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ALDENHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of the FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE held at 8pm on 18 January 2006 The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett.

Present:
Councillor Howley (Chairman for the meeting)
Councillor Mrs Charrett
Councillor Mrs Griffin
Councillor Mrs Wackrow
Councillor Worthy

Officer:
Ms. Carrie Lloyd (Clerk)

1. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

Councillor Howley was elected Chairman for the meeting.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

3. URGENT LATE ITEM

The Chairman advised that he had agreed to consider an urgent late item;

1. Budget 2006/07 – minor amendments

The reason for urgency was;

1. To enable Council to consider the precept at the end of January.

4. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 14 DECEMBER 2005

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2005 were signed as a true and accurate record.

5. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 14 DECEMBER 2005

1. War Memorial, Watling Street – The Council’s appeal against the fixed penalty notice had been successful and the fine with interest had been returned.
2. Purchase of a Truck – The truck had been purchased and the Council’s logo ordered for the van doors at £32.90 inclusive
3. Cost of Servicing the gang mowers – The Head of Grounds Maintenance had subsequently negotiated a slightly cheaper quotation which would include servicing the bowls green mower too.

6. PROPERTY PORTFOLIO

1. Lease for the Youth and Community Centre – Members noted the letters from The Platt Foundation and Lambert Smith Hampton on behalf of the County Council.  It was considered that nothing further could progress on this matter until after the meeting with representatives from Lambert Smith Hampton which, it was hoped, would take place at the end of the month.
   
   The Clerk was in the process of listing all of the Council’s assets and the Radlett Centre’s assets in order to prepare a brief for insurance companies.  The Youth and Community Centre was separately insured for buildings and contents through the National Farmers Union and Members agreed that this should continue with public liability insurance being placed with the Council’s main insurers as at present.
   
   
2. Survey and mapping of King George V Playing Fields –The Clerk had contacted Hertsmere Borough Council’s IT Department to see if a layer had been created in the Geographical Information System of land owned by the Council and whether this was accurate enough to register the Council’s land.
   
   
3. Update on lease with Tabard Rugby Club – The Clerk had been advised by the Council’s solicitor that the lease had been signed.
   
   Members confirmed that they were not averse to the Rugby Club letting out the car park but they should ask the Council before doing so.
   
   
4. 28 Elm Walk –Mr Phillips had not yet reported back.  The Clerk would follow this up.

7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND BUDGET REPORT

Members noted the financial statements to December 2005.  There was an anomaly in the Transportation Budget which the Clerk undertook to follow up.

The grants from Lafarge and Lottery Heritage Initiative were due but were being held up by the creation of an information board by the Countryside Management Service.  The Clerk undertook to chase the CMS regarding this. (Action: Clerk)

8. TO CONSIDER THE INTERNAL AUDITOR’S INTERIM REPORT DATED 29 DECEMBER 2005

Members considered the report attached at Appendix A and RESOLVED;

R1– The Clerk should try to commence work on this by April 2006 bearing in mind current workload and priorities;

R2 – Appropriate amendments should be made to the budget heads to reflect s.145 payments;

R3 – The Auditor be advised that work was in hand to start using Excel spreadsheets from April 2006;

R4 – The Auditor be advised that all plots rented & paid for, Sage and the manual register now tally;

R5 – A minute from 12 June 2002 Finance and General Purposes Committee stated;

“Part Time Staff Overtime And Superannuation

Considered the Report of Officers recommending that to ensure equality between part time and full time staff, overtime payments up to 36 hours per week be subject to Superannuation for all part time staff.

RESOLVED that from 1st July 2002 staff overtime up to 36 hours per week be subject to Superannuation.”

This matter was not therefore relevant.

(Action: Clerk)

9. DRAFT BUDGET 2006/07

Members were advised that the Band D Tax Base had been raised to 4904.

In view of requirements for Quality Parish Status further pages may need to be added to Around Radlett so that the Council could promote its work and let residents know more about the work it was going to undertake.  The cost of this would be at least an additional £1,300 p.a. provided that the delivery costs were not increased.  Members RESOLVED that this be added to the budget with any further expenditure being met from reserves. (Action: Clerk)

10. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting was scheduled for 8pm on 8 February 2006.

Closure:  9pm