brightlingseatowncouncil

BRIGHTLINGSEA TOWN COUNCIL
FINANCE COMMITTEE

Minutes of the Meeting held at the Parish Hall, Victoria Place, Brightlingsea on Thursday 14th April 2011 at 8.00 pm.

Present:
Councillors
I Block (Chairman)
J Russell (Vice Chairman)
J Chapman, D Dixon, A Goggin, G Steady and K Yallop

Also in Attendance:
Councillors M Beckwith, V Chapman, M Holding and G Mann
Tracey Pulford - Town Clerk

F.484. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: None received. 

S.485. CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON THE 10TH FEBRUARY 2011, RECEIVED BY COUNCIL ON THE 17TH FEBRUARY 2011:

The Minutes were accepted as a true record of the meeting.

S.486. DECLARATION OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS:

Members were reminded of the requirement to disclose any interest in relation to items on the agenda, when these are discussed. 

S.487. UPDATE ON END OF YEAR ACCOUNTS:

The Chairman briefed members that the Town Clerk and the Internal Auditor had been working on the end of year accounts for 2010/2011.  After discussion it was agreed that a Finance Committee Meeting is called for Wednesday 4th May, for the Finance Committee to agree the accounts, and they then be signed off at the Annual Council Meeting on the 19th May.  

Recommendation: End of Year Accounts are agreed at a meeting on the 4th May, and signed off at the Annual Council Meeting on the 19th May 2011.

F.488. PROPERTY UPDATE:

Brightlingsea Leisure Village – The Chairman briefed members that the rent review had been agreed, and the uplift in rent , back dated to November 2009, should total around £29,000.

Scouts – After discussion it was agreed that the Scouts are offered a 30 year lease, at £20.00 per annum.  A clause would be put into the lease that the scouts can hire out the hall to not for profit organisations.   The Scouts are also to pay all the Councils legal fees.  Agreed.

Bowling Club -  After discussion it was agreed that the Bowling Club could extend out, at no cost to the Council (as per their letter dated 7.2.11).
 
Councillor Goggin declared a personal interest in the following item

Charging for use of Lower Park Recreation Ground – Rugby Club – The Chairman briefed members that at the moment no fees had been set for the Rugby Club at Lower Park Recreation Ground.  After discussion it was agreed that the junior fee for the football pitches at Bayard Recreation Ground is used.

Playcentre – The Chairman briefed members that the planning application is being heard next Tuesday and once the outcome is known, discussions can then take place on a possible lease etc.

Recommendation: The Scouts are offered a 30 year lease at £20.00 per annum, they can hire out the hall to not for profit organisations, and the scouts would pay all the Councils legal fees.

The Bowling Club are allowed to extend (as per their letter dated 7.2.11), at no cost to the Council.

Rugby Club – Lower Park Recreation Ground – The fee charged is the same as the junior football clubs on Bayard Recreation Ground.

Playcentre – The planning application is being heard next Tuesday and once the outcome is known, discussions can then take place on a possible lease etc.

F.489. USE OF SURPLUS FUNDS:

The Chairman briefed members that there was an amount of £24,000 surplus to what had been budgeted for (£8,000 back rent and £16,000 Solicitors Fees).  Possible schemes were discussed and the following was agreed:

£500.00 - New lap top for Council business
£5,000.00 - CCTV – Town Council to pay for High Street camera to be monitored at Careline
£2,000.00 - Cycle Rack on the Western Promenade near to the Swimming Pool
£2,000.00 - Increase the discretionary grants by £2,000.00
£7,500.00 - 4th B’Sea Scout Group towards new kitchen
£7,000.00 - Lower Park Recreation Ground improvements to car parking, fencing, seating etc.

Recommendation: The surplus money of £24,000 be spent on the above projects.

F.490. GRANTS TIMETABLE:
  
It was agreed that an advert is placed in the May edition of the Chronicle, for applications to be received by the end of June, with a finance meeting being held on the 7th July, and all decisions ratified by council at its meeting on 21st July 2011.

Recommendation: Grant timetable is set as above.

F.491. STAFF PENSION:

The Town Clerk briefed members that Graham Carter had requested to join the Councils pension fund.  After discussion this was agreed.

Recommendation: Graham Carter joins the Councils pension fund.
    
F.492. CLOSE OF MEETING:

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.56 pm.