Property Committee

Property Committee

Convener: David Menzies

The remit of the Property Committee starts with providing advice to all congregations on property matters.

It is responsible for appraisal and reporting to Presbytery on alterations to building or erection of buildings or memorials proposed by congregations.

Almost every congregation has property associated with it, whether that be manses or churches or land called a glebe.

This committee works with congregations to ensure their property is fully compliant with modern building standards as well as helping them navigate the complicated regulations around building improvements and alterations.

Property Convenor often functions as the first point of contact for congregations looking to undertake work related to buildings.

David has been an Elder and Fabric Convenor at Tranent Parish Church for many years. He has served as Fabric Convenor on the former Presbytery of Lothian and was also a General Trustee for 8 years.

A Chartered Structural Engineer he has extensive experience on all types of construction having worked as a Consulting Engineer

The role of the Buildings Officer is to liaise with congregations in looking after and developing their property. Whether that is navigating the complexities of church rules, acting as a bridge between the congregation and the General Trustees or helping people understand all the permissions they need to do work, the Buildings Officer is there to help. Whenever a congregation is thinking of doing some work the Buildings Officer should be one of the first people you call.

Gavin worked in Building Consultancy/Project management as a Chartered Surveyor for the past 15 years, since retiring from professional rugby in 2010. As PBO he covers the Lothian & Borders assisting Presbytery and congregations with all things property.

He is married with three children and a menagerie of animals (dogs/ponies)

Membership: Convenor, Vice-Convenor, plus 6 others

  1. To provide advice to all congregations on property matters.
  2. The Convenor shall be ex officio a member of the Planning Committee.
  3. To be responsible for appraisal and reporting to Presbytery on alterations to building or erection of buildings or memorials proposed by congregations.
  4. To be responsible for appraisal and reporting to Presbytery on sales, purchases or leases of congregational property.
  5. To undertake annual inspection of Glebelands in accordance with church law and report to Presbytery on Glebe rents.
  6. To ensure compliance with the Care of Ecclesiastical Properties Act [Act XII 2007], to examine the Property Registers (including insurance details and manse condition schedules) of all congregations, and to report thereon to Presbytery.
  7. To instruct an inspection and report (the Principal Report) on ecclesiastical properties of each congregation at least once in every ten-year period. To instruct an interim inspection and report five years after the Principal Report. To consider the report and to present it to Presbytery and to provide recommendations or instructions for action.
  8. To inspect, jointly with local office-bearers, manses of charges which become vacant, to complete Manse Condition Schedules and to identify all major repairs to be carried out before the arrival of a new minister. Church Law requires that no call to a vacant charge can even be considered by a presbytery until its property committee have certified that all necessary work on the manse, as previously detailed and agreed both by the congregation(s) concerned and by the presbytery, has been fully and successfully completed.
  9. To meet with deputations from the General Trustees and/or with local office-bearers to consider particular property issues.