local comparators info.
+    We *agreed* that prices should go up by at least as much as the
+    Real Living Wage (RLW) goes up.  RF helped in 2024 by sharing
+    information not only about Augustine United's rates, but some
+    other local comparators.  The office is already getting enquiries
+    for 2026.  HST and Managers to share a proposal wrt rates from
+    January 2026 with RF and DW by 10 NOvember for review.  RLW now
+    announced at just under 7%.  *Action* RF to share the local
+    comparators info.
 
   * CVenues 2026
 
@@ -114,13 +136,15 @@
 * Upper Bow report
   * Rent increase
 
-   JP no longer proposes income increase.  Market rates and %-yield
-   basis suggests.  "Honest job as a decent landlord".  Small regular
-   increases are fairer than nothing for a while and then bouncing a
-   lot.  We're in good shape wrt value, Southside is our best source
-   of advice wrt market rates.  So we *Agreed* to go with their
-   advice.  But the market itself is not necessarily fair, but the
-   proposed raise from £900 to £918/mo, is not extortionate.
+   JP no longer proposes rate increase.  Different bases for
+   considering rental value are market rates and desired yield.  We
+   should aim to do"an honest job as a decent landlord".  Small
+   regular increases are fairer than nothing for a while and then
+   bouncing a lot.  We're in good shape wrt value, Southside is our
+   best source of advice wrt market rates.  So we *Agreed* to go with
+   their advice, for a 2% increment.  Although the market itself is
+   not necessarily fair, the proposed raise from £900 to £918/mo
+   is not extortionate.
 
   * Vacancy management