| Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee 12th December 2007 |
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 12TH DECEMBER 2007 AT 7.00 P.M. AT THE TOWN HALL, GREAT WESTERN HOUSE, 9 DEVON SQUARE, NEWTON ABBOT PRESENT Councillor D Corney-Walker (Chairman) Presiding Councillor Mrs D. Watts (Vice-Chairman) Councillors Mrs C. Bunday H.L.J. Cole C. Davieson Mrs A. Fry Miss J. Fry Mrs G Gaskell M. Hocking D. Howe Mrs G. Leeper R. Leeper K. Lewis C. Parker K. Purchase A D Vizor In attendance: Inspector Mark Backhouse, Devon & Cornwall Constabulary Representatives of the Press: Laura Dale Mid Devon Advertiser Lindsey Still Herald Express 309. APOLOGIES Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors C Davieson, Mrs G Gaskell, Mrs S Maddicott and K Smith. 310. MINUTES The Minutes of the meeting of the Finance & General Purposes Committee held on 10th October 2007 were received and signed as correct record subject to the following:- Minute 236 - REVIEW OF POLLING DISTRICTS, POLLING PLACES AND POLLING STATIONS The reference to the ATC Centre being used as a polling station under the College Ward be deleted and included under the Bushell Ward. 311. INTERESTS Nil. 312. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Nil. 313. POLICE MATTERS The Chairman welcomed Inspector Mark Backhouse to the meeting. Inspector Backhouse explained that he was of the view that it would not be productive of the relationship between the Council and the Newton Abbot BCU if he were to attend its meetings to impart crime statistics in Newton Abbot. Such information was available on the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary website. He explained that he wished to progress community policing in Newton Abbot as a partnership between the Police and the Council. In that respect he wished to feedback to the Council the results his recent community engagement exercise. While Inspector Backhouse relayed the results of the exercise, Members were invited to write down their opinion of what the top three community safety issues raised by the public in each of the Town Council wards might have been. He then reported that of the 520 written responses received, 350 were from residents in the Town Councils area. The following had resulted:- (a) Bradley (including Broadlands) (i) Anti-social behaviour & youths (ii) Speeding (iii) Vandalism & graffiti (b) Bushell (i) Youths & anti-social behaviour (ii) Illegal parking & ignoring road signs (iii) Vandalism & graffiti (c) College (i) Anti-social behaviour (ii) Illegal parking (iii) Fear of crime (d) Buckland & Milber (i) Anti-social behaviour (13-15 yrs) (ii) Speeding (iii) Vandalism & graffiti Members were informed that Inspector Backhouse had reorganised his staffing structure to better relate their sectors with the Councils Wards and in that context explained which of his staff worked and managed which Wards. Inspector Backhouse concluded his presentation by explaining that from the information received he was drafting Neighbourhood Improvement Plans which he would share with the Council. He planned to deliver these plans over a period of 6 months after which he would be calling public meetings in each Ward. He invited the Councillors to be actively involved in delivery of the plans and to support him and his staff in delivering the improvement plans and the public meetings. In that respect his staff would be contacting Ward Councillors individually to discuss the way forward. Members explained that they would be prepared to work with his staff in Ward groups rather than necessitate individual meetings. Members were then invited to ask questions of Inspector Backhouse and comment upon his presentation. Members raised the following issues:- (a) Speeding possible introduction of an electronic 30 mph sign on the Ashburton Road; (b) Benefits of working with groups of youths on what their needs were rather than just moving-on; (c) Use of Speed Ace hand held speed cameras; (d) Enforcement of 20 mph zones; (e) Speeding on Jetty Marsh Road; (f) Speeding by motorcyclists; (g) Increased Police presence in the town centre during the two weeks leading up to Christmas. At the conclusion of the presentation the Chairman thanked Inspector Backhouse for his attendance and expressed the Councils full support for the work already carried out in the town and proposed initiatives, whereupon the Inspector left the meeting. 314. ACCOUNTS PAID SINCE THE LAST MEETING (a) Accounts paid since the last meeting The Committee noted the accounts together with the balance sheet for the months of October and November 2007:- INTERNAL AUDIT 31st October 2007 Opening Balance Business Call Account/Current Acc 181,015.60 ADD Misc. Income 3363.68 TOTAL INCOME 184,379.28 LESS: Expenditure 22,193.73 Start of new fixed term 100,000.00 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 122,193.73 BALANCE 31st October 2007 Business Call & Current Account: 62,185.55 Balances as at 31st October 2007 Current Account 100.00 Business Call Account 62,085.55 Treasury Account 100,000.00 Petty Cash Account 75.17 Total Reserves 162,260.72 Alliance & Leicester 170,000.00 (Reinvested to 03.12.07 interest accruing 4983.03) -------------------- Total: 332,260.72 INTERNAL AUDIT 30th November 2007 Opening Balance Business Call Account/Current Acc 62,185.55 ADD Misc. Income 1605.12 End of fixed term 100,000.00 TOTAL INCOME 163,790.67 LESS: Expenditure 33,500.61 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 33,500.61 BALANCE 30th November 2007 Business Call & Current Account: 130,290.06 Balances as at 30th November 2007 Current Account 100.00 Business Call Account 130,190.06 Treasury Account 0.00 Petty Cash Account 75.17 Total Reserves 130,365.23 Alliance & Leicester 170,000.00 (Reinvested to 03.12.07 interest accruing 4983.03) -------------------- Total: 300,365.23 Members noted that the expenditure for the Christmas illuminations had been incurred in November, whereas the income was expected in January. In that context reference was made to the generous donation received from the International Dance Supplies Company at the Brunel Estate. (b) Other financial matters IT Equipment and Infrastructure Review Further to minute 234(b)/10/07 consideration was given to a report by the Town Clerk (previously circulated) on a review and audit of the Councils IT equipment and infrastructure. Arising from consideration of the report it was RESOLVED (a) that approval be given for up to 18,500 to be utilised from the Bladon Foundation to fund Projects 1 and 2 as contained in the Town Clerks report; (b) that the Bladon Foundation be repaid the cost incurred in (a) above over a period of three years. 