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Minutes of FINANCE & RESOURCES COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY 16TH JULY 2008
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE FINANCE & RESOURCES COMMITTEE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 16TH JULY 2008 AT 7.00 P.M. AT THE TOWN HALL, GREAT WESTERN HOUSE, 9 DEVON SQUARE, NEWTON ABBOT
PRESENT: Councillor Mrs D Watts (Chairman) Presiding
Councillor K.C. Lewis (Vice-Chairman)
Councillors Mrs J. Avery
H.L.J. Cole
D Corney-Walker
Mrs A Fry
M. Hocking
D. Howe
K Purchase
A D Vizor
Councillor Mrs L J Lowes attended
Representative of the press: Mr Nigel Canham – Mid Devon Advertiser
87. APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Mrs S Maddicott and C Parker.
Members enquired as to Councillor Mrs Maddicott’s wellbeing following her recent operation. The Mayor explained that Councillor Maddicott was currently in Newton Abbot Hospital. She was expected to make a full recovery but would not be returning to her Council duties in the short-term. The Clerk reported that Councillor Maddicott’s absence had not yet reached the 6 months period but he would monitor the situation. Members requested that a card be sent to Councillor Maddicott on behalf of the Council.
88. MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of the Finance & Resources Committee held on 21st May 2008 were received and signed as a correct record.
With regard to Minute 20 – Town Centre Management, the Chairman reported that Teignbridge District Council had agreed for the recruitment of a Town Improvement Manager to commence from September and that its annual funding contribution for the post be released immediately.
89. INTERESTS
Councillors D Corney-Walker and Mrs A Fry declared personal interests in Agenda Items 7 and 10 respectively.
90. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None.
91. 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 May/June 2008
31st May 2008
Opening Balance Business Call Account/Current Acc £ 162,242.36
ADD Misc. Income £826.53
TOTAL INCOME £163,068.89
LESS:
Expenditure £43,945.02
TOTAL EXPENDITURE £43,945.02
BALANCE 31st May 2008
Business Call & Current Account: £119,123.87
Balances as at 31st May 2008
Current Account 100.00
Business Call Account 119,023.87
Treasury Account 0.00
Petty Cash Account 75.17
Total Reserves £ 119,199.04
Alliance & Leicester 170,000.00
(Reinvested to 03.06.08– interest accruing £5667.63)
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Total: £289,199.04
30th June 2008
Opening Balance Business Call Account/Current Acc £ 119,123.87
ADD Misc. Income £4647.91
BLADON FOUNDATION (Principal sum + interest) £185,100.93
TOTAL INCOME £308,872.71
LESS:
Expenditure £22,648.39
TOTAL EXPENDITURE £22,648.39
BALANCE 30th June 2008
Business Call & Current Account: £286,224.32
Balances as at 30th June 2008
Current Account 100.00
Business Call Account 286,124.32
Treasury Account 0.00
Petty Cash Account 75.17
Total Reserves £ 286,299.49
Alliance & Leicester 0.00
( End of term is in current account at present, but is to be re-invested in one short-term, one medium term and long term investment early July)
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Total: £286,299.49
(b) Newton Abbot & District Community Plan
The Committee gave consideration to joint report by the Community Plan Co-ordinator and Town Clerk (previously circulated) providing an update on the progress with the Newton Abbot and District Community Plan. The report also sought a contribution from the Town Council to enable the retention of the Community Plan Co-ordinator to facilitate the implementation of the Plan. The Committee noted that the Clerk had requested contributions from both the County and District Councils also.
The Town Clerk requested favourable consideration of the request as in his opinion it afforded the Council an opportunity to benefit the wider community of Newton Abbot and neighbouring parishes. With regard to finances, the Clerk reminded Members of the windfall capital receipt received from Teignbridge District Council from the sale of the Newton Abbot Bowling Centre. He also explained that there were unallocated funds available from an under spend in the 2007/08 budget.
Councillor K C Lewis, Chairman of the Community Plan, in supporting the report’s recommendations referred to a press release issued by the District Council that the Department for Communities and Local Government had confirmed Teignbridge as one of only three new ‘Growth Points’ in the South West and the only one in Devon. The effect of such a classification meant the District Council could bid for ‘Growth Point status Funding’ over a period of four years. The District Council had requested up to £1.1m for its ‘start-up’ year. Comparable Growth Point authorities had received in the region of £5-10m to support projects over three years. Councillor Lewis was of the opinion this news made it even more important to have the Co-ordinator employed to position the Plan’s projects to be able to benefit from this new funding.
