Finance & General Purpose Committee Minutes 13th Novemberr 2008
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HALSTEAD TOWN COUNCIL |
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MINUTES OF FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSE COMMITTEE |
Membership:
| Councillor M Gage | Chairman | Present |
| Councillor G Howlett | Vice Chairman | Present |
| Councillor Mrs H Catley | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs S Diver | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs L Hilton | Present | |
| Councillor D Hume | Present | |
| Councillor Mrs J Pell | Present |
Also Present: M C Murkin, Town Clerk
Mrs. J. Smith, Minute Clerk
106. Apologies for Absence None.
107. 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.
C llr Mrs J Pell declared a personal interest in item 5, Priory Hall as Member of BDC Planning Committee.
Cllr Mrs.L.Hilton declared a personal interest in item 5, Priory Hall as lives nearby
Cllr Mrs. H. Catley declared a personal and prejudicial interest in item 5, Priory Hall as lives in close proximity.
108. Public Question Time
There were no members of the public present.
109. Minutes
The Minutes of the meeting held on 11th September 2008 were approved.
110. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Cllr Mrs. S. Diver took the chair for this item.
Application 08/02011/FUL. 27 Well Field.
Members expressed concern over lack of parking spaces allocated on this application.
Application 08/02005/FUL. 160 Colchester Road.
Members had concerns that adjacent properties may be overlooked by proposed dormer windows. Members had concerns that this proposal would make the property a dominant building on the skyline.
Application 08/01714/FUL. Priory Hall, Colchester Road.
Cllr. Mrs. H. Catley withdrew from this part of the meeting.
Cllr. Mrs. J. Pell did not express a view on this application.
Original planning application had been submitted on 18th September and members had expressed concerns over the size of the Care Home provision on the site, and also about there being just one entrance/exit onto Colchester Road.
Revised plan appears not to have addressed either of these issues.
4 letters of objection had been sent to BDC about this application and were available for members to read and can be viewed on BDC Planning website.
Members remain concerned about the size of the Care Home and traffic management on the site.
RESOLVED. That BDC be notified that a representative from HTC will attend the planning meeting on 25th November to read a statement regarding this large development on a large site within Halstead.
111. REFERRALS FROM AMENITIES COMMITTEE
Item regarding Senior Citizens outings 2009 will be put before Full Council
112. FINANCIAL MONITORING
Items were queried, and explanations given. Town Clerk was asked to append a list of notes to the monitoring sheet giving explanations for some apparent anomalies on expenditure for Allotments, Administration, Courtaulds, Public Toilets, Queen's Hall and Mill House. Some items to be updated now that Bank Statements have been received.
Cllr H. Catley asked if Internet Banking had been investigated, even if access was limited to viewing transactions only. Town Clerk said that this was in hand at present.
Chairman said that finance was now under control, and the system was working well. He asked for views on whether HTC could now offer a financial monitoring service to local Parish Councils. In this case an Assistant to the Town Clerk might have to be appointed. As a corollary he asked if BDC should be asked to take on our financial monitoring.
Members to give some consideration to these proposals for future discussion.
Chairman also asked that consideration be given to printing of cheques rather than hand writing as at present; Town Clerk to investigate. Signature and counter signature will still be required.
Town Clerk requested that wages/salaries could be split across headings to give clearer picture of expenditure. Members agreed that this would be in order, but asked that total salary figure, including Employer's N.I. should still be shown.
Notes to the Financial Report:
It was requested that parking at the Queen's Hall be reviewed.
It was questioned whether amounts stolen in raids on car park ticket machines could be claimed on insurance, but it was not thought feasible to make claims.
113. MONTHLY PERFORMANCE
The report was noted.
114. BUDGET WORKING GROUP
Minutes of 1st October 2008 and 5th November 2008 were reviewed.
a) Twinning Celebration; Chairman reported that many positive comments had been received regarding the Twinning Association social evening and also the HTC reception. The weekend was very successful and gave a good impression to French visitors.
b) Members were asked to view the surface at Chapel Street Car Park following report given by Richard Barham showing much of the area is sub-standard quality. Somerfield to be requested to carry out this work.
Town Clerk reported that a claim for damages following a fall in this car park had been received, and passed on to Somerfield.
c) Allotments. Report noted
d) Area at rear of Day Centre. Estimate for re-surfacing requested.
Minutes of Budget Working Group meetings were adopted, with a note that those attending meetings should be shown on future minutes.
e) Queen's Hall. Town Clerk has gone out to tender re. painting of Hall; colours to be Almond White and Vineyard Earth. Car Park surface is dangerous in some areas. Town Clerk investigating cost of re-surfacing. Hedge has been cut.
f) Churchyard Wall. Repair of accident damage in hand. It was requested that further refurbishment of this wall be investigated. Estimates to be requested.
g) Bus Shelters. Costs to be investigated of providing shelters of various types at stops in the Town.
RESOLVED that list of ‘bus stops be drawn up and investigations made on viability of providing shelters as each site, including liaison with ECC Highways Dept.
Also that possibility of obtaining grants for such provision be investigated.
115. DAMP IN REAR OFFICE
Report noted.
RESOLVED that specialist engineer be asked, at a cost of £200.00, to detail both the the cause and solution to this situation.
116. 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 9.22 pm