Finance Mins Dec 7 2011

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 7^th December 2011 at 7.30pm.

Report no 03/11

Present: Cllrs Sally Bacon (Chairman), Mike Blair, Michael Cook, Penny Foster, Sue Hinkin, Roy Tebbutt, Stephen Whittaker and the Clerk.

Also present were Cllrs John Bingham, Margaret Wilson and Margaret Wright and Mr Richard Holden.

1. To receive apologies for absence.

None received.

2. Period of Public Participation.

There were no requests to speak.

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

There were no declarations made.

4. Clerk’s Report for noting.

Barclays Bank (see minute no 11)

It has been established that Barclays Bank do not offer tailored services to Town and Parish Councils other than to provide free banking. Central Government is working with the National Association of Local Councils to bring financial regulations up to date in order that electronic payments can be made with relevant controls. It may be prudent to wait until this guidance is issued before any decisions are taken to change bankers.

There is a nine month bond on offer from Barclays Bank starting on 9^th December and maturing on 7^th September paying 2%. The Town Council may be able to place some funds in this if the Committee so wishes.

The wish of the Committee is that a sum of £400,000 from the Parkside Hall fund be placed on a long term bond.

5. To receive a report on the latest situation from the 25 Parish & Town Councils in relation to the Covanta proposals (Cllr Margaret Wright)

Cllr Margaret Wright provided three reports as appended to these minutes.

The third one asked the Committee to agree the payment of £10 fee to each of the House of Lords and the House of Commons along with £150 towards legal fees relating to the wording of the petition.

As this matter is of an urgent nature the Committee is able to make a resolution:

It was then:

Resolved that the two £10 fees are paid with a further sum of £150 being allocated for legal advice.

6. To consider an extra ordinary resolution to allow the Clerk to take Executive Action to:

i) Authorise the deposit of a petition against the Rookery South Order 2011.

ii) Authorise Parish Councillors Ian Pickering (Chair of Aspley Guise Parish Council) and Sue Clark (Cranfield Parish Council) to act on our behalf.

It was:

Resolved that the Clerk takes the executive action on behalf of Ampthill Town Council to:

a. Authorise the deposit of a petition against the Rookery South Order 2011.

b. Authorise Parish Councillors Ian Pickering (Chair of Aspley Guise Parish Council) and Sue Clark (Cranfield Parish Council) to act on our behalf.

7. To consider the supply and erecting of a supernova LED 75W lantern for the lantern in the centre of the town in the sum of £653.80 + VAT.

Standing Orders were suspended at 7.40pm to allow Mr Richard Holden to give the Committee the history of the lantern on the top of the Town Pump.

For the past 227 years there has been this lantern in the middle of the Town, this was originally gas and converted to electricity some fifty plus yeas ago. The lantern belongs to the Ampthill Preservation Society. Planning permission would be needed to change it and permission will have to be sought from the owners before any work is carried out.

Standing Orders were resumed at 7.47pm

Members discussed this matter before it was:

Recommended that any renovation be considered when work is carried out to the Town Pump.

8. To receive a report on the three light columns in Meadow Way and Church Avenue from Cllr John Bingham, and consideration of the replacement of the two columns in Church Avenue for the sum of £1,398 per column which would have to be paid from the Working Contingency budget.

Cllr John Bingham provided a report as appended to these minutes which showed that only the light column in Church Avenue needs urgent attention as it has been condemned.

Cllr Mike Blair advised that Amey have offered Central Beds an alternative fix for light columns by placing a sleeve over the defective column for a much lower cost of approximately £800.

It was then:

Recommended that the column in Church Avenue is attended to whilst asking Amey for the best possible price and further advice on the ownership of the Meadow Way column as it sits on a private road and may just need a timer.

9. To receive a report from the Park Development Manager and consideration of the purchase of a bucket attachment for the Kubota tractor in the region of £6,050 to £6,580.

Members were provided with a report from the Park Development Manager as appended to these minutes.

A lengthy discussion took place with differing opinions being voiced over whether the bucket would be a valuable addition to the Council’s equipment.

A proposal was tabled and seconded: “To purchase a bucket attachment for the Kubota”

A vote was taken: 5 for and 3 against.

It was therefore:

Recommended that a bucket attachment be purchased for the Kubota tractor.

10. To consider the compilation of Councillors “Vision” for Ampthill Park report.

Members had been provided with the report as appended to these minutes. The Clerk thanked those Councillors who had taken the time to provide the information, it very much reflected the type of improvements that are being incorporated in the Parks for People funding bid.

Recommended that this report be noted.

11. Cllr Roy Tebbutt then passed the motion:

“That in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted relating to staffing and financial issues is advisable in the public interest that the public and press be temporarily excluded and that they are instructed to withdraw”.

12. To receive the report of the Finance Working Group meeting of 7^th November 2011

This minute is appended for members only.

13. To receive the report of the Finance Working Group meeting of 21^st November 2011

This minute is appended for members only.

14. To receive the draft estimates for 2012/2013.

Members had been provided with the first draft of the estimate sheets and reviewed these as follows:

· Capital Reserves – Street lighting to be reduced from £28,000 to £8,000 making the Capital Reserve figure £49,500.

· The work on the historic assets may not be as costly if further quotes are obtained

· Revenue budget:

i) All utility estimates are to be increased by 25% to take into consideration the large increases likely to be seen in the provision of electric and gas.
ii) Publicity – Newsletter/Guide reduce from 3,000 to £2,500
iii) Markets – Outside contractors reduce from 1,500 to £1,000
iv) Staff salaries will be set from the confidential items
v) Establishment & Office

– Supplies and equipment increase from £3,500 to £4,000.

– Audit & Election reduce from £3,200 to £1,000

– Professional fees to be increased from £3,000 to £4,200 to take on board the extra professional services from Ellis Whittam.

– CCTV reduce from £36,000 to £30,000

vi) A review of the CCTV is to be placed onto the Finance, Policy and General Purposes meeting on 1^st February 2012, the Clerk advised that £60,000 had been invested in this project and it may be beneficial for the residents to have a say on whether it is kept or not.

vi) A review of the agreement with the Greensand Trust is to be carried out and this matter is to be placed onto the Parks, Open Spaces and Burial Ground Committee agenda for 4^th January 2012.

vii) The Allotment Association has been advised of the 5% year on year increase and do not appear to have any problem with this.

viii) The working contingency will be considered once the whole report on the precept sum is prepared for the 21^st December 2011.

The effects of the amendments are reflected in the appended estimate sheets which show:

· overall revenue expenditure £530,337 an increase of £132 on 2011/2012 figures

· overall revenue income of £47,400 an increase of £16,176 on 2011/2012 figures

· overall revenue requirement of £482,937 a decrease of £16,044 on 2011/2012 figures

· overall Capital Reserves of £49,500.

· This makes an overall financial requirement for Ampthill Town Council of £532,437 to be fed into the calculations for the precept sum for 2012/2013.

The Clerk then left the meeting in order that the Councillors could discuss the following staff matters.