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Minutes of the Meeting of the adjourned Finance & General Purposes Committee held on 11th July 2007
MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 11th JULY 2007 AT 8.00 P.M. AT THE TOWN HALL, GREAT WESTERN HOUSE, 9 DEVON SQUARE, NEWTON ABBOT.
PRESENT Councillor D Corney-Walker (Chairman)
Councillor Mrs D. Watts (Vice-Chairman)
Councillors Mrs C. Bunday
H.L.J. Cole
C. Davieson
M. Hocking
D. Howe
Mrs G. Leeper
R. Leeper
K. Lewis
C. Parker
K. Purchase
A. Vizor
121. APOLOGIES.
Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Mrs A. Fry, Miss J. Fry, Mrs G. Gaskell, Mrs S. Maddicott and K. Smith.
122. ACCOUNTS PAID SINCE THE LAST MEETING.
(a) Accounts paid since the last Meeting.
The Committee noted the income for the month of May which had been omitted from the report to the previous meeting and accounts for the month of June 2007 together with the balance sheet as set out at 30th June 2007 (tabled at the meeting).
June 2007
Opening Balance Business Call Account/Current Acc £37,516.31
ADD Misc. Income £1395.59
End of Fixed Term £100,000.00
TOTAL INCOME £ 138,911.90
LESS:
Expenditure £23,745.17
Start of New Fixed Term £50,000.00
TOTAL EXPENDITURE £73,745.17
BALANCE 30th June 2007
Business Call & Current Account: £65,166.73
Balances as at 30th June 2007
Current Account ) 100.00
Business Call Account ) 65,066.73
Treasury Account 50,000.00
Petty Cash Account 75.17
Total Reserves £115,241.90
Alliance & Leicester 170,000.00 (Reinvested to 30.11.05 – interest accruing £4983.03)
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Total: £285,241.90
(b) Audit For Year Ended 31st March 2006
The Town Clerk stated that he was delighted that following a visit from the Internal Auditor, Ken Abrahams on 4th July he had received confirmation of a satisfactory audit of accounts for 2006/7.
He requested the Council to pass the usual resolution, accepting the report of the Internal Auditor for onward progress to the District Audit.
The Town Clerk explained that there had been a question raised concerning the delayed payment of the new photocopier.
It had also been necessary to explain the increase in salaries compared with 2005/6. The Internal Auditor had been satisfied with the response on behalf of the Town Council.
The Town Clerk requested the Committee to approve the Annual Return for the year ended 31st March 2007.
He also requested the Committee to note the end of year accounts for the year ended 31st March 2007 and in particular the comments made by the Internal Auditor Ken Abraham, for presentation to the Council at its meeting to be held on 25th July.
(c) Staff Matters
The Chairman of the Staff Review Group reported on developments which had arisen since the last meeting of the Committee in relation to the withdrawal of notice by a member of staff. The new Clerk explained that he was pleased to report that there would now be an opportunity to rationalise the staffing resources and fill the new full-time vacancy from within the Council’s existing staff.
123. COOMBESHEAD COMMUNITY THEATRE TRUST
Councillor Mrs C Bunday declared a prejudicial interest in this item and left the Chamber during discussion and voting thereon. Councillor M Hocking declared a personal interest in this item and remained.
The Town Clerk reported a request from the Chair of the Community Arts Theatre Trust, Mrs Stella Watson, for further funding towards a research document prepared by Diane Johnson, Art Consultant.
The Committee was informed that the additional funding (£5,500) was subject of an application for £4,500 to the Arts Council.
The Committee expressed its support for the Coombeshead Community Arts Theatre Trust, however, due to the subject of the request not meeting the Council’s adopted criteria regarding grants it had, on this occasion, to refuse the request. The Committee requested the Clerk to inform the Trust Chair of the Council’s grant criteria and to explain that the Council would consider any future requests that meet the criteria sympathetically. Additionally, the Chair be advised that an approach to either Teignbridge District Council and/or the local members of Teignbridge DC might be successful.
.
124. SEMINARS AND TRAINING
(a) Quality Council – Power of Well Being
The new Town Clerk, Phil Rowe, and the Chairman reported on their attendance at the Somerset County Cricket Ground, Taunton on 12th June.
They explained to the Committee the changes that were envisaged for Quality Councils, including Newton Abbot which would be brought about by the extension of the power of well-being to town and parish councils. It was hoped that there would be long returned benefits for this Council.
(b) New Councillors Training Day
The Committee noted the report prepared by the Town Clerk and signed by Councillors G. Leeper, C. Parker and K. Purchase on their attendance at a one day event held at Newton Abbot Race Course on 21st June 2007.
Councillor Parker, upon being invited by the Chairman to make additional comments to those already included in the report by Councillors G. Leeper and K. Purchase, explained that he had not gained a great deal from the day and requested that further training be afforded.
The Committee was of the view that this Council should through its outgoing and new Clerk facilitate further training. Additionally, other Members from neighbouring parish/town councils could be invited to the training, for a fee.
125. REPORTS BY REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS
(a) Newton Abbot & District Community Plan
Councillor K Lewis as Chairman of the Community Plan, reported on discussions that had taken place at the Steering Group on 24th May and on 28th June 2007.
He informed the Committee that a new Co-ordinator, Jane Ballantyne had been appointed and she had attended her first meetings. It was noted that the first tranche of finance from the MCTI had been received.
(c) Seale Hayne Future Group
The Town Clerk drew attention to the recent press report concerning the possible future use of the Seale Hayne establishment for education and training purposes.
He expressed anxiety that the press were possibly in contact with former representatives of this Council on the Seale Hayne Future Group and strongly recommended that a member of the newly elected Council should be nominated for the purposes of consultation.
It was proposed, seconded and agreed unanimously that the Mayor, Councillor K Smith be appointed.
126. MUSEUM SUB-COMMITTEE
The Chairman of the Museum Sub-Committee, Councillor Mrs Carol Bunday presented the report of the meeting of the Museum Sub-Committee held on 27th June.
Councillor Mrs Bunday pointed out the need for changes in the financial information relating to St Leonard’s Tower and also the letter which the Town Clerk had been instructed to send to Teignbridge District Council concerning the return of the carved oak screen to Sandford Orleigh.
The Clerk reported that the Reverend Russell Chamberlain had offered to donate six bell ropes from Wolborough Church to replace the St Leonard’s Tower ropes which were in poor condition. The kind offer meant that the Council would need only to meet the cost of two further ropes at an estimated cost of approximately £320.
The Committee thanked Reverend Chamberlain for his kind donation and approved expenditure of approximately £320 for the additional two new bell ropes.