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FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
06-Apr-2005

The Minutes of the FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE Meeting held at 7.30 pm., on Wednesday, 6th April 2005 in the Council Chamber, Church Lane, Southwater.

Present: Chairman: Mr.L.A.Apted

Mr.P.E.Buckley Mrs P.Flores-Moore,

Mr.J.Forrest Mrs.J.Oswald

Mr.J.D.Senneck

Councillors

County: Not present

District: Not present

Clerk: Mrs.J.Nagy

Press: Not present

Public: None

FG01/04/05

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

There were apologies for absence received from Mr Blanchflower, Mr Bull, Mr.Clarke, Mr Dye and Mr Nagy.

FG02/04/05

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

FG03/04/05

MINUTES

It was proposed by Mr Senneck and seconded by Mr Forrest and agreed by all present that the Minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Committee Meeting held on Wednesday, 9th March 2005 be accepted as a true and proper record.

FG04/04/05

CHAIRMANS ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Chairman has no announcements.

FG05/05/05

CORRESPONDENCE

Items to be tabled:-

· Wellspring Newsletter, Wellspring being an organisation offering support to children and young people with disabilities and their parents and carers.

(a) Horsham Green Gym Programme March to April 2005

BTCV has issued the latest programme for community conservation work in the area, with a meeting in Rascals Close, Southwater for stream maintenance on 26th April 2005.

(b) HAVCS Trustee Pathway CD

The Horsham Area Council for Voluntary Service has been informed of a Trustee Pathway CD, which will assist those acting as trustees for a charity to better understand their roles. This CD is available free of charge.

Members asked the Deputy Clerk to get a copy.

© Bus Shelter Grant Schemes

West Sussex County Council has written in relation to the possibility of applying for a grant for 50% of the cost of a new non-advertising shelter. This scheme was launched last year with great success.

Members asked the Deputy Clerk to get an information pack.

 

FG06/04/05

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACCOUNTS & FINANCIAL MATTERS

The Deputy Clerk referred Members to the financial analysis produced for the meeting giving a full breakdown of the current financial situation. She indicated that she would have to move some money across into from the 14-day account into the current account to cover expenditure before the precept payment is received.

It was proposed by Mr Buckley and seconded by Mr Senneck that the Deputy Clerk should move enough money to the current account to cover the next payment which will be the salary run.

Ring-Fenced Monies

Mr Clarke asked at the last meeting to review the monies held in ring-fenced accounts at the beginning of the new financial year. The Deputy Clerk presented Members with the current figures.

Mr Clarke has asked that the café ring-fenced funds be retained in order to refurbish the new youth club when it opens.

It was proposed to move the following amounts to general funds:

Millennium Wood £151.59, to be reduced to zero.

Fighting Fund £13566.50, to be reduced to zero.

Tennis Courts £3187.42, to be reduced to zero.

It was proposed by Mr Buckley and seconded by Mr Forrest to propose to Full Council that the amounts as indicated above should be all moved to general funds.

New Notice Board

The wooden notice board in Blakes Farm Rd was recently destroyed by vandals, and the Deputy Clerk would like permission to replace this with a double-fronted sealed unit, similar to the ones at the Southwater St bus stop and Easteds Barn.

The cost of this board will be £795, inclusive of posts, carriage and VAT, although some of this amount will be reclaimed under the insurance claim.

It was proposed by Mrs Oswald and seconded by Mrs Flores-Moore to purchase a new double-fronted notice board at a total cost of £795.

Mr Senneck asked the Deputy Clerk to enquire if it was possible to purchase replacement Perspex for boards.

Grant Applications

Southwater Welcome Club

Southwater Welcome Club has submitted an application for the sum of £650 to put towards the running costs of the Club. The Club have a membership of 35, with an average attendance of 29 each meeting. The aim of the club is to provide a variety of subject matter at each meeting, and to give the over-sixties a place to meet on a regular basis.

Mr Buckley said that the Parish Council had reduced the amount available in the grant budget for 2005/2006, and that it might not be possible to match grants given in previous years.

After some discussion, it was agreed to give the Welcome Club a grant of £500.

It was proposed by Mr Buckley and seconded by Mrs Oswald that the Welcome Club should receive a grant of £500 from the Parish Council.

Adult Education

The annual Art Exhibition is due to take place in Easteds Barn from Wednesday, 6th July to Saturday 9th July. In previous years the Parish Council have allowed the Adult Education department have one day?s free hire of the Barn for the Exhibition, which would equate to £72 at this year?s rates.

Due to financial constraints, the Adult Education department are unable to bear the costs of the hall hire, as the exhibition is an event from which they receive no income. They have therefore written to ask if the entire costs of hiring the Barn this year could be waived, which would equate to a sum of £290.00.

It was proposed by Mr Senneck and seconded by Mrs Oswald that the Adult Education Department should be given free hall hire equating to £290 from the Parish Council in order to hold the Art Exhibition at Easteds Barn over a period of four days, there being no other bookings for that period of time.

FG07/04/05

NEW BUDGET YEAR 2005/6

The Deputy Clerk reminded Councillors that the new budget was now in force.

FG08/04/05

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

STANDING ORDERS

At this point the Chairman suspended standing orders to allow members of public to speak; this was proposed by Mr Senneck seconded by Mr Buckley and agreed by all present.

As there were no comments that those present wished to make, Standing Orders were reinstated.

FG09/04/05

COUNCIL PREMISES & LAND

Leisure Centre

Mr Senneck reported that the height indications had now been painted on the main barrier; previously the lettering had been stuck on.

Easteds Barn

The repair of the window is due to take place tomorrow.

Allotments

An order has been placed for the repair to the shed.

FG10/04/05

POLICE & SWAT

Reports are still coming in about anti-social behaviour occurring in The Forge during the evenings. Youths are seen climbing over the fences into the building site and throwing stones etc. The police have been in attendance, but the Deputy Clerk has not been able to ascertain if there have been any arrests.

South-Region Clerks Conference

The Deputy Clerk gave a presentation today to the Clerks? Conference, together with Neil and Justine the two Police Community Support Officers on the topic of Community Partnerships which was very well received.

A representative from DEFRA was also at the conference giving a presentation of the new Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act which is shortly due to receive Royal Assent. This will give Parish Councils extra powers in issuing fines for littering etc.

FG11/04/05

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

Nothing to report.

FG12/04/05

PERSONNEL

Nothing to report.

FG13/04/05

ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT

The Clerk presented to Members for authorisation the payment schedule dated 6th April 2005 amounting to £22,357.87 inclusive of VAT. The motion was proposed by Mr Buckley seconded by Mrs Flores-Moore and agreed by all present that the payment schedule dated 6th April 2005 be accepted and approved.

FG14/04/05

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The date of the next Finance & General Purposes Meeting will be Wednesday, 11th May 2005.

The meeting finished at 8.15 pm

 

Approved