MINUTES of a MEETING of the FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE of Bourne Town Council held on Tuesday 28 February 2006 at 7.30pm, at the Town Hall
(Minuted by Town Clerk)
Present: Chairman Mrs P Moisey
Councillors Mrs M Clark D Fisher A Prentice
Mrs S Cliffe T Holmes Mrs J Smith
G Cudmore J Kirkman J Smith
B Fines Mrs L Neal Mrs N Woolley
Ms J Pauley 4 members of the public/press
575F APOLOGIES for absence
Proposed Cllr Holmes, seconded Cllr Cudmore and unanimously agreed
RECOMMENDATION: To approve the apology from Cllr D Crump
576F DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Personal Interest Cllr B Fines Minute 581F/B/1 SKDC Members
Cllr D Fisher ditto ditto
Cllr J Kirkman ditto ditto
Cllr Mrs Neal ditto ditto
Cllr Mrs J Smith ditto ditto
Cllr J Smith ditto ditto
Personal Interest Cllr Mrs M Clark Minute 581F/B/2 President-Chamber of Trade
Personal Interest Cllr G Cudmore Minute 581F/B6 Son Secretary/Festival Com.
Cllr Mrs J Smith ditto Festival Committee Member
Personal Interest Cllr Mrs M Clark Minute 581F/B7 Member of TCMP
Cllr Mrs S Cliffe ditto BTC representative
Cllr D Fisher ditto Member of TCMP
Cllr J Kirkman ditto ditto
Cllr Mrs L Neal ditto ditto
Cllr J Smith ditto ditto
Personal Interest Cllr G Cudmore Minute 581F/B8 BTC representative
Cllr B Fines ditto Member of LAA
Cllr D Fisher ditto ditto
Cllr J Kirkman ditto ditto
Cllr Mrs L Neal ditto ditto
Cllr Mrs J Smith ditto ditto
Cllr J Smith ditto ditto
Prejudicial Interest Cllr A Prentice Minute 582F SKDC employee / close involvement
Personal Interest As previously declared by all 6 District Councillors on Minute 582F – a dispensation has been granted by the Standards Committee (Cllrs B Fines, D Fisher, J Kirkman, Mrs L Neal,
Mrs J Smith and J Smith)
577F TO SIGN THE MINUTES OF the MEETING HELD ON 17 January 2006
The above set of Minutes, already approved as a true record, were signed by the Chairman
578F TO RECEIVE REPORTS BY DISTRICT/COUNTY CLLRS OR REPRESENTATIVES
579F PERIOD TRIAL BALANCE TO 31 January 2006 (Month 10)
Proposed Cllr Kirkman, seconded Cllr Mrs Woolley and unanimously agreed
RECOMMENDATION: To adopt the figures for Month 10 as presented
580F ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT The following invoices were presented for approval:
Month 10 / Gross Staff Costs for January 2006(LGA 1972 ss112, 214 & PHA 1936 s87) / 5,998.53
Fenland Shop
/ Inv41432 Hand cleaner & saws (LGA 1972 s 214) / 48.32Town & Country / Inv 77274 Repair to Lights infrastructure (LGA 1972 s144) / 134.08
Branch Bros
/ Inv176398 Paving slabs for benches (LGA 1972 s 214) / 9.96SKDC
/ Inv 203432014 Rent at Corn Exchange (LGA 1972 sch12) / 30.00Biffa
/ Inv278T31274 Bin exchange Dec/Jan (LGA 1972 s 214) / 33.60Interstate
/ Inv 3529 Medium back Spine chair (LGA 1972 s 111) / 258.50Baileys / Inv 645/56 & 644/56 Gravedigging/backfilling (LGA 1972 s 214) / 446.50
P’boro Engr. / Inv 3904& 3904 Rose & Bench plaques (LGA 1972 s 214) / 53.81
Bullimores
/ Inv 76040 & 75658 Skip hire (LGA 1972 s 214) / 267.90Anglian Water
/ Cemetery supply (LGA 1972 s 214) 61.91Allotment supply (SH & AA 1908) 165.19 / 227.10
LALC
/ Inv 2320 Membership & Subscription to Local Council Review (LGA 1972 s143) / 778.00Signs of Times
/ Inv 11321 VE/VJ Commemorative Plaque (LGA 1972 s 137) / 517.00Lloyds
/ Bank Charges (LGA 1972 s 111) / 15.00PETTY CASH
Sept 05 –Jan 06 / Carry forward and credits (5 cheques total £450) £ 455.44Less Postage (LGA 1972 s111) £ 204.35
Less Petrol (LGA 1972 s 214) £ 184.93 Less Wreath-Remembrance Day (LGA 1972 s111) £ 17.50
Less Consumables Cemetery & Admin £ 23.29
Less AA’s & Cemetery mileage (LG(FP)A 1963 s5) £ 14.40
End of January Balance/Cash in Hand £ 10.97 / 444.47
Prices are incl. of VAT
/ TOTAL / 9,262.77The above invoices have been verified and cheques sent for some of the above
Proposed Cllr Ms Pauley, seconded Cllr J Kirkman and unanimously agreed
RECOMMENDATION: For the above accounts to be approved and paid.
