Minutes of a MEETING of the FINANCE COMMITTEE held in the Council Office, Annexe to No 1 Bungalow, Bushwood Close, Welham Green on Wednesday,
PRESENT : Councillors K Pieri
C Everard
P
R
K Pieri
W A Storey
V Weeks
Clerk Mrs J Schettino
The Chair was taken by Councillor K Pieri because Councillor Storey, although present, had undergone a medical procedure which obscured his vision.
1.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs M Race and
S J Boulton.
2.
MINUTES OF THE LAST
MEETING
The Minutes of a
Meeting of the Finance Committee held on
3. MATTERS
ARISING
TRANSACTIONS
DURING DECEMBER RECESS
It was agreed that it be recommended to Council that the payments made during the December recess totalling £15,086.41, together with a Statement of Balances as at 18 December showing an income of £1,023.00 and the transfer of £10,000 from Reserve Account to Current on 19 December 2007 be accepted and approved (as authorised by Council Minute No 55 a) dated 28 November 2007).
4. ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
A Schedule of Accounts for Payment totalling £11,831.89 inclusive of Imprest Expenditure of £54.40 was presented. After careful consideration of each item it was agreed that the total amount be recommended to Council for approval and payment in full.
5. STATEMENT OF BALANCES
Consideration was given to a Statement of Balances held with the
National Westminster Bank plc as at
6. TRANSFER OF MONEY
Approval was given to the Clerk’s action in arranging the
following transfer of money from the Council’s Capital Reserve Account to
Current Account with effect from the date shown :
£12,000
7. ANNUAL GRANTS & DONATIONS 2007-2008
After discussion, it was agreed to recommend to Council that the following donations be made to local organizations under Section 137 of the LGA 1972 :
Little Heath Parish Hall 300.00
Little Heather Club 225.00
Isabel Hospice 400.00
Welwyn Hatfield Citizens Advice Bureau 450.00
Rotary Club of Brookmans Park
300.00
St Mary’s Church Carers 250.00
Sunshine Pre School 250.00
Herts Air Ambulance Appeal
150.00
4125.00
*Councillor Pieri declared an
interest and took no part in the discussion or
decision.
8.
BUDGET/PRECEPT
2008-2009
A draft letter in
response to the Welwyn Hatfield Council’s letter requesting notification of the
Council’s precept and estimated expenditure for 2008/2008 had been circulated to
all Councillors. Following
clarification of a query raised by Councillor Everard it was agreed to recommend
the letter to Council for approval.
9.
REVIEW OF FINANCIAL
REGULATIONS
The Finance Committee considered a report by the Clerk (previously circulated to all Councillors) regarding the Council’s Financial Regulations and it was resolved to recommend to full Council that no changes to the regulations were required following this review.
R E S O L V E
D
That no changes be made to the Financial Regulations but that they be reviewed at this meeting each year.
10.
COUNCIL EXPENDITURE
It was proposed and unanimously agreed that the following expenditure for necessary maintenance/replacement items in this financial year be recommended to Council for approval:
i)
SJS
Irrigation
Drain down report and list of necessary repairs to the irrigation
system on the
ii)
Summerling Carpets &
Curtains Ltd
Carpet tiles and vinyl to Council office, kitchen and toilet at a total cost of £1,085.82 excl VAT.
iii) British Gas HomeCare Flexi
200
Monthly contract on the boiler and radiators at No. 2 Bungalow at a cost of £11 per month + £50 fixed fee per repair.
iv) Groundsmens’
Bonus
The Clerk reported that the Parish Council had received two quotations for decorating the Council Office, one verbally for £1450 and one written for £1700. The two senior groundsmen had agreed to decorate the office over the Christmas period and it was being recommended that they each receive a £150 bonus and a letter of thanks for their excellent work.
v) HAPTC Councillor Workshop
The Finance Committee confirmed that finance was available for new
and experienced Councillors to attend an HAPTC workshop planned for
11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
a)
WELWYN HATFIELD COUNCIL
SPECIAL EXPENSES
Councillors W A Storey and K Pieri had previously attended a meeting regarding the above where it was agreed in principle that the process of allocating special expenses was acceptable to all.
It was noted that a letter had been received from Welwyn Hatfield
Council on
c) SCRIBE REPORT
It was noted that a Scribe Report had been received from the Internal Auditor showing the Council’s financial position as at the end of December 2007, together with a summary of Income and Expenditure.
d)
APPOINTMENT OF EXTERNAL
AUDITORS
The Clerk reported that a letter had been received from the Audit Commission appointing BDO Stoy Hayward LLP as auditors to the North Mymms Parish Council for a five year period commencing with the 2007/2008 accounts.
e) PURCHASE OF LAND, LITTLE HEATH
Following a query from the Clerk regarding the Longmores account for the above purchase, the Parish Council had received a letter from them requesting the Parish Council to consider settling their fees at £2,250 plus VAT and disbursements, leaving the firm to write off approximately £550.
It was agreed that the matter required further investigation and was deferred until the next meeting of the Finance Committee.
12. DATE OF NEXT
MEETING
A meeting has
already been arranged for
The
meeting closed at