Finance 3 March 2010

AMPTHILL TOWN COUNCIL

REPORT OF THE FINANCE, POLICY AND 

GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE MEETING

held in the Council Chamber at the Council Offices 66 Dunstable Street, Ampthill on

Wednesday 3rd March 2010 at 7.30 pm 

 

Report no 06/09

Present: Cllrs R Holden (Chairman), Mrs S Bacon, P Eversley, Mrs P Foster, G Pascal, M Smith, G Summerfield, R Tebbutt, Mrs M Wilson, Mrs M Wright and the Clerk.

  1. 1.      To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllrs R A D Chappell (unwell) and P Duckett (another commitment).

  1. 2.      Period of Public Participation.

There were no members of the public present.

  1. 3.      To receive and record declarations of interest, whether personal or prejudicial.

Cllr G Summerfield declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the item concerning the Angling Club lease as he is Vice President of the Club.

Cllr M Smith declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the item concerning the Cricket Club lease as his brother is Vice Chairman of the Club.

  1. 4.      To consider looking at "signposting", information distribution and awareness in the centre of Ampthill to improve visitor experience.         Cllr R Tebbutt

Cllr R Tebbutt provided Members with a briefing note as appended to these minutes.

Members discussed taking this matter forward and it was:

Recommended that:

i)                    A Park Task Force under Parks Open Spaces, and Burial Ground is to be formed to investigate Tourism consisting of Cllrs M Smith, Mrs M Wilson, Mrs M Wright, R Tebbutt and G Summerfield.

ii)                  Action is to be taken to speak to Karen Kendall Tourism Officer at Central Bedfordshire to ascertain what help she can provide.

  1. 5.      To seek clarification on the future availability of the two leaflets formerly published and distributed by MBDC.      Cllr R Tebbutt

Cllr R Tebbutt provided members with a briefing note as previously appended.

The two leaflets on Ampthill and Ampthill Park were produced by the former Mid Beds District Council.

      Recommended that:

i)                    The Clerk is to ascertain whether Central Bedfordshire Council will provide reprints of these leaflets.

ii)                  The Clerk is to ascertain whether the leaflets are available in a PDF file

  1. 6.      To consider improving distribution of all four Ampthill leaflets around the town and local area, and their availability on the ATC Ampthill info website. Cllr R Tebbutt

After discussion it was:

Recommended that:

i)          The matter of the distribution of leaflets is to placed to the Task Force to discus.

iii)                Cllr Tebbutt is given permission to talk to the Greensand Trust about a possible grant towards developing a tourist guide for Ampthill and surrounding villages and then report back to this Committee.

  1. 7.      To consider instructing a rent review on the Town Council leases for:
  • Football Club currently paying   £5,004
  • Cricket Club                              £   200
  • Bowls Club                               £   100 
  • Angling Club                             £   400

These are all on three yearly reviews and are due immediately.

A member asked for the history of where these figures had come from and was advised that three years ago a review was carried out by a professional company and the figures above had been set. The Council own the land but not the buildings at the Cricket and Bowls Club, both the building and the land is Council owned at the Football Club.

It was then:

Recommended that the Clerk obtains an estimate of the cost of review being carried out.

  1. 8.      To receive details of the Council Tax Base for 2010/2011 expressed as Band “D” equivalent is 2795.

The Clerk advised that on the Council’s precept of £498,150 this equates to £178.23 per annum, 48p per day.

Cllr G Summerfield advised that the Central Bedfordshire Council tax rise for the former Mid Beds area is £3.5%.

9.   To consider the draft Stress Management Policy for adoption.

Members wee provided with a copy of the draft policy as appended to these minutes.

With a few minor amendments it was:

      Recommended that the Stress Management Policy is adopted.

The Clerk offered to provide Councillors with all the staff policies so that as Employers they are fully informed.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.25pm.

       CHAIRMAN                                                                   DATED