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Minutes December 2005
BRIDGWATER TOWN COUNCIL
Finance Committee
Members Room Bridgwater Town Hall
2.00pm 02 December 2005
Present: Cllrs J Turner (Chairman) WH Munn MD Needs P Parker and Mrs GJ Slocombe
Apologies: Cllrs Moore and Richards
17. MINUTES:
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 26 September 2005 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as acorrect record.
18. MINUTES OF THE TOWN COUNCIL 10 November 2005 - Matters referred
A request from the Bridgwater and District Civic Society for financial support had been referred for consideration. They had requested £300.00 towards their activities.
RESOLVED: That a grant of £300.00 be made for 2005/6 from the ‘grants budget' and provision made within this estimate for 2006/7 without prejudice to decision on any future request.
19. DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2006/2007:
Draft estimates had been prepared and circulated together with background information based on 2004/5 and 2005/6, the estimated out-turn at 31 March 2006 inflation at a 3% figure and the decisions taken by the Finance Committee in recommendations to the Council last year. The tax-base for the town had been provided by SDC estimated at 10076.88 Band D equivalents for 2006/7. Full information was also provided on the current levels of precept and special expenses on the town in the light of previous discussions on the need to build for civic enhancement in relation to the town hall and accomodation, regeneration of the town and the environment, the future of cemeteries and the Chapels of Rest and the future development of the town council's role. Suggestions put forward would still show a substantial saving to the chargepayer which could also follow in future.
The Town Clerk invited Members to consider the items individually providing explanations for significant variations and additions within the figures including those arising from decisions taken by the Council through the year. He reminded Members of the effect of decisions in respect of the lease of former allotment land to the Carnival Committee on the income and expenditure and grants to the Committee and the Allotment Association.
RESOLVED:
1) That the Town Clerk make enquiries of the Clergy and Funeral Directors in relation to use of the Chapel at Quantock Road and following the demolition of the Chapel at Bristol Road future needs;
2) that the estimates as now approved be put forward to the Council at the meeting on 15 December 2005 for the purpose of securing the precept for 2006/2007 of £118,954.06 for immediate Town Council purposes and £140,000.00 for civic enhancemen reserve exclusive of Special Expenses for Cemeteries and Street Lighting (other than new scheme contributions), equating to £25.70 per Band D property; and
3) that the following be noted:
i)The future provision of office accommodation, equipment and administrative arrangements dependant upon facilities available to the Town Council and the future of the Town Hall complex:
ii)The specific funds built up and carried forward within the estimates including street lighting, elections, skate-park, THI/BHRB and the ward based grant scheme: and
iii)The payment of the honorarium to the Macebearer for 2006/7.(Vote 4 -1 in favour: Cllr Mrs Slocombe expressed reservations on the level of the civic enhancement reserve and asked that this be recorded)
(Declarations of Interest - Non-prejudicial Cllr Needs in the Civic Society, Cllr Parker in the Arts Centre and Mrs Slocombe in the Carnival Committee)
Meeting finished at 3.15pm