|
Minutes of a meeting of the GENERAL PURPOSE/FINANCE COMMITTEE, Arlesey Town Council held in the Village Hall, Arlesey on Tuesday 20 October 2009. PRESENT: Cllrs: I Dalgarno (Chairman) H Harper D Beatham Mrs C Harris Mrs L Bowskill R Harris J Caffrey Also present: Mrs L Rowe (Assistant Clerk) Cllr Mrs D Archer Cllr M Rainbow Cllr V Williams 229 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Cllr N Daniels, Cllr C Howitt and Cllr D West 230 MEMBERS’ INTERESTS No declarations of personal or prejudicial interests were received. 231 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION There was no public participation 232 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING Prior to the meeting Members received a copy of the minutes of the General Purpose/Finance Committee meeting held on 15 September 2009. RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 15 September 2009 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a true record 233 MATTERS ARISING There were no matters arising from the previous meeting 234 GROUND STAFF (a) Report from Cllr Dalgarno The Chairman reported that one suggestion that was put forward at the last working party meeting was that the present contractor could carry out the duties at the cemetery and then a part-time employee could be employed to carry out the other duties in the town. He said the Clerk had produced a report providing him with figures that kept within the budget to keep the present contractor at the cemetery and employ a part-time employee, which he would take to the next working party meeting. AGREED to note this information (b) Arrange next meeting date for the working party The Chairman said he would consult the Clerk to arrange a date for the next meeting of the working party. AGREED to note this information235 CORRESPONDENCE (a) Letter regarding street lighting repairs and renewals The Chairman read a letter from an electrical installer offering to quote for maintaining the parish lights in Arlesey. Members thought that he should be asked to quote when the present contract is due for renewal. AGREED to obtain a quote from the contractor for maintaining the parish lights when the present contract is due to be renewed. (b) Correspondence regarding BRCC funding advice for voluntary groups The Chairman read an email from BRCC about funding advice and informed the Members that the first event was on 25 November at Old Warden Village Hall. AGREED to note this information 236 GLEBE MEADOWS AND ACORN GROUPS The Chairman said that Glebe Meadows and ACORN had written to the Town Council requesting that they provide funding in their budgets for 2010/2011 for the groups. Glebe Meadows are requesting a maximum of £691.42 towards management costs. ACORN are requesting £400 for a contribution to the running costs, maintenance and renewal of equipment used to maintain the footpath network around Arlesey. Members agreed that budgetary provision should be provided for both groups as requested by them. RESOLVED to recommend to the Town Council that budgetary provision in 2010/2011 should be made of £691.42 for Glebe Meadows and £400 for ACORN. 237 TOWN COUNCIL CONTRACTOR The Chairman informed Members that the Town Council contractor was due an inflationary award from 1 November 2009. He had received a copy of the latest CPI and RPI inflation figures as guidance. Members agreed that they should recommend to the Town Council that the contractor should receive an increase in line with the CPI inflation figure of 1.1%. RESOLVEDto recommend to the Town Council that the contractor receives an inflationary increase of 1.1% 238 2009/2010 NATIONAL PAY AWARDS The Chairman reported that the National Joint Council (NJC) for Local Government Services has reached agreement on the pay scales for 2009/2010. Consequently the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and Society of Local Council Clerks jointly recommend that the salary scales of all full and part-time clerks be adjusted accordingly with the new spinal column points. The Chairman read the recommended pay increases of 1.25% for SCPs 4 to 10 inclusive and 1.00% for SCPs 11 to 49 inclusive. Members agreed to recommend to the Town Council that these pay increases be accepted. RESOLVEDto recommend to the Town Council that the pay increases of 1.25% for SCPs 4 to 10 inclusive and 1.00% for SCPs 11 to 49 inclusive be accepted. 239 GENERAL PURPOSE & FINANCE BUDGETS FOR 2010/2011 The Chairman proposed that the first draft of the General Purpose & Finance Committee’s proposed budgets for 2010/2011 should be discussed at the committees’ chairmen meeting with the Clerk to be presented at the next committee meeting in November 2009 to put forward for approval at the Town Council meeting on 1 December 2009 AGREED the Chairman will meet with the Clerk to discuss the proposed General Purpose & Finance Committee’s budgets for 2010/2011. 240 BEDFORDSHIRE PENSION FUND – AVC REVIEW The Chairman read the email from the Pensions Committee following the review by the Actuary to Bedfordshire Pension Fund and the recommendations made to switch to Prudential. AGREED to note this information 241 ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT The following accounts due for payment were presented to Members for approval Handyman September 2009 190.57 Staff salaries month 7 3,557.95 PAYE/NIC month 7 1,101.68 Superannuation month 7 944.58 Mello R C Manager September 2009 870.73 4thenet Internet 19.56 Abacus Photocopier 34.79 BT Telephone TC 168.34 BT Fax TC 51.61 Abacus Printer cartridges TC 51.72 Beds CC DDA entrance proportioned charge 2,500.00 Abacus Computer maintenance RC 1,052.25 Harrisons Electrical Electrical repair to CCTV 1,146.29 Metrosigns Outside notice boards 1,799.75 BT Telephone RC 74.30 CCA Occasions Christmas cards 91.42 Langford Nursery Bulbs – Town Plan 96.60 Olive Press Headed receipt books 92.00 M Rainbow Cuts 12 & 13 verges 768.00 Abacus Toner units RC 126.50 Abacus Anti virus software RC 172.50 H Harper Chairman’s expenses 204.00 H Harper Flowers for War Memorial 35.88 Royal British Legion Wreath for Remembrance Service 50.00 Saward & Sons Skip for clearing Pocket Park Town Plan 201.25 Harrisons Security Re-wire cabling to CCTV 787.18 DEPOSITS REPAID The following payments are for return of deposits for the hire of the village hall Wendy Barnes Returned deposit -Hire of Village Hall 30.00 Petty Cash Town Council 70.73 Karen Starling Returned deposit -Hire of Village Hall 30.00 Audrey Foster Returned deposit -Hire of Village Hall 30.00 Clare Schumann Returned deposit -Hire of Village Hall 30.00 RESOLVED that these accounts be paid CHAIRMAN |
|