Newton Abbot Town Council

PRESENT: Councillors D Corney-Walker (Chairman) Presiding

                                           Mrs D Watts (Vice-Chairman)

 

Councillors

Mrs C Bunday

Mrs L M Cooke

Mrs A Fry

M Hocking

D Howe

Ms M Jenkins

K C Lewis

C N Parker

K L Purchase

Ms L Roberts

M E Ryan

K Shantry

Mrs M Voaden

N Wilson

 

Representative of the press: Mr John Balment – Mid Devon Advertiser

 

In attendance: Ms Samantha Scott – Financial Administrator

                           Mr Philip Rowe – Town Clerk

 

291. APOLOGIES

 

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Councillor Ms G Antao.

 

292. MINUTES

 

The minutes of the meeting of the Finance & Resources Committee held on 9th November 2011 were received and signed as a correct record.

 

293. INTERESTS

 

None declared.

 

294. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

 

None.

 

295. ACCOUNTS PAID SINCE THE LAST MEETING

 

A. The Committee noted the accounts paid since the last meeting – Income and Expenditure Statement for October and November 2010 (previously circulated):-

 

31st October 2011

 

Opening Balance Business Call Account/Current Acc                          £324,215.87

 

ADD

 

Misc. Income                                                                         £2,957.47

 

TOTAL INCOME                                                                £327,173.34

 

LESS:

 

Investment of NA Town Band Grant                                              £  1,000.00

Re-investment of end of 3  month fixed-term interest                £    332.42

 

Expenditure                                                                                       £ 42,188.52

 

TOTAL EXPENDITURE                                                                    £43,520.94

 

BALANCE 31st October 2011

Business Call & Current Account:                           £283,652.40

 

Balances as at 31st October 2011

 

Current Account                                 100.00

Business Call Account           283,552.40

Petty Cash Account                            200.00

Imprest Account                                500.00    

 

Total Cash in hand at bank   £ 284,352.40

 

Lloyds Bank:

£   41,332.42 (Fixed term for 3 months, maturing on 18th January 2012 – interest £125.02 – inc NA Town Band grant and interest from previous investment)

£   40,277.70 (Fixed term for 6 months, maturing on 16th January 2012 – interest £285.81)

£   40,000.00 (Fixed term for 12 months, maturing on 13th January 2012 – interest £840.00)

£   60,000.00 (Fixed term for 24 months, maturing on 13th January 2013 – interest 3,309.04)

                          --------------------         

Total:               £465,962.52

 

30th November 2011

 

Opening Balance Business Call Account/Current Acc                          £283,652.40

 

ADD

 

VAT Refund                                  £14,750.29

Misc. Income                             £13,619.91

 

TOTAL INCOME                                                                £312,022.60

 

LESS:

 

Payment to Newton Abbot Community Trust (GLS)         £35,000.00 

 

Expenditure £42,921.26

 

TOTAL EXPENDITURE                                                    £77,921.26

 

BALANCE 30th November 2011

Business Call & Current Account:                             £234,101.34

 

Balances as at 30th November 2011

 

Current Account                                                 100.00

Business Call Account                         243,001.34

Petty Cash Account                                           200.00

Imprest Account                                                 00.00    

 

Total Cash in hand at bank                £ 234,801.34

 

Lloyds Bank:

£   41,332.42 (Fixed term for 3 months, maturing on 18th January 2012 – interest £125.02 – inc NA Town Band grant and interest from previous investment)

£   40,277.70 (Fixed term for 6 months, maturing on 16th January 2012 – interest £285.81)

£   40,000.00 (Fixed term for 12 months, maturing on 13th January 2012 – interest £840.00)

£   60,000.00 (Fixed term for 24 months, maturing on 13th January 2013 – interest 3,309.04)

                          --------------------         

Total:               £416,411.46

 

B. Financial Budget Comparison – The Committee received and noted the Financial Budget Comparison for the period 01/04/11 and 30/09/11 (previously circulated). Arising from a question by a Member, the Clerk confirmed that he was confident the level of balances at the bank at 31st March 2012 would be in the region of that estimated in the budget. He explained that as December’s income and expenditure had that day been reconciled, the level of expenditure in the last quarter was likely to be less than in the first three quarters. The Committee requested that the reconciled income and expenditure statement for December 2011 be submitted to the Council at its meeting to be held on 25th January 2012.  

