NORTH MYMMS PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a MEETING of the FINANCE COMMITTEE held in the Council Office, Annexe to No 1 Bungalow, Bushwood Close, Welham Green on Wednesday, 26 March 2008.

PRESENT : Councillors W A Storey - Chairman

C Everard

R Horrocks

Clerk Mrs J A Schettino

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P Hastings and K Pieri.

2. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

it was agreed that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Finance Committee held on Wednesday, 27 February 2008 were a true record of the proceedings and signed by the Chairman.

3. MATTERS ARISING

Nil

4. ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT

A Schedule of Accounts for Payment totalling £13,323.64, inclusive of Imprest Expenditure of £151.78, 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

A Statement of Balances dated 20 March 2008 was considered from which it was noted that income amounting to £606.92 had been received.

6. TRANSFER OF MONIES

In order to have a low balance at year end no money had been transferred this month.

7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

a) Burglary, Tractor & Equipment Shed

It had been reported that a burglary had occurred in the early hours of Sunday 2 March 2008 and a number of chainsaws, hedge cutters and the generator had been stolen through the roof of the Tractor and Equipment Shed.

An insurance claim was now with the Zurich Insurance Company and the serial numbers of the stolen equipment notified to the police.

Unfortunately the roof of the shed could not be repaired and quotes for approximately £9,700 ex VAT, including removal of asbestos, had been received for its replacement and an inspection by a Zurich Loss Adjuster was pending.

b) Quotation for Intruder Alarm Upgrade & Repair

Councillor Storey said that the Clerk had contacted a number of companies, two of whom had agreed to submit a quotation for upgrade and repair of the Parish Council’s alarm systems. ADT had inspected the system but a quotation had not yet been received.

A quotation had been received from B Alert Security and following a discussion it was agreed to recommend this quotation for £1,000 plus VAT to full council for approval.

c) Internal Audit

Councillor Storey said that an Internal Audit had been carried out on Thursday 13 March 2008 and the Parish Council had once again received a satisfactory report including thanks to the Clerk for her efficiency.

d) Charges for the Hire of the Council’s Facilities

It was agreed that charges for the hire of the Council’s facilities should be increased from 1 April 2008 by between 3% and 5%, except for the hire of the Bowling Green and facilities which would increase to £3,680.

The allotment rents were increased from 1 November 2007 and would remain the same at present.

e) National Pay Negotiations

National pay awards for 2008/2009 were still being negotiated but the Finance Committee agreed to recommend to Council an increase of one scale point in the Clerk’s salary from 1^st April 2008.

f) Parish Council Annual Donations

The Clerk said that she had received letters of acknowledgement and thanks from all but two of the recipients of the Parish Council donations and she would write again to those to ensure they had received the Council’s cheque.

8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Already arranged for Wednesday, 30 April 2008 commencing at 7.15 pm in the Council Office Annexe to No 1 Bungalow, Bushwood Close, Welham Green.

THE MEETING CLOSED AT 7.50 PM.