PEASEDOWN ST. JOHN PARISH COUNCIL

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Minutes of a meeting of the Finance Committee held on Monday 14th October 2002 at 8 p.m. in the Cricket Clubhouse.

Present: Cllr. Mrs. F M Butt (Chairman)

Cllrs. Mrs. M A Button, Mrs. E V Latchem, N W McInnes and Mr. Peter Provest, the Internal Auditor.

Apologies were received from Cllrs. J Rich ands Mrs. M Thomas.

Public Session

Mr. Provest noting that the new Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 were to be discussed later in the meeting, had printed them from the web and had read them fully. He could see no problems arising in his work for the Council as the Council had already all the recommended systems up and running. The Chairman thanked him for his wise forward planning.

  1. Minutes of a meeting of the Finance Committee held on 15th July 2002

    2. These minutes, which had been previously circulated were taken as read agreed a true record and signed by the Chairman. There were no matters arising.

  2. Accounts Summary, Cash Flow Statement and Bank reconciliation as at 30th September 2002

    3. These had been previously circulated and all questions were answered by the RFO to the satisfaction of members.

  3. To consider a grant application from Gemma Burgess

    4. This application had been passed down from full Council for consideration. A full debate was held and eventually after a vote, where three voted against with one abstention, it was agreed that the application did not fall into any of the categories usually accepted to warrant grant monies from this Council. Clerk to inform Gemma with regrets but to wish her well in her studies.

  4. Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003

    5. Chairman had also read the Regulations and could see no reason why this Council should comment on any part of the document, which had been brought out to regularise a lot of the changes brought about by the Lighter Touch legislation. Agreed to send a letter noting the document and to register no objections to its contents.

  5. Vandalism at the Recreation Field

    6. The Chairman of the Recreation Field Committee has asked this committee to note that the vandalism at the Rec. could not be covered by that committee’s funds. He asked for contingency monies to cover the cost. It was agreed that the money (£1225) had to be found, as insurance would not pay. Members agreed that the money should come from savings, which could be found now or later nearer the end of the year. Meanwhile it was agreed that the bill should be paid when presented.

  6. Wage settlements for this year and next year for Clerk and Caretakers

    7. RFO has now received the settlement details for Clerks from NALC and SLCC – the offer is in three parts, some now backdated to April, a little more from now to end March 2003 then a full year to March 2004. He would be preparing a more comprehensive report for the Personnel Committee but he felt that the Finance Committee should be advised now on the strength or otherwise of the personnel heads. The figures show that there is enough money in the Clerk’s fund (and the NIC fund) to pay the back pay and rise for this year leaving a surplus of £72.50. The RFO was congratulated on his extremely close estimate made a year ago. Agreed that the Personnel Committee is advised that funds would allow the settlement to be made in full this year.

    The estimate for the Caretakers’ wage requirement to the end of the financial year shows a saving of nearly £1300 so the bill mentioned in Item 5 could be recovered from this head.

    Armed with the figures in the settlement, the RFO was able to give an accurate figure for the Clerk’s salary for the year 2003/2004. He was unable yet to estimate an accurate figure for the Caretakers due to the fact that the National Minimum Wage for 1st October 2003 has yet to be reviewed by Government.

  7. Items for next Agenda

a). Chairman asked that the promised monies to co-fund the building of the Pavilion in the Recreation Field should be reviewed following such a long period since it had been promised and the extreme lack of progress on the project.

b). Cllr. McInnes asked that a limit should be placed on next year’s precept with Chairmen of spending committees being asked to keep within that limit. He felt that the limit should be £70,000 and he hoped the idea would focus all Chairmen into a more price conscious attitude on better thought out and managed projects. He would like the subject placed on the next agenda before committee’s started making their bids.

Meeting closed at 9 p.m.