 

C. Other financial matters:-

 

i. Seale-Hayne Future Group - The Clerk reported a letter received from the Seale-Hayne Future Group referring to two grants of £5,000 made to the Group in 2003 and 2004 to assist it in mounting a legal challenge to the closure and sale of Seale-Hayne by the University of Plymouth. It explained that there was a balance of funds remaining which the Group offered to repay to the Council. However, the Group suggested that the Council might like to allow the funds to remain as the Group planned to establish a Seale-Hayne Educational Trust offering a Seale-Hayne Research Scholarship. As Members were of the view that the proposed use of the funds were not for the purpose of the original grant, it was

 

RESOLVED that the Seale Hayne Future Group be informed that Newton Abbot Town Council expects the balance of the two grants to be repaid, and invites the Group to make an application for a further grant towards its Seale-Hayne Research Scholarship once all the details are available.

 

ii. St Leonard’s Tower Flagpole – The Committee was informed that during the Christmas period one of the four stays supporting the St Leonard’s Tower flagpole had failed. Councillor Howe had made a temporary repair and was sourcing replacements for all four stays. The Clerk reported that he had taken advice as to the stability and condition of the existing wooden flagpole and was satisfied it was sound and was no threat to health or safety. In view of the need to replace the stays and the maintenance required to the flagpole itself, the Clerk had obtained an estimate of likely costs to replace the existing installation with stainless steel stays and a fibreglass/aluminium flagpole, thus reducing future maintenance requirements. Accordingly it was

 

RESOLVED that the Town Clerk investigate the cost of replacing the four stays with stainless steel and repairing and repainting the existing flagpole onsite for comparison with the cost total replacement and report back to the Council.   

 

296. STRATEGY WORKING PARTY

 

The Committee received and noted the report of the Strategy Working Party meeting held on 30th November 2011 (previously circulated).

 

297. 2012/2013 PRECEPT AND BUDGET

 

Consideration was given to a proposal from the Strategy Working Party meeting held on 30th November 2011 for a recommended Precept for the year 2012/13 to be submitted to the Council for approval at its meeting to be held on 25th January 2012. 

 

Additionally, the Committee gave consideration to a detailed draft budget for 2012/13 (previously circulated) giving details of the outturn for 2010/11; the 2011/12 budget and actual net spend; together with a proposed budget for 2012/13 in the sum of £536,457.50. It was noted that the proposed budget included a contingency in the sum of £10,000 and un-earmarked reserves of £105,291.50 which equated to 3 months of the baseline budget.

 

With the aid of slides, the Town Clerk made a presentation to Members of the Committee concerning the deliberations of the Working Party on issues relating to the budget and strategy for 2012/13.

 

The presentation addressed the following issues:-

 

Following the Clerk’s presentation the Chairman invited the Committee to ask questions or make comments on the proposals. 

 

The Committee debated in detail the effects on the budget and Precept of the proposed projects at The Town Quay and Victoria Gardens and the need to secure live monitoring of CCTV and the provision of town centre management through the post of Town Development Manager. The Clerk was able to report that the cost of the revised scheme for Victoria Gardens as recently reported to Members was £300,000 and the cost of providing a refreshment kiosk at The Quay was in the region of £40,000. Members noted the effect on the repayments of a Public Works Loan Board loan of £300,000 over 25, 30 and 40 years. The Committee expressed the view that the continued delivery of town centre management was a high priority for the town and therefore the Town Council should take the lead. The provision of live monitoring of CCTV however was considered to be a District Council priority due to its statutory duty for Community Safety. It was noted that although the County Council had withdrawn its funding contribution for town centre management, both County Councillors had committed contributions from their Community Funds. Arising from a question by a Member, the Committee was informed that the Town Council’s funding commitment to the Community Interest Company would cease in 2013/14 and therefore, any increase in the budget in 2012/13 to fund additional services would be for one year only.

 

Arising from a lengthy and detailed discussion on the Clerk’s presentation and the Strategy Working Party’s recommendations it was

 

RESOLVED that the Council at its meeting to be held on 25th January 2012 be RECOMMENDED to adopt a Precept of £ 488,637 for 2012/13 representing an increase of 3.71% or £2.07p p.a. on a Band D property in Newton Abbot, together with the following:-

 

(a) that the post of Town Development Manger be added to the Town Council’s establishment; 

 

(b) that £15,000 of reserves be utilised in 2012/13 to part fund the post of Town Development Manager;

 

(c) that it be agreed in principle that the Town Council would commit to providing the kiosk at The Town Quay, the method of funding to be decided;

 

(d) that the above recommended budget included an additional £3,000 per annum to fund the revised scheme for Victoria Gardens.

 

298. REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES

 

The Committee received a report from Councillor Ms L Roberts on her recent attendance at a meeting of the Teignbridge Access Group.

 

299. LATE CORRESPONDENCE

 

None.

 

300. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

Wednesday 29th February 2012.

 

 

 

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Chairman