Finance Minutes 26th June 2007
Minutes of a meeting of the FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 26th day of JUNE 2007 at 7.50 p.m.
Present:
Cllr Mrs J Ramsey - Chair
Cllr Mrs M Govier - Chair Properties
Cllr M Harper
Cllr Mrs A Johnson - Town Mayor
Cllr I C Jennings
Cllr Mrs J Metcalf
Cllr R Pike - Dep Town Mayor
Cllr P Sanders
Cllr H Smith
Cllr D Whitcomb
In Attendance:
Town Clerk
Works Superintendent
One member of the press
073. APOLOGIES
There were apologies for absence from Cllr Mrs McPhie
074. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 29th May 2007, previously circulated and adopted by Council on 5th June 2007 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
075. MATTERS ARISING
a. Parking in Tavistock. Minute 028 referred. Members had all received a copy of a letter from Chief Inspector Tony Steer confirming that the police will maintain parking control measures in Tavistock pending the April 2008 change to local authority control. Members thanked Cllr Connelly for continuing to press DCC for an early policy decision about this change.
076. MEETING OF THE PROPERTIES COMMITTEE HELD EARLIER THAT EVENING
The Chairman of Properties reported that no recommendations with a financial impact had been made.
077. MINUTES OF THE TaVi STEERING GROUP
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 23rd May 2007. Cllr Sanders reported that in his view the Group was expanding in a controlled and managed way and progress was being made. It was noted that Cllr Best had been appointed as the WDBC representative on the Group.
078. MINUTES OF THE WEST DEVON LOCALITY CRIMINAL DAMAGE MEETING
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 11th June 2007, and felt the Group to be most worthwhile. The possibility of a CCTV network being installed in Tavistock was briefly discussed, and Members heard that the police wished first to see the results of the Okehampton CCTV system.
Cllr Sanders left the meeting.
079. GENERAL FINANCE
a. Accounts Members considered the monthly accounts for submission to the next Council Meeting, a copy of which is at Annex A. It was RECOMMENDED that they be passed for payment. Cllr Harper queried the photocopier costs and details would be forwarded to him.
b. Accounts 2006/2007 The accounts for the last financial year had been prepared and a copy given to all Councillors. The accountant was unable to present them in person this evening, and a short written brief from Mr Kemp was tabled. After some discussion on the acceptable financial position of the Council, Members RECOMMENDED nem con that the accounts be adopted by Council.
080. BEST VALUE
Members noted the Best Value Performance Plan document (Eighth and last!) and endorsed the draft. A copy had been e-mailed to the auditors for their comments which had been incorporated. The Plan had to be ‘made available to the public’ by 30th June, and would be distributed to local community groups and be on the web site by that date.
081. TWINNING
Members were reminded that Celle are organising a ‘meeting of all twin towns’ from the 27th to the 30th September 2007. They had invited a delegation from the Town Council (up to 10 persons) and would provide hotel accommodation for them. They have also invited a young persons delegation (up to 3 fifth and sixth form level) and that has been passed to the College. The last council accepted the civic invitation in principle but deferred the choosing of volunteers to attend to be considered at this meeting. Members deferred to full council the choosing of who may be going, and asked that volunteers note that travel costs were the responsibility of the councillor concerned. For example, flights Birmingham to Hannover are advertised at £13.72 each way with one low cost carrier, and trains from London to Hannover can be as low as £107 return.
082. STANDING ORDERS
Members adopted the revised Code of Conduct to include para 12(2) on the 5th June. To comply the Standing Orders need to be amended to allow members of the public to speak before committee meetings as well as to put questions before Council meetings as at present. Members RECOMMENDED that Council adopt the suggested amendments to SO’s 1.24 and 1.29 tabled.
083. BOWLS COMPETITION
Minute 051h referred. Cllrs Mrs Govier, Jennings, Pike and Smith volunteered to form the Bowls team to compete on the 16th July.
084. JOB CENTRE CLOSURE
Members noted a letter concerning the possible closure of the local Job centre. They felt this to be a retrograde step, and would make things very difficult for the most disadvantaged; the young without transport, the unemployed and the disabled. They would all now be expected to travel to Plymouth or Launceston. They felt that Jobcentreplus should maintain some presence in Tavistock, perhaps occupying premises once a week to see people by appointment.
085. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN.
The Clerk asked if any Member wished to attend the SWW AGM in Plymouth on the 26th July to represent the Council as shareholders.
Rising 8.20 p.m.