Finance and General Purposes - 10 September 2008

MINUTES of the MEETING of the FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE held on 10 September 2008 in the COMMITTEE ROOM, KNEBWORTH VILLAGE HALL
At 8.10 p.m.
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Present: Mr Anthony Titmarsh (Chairman), Mr John Bantick, Dr Graham Fothergill, Mr Ian Gilmore, Mr Richard Haigh, Mr Barry Hall, and the Clerk

Apologies: Ms Smith due to a prior engagement


1. Declaration of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

2. Minutes

It was proposed by Mr Bantick, seconded by Dr Fothergill and

RESOLVED “that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee Council, held on 18 June 2008, are approved and signed.”

Unanimously agreed.

3. Financial Review

The first half of the precept was received in April and the second on 8 September. Interest for the quarter although over budget has decreased due to reduced reserves. Expenditure at £10400 is 29% under budget due to no spending from the contingent fund or additional wage costs. The Festival account has now been closed with all funds transferred to the Festival Committee, which is now a registered charity.

The council income overall at £56118 exceeded budget for the quarter. Expenditure of £39320 was 3% under total budgeted expenditure. The council held £103,137 cash funds at the end of June with debtors and creditors balancing each other.

4. Report on Short Term Funds on Deposit

£80,000 is on deposit until 18 September at 3.5%. This will increase to £100,000 with the receipt of the second half of the precept.

5. Report on Parish Damage

The youth shelter has been vandalised with the radio being ripped out and graffiti painted and scratched onto the panels. There has been some damage at the pavilion on youth club nights with a door restraint being broken and a shutter coming out of its housing. The girls who caused the trouble have had their ASBO’s extended to cover North Herts.

6. Website

Mr Haigh has put some information on the website. There was discussion about content and this has to be clarified. It is proposed to have a search facility within the website.


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7. Footpath Lighting

There has been a request for lighting on the footpath from Pondcroft Road to Stevenage Road. Herts Highways has a quote for £8400 of which it will contribute 50%. NHDC has confirmed a grant of £3200 and has suggested that the Parish Council should contribute £1000. Footpath lighting is the responsibility of Herts County Council and not the Parish Council and there was a strong feeling that NHDC should not dictate how the Parish council spends its money. The clerk is to write to Cllr Bardett confirming that the Parish Council is unable to contribute to the cost.

8. Councillors’ Expenses and Allowances

Dr Fothergill and Mr Gilmore presented a paper for consideration on the pros and cons of councillors’ allowances and expenses. Information is to be sought from the Parish Remuneration Committee of the District Council and is to be discussed further at the Parish Council meeting. Any implementation of allowances would not be before April 2009.

9. Milestone

Herts Highways have provided a quote for the work of £590 and a cheque has been raised by the Parish Council to permit an order to be placed.

10. HCC Lease

Lambert Smith Hampton, HCC’s solicitors, has written with proposed heads of terms of a new lease. It proposes a 10 year lease with no parking, a rent of £150 per annum and a break clause with one year’s notice. The clerk has written requesting a 28 year lease and discussed at previous meetings, permission to park and the inclusion of the existing break clause which requires two years notice not be invoked for five years. A response has not yet been received.

11. Christmas Lights

Mr Titmarsh and Mr Hall have surveyed the brackets and power supplies. Rainbow Dry Cleaners has agreed to take the supply previously provided by Putterills. Mr Titmarsh is to seek approval from the practice manager at the surgery to install lights on the building.
Lamps and Tube has quoted £1565 to install lights. The clerk is to obtain a comparable quote from Mr Wright.

12. Books

Proposed by Mr Titmarsh seconded by Mr Hall and

RESOLVED that “the Parish Council purchase six copies of the Parish Councillor Guide at £14.50 each and one copy of the Councillor at £12.50 each to be used as reference books by the parish council and committee chairmen.”

Agreed.

Proposed by Mr Titmarsh, seconded by Mr Gilmore and

RESOLVED that”the Parish Council purchase Governance and Accountability for Local Councils at £20.00, Local Council Finance at £11.60 and Update to clerk’s manual at £17.00.

Agreed.

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13. Highway Repairs

Herts Highways has received a significant injection of funds. It is proposed to resurface the northern footpath of Station Road.

14. Parking

The Parking Initiative Group has met and a sub group plans to produce a questionnaire for distribution to the parish to help with forward thinking. Mr Hague Moss is to be asked to assist in the matter. The questionnaire is to be distributed either via the Parish News or the Parish Update. Henry Cobbold has agreed to put an electronic version on the net.

A professional survey may be sought but would cost approximately £30,000. The possible use of the field at Park Lane was mentioned and a request made to make Gipsy Lane one way southbound should it be taken forward.

15. Grant Applications

A grant application has been made to the Parish and enhancement Fund for £1300 for litter picking and two bins. The clerk is trying to obtain quotes to upgrade the gents’ toilets in the village hall but the builders are not forthcoming with the written quotes.

16. War Memorial

Dr Fothergill is to repaint the chain and posts. There is to be a joint Remembrance service with the family of churches. Mr Starkey has maintained the area well.

17 Computer

The clerk’s computer has broken down on several occasions this year and the council has spent £600 on repairs. There was a proposal to purchase a cheap second computer as a back up. The committee were informed that the hard drive needs to be used on a regular basis otherwise they tend to fail more readily. Mr Haigh suggested a Dell computer with a 24/7 warranty which ensures that there is a computer available on the next working day. Specifications and prices are to be obtained for the parish council meeting.

18. Any Other Business

18.1 Notice board
Dr Fothergill reported that he had received a complaint about the condition of the notice board on Station Road. He requested that the woodwork is painted, the baize and glazing replaced.

18.2 Parish Damage
The gateway at the north west side of Stevenage Road has not been repaired. The clerk is to contact Herts. highways.

18.3 Stockens Green/ Stockens Dell
Dr Fothergill reported that a contractor has used weed killer on the verge creating a 30 yard zig zag pattern. The clerk is to report the vandalism to NDHC.

18.4 Dog Bins
Mr Titmarsh requested that a dog bin be installed on the footpath from Gun Road Gardens to Cherry Close. The clerk is to contact NHDC.

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18.5 Supplementary Planning Obligations
The clerk is to write to NHDC for information on monies received under the supplementary planning obligations for Knebworth.

18.6 Lights, The Station
Mr Titmarsh complained about the new lights installed on the Station building are too bright. Other councillors did not consider them to be a problem.

18.7 Litter Bin, Railway Bridge
Mr Hall reported that the paving slab has been replaced under the litter bin next to the bridge.

18.8 Bin
Mr Titmarsh has received a request for a bin to be installed on the bridleway starting at the corner of Oakfield’s Avenue. The clerk is to pass on the request o NHDC.


There being no other business the meeting closed at 10.10 pm.