Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on Wednesday 11th January 2012 at
7.30 p.m. in the Council Offices, 1a Bushwood Close, Welham Green
Those
Present:
Councillors Mrs T Travell Chairman
C Everard
W A Storey
Mrs J Boulton
Mrs L Saffer
R Wheeler
Officers Ann Morton Clerk
Jilly
Dennell Book-keeper and Accounts
Officer
Three members of the public were present.
Apologies
for absence were received from Councillors Boulton (other meeting), Mrs Dean
(other meeting), Hastings (other meeting) and Horrocks (unwell).
Councillor
Everard declared a personal interest as a member of the North Mymms District
Green Belt Society. Councillor Storey
declared a personal interest as a member of Hertfordshire County Council for
Hatfield Rural ward.
It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the
Council meeting held on Wednesday 30th November 2011 as a true
record and they were signed by the Chairman.
Members had been asked to view the
planning application documents prior to the meeting. Following consideration of the objections and
issues of concern raised by members, it was agreed that Councillors would each
email the Clerk with their comments for the Parish Council's planning
application response, preferably as bullet points. The Clerk will collate the points received to
produce the draft Parish Council comments for approval at the next meeting on
25th January 2012.
Members
of the public left the meeting.
Councillors
considered the draft budget that was circulated prior to the meeting. Councillor Hastings email was circulated,
both he and Councillor Horrocks prefer the precept amount to remain the same as
this year. Clerk/RFO report was
circulated at the meeting.
Councillor
Storey, Chairman of Finance Committee, visited the office on several occasions
during the preparation of the draft budget.
He considers the budget is generally conservative about income. The Book-keeper and Accounts Officer answered
Member’s query about bank interest and explained that Council should receive
interest gross so a back dated claim will be made. Staff salaries have been adjusted to gross and
employers pension and NI is shown. The
Chairman outlined the reason for Code 503 additional costs and proposed deferring
consideration to the end of the meeting and this was agreed. Tree survey by an independent suitably
qualified professional should be carried out.
Parish Paths expenditure is funded by the grant. It was considered that the Council has an
obligation to support community grants. Football
pitch drainage is not included in the budget but could be essential if the
skate park proposal proceeds. Councillor
Storey commented on the difference in the way the figures are presented this
year and the Book keeper and Accounts Officer explained how reserves are
calculated and invited comments.
Clerk/RFO’s
recommendation to Council is to consider an increase in the precept in order to
maintain property and services and build up to recommended level of general
reserve.
Members
felt that in the current economic climate the Council should endeavour to
maintain the precept at the same level. Members
discussed reserves and potential future capital costs. The following amendments were agreed to the draft
budget for 2012-2013:
Code 110
Election costs £0 (remove £1000 and use contingency funds if necessary)
Code 113
Computer & IT £750 (remove £1000 website upgrade: remove £250 sage to be
brought forward if funding available in the current year)
Code 204
Amenities Rep&Maintenance £1700 (reduce from £1500 to £200 planters have
soil)
Code 406
Office equip £750 (remove new computer)
Code 651
Machinery/new equip £2150 (hayter mower £850 brought forward to current year).
Expenditure
is reduced by £5150. Members unanimously
agreed that the precept amount should remain at £176,800 and the transfer to capital
reserves reduced to balance the budget.
It was
proposed by Councillor Mrs Boulton, seconded by Councillor Everard and RESOLVED that the Budget for 2012-2013,
copies of which had been sent to all Members of the Parish Council prior to the
meeting, be approved with the above amendments, and that the Parish Council set
a precept of £176,800 (one hundred and seventy six thousand and eight hundred
pounds) for 2012-2013.
The Book
keeper and Accounts Officer and the Clerk/RFO were thanked for their support in
the budget setting process.
It was agreed to nominate the
Chairman, Councillor Stephen Boulton, for the HAPTC draw for the Buckingham
Palace Garden Party that will be held on 22nd May 2012.
Letter from
Peter Tomazou, Welham Warriors FC, complaining about the Clerk was circulated
prior to the meeting. Clerk had written
her response and offered to leave the meeting, however members agreed that she
should not do so.
Councillor
Mrs Boulton explained that when Mr Tomazou had telephoned her she had
recommended that he write to the Council to lay out his concerns and they would
be considered. The points raised by
Welham Warriors FC were discussed. It
was agreed to delegate authority to the Chairman to draft a letter in reply
that will be circulated to Councillors and the Clerk before it is signed and
sent by the Chairman. Members also made
the point that they want young people in the parish to have the opportunity to play
at the grounds.
Councillor
Wheeler responded to the request for a volunteer to write the next article for
the Newsletter to be approved by Council in February in time for the early
March deadline. It was explained that
the article is a report on parish activities and Councillor Wheeler said he
will contact Councillor Horrocks, who usually writes the article, for guidance.
The
Chairman closed the open meeting and it was proposed by Councillor Mrs Boulton,
seconded by Councillor Wheeler and RESOLVED
that as the following item dealt with confidential business relating to staff
matters, the public and press be excluded from the discussion under the Public
Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 and Local Government Act 1972 s100
& s102.
The Chairman
of Staffing Committee gave details of potential additional costs for staffing
which are being investigated and these were considered. Members discussed staffing matters.
Councillor Everard proposed a vote of thanks to Councillor
Mrs Travell and this was agreed. The
meeting closed at 10.10 p.m.
Signed _____________________________
Date _____________________________