Finance & General Purpose Committee Minutes 13th September 2007
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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE |
Membership:
| Councillor D Hume | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor M Gage | Vice Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Mrs H Catley | Apologies | |
| Councillor Mrs L Hilton | Present | |
| Councillor G Howlett | Present | |
| Councillor H Messenger | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs J Pell | Present |
Also in attendance: Councillor Mrs B Gage
Councillor T Middleton
Mike Murkin, Town Clerk
Sue Goodwin, Minute Clerk
36. Apologies for Absence
An apology for absence was received from Councillor Mrs H Catley.
37. Declaration of Interests
To declare any ‘personal' or ‘personal and prejudicial' interests relating to items on the agenda having regard to paragraphs 7 to 11 inclusive of Part 2 of the Code of Conduct for Members and having taken appropriate advice (where necessary) before the meeting.
Councillor Mrs J Pell declared a personal interest in item 5 Planning Applications as a Braintree District Councillor and a personal interest in item 16 - person known to her.
Councillor Mrs B Gage Councillor Mrs J Pell declared a personal interest in item 5 Planning Applications as a Braintree District Councillor.
38. Public Question Time
There were no members of the public present.
39. Minutes
The Minutes of the meeting held on 12th July 2007 were approved.
40. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
07/01697/FUL - 7-9 Fourth Avenue, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2SQ - Erection of first floor extension to provide additional office space to each unit
Members had no comment.
07/01751/FUL - Land Adjacent Frosts Mill, Mill Chase, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2DQ - Erection of single storey dwelling and garage
Members consider this application to be out of character with the existing buildings within the conservation area.
07/01752LBC - Land Adjacent Frosts Mill, Mill Chase, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2DQ - Erection of single storey dwelling and garage
Members consider this application to be out of character with the existing buildings within the conservation area.
07/01772/FUL - Former Greenwood School, Mill Chase, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2DQ - Amendment to existing approved application 07/00680/REM - installation of additional roof lights and dormer windows.
Members had no comment
07/01812/FUL - Halstead Service Station, Trinity Street, Halstead, Essex, CO9 1JD - Installation of ATM machine into sales building
Members had no comment.
07/01814/ADV - Halstead Service Station, Trinity Street, Halstead, Essex, CO9 1JD - Display of internally illuminated slim line box sign to advertise on-site ATM machine
Members had no comment
0701676/ADV - 42 High Street, Halstead, Essex CO9 2AP - Display of illuminated signage on western side of building and lettering on the shop front window
This application conflicts with the existing policy on illuminated signs in the High Street.
07/01837/FUL - The Bull Hotel, Bridge Street, Halstead, Essex, CO9 1HU - Erection of 1 no. timber framed pitched roofed shelter with integral lighting and heating and 1 no. retaining wall.
Members had no comment
07/01838/LBC - The Bull Hotel, Bridge Street, Halstead, Essex, CO9 1HU - Erection of 1 no. timber framed pitched roofed shelter with integral lighting and heating and 1 no. retaining wall.
Members had no comment
41. REFERRALS FROM AMENITIES COMMITTEE
None.
42. FINANCIAL MONITORING
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TOWN CLERK |
Members received the comparison for income and expenditure for the months April - August 2007. The Chair, Councillor D Hume, alerted councillors to the fact that the system is now working at capacity, and although the overall picture is accurate, a detailed picture for each budget head is not clear. Discussion took place and it was agreed that prior to the November budget meeting, Braintree District Council should be approached for advice as to what is needed to update/upgrade the present system.
43. MONTHLY PERFORMANCE
The Chair, Councillor D Hume, reported that income for Queens Hall is continuing to rise, but the prospective tenant of a room in Mill House had withdrawn. Car park income is down on the same period last year. This can be attributed to the theft of the ticket machine in Chapel Street Car Park and possibly the roadworks in the town.
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TOWN CLERK |
Members noted that staff sick leave has increased on last year and it was agreed that a meeting of the Staff Review Group should be held to review the whole situation.
44. CAR PARK MONTHLY ANALYSIS
Members noted the report. Income is down due to the theft of the ticket machine in Chapel Street, but some money will be received from the insurance claim.
45. BUDGET WORKING GROUP
Members noted the report of the meetings of 27th July 2007 and 31st August 2007. It was agreed that the next meeting will be held on 21st September 2007.
46. FUNDING
Members noted the details of the expenses of projects to date. After discussion it was agreed that the £7562 wages should not be taken from this heading but should be vired to the main budget to use for future projects and also the income from excess charge tickets 2006/7 and 2007/8 should also be set aside for future projects.
Proposed by Councillor M Gage
Seconded by Councillor Mrs J Pell
RESOLVED:
(i) That the income from excess charge tickets for 2006/7 and 2007/8 should be set aside to use for further projects.
(ii) That the £7562 wages from this budget head should be vired to the main budget with the proviso that this decision is not being revisited within the last 6 months.
47. ALLOTMENT SURVEY
Members had received four quotations to carry out a full survey on all the allotment sites which includes defining boundaries and an area calculation with a plot map.
Anglia Land Surveys £5280+VAT
Redland 2000 Ltd £3960+VAT
Kemp Rust Consultants Ltd £3000+VAT
David Lindsell £2300+VAT
Proposed by Councillor Mrs J Pell
Seconded by Councillor M Gage
RESOLVED:
That the quotation of David Lindsell in the sum of £2300+VAT be accepted to carry out a full survey on all the allotment sites.
48. QUEENS HALL
A request has been received from Halstead & District Horticultural Society to receive a special daily rate for the hire of the Queens Hall. After discussion it was
Proposed by Councillor M Gage
Seconded by Councillor Mrs J Pell
RESOLVED:
That the Town Clerk looks at costs involved and negotiates a reasonable rate with the Horticultural Society for the hire of the Queens Hall for their flower and vegetable shows.
49. EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
The following resolution was proposed and seconded:
RESOLVED: That pursuant to the provisions of section 1(2) of the Admission to Meetings Act 1960, in view of the next items to be conducted, the press and public be excluded from the meeting.
The meeting closed at 8.04pm