581F CORRESPONDENCE FOR CONSIDERATION AND RECOMMENDATION
A Correspondence for Information only – to be received en bloc (available for perusal)
a) Bourne & District Branch Royal British Legion - –Thank you letter for grant of £150
b) Lincolnshire Association of People with Disabilities –Rural Access Project - introduction of Rural Access Project, which is being carried out by the LAPD. The project is set up to recruit, train and support disabled volunteers to identify and enter dialogue with service providers to remove both physical and attitude barriers for disabled people in rural communities (the enclosed flyer has been placed in BTC notice board)
c) LCC Pension Fund - Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31.3.05
d) The Insolvency Service – First edition of newsletter
e) EMDA – News Magazine January 2006
Proposed by Cllr Ms Pauley, seconded Cllr Mrs J Smith and unanimously agreed
RECOMMENDATION: For items (a) through to (e) to be received en bloc
B Correspondence for consideration and recommendation
1. SKDC Head of Waste Contract Services - Community Cleaner – The District Council has successfully introduced a scheme whereby Town/Parish Councils employ a community cleaner. To date twenty PCs have taken the opportunity to appoint a community cleaner. It is anticipated for a grant of £2,112 payable to Bourne Town Council to enable the council to employ a local person who would be responsible for carrying out litter picking/cleaning duties within the town. The TC would be able to top up funding locally if they wished. Local control brings about a speedy response time and enhances the service level for the amount of money invested. The community cleaner would be to supplement and not replace the cleaning service provided by SKDC. This initiative would provide a local service giving ownership and pride to the local community and the District Council is keen to work in partnership to bring this about. Please let me know if your council wishes to participate in the scheme.
Proposed Cllr Ms Pauley, seconded Cllr Mrs Woolley and agreed by majority vote
(Cllrs B Fines, D Fisher, Mrs L Neal and J Kirkman abstained)
RECOMMENDATION: As grant is being offered for this proposal to be adopted.
2. Lincs Town Links Group –Invitation to a meeting at Sleaford Town Council Chamber on Tuesday 4 April 06 at 7.30pm - The group has ceased to be active but the executive is aware that current and future developments make it vital that towns establish themselves as a strong and united voice for their communities. The attached copy speech shows that government intends rural towns to become a pivotal hub in a similar way to their aspiration for cities – almost shades of RDCs. We need to be proactive and react to changes and developments, by offering one strong united voice where possible. It is now clear that government will be directing major funding decisions down to the regions. The above meeting has been called to pursue the aims and objectives of towns in the county, maximise opportunities and restore them to what we believe is their rightful place, and where we are clear, government wishes them to be. This is an early calling notice and it is hoped that your council will be able to be represented. Please forward a list of delegates/numbers at the earliest opportunity.
Members felt it to be important to participate as early as possible, especially in light of
proposed reorganisations.
Proposed Cllr Kirkman, seconded Cllr Ms Pauley and unanimously agreed
RECOMMENDATION: Due to the above meeting falling on the same night as the Highways & Planning Meeting, for the dual-hatted Councillors
B Fines and J Smith to represent the council at the above meeting.
3. LCC Children’s Services– Lincolnshire Capital Grant Aid 2006/07 (copies of have been sent to Dyke & Twenty Village Halls, Bourne United Charities and Dimension Park
Proposed Cllr Holmes, seconded Cllr Cudmore and unanimously agreed
RECOMMENDATION: To receive the above
4) Bourne Chamber of Trade reference earlier request for grant funding towards cost of ice rink. A balance sheet about the expenditure of the ice rink has been received (copies circulated to all members)
Proposed Cllr J Smith, seconded Cllr Mrs Cliffe and agreed by majority (Cllr Mrs Clark abstained)
RECOMMENDATION: To make a grant of £500, under Section 137 of LGA 1972.
5) Bourne Chamber of Trade
(a) copy of thank you letter sent to Bourne Local
(b) Chamber of Trade is trying to generate some new activities to get involved with.
Suggestions as follows: A bike ride around town (treasure hunt)
A food and drink week (if restaurants/pubs were willing to take part, this could be a success) Arts & Craft week (involving the schools and town)
Photo competition of Bourne & area /winners being published in calendar.
