Finance and General Purposes - 28 January 2009

MINUTES of the MEETING of the FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE held on 28 January 2009 in the COMMITTEE ROOM, KNEBWORTH VILLAGE HALL
At 8.15 p.m.
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Present: Mr Anthony Titmarsh (Chairman), Mr John Bantick, Dr Graham Fothergill, Mr Barry Hall, and the Clerk

Apologies: Mr Haigh due to work commitments
Mr Gilmore due to a prior commitment
Ms Smith due to prior commitments


1. Declaration of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

2. Minutes

It was proposed by Mr Titmarsh, seconded by Mr Bantick and

RESOLVED “that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee Council, held on 12 November 2008, are approved and signed.”

Unanimously agreed.

3. Financial Review

Interest income is reducing significantly with rates now at 1%. Expenditure at £33,007 is 18% under budget A large part of the under spend relates to budgeted contingency and additional wages. Christmas lights revenue and capital costs are just within budget.

4. Report on Short Term Funds on Deposit

There are currently no funds on short term deposit because Barclays Treasury deposit requires a minimum of £100,000. Other accounts are to be investigated.

5. Report on Parish Damage

There has been some damage to the trim trail in the recreation grounds by youths riding scooters. Anti social behaviour by youths riding scooters is to be targeted by the police.
The lighting bollards on the footpath from Stevenage Road to New Close have also been damaged.

6. Footpath Lighting

Herts. Highways has raised sufficient funding to install three lights and resurface the path from Pondcroft Road to London Road. Work is to commence before the end of the financial year.





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7. Christmas Lights

Revenue and capital expenditure are within budget for the year. The tree lights on St Martins Green didn’t work this year. A quote from Lamps and Tubes to install and remove the lights in 2009 is £1,843 which is within budget but represents an 18% increase. A second quote is to be sought from Mr Wright.

There was some discussion regarding additions to the light for 2009. This is to be considered after the lights in the tree are repaired.

8. Road Signs

Mr Titmarsh has inspected the signs in the centre of the village and believes that a number could be removed. It was reported that the signpost at Nup End is loose and the sign moves in the wind. All comments are to be forwarded to Mr Jack of Herts. Highways.

9. Computer Facility

The computer broke down last year and was out of action for a month. The committee had discussed different forms of back up and a laptop was considered together with screen and projector, which will permit the planning committee to view planning applications more easily. The cost of a laptop is £400-500, screen £100-200 and projector £400. The clerk is to make a grant application to Southern Rural.

10. Parking Initiative

Dr Fothergill has prepared an overview of the results from the questionnaire which will be presented to the Parish Council meeting for ratification. A copy will be forwarded to NDHC. An information sheet is to be distributed with the Parish Leaflet.

11. Financial Risk Assessment

Mr Titmarsh and the clerk are to review the risk assessment and bring it to the next meeting.

12. Appointment of Internal Auditor

The clerk is still waiting for confirmation that Star Bookkeeping is able to undertake the work this year.

13. Meeting Dates

The chairman proposed that the date of the next meeting is added to the end of the minutes. He is also concerned about holding three meetings in one evening on 4 March and wished to raise the matter at the next Parish Council meeting.

14. Dog Bins

A letter from a resident requested that dog bins are installed at certain locations in the village. A dog bin costs £260 plus £1.30 per week for collection. The clerk is to contact Cllrs Gray and Bardett for a contribution of £249 each from their discretionary budgets.



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Proposed by Mr Bantick, seconded by Mr Titmarsh and

RESOLVED that “£400 be set aside from the contingency fund to install two dog bins on the Gun Road / Woolmer Green footpath.”

Agreed.

The committee is also to apply for a grant next year for two litter bins from the Parish Enhancement and Cleansing Fund.

15. Clean Up Campaign

Mrs Culley is unable to organise a clean up campaign. The committee agreed to organise a clean up on 7 March. The clerk is to purchase litter pickers and vests and posters are to be distributed around the village.

16. Milestone

The milestone society wished to publicise the improvements. Dr Fothergill and Mr Titmarsh are to examine the stone milestone on the northern boundary with a view to progressing its improvement.

17. Website Information

A procedure policy is to be drafted to ensure control of information uploaded to the website to ensure that no sensitive information is added.

18. Hertfordshire PCT Questionnaire

The response by the questionnaire is to be approved by the Parish Council.

19 HCC Lease

Revised heads of lease have been received and the committee recommended them for approval by the Parish Council

20. Any Other Business

20.1 Southern Rural Inter Parish Council Meeting
The proposed meeting has been postponed and a new date is to be set.

20.2 East Herts Inter Parish meeting
Mr Titmarsh is to attend the East Herts meeting on 16 March.

20.3 Village Of the Year
The committee did not wish to enter the village of the year competition

20.4 Pension Meeting
HCC is to hold its annual pension meeting on 16 March.

20.5 Activities in the car park
It was agreed that no functions or activities should be held in the village hall car park.


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20.6 Datchworth Speed Limit
Datchworth is to have a number of highway improvements to help reduce speeding.

20.7 Village Shop, Woolmer Green
The village shop has reopened in Woolmer Green. The clerk is to see if the Parish Council is supporting the venture.

20.8 Recycling Boxes
Mr Hall reported that on Monday evening a glass recycling box was removed from one end of Gun Lane and its contents smashed on the road near 44 Gun Lane. Residents swept the glass away in the early hours of the morning.





There being no other business the meeting closed at 10.17 pm.