Minutes of a meeting of the GENERAL PURPOSE/FINANCE COMMITTEE, Arlesey Town Council held in the Village Hall, Arlesey on Tuesday 15 April 2008.

            Cllrs:    I Dalgarno (Chairman)                                C Howitt                          

                        Mrs D Archer                                            Ms C Marshall           

                        D Beatham                                               D Page

                        J Caffrey                                                  Mrs S Sarll

                        H Harper                                                  D West

                        R Harris                                               

Also present:   Mrs E Hare (Clerk)                              

Apologies were received from Cllr N Daniels, Cllr Mrs H Frost, Cllr M Rainbow and Cllr V Williams.  

No declarations of personal or prejudicial interest were received.

None

There were no matters arising from the previous meeting.

(a) Glebe Meadows Management Group      

The Chairman read a letter out to the meeting from Glebe Meadows Management Group, which thanked the Town Council for the contribution of £228.35 towards their management costs

(b) B:DAT – Basic Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training  

The Chairman reported the Clerk had received an email from the B:DAT Support Officer with two dates for the Basic Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training being arranged for Members.  The training was being arranged at the Rufus Centre, Flitwick on Thursday 15 May or Wednesday 11 June 2008.

This was noted and councillors would contact the Clerk with preferable dates

(a) To consider decorating quotations

The Chairman reported that only two quotations had been received for the interior decorating of the Resource Centre.  He read out the details and specifications of each quotation, Excel Property Services Ltd £975.00 and Lee Hayes £710.00

(b) Notes of the Resource Centre meeting held on Thursday 28 February 2008

Prior to the meeting, Members received with their agenda a copy of the notes from the Resource Centre Strategy Group meeting on 28 February 2008. The Chairman asked Members if there were any questions from that meeting.  

The Chairman reported a further letter from Colin Poulter, Co-ordinator, had been received which contained additional information about the Link-a-Ride services provided for their members living in Arlesey.  This information was requested at the last meeting so that Members could be better informed before making a decision to give a grant. The Chairman said just over  5% of members using the service are Arlesey residents with a wide range of disabilities.

The Chairman reported Rebecca Wilson from the Fund Raising Office had sent a letter to the Town Council requesting support for the work of Macmillan Cancer Support

The Chairman reported a letter had been received from the Executive Director, Monica Harris,  requesting a donation from the Town Council

Prior to the meeting Members received a copy of the Internal Drainage Board’s 2007 Review.  

AGREED to note this information

90 CONFIDENT COMMUNITIES FUND

The Chairman reported that the letter from John Seamarks, Community Safety Manager stated the Town Council’s completed application for additional provision from both on and from outside the Confident Communities Fund menu options had been successful.  He said the successful funding options were:

·       Drug and alcohol awareness training for the community - £1120

·       Youth activities – Education and Arts £250

·       Youth activities – Sport £900

·       Youth activities – Dance and music - £600

·       After school clubs - £200

·       Review of after school clubs - £300

·       CCTV - £5500

·       Working with the police towards an Alcohol Free Zone - £1000

The Chairman said because of the number of recent applications to the Town Council for donations, a Financial Assistance form had been drawn up for approval.  Local organisations would now have to complete the Financial Assistance application form when applying for a donation.  Members were sent a copy of the form prior to the meeting. 

The following accounts due for payment were put forward to members for approval

            Handyman                     March 2008                                                   185.02

                                    Staff salaries month 12                                 3,231.18

                                    PAYE/NIC month 12                                    1,042.34

                                    Superannuation month 12                                864.97

Mello                            Resource Centre Manager March                     645.09

Beds CC                       Labels for Resource Centre                               12.80

4thenet                         Internet                                                            19.99

Gresswells                   Shelving equipment for RC                                724.39

SLCC                           Registration fee for CiLCA                                  70.00

Beds CC                       Membership forms RC                                        9.46

Abacus                         Upgrade computers                                         327.83

BT                                Telephone and fax RC                                       67.04

Brookers                       Materials for repairs to notice boards                  15.36

Herts. CC                      Stationery – Civic Service                                   8.81

BABUS                         Membership                                                    12.00

H Harper                        Chairman’s expenses 2007/2008                    129.20

AR Worboys                  Final 2007 cut Stotfold Road                            97.80

The Chairman said an email message from Andrea Hill, Chief Executive of Bedfordshire County Council said that she would be leaving the council to take up the role of Chief Executive at Suffolk County Council.  The interim Chief Executive will be Martin Reeves with effect from 21 April 2008.

AGREED to note this information

94 NEW STAFF MEMBER

The Chairman said he had spoken with the Clerk on an extra staffing issue.  The Clerk had mentioned that due to the pressure of work she had spoken to him about additional help in the office for 3 – 6 hours a week.  The Clerk had mentioned to him the person under consideration had previous experience with another council and she would like to take them on for a 3 month trial basis.

RESOLVED

to approve the additional help for 3 – 6 hours a week

                                                                                                CHAIRMAN