Any suggestions or offer of help gratefully accepted. (response to Gordon’s photographic)
Proposed Cllr Ms Pauley, seconded Cllr Holmes and agreed by majority vote (Cllr Mrs Clark
abstained)
RECOMMENDATION: To receive item (a) and to request details of what the Chamber of
Trade will be doing regarding item (b), once they have made a decision. After receipt of this members may be able to offer some support.
6) Bourne Abbey Church – Music Festival 2006 - Regarding previous request for grant funding. Confirmation of how a grant from BTC would be spent.
A considerable amount of money is needed for the purchase of music. Sheet music is expensive and being under copyright, cannot be photocopies. If BTC were to make a grant then all music bought for the festival would subsequently be kept and made available, free of charge, for loan to schools and choirs locally. In this way, the Town Council would support the Music Festival and there would also be a longer-term benefit to other organisations in the Parish of Bourne.
Proposed Cllr Kirkman, seconded Cllr Mrs Cliffe and unanimously agreed
RECOMMENDATION: As it is clear that the grant will be used specifically for the Music
Festival and will have long term benefit for many organisations, to
make a grant of £500, under Section 137 of LGA 1972.
7) Bourne TCMP - Minutes of meeting held on 18 January 2006
A couple of items were queried which the Council’s representative would look into. One of
them being the reference to Meadowgate and the other whether a planning application would
be presented to the council about the Market Place improvements.
Proposed Cllr Holmes, seconded Cllr Fisher and unanimously agreed
RECOMMENDATION: For the above to be received
8) Bourne Local Area Assembly Minutes of meeting held on 11 January 2006
Proposed Cllr Mrs Neal, seconded Cllr Ms Pauley and unanimously agreed
RECOMMENDATION: To receive the above minutes
Cllr A Prentice left the meeting
582F TOWN COUNCIL ACCOMMODATION
The Chairman and the Clerk referred to the report that was read out at the meeting of the Full Council on 31 January. A letter from SKDC regarding the future use of the Town Hall was read out. This indicated that Bourne Town Council would have to wait until the summer of 2006 before the District Council was able to make any decisions. The letter from HBS (on behalf of LCC) indicated that there were no objections in principle to an extension to the rear of the Town Hall, although permission would also have to be sought from SKDC. This option, however, was considered to jeopardise the weekly market. As members would prefer and hoped to be able to accommodate the downstairs at the Town Hall in the near future, it was felt that any decisions should be deferred until the summer, but that the District Council should be reminded that BTC would eagerly await a decision.
In view of the tight office space for Bourne Town Council use and the restricted availability of the space occupied by the Magistrates Court Services, members felt that the council should request the use of the office adjacent to the Clerk’s office.
Proposed Cllr Kirkman, seconded Cllr Ms Pauley and unanimously agreed
RECOMMENDATION: For SKDC to be reminded that a response is eagerly awaited regarding the future use of the Town Hall and the possibility of downstairs accommodation and for Clerk to request and negotiate with the District Council an amendment to the current lease, for temporary occupation of the office adjacent to the council’s office.
Cllr A Prentice returned to the meeting
583F BUDGET & PRECEPT FIGURES FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2006-07
The only item raised for further discussion was the budget of £1500 for IT equipment. The Clerk reported that she had no figures from SKDC to report back. She reported on rough quotations from a local IT equipment provider. After lengthy discussion members were in favour that the budget figure of £1500 should remain in place and that further quotations should be sought for IT equipment. The purchase of IT equipment would require the re-negotiation of the lease on a short-term basis. It was generally felt that money could be moved between budget headings at a later date to best suit the council’s activities/services.
Proposed Cllr Smith, seconded Cllr Ms Pauley and agreed by majority vote (10 in favour, 3 against,1 abstention)
RECOMMENDATION: a) For the budget/precept figures to be adopted, as presented at the meetings of the Finance Committee on 17 January and the Full Council on 31 January 2006.
b) For Clerk to re-negotiate the lease on a short term basis with regards to the removal of IT equipment and increased office space.
584F TO DISCUSS INFORMATION FROM THE CHAIRMAN
The Clerk reported that Planning Application S05/1694/12 re Demolition of existing buildings & construction of leisure units, industrial unit and ancillary works at Cherry Holt Road, will be reported to the Development Control Committee on 7 March 2006. Members and the public were invited to attend and speak.
Cllr Smith reported that Parish Councils could have a representative attend any Development Control meeting and speak about applications, provided that Development Control Services are advised of this at least 24 hours prior to the start of the meeting.
There being no items for discussion, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.50pm
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