Finance and General Purposes - 10 June

MINUTES of the MEETING of the FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE held on 10 June 2009 in the COMMITTEE ROOM, KNEBWORTH VILLAGE HALL
At 8.00 p.m.
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Present: Mr Anthony Titmarsh (Chairman), Mr John Bantick, Dr Graham Fothergill, Mr Ian Gilmore, Mr Barry Hall, Mr Robin Smith and the Clerk

Apologies: Mr Haigh due to work commitments

Absent: Mr Hunt


1. Declaration of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

2. Minutes

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

RESOLVED “that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee Council, held on 29 April 2009, are approved and signed.”

Unanimously agreed.

3. Financial Review

Half the precept had been received but no interest. Expenditure at £10,731 is 20% under budget, mainly due to no spending on contingency and additional wages costs.
The clerk reported that the Village Hall committee is considering replacing the cooker with a commercial unit for which there is no specific budget, grant funding is being sought but a virement might be necessary.

4. Report on Parish Damage

The Tennis Hut has been damaged.

5. Stationary

The sample letter headings were not available for consideration.

6. Road Signs

There was nothing to report on this item.

7. Milestone

Odyssey has cleared the area but has still to repair the fence. Until this is done this item cannot be progressed further.



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8. Village Website

Costings have been received to produce a combined website. The committee agreed that the priority is to find someone to update the current website.

9. Report on Funds on Deposit

Money is to be placed on a six month bond on 20 June at a rate of 1.2%. The deposit account is currently paying 0.1%.

10. Christmas Lights

It was agreed that no new decorations would be purchased this year.


11. Review of Regulations

The Council chairman is to allocate the review of documents to councillors at the next Parish Council meeting.

12. Review Internal Auditor’s Report

The committee considered the internal auditor’s report, which found the systems to be adequate. There was a recommendation to produce VAT returns using the Sage software, which is currently not correct. The clerk is to contact Sage.

13. Copier

Ricoh has started charging for replacement toners for the copier which were included in the copy contract. Mr Preece from HCC, is checking the terms of the contract.

14. Councillors Allowances

A revised questionnaire has been prepared and is to be circulated. The results are to be forwarded to Mr Parkin, NHDC, for consideration.

15. Notice board

The notice board has been repaired and a header ordered.

16. Partnership Funding

The Parish Council has had its first experience of Partnership Funding with HCC and NHDC, which has highlighted a number of issues. This is to be discussed at the Rural Summit in July, after which a document will be prepared for the Council to consider.

17. Lytton Fields Playspace

The committee agreed that it should pursue obtaining title for Lytton Fields play space. The clerk is to write to NHDC.



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18. Bin Inspections

NHDC has started bin inspections in the village to look at capacity and possible production of another recycling leaflet.

19. Any Other Business

19.1 Barclays Bank
Barclays has changed its procedures again and the clerk, although a signatory, cannot transfer money with council accounts via the telephone. The local business manager approved the transfer but did not process the request; as a result the Council’s bank account was overdrawn at the beginning of June. The Bank has admitted it is at fault and no charges will be incurred.

Telephone banking and internet banking is now available which only permits inter account transfers. The clerk is to obtain an application form.

19.2 Additional Land Options
NHDC consultation on additional land options is to be placed on deposit at the end of June. The Council will consider the best way to inform the parish once the document is issued.

19.3 Charles Arnold Baker
Dr Fothergill reported that Charles Arnold Baker, the founder of NALC, died this week.

19.4 Traffic Survey, London Road
Mr Hall informed the committee that a traffic survey was conducted on London Road, which has been on going for the past five years with information being reported to the Department of Transport.

19.5 HCC Elections
There was a 43% turnout for the County Council election in this area. Richard Thake was re-elected.


There being no other business the meeting closed at 09.55 pm.