315. STRATEGIC WORKING PARTY The Committee received the reports of Strategic Working Party meetings held on 18th October and 27th November 2007 (previously circulated). The Clerk referred to minute 3 (f) of the meeting held on 18th October and requested approval to incur expenditure of 583 representing 50% of the cost of purchasing a multi-media projector, laptop computer and screen. The Chairman drew Members attention to the issues raised by the Working Party at its 27th November meeting numbered i. to viii. on page 2. Members discussed the provision of services at the Tourist Information Centre. RESOLVED that expenditure in the sum 583 representing 50% of the cost of purchasing a multi-media projector, laptop computer and screen be hereby approved. 316. REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS (a) Newton Abbot & District Community Plan - Councillor K C Lewis, Chairman of the Community Plan Steering Group, reported on discussions that had taken place at the Steering Group meeting held on 29th November 2007. It was noted that a draft Plan had been produced and was with the Steering Group for consideration with a view to a consultation exercise in January 2008. It was explained that funding form the MCTi for the Co-ordinator would end in March. To ensure the Plan was delivered the Council might wish to consider funding the position further with possible contributions from Teignbridge and Devon Councils. Councillor Lewis undertook to report back with indicative costs before the Council approved its precept. (b) Devon Association of Parish Councils - Councillor K C Lewis reported on his attendance at a recent meeting of the DAPC. 317. CORRESPONDENCE (a) Newton Abbot War Memorial Further to minute 238(a)/10/07 the Committee gave further consideration to a request to add a commemoration to the Second World War Memorial of a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve whose life was lost at the attack on St Nazaire on March 28th, 1942. The Chairman explained that he had undertaken on the Councils behalf to investigate the background on individual. However, his enquiries were not yet complete and therefore requested that the matter be deferred. The Committee also gave consideration to a report by the Town Clerk (previously circulated) requesting the adoption of a criteria for adding commemorations to the War Memorial. Arising from consideration of the report it was RESOLVED that the Councils criterion for including commemoration on the Newton Abbot War Memorial be as follows:- The named person has to:- (a) Have been serving at the time of death in the armed forces; (b) Have been killed in a recognised field of conflict or serving with the UN peace keeping forces; or (c) Have been killed in a peace keeping roll in a field of conflict up to six months after the conflict is over; And (d) They were born and brought up in the town or that they were living in the town for the majority of their life and have not been included on another memorial i.e. at the town of their birth. (e) Those killed whilst serving in the armed forces but not in a field of conflict cannot be added to a war memorial. (b) Street Naming and Numbering Land at Bradley Lane, Newton Abbot The Committee gave consideration to a request to apply the name Orchard Court to residential development of 30 units accessed from Bradley Lane. Arising from anecdotal information provided by Councillor D Howe it was RESOLVED that Teignbridge District Council be informed that Newton Abbot Town Council recommends that the development be named Orchard Court. 318. GRANTS SUB-COMMITTEE (a) The Committee gave consideration to the minutes of the Grants Sub-Committee meeting held on 31st October 2007 (previously circulated). The Clerk reported that subsequent to the Grants Sub-Committee meeting and upon the request of the Sub-Committee revised applications had been received from the Newton Abbot Autumn Club and Newton Abbot Pre-School. He explained that the applications now met the Councils criteria. RESOLVED that grants of 125 and 250 be awarded to Newton Abbot Autumn Club and Newton Abbot Pre-School respectively. (b) Consideration was given to a grant application from Positive Lifestyle (Devon) (previously circulated). Arising from consideration of the application it was:- RESOLVED that a grant of 250 be awarded to Positive Lifestyle (Devon) subject to it being successful in obtaining the match funding and the project going ahead. (c) The Committee gave consideration to a proposed new grants application form and guidance notes to applicants (previously circulated). RESOLVED that the proposed application form and guidance notes to applicants be hereby approved. 319. LATE CORRESPONDENCE Nil. 320. DATE OF NEXT MEETING Wednesday 16th January 2008 to formulate the precept recommendation. 321. EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the following item, on the grounds that the publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted. 322. STAFF REVIEW GROUP The Committee gave consideration to the confidential report of the Staff Review Group meeting held on 27th November 2007 (previously circulated). Arising from consideration of the report it was RESOLVED (a) that the plusage temporarily agreed to the post of Events Coordinator be made permanent and therefore be at SCP 19; (b) that the post of Mayors Secretary be re-graded to SCP 19 from 1st October 2007; (c) that the Job Descriptions of the posts in (b) and (c) above be reviewed and amended accordingly; (d) that it be ensured that all staff (including the Clerk) receive an annual Staff Appraisal interview with at least one review. -------------------------------- Chairman |
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