Harwich Town Council

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Finance Minutes 11th December 2012

MINUTES of the Meeting of the FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
held at
The Guildhall, Church Street, Harwich
on Tuesday, 11 December 2012 at 7pm

Present:
Councillors, Gibbins, Day, I Henderson, McLeod, Thurlow and Todd

In the Chair:
Councillor Double

Clerk:
Mrs Michelle Townsend

Also present:
2 members of the public and Cllr Brown

Question Time
Mr Rutson enquired what the total under spend would be for the year. Cllr Double confirmed that these details would be discussed later in the meeting, however the figure will only be an approximation but the Council’s current under spend has accumulated over the last 4 years.

Mr Rutson then asked if the under spend will be carried over to which Cllr Double confirmed again that this will be discussed in detail later on in the meeting but that the under spend is likely to be earmarked to finance the disabled access to the Guildhall.

F26/12 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies received from Cllr Calver and Thompson

F27/12 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
None

F28/12 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Finance and General Purposes meeting held on 10th September 2012 (previously circulated) be approved by the Committee and signed by the Chairman as a true record.

F29/12 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
Council Website – Cllr Double confirmed that the new website was launched on 26th November and that it will continue to evolve as further improvements are implemented.
Guildhall Disabled Access – Cllr Double confirmed that financing this project would be discussed later in the meeting.

F30/12 DPL FIRE & SECURITY
Members considered recommendations made by DPL following their last quarterly inspection.
RESOLVED: Clerk to obtain recommendations and quotations from other sources for comparison.

F31/12 PUTTING GREENS
Following the Clerks update with details of income generated and the cost incurred with running the facilities this year, members then reviewed the terms offered by NPS on behalf of TDC.
RESOLVED: Clerk to investigate an annual arrangement with TDC at a cost of £1000 per annum less.

F32/12 HILL SCHOOL SITE
Cllr Double confirmed that the recommendations made by the Hill School Sub Committee on 22nd October 2012, were agreed at Full Council on 21st November 2012. Members reviewed the invoice received from Rose Builders.
RESOLVED: Following clarification of certain disputed costs, Clerk to pay invoice in consultation with the Chair, and Vice Chair of F&GP Committee.
Cllr Double confirmed that the rent review for the Rock School is to be reviewed at the next Hill School Sub Committee.

F33/12 BUDGET/PRECEPT 2013/2014
Members considered the estimates for income and expenditure for the 2013/14 financial year including recommendations to earmark funds from under spends for the Flood Siren and disabled access to the Guildhall.
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND: that the council precept on Tendring District Council for £153,769 (figure after LCTSS grant has been deducted) based on a summary of the detailed figures in Appendix A, having an impact of £31.81 per annum for a Band D council tax payer based on a tax base of 4834 and representing a 75p per annum reduction on 2012/13.

F34/12 HARWICH ROYAL BRITISH LEGION BRASS BAND SATURDAY MORNING MUSIC CLUB
As supporting documentations has not been submitted, this request would be deferred.

F35/12 MATTERS RECEIVED IN THE POST OR ITEMS RAISED BY MEMBERS

  • Clerk updated members on the emergency work carried out following a water leak in the Guildhall.
  • Flood Memorial Garden – Members reviewed correspondence received from Harwich Community Primary School which detailed the current status of grant funds spent so far.
  • Members noted the thank you letter and updated received from Harwich Shanty Festival 2012.

F36/12 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee will be held on 12th March 2013, at The Guildhall, Church Street, Harwich at 7.00pm.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 7.45pm.