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Minutes June 2007
BRIDGWATER TOWN COUNCIL
FINANCE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS' ROOM, TOWN HALL, BRIDGWATER
HELD ON WEDNESDAY 20 JUNE 2007 AT 2PM
PRESENT: Cllrs Cresswell, Downes, Granter, Richards, Smeed and Turner
Apologies: Cllrs Parker and Mrs Slocombe
01 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN:
RESOLVED: That Cllr Turner be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.
02 MINUTES:
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 February 2007 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
03 BUDGET REVIEW AND PAYMENTS TO SERVICE SUPPORT:
The Committee noted the budget position following approval of the precept and payments to the year end.
They considered specific issues arising in relation to Trinity Hall, Christmas Lights, Taunton Road Toilets, and CCTV provision at Blake Gardens. Members also noted that the refurbishment programme included Penel Orlieu toilets as the next priority.
RESOLVED:
1. Trinity Hall
i. to note the position with the continuing negotiations and briefing of the District Valuer to establish an independent commercial and restricted use acquisition price for the hall and its curtilage;
ii. to pay the sum of £6000 to defray the cost of running Trinity Hall during 2007/2008
2. Christmas Lights
i. to pay the sum of £10000 (2 x £5000 from 06/07 and 07/08) towards the capital cost of the new lighting schemes and consider provision for future years with the preparation of the estimates for 2008/2009;
3. Taunton Road Toilets - to note that this item is deferred in the absence of any statistical information on usage;
4. Blake Gardens Toilets - CCTV
i. to recommend the Council as no monies were called upon for the capital works in the scheme to pay the sum of £8000 to the capital costs of the installation of CCTV and;
ii. to note the position with Penel Orlieu toilets for future consideration
5. Blake 350 - the Committee reviewed the programme and noted payments that had been made in accordance with the approved schedule, in relation to the exhibition, the flower festival, the sea service (£900 total), and the deposit for the 17th Century Fair (£2000 plus VAT). Members also noted that payments would be due shortly in relation to the Seminar and the DVD production in accordance with the approved schedule.
The Town Clerk confirmed that the listed building application for the cleaning of Blake Statue had been submitted and work was expected in June or July, although there had been no confirmation to date.
The Mayor also drew Members' attention to the forthcoming Medieval Banquet and the bus tour.
04 GRANTS AND APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING:
RESOLVED: That the following decisions within the provisions of Section 137 be made
1. Twinning core funding (4 x £300) - submission of audited accounts;
2. CAB and Volunteer Centre - applications pending;
3. Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance - left in abeyance noting recipient of current Mayor's charity;
4. Road Lane Wanderers' Football Club - stood deferred pending new dates for proposed tour;
5. Bridgwater Visually Impaired Bowls Club - three England representatives - grant of £1500 (£500 x 3);
6. ACTS - grant of £1000;
7. Bridgwater Flower Show Society - grant of £500;
8. Victim Support Somerset - grant of £1000;
9. Bridgwater Amateur Operatic Society - grant of £1000 towards publication of centenary booklet;
10. St John's Parochial Church Council - letter of thanks for grant of £2000 in 2006/7
(Cllr. Cresswell declared an interest in the La Ciotat Link Society and ACTS, Cllr. Richards in the Bridgwater Flower Show, and Cllr. Smeed in the Homberg and Marsa Twinning Societies, the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, the Bridgwater Visually Impaired Bowls Club (Mr Eric Shackleford) and left the room for this item, and ACTS and took no part in the decisions)
05 WARD BUDGET BIDDING
No ward budget applications were outstanding and the Town Clerk was requested to confirm the available monies in each ward.
06 ALLOTMENT LAND TRANSFER AND REGISTRATION:
The Town Clerk gave an update on the current position, with particular reference to Bristol Road and Chilton 2. Members expressed concern at the continuing delays in settling the land registration and requested that this unacceptable situation be resolved immediately.
In relation to Bristol Road and interest in the adjoining land, the Town Clerk confirmed the action that had been taken in accordance with the authority previously given by the council. Authority was also given for any necessary steps to take this forward.
07 BRIDGWATER TOWN COUNCIL WEBSITE:
RESOLVED: That the domain name www.bridgwater.gov.uk be obtained and the offer by Somerset Web Services be approved in principle, providing there are sufficient safeguards in the control of advertising.
08 BUS SHELTERS:
The Town Clerk confirmed that AdShell would shortly be erecting the new bus shelter at Westonzoyland Road opposite Eastern Avenue and that the bus shelter had been demolished in Rhode Lane following an accident and had to be removed. AdShell would consider this as a new site for one of their shelters. The Town Clerk was also following up the possibility of a contract firm cleaning those shelters in the council's control.
9 WATER LINKS:
The Mayor noted that no funding for publicity towards the scheme in an effort to attract lottery funding was forthcoming from the council, although officer time was being made available. He had referred this to County Councillor Ann Bown in an effort to achieve further support and reminded members that this worthy project required support from all sectors of the community if it was to be successful.
The meeting finished at 3.45pm
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Signed
Chairman