PEASEDOWN ST JOHN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a Finance Committee meeting held on Monday 4th July 2005 at 7.45 p.m. in the Cricket Clubhouse
Present: Cllr. Mrs. F M Butt (Chairman), Cllr. J W Goring (Vice-chairman)
Cllrs. M J Gregory and J P Rich.
Also present Cllr. C Rich and the Internal Auditor, Mr Peter Provest.
Apologies were received from Cllrs. Butt, Mrs Button, Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. Lee.
Public Session
There were no comments or questions at this time and Mr. Provest was invited to join the meeting.
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.
ODPM
Letter in forming all councils that the permitted spending under Section 137 is now £5.30 per elector. Noted.
The paper was tabled as the bank statements had only been received on the previous Friday. Several questions were asked and answered satisfactorily. It was agreed that the Clerk spends time altering the format for July to suit the new committee structure.
a). It was noted that the date of Audit is 15th August 2005 and that the public notice of that fact was posted in all three Notice Boards on 4th July thus giving the statutory period required for the public inspection of documents at the parish office.
b). Section 1 of the Annual Return prepared by the RFO is endorsed.
c). Section 4 of the Annual Return prepared by the Internal Auditor is endorsed.
d). All questions in Section 2 of the Annual Return can be answered in the affirmative and therefore recommend that it should be endorsed by Council and signed by the Chairman of Council and Clerk at the Council meeting to be held on 25th July 2005.
Chairman reminded members that the Council has put £1500 into this head and asked if they were now ready to consider the applications, which had been copied and previously circulated to members. The Grants allocation had been advertised in the June Newsletter and in "The Journal" and this Committee has delegated powers to award.
It was eventually agreed that grants should be allocated as below: -
Under LGA 1972 s 137 as amended by LG and Housing Act 1989, s 28.
Working in Support of the Handicapped . ..£150
Holcombe Majorettes for expenses towards attending European competition..£200
Under Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 s.19.
Peasedown St John Explorer Scout Unit for a tent, gas stove and rucksack... £150
1st Peasedown St John Guides and 2nd P St John Brownies for new scarves ...£164
Peasedown Opportunity Project for a publicity banner ...£100
The Chairman asked to introduce a special request from the Bath Road Methodist Church, who had unfortunately missed the deadline for applications. Members agreed to take the request. It seems that the Church requires new chairs for the refurbished worship area and villagers have been asked to donate towards them. It was estimated that they would cost £60 each.
Under LGA 1972 s 137 as amended by LG and Housing Act 1989, s 28.
It was agreed that a grant of £300 be given to the Bath Road Methodist Church for five chairs. It was also agreed that commemorative plaques be attached to the chairs.
The Clerk was asked to contact the leader of the Scout Group to ask him to put forward a more suitable grant application as members thought that it would be irresponsible to grant money towards air rifles.
The Clerk had previously circulated the up to date asset register, which included new equipment bought during 2004/5. It was agreed to keep the present insurance cover.
It was noted with satisfaction that the Clerk had successfully applied for a Small Business Rate Relief on the Cemetery of £321.83.
After a lengthy debate is was agreed that the Clerk should work towards obtaining advertising for the Newsletter.
A lengthy debate took place and many ideas put forward for better ways of doing things. Clerk was asked to spend time looking into the various schemes, especially at estimate time when programmes are being planned by spending committees.