Arising from consideration of the joint report and Members referring to the implications of possible unitary status for Devon, it was
RESOLVED
(a) that the Council notes progress with the Community Plan;
(b) that the Council extends its funding contribution for a further three months at the cost of £7,500 if this is matched by TDC and DCC to enable the Co-ordinator to be employed for a further 9 months.
92. NEWTON ABBOT WAR MEMORIAL
Further to minute 450/3/08 consideration was given to a request by the Newton Abbot Branch of the Royal British Legion (previously circulated) to reconsider including a commemoration to Lt. Herbert Stewart Chambers on the Newton Abbot War Memorial.
The Mayor referred Members to the previous debates on the issue and in particular referred to the letter from the Royal British Legion requesting the Council to relax its criteria d) regarding residency. To relax it in this case would effectively be ignoring the criterion. The Mayor expressed the view that a decision on the request should be considered on fact rather than conjecture. Therefore, as Lt Chambers was included on the Portsmouth memorial and the Lloyds Bank memorial in Bristol, the Council should fully apply its criteria in this case and not accede to the request from the Royal British Legion.
RESOLVED that the Newton Abbot Branch of the Royal British Legion be informed that the Council could not grant its request to include a commemoration to Lt. Herbert Stewart Chambers on the Newton Abbot War Memorial.
93. HM REVENUE & CUSTOMS – REVIEW OF CLUSTER AND INDIVIDUAL LOCATIONS IN THE SOUTH WEST
The Committee gave consideration to a consultation document on proposals for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) (previously circulated) to reorganise its accommodation, including Sherbourne House, Kingsteignton Road, Newton Abbot, together with letters addressed to the Mayor from staff of HMRC affected by the proposals (also previously circulated).
Members expressed their deep concerns with the proposal to severely reduce the service available to tax payers in South Devon by relocating the majority of staff to Exeter, the economic effects on the area and the loss of quality employment to the town. It was suggested that the Council write to HMRC raising its concerns and suggesting that the Exeter office relocate to Newton Abbot.
RESOLVED that the Council responds to the consultation document by expressing its deep concern that the proposals will have on the area in relation to the adverse economic effects and the loss of quality employment to the town and suggests HMRC considers relocating the Exeter office to Newton Abbot.
Councillor D Corney-Walker declared a personal interest in this item but took part in the discussion and vote thereon.
94. DRAFT PARISH & TOWN CHARTER
Consideration was given to a letter from Teignbridge District Council containing a draft Parish & Town Council Charter (both of which were previously circulated) with a request for the Town Council to adopt the Charter.
RESOLVED that the draft Parish & Town Charter be hereby adopted.
95. REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES
Members were requested to report on their attendance at any meetings of outside bodies:-
• Councillor K C Lewis reported on his recent attendance at a Devon Association of Local Council’s Larger Councils Committee meeting;
• Councillor D Howe reported on his attendance at the Stover Canal Trust AGM on 9th July.
96. MULTI USE GAMES AREA – OSBORNE PARK
Further to minute 520/4/08 the Committee noted a letter from Teignbridge District Council (previously circulated) regarding the availability to the community of the multi-purpose games area at Osborne Park, Newton Abbot.
Councillor Mrs A Fry declared a personal interest in this item but took part in the discussion.
97. NEWTON ABBOT POST OFFICE
Further to minute 22/5/08 Members noted correspondence between the Town Council and The Post Office regarding the service at the Costcutter Store, Queen Street (previously circulated).
98. TOURISM IN TEIGNBRIDGE
Further to minute 489/4/08 the Committee noted a letter from the Chief Executive of Teignbridge District Council (previously circulated) regarding the Newton Abbot Tourist information Centre, Newton Abbot.
Members noted that the District Council had concluded that the Tourist Information Centre would remain in its current Courtenay Street location for the foreseeable future.
99. REMOVAL OF BT TELPHONE BOXES IN TEIGNBRIDGE
The Committee noted correspondence regarding the removal of BT telephone boxes in Teignbridge (previously circulated).
Councillor Mrs D Watts declared a personal interest in this item but took part in the discussion.
100. LATE CORRESPONDENCE
The Town Clerk reported that the rescheduled date for the Barham Cup, postponed from 4th July due to inclement weather, would be Saturday 30th August. The race would commence at 5.30 p.m. from Teignmouth.
101. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
It was noted that the Finance & Resources Committee would meet on Wednesday 1st October 2008.
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Chairman