Making Alterations or Applying for General Trustee Grants

When planning alterations or applying for a General Trustee Grant there are some important points you must factor into your plans.

• Any plan to make alterations to property require approval of Presbytery and the General Trustees, regardless of value
• All applications to the General Trustees for grants (regardless of the cost/nature of the works) require Presbytery approval first.  Please ensure the amount of grant being sought is clearly indicated. Any requests for release of congregational funds held in the Consolidated Accounts should also be reflected clearly in the application form.
• If the proposed alterations affect your sanctuary CARTA must be consulted.
• If you are seeking to release funds of any amount held by the General Trustees you must still follow this process.
   

Repairs and Renewals

Presbytery sets a financial threshold, currently £50,000 for buildings Categorised as A in the Mission Plan and £20,000 for buildings Categorised as B in the Mission Plan, below which there will be a presumption in favour of certain expenditure but above which there will, in many cases, be a presumption against according to the classification of the building in the Presbytery Mission Plan.

Looking After Manses

Each congregation should maintain a current Manse Condition Schedule (link). The Schedule records vital information about the manse and its maintenance, helping you to keep track of what was done and when, who owns what and to plan a schedule of work.  The Schedules operate as a working document, so you can tell the condition of the property at any given time.  They also work as a handy checklist that help you to know what to look out for when inspecting the property.  

Manse Schedules are reviewed at the Annual Inspection of records by Presbytery to ensure you are using good practice.  If you are unsure about what to complete in any part of these documents, please contact the Presbytery Property Convener, who will be happy to help.

Recordkeeping

It is essential that a Manse Condition Schedule (link) and a Property Register (link) is kept up to date.   Both documents are part of those submitted at the Annual Inspection of Records to ensure you are maintaining good practice.  If you are unsure about what to complete in any part of these documents, please contact the Presbytery Property Convener, who will be happy to help.

Both these documents give congregations valuable information on when work was done, help you to plan a schedule of works and, in case of fire or other damage, what contents were in the property.

Safety

Congregations are obligated to ensure their premises are adequately insured and protected against fire and other hazards. Asbestos is an ongoing concern. There is considerable information on these matters and many more at the General Trustees resource page.