--- a/MHMC/2025-10-20/notes.txt	Wed Oct 22 21:09:30 2025 +0100
+++ b/MHMC/2025-10-20/notes.txt	Wed Oct 22 21:10:21 2025 +0100
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 Meeting House Management Committee Agenda 2025-10-20
 Monday 20 October, 5.15 p.m., in 7 Victoria Terrace
 
-* Attendance Draft minute: JP Ascher, Rachael Fitzgerald, Chris
+* 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
 
@@ -48,29 +49,117 @@
 
     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.
+    year to 1 October 2026.  *Action* HST to check with User 2 about
+    the newest machine vs. Windows 11.
 
   * Dundee Friends Property Trust
 
+    HST did this.  Share info on DFPT management plan.  Relationship
+    with a peer Meeting House.
+
 * Managers' report
+
   * Defend our Juries
+
+  Didn't need us.  
+
   * 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?
+
   * New Casual Staff
+
+    Two new starting as we speak, shadowing three times 
+
   * 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.
+
   * CVenues 2026
 
+  MS has been doing some follow-up.  Greenside are off the table
+  (Alcohol).  CVenues are keen, Momentum will need a venue in 2026,
+  supposed to meet around now.  They would allow us to do some normal
+  lettings, maybe some rehearsal spaces.  They would presumably be
+  gone in a year, and we would have lost Hartley.  Hartley wants a
+  3-year contract.  Two reasons to do that: save time each year;
+  justify investment on Hartley's part: sound-proofing, network
+  cabling/architecture.  *Agreed* To ask Managers to go ahead and
+  offer Hartley a 3-year deal, details to be negotiated.  HST to tell
+  Trustees
+
+  * Mid-Week Meeting
+
+  Will try to re-house in one of the big rooms if the Library is not
+  available.  We could ask them to identify a point of contact.
+  *Action* HST to have a chat with Alison and Margaret about how we
+  could make communication a bit easier (Whats App; E-mail; phone
+  tree).
+
+  * Probation Meetings
+
+  Ellie and Majk's went well.  MS might take his months (already
+  agreed) after EG returns.  We might be able to get one of the Casual
+  Staff applicants who would suit very well to get a temporary
+  replacement.
+
 * 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.
+
   * Vacancy management
 
+   They're back.
+
 * Finance report
 
+  C? presented a very well set-out summary of monthly- and
+  year-to-date figures, which show a very good month in September, for
+  which HST thanked staff, and 
+
+  AT feels that the 'overrun' on the staff budget makes him think the
+  budget itself is unreasonable.  The question of what the budget
+  should be based on should be sorted with Trustees as a matter of
+  urgency.  Contract staff costs are fixed.  Casual staff hours pay
+  for themself.  The complexity arises when we get to the need for
+  cover throughout each weekday.
+
+  *Action* on staff (and JN) to bring what they can about
+  understanding where our income comes from to the next meeting.
+
 * Heating/Insulation/Energy...
   * Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES)
+  
+  DW points out that there's a local CARES person (Energy Adviser) for
+  this part of Scotland who we should cultivate in time for the next
+  opportunity.  *Action* to DW to work with MS find out who, if the
+  person we were given to liaise with over the previous application,
+  is in that.
+
+  Two heaters have been fixed.  Library heater under investigation.
 
 * Works to be undertaken Upper Bow
   * Report from Majk Stokes
 
+  Quotes for windows, flooring.  Accessibility is an issue.  *ACTION*
+  on AT and MS to give HST somethign for Trustees on 28 Oct.
+
+
 * Quinquennial review/News from Trustees
 
 * Staff escalation route if they need backup
@@ -85,8 +174,20 @@
    trustees to be on a reserve backup list in case no-one from MHMC
    is available."
 
+  Phone tree: MHM -> MHMC via HST -> Trustees via MW
+
+  What SCALP gave us was also/more in the direction of how to behave
+  towards the police in a less than full-cooperation way.  But was not
+  really quite what we expected/hoped for for _building staff_.
+
+  De-escalation training!  RF to let us know.
+
+  We will come back to this.
+
 * Date of next meeting
 
+  17th 1715 in the Meeting House
+
 * Any other business
 
 ht