Minutes of the Staffing, Finance & General Purposes Committee held in the Mayor’s Parlour, Town Hall, Bideford on Thursday 26 August 2010 at 5.30 pm

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BIDEFORD TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of the Staffing, Finance & General Purposes Committee

held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Bideford on

Thursday 26 August 2010 at 5.30 pm

PRESENT:

South Ward:

Councillor A T Inch
Councillor D M Ratcliff


South Ward (Outer):
Councillor A T Powell

East Ward:

Councillor Mrs C B Church
Councillor S E L Clarke (Chairman)
Councillor R W Vanstone

IN ATTENDANCE:    Mr G B McLauchlan (Town Clerk)

023    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Councillors T J Johns (North Ward – Bridge Trust meeting) and P J Pester (South Ward – Civic engagement)

024    DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

Councillor Mrs Church declared a personal interest in agenda item 8 (Council’s representative on CAB) and Councillor Inch declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 8 (Member of the CAB).

025    PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD

No members of the public were present at the meeting.

026    MINUTES – STAFFING, FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2010 were approved and signed as a correct record.

027    ACCOUNTS

a.    Proposed by Councillor Inch, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That the list of payments be approved.

(Vote – For:  5,  Against:  0)

b.    Internal Finance Inspector’s Report

The members received the Internal Finance Inspector’s Report for the period 1     April – 30 June 2010.  Proposed by Councillor Ratcliff, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

(Vote – For:  5,  Against:  0)

(Councillor Vanstone arrived at the meeting)

028    ALLOTMENTS – LAND AT HANDY CROSS

The members noted the report which is attached and forms part of these Minutes.  Proposed by Councillor Clarke, seconded and

RECOMMENDED:  That the Council proposes a rent of £100.00 per annum and arranges for the land to be self-managed following ploughing, furrowing, spraying and marking out the plots and car parking provision.

(Vote – For:  6,  Against:  0)

029    LOCAL VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS - GRANTS

The Town Clerk advised that the Council’s Grant Application Form and criteria for awarding a grant had been updated with additional information for local voluntary organisations wishing to apply for grant aid from the Council.  These now needed to be formally adopted.  Proposed by Councillor Inch, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That the Grant Application Form and Criteria be adopted.

(Vote – For:  6,  Against:  0)

(Having declared a prejudicial interest in the following item, Councillor Inch left the room before the discussion and vote.)

030    GRANT - TORRIDGE, MID DEVON AND BUDE CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Members were requested to reconsider the decision of the Committee not to award a grant for the financial year 2010/2011.  The Town Clerk advised that he had carried out some background work as to how many towns/parishes provided grant aid within the CAB’s area for the current financial year and informed members of his findings.  Proposed by Councillor Vanstone, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That the Citizens Advice Bureau be awarded an interim grant of
£1,000.00 and that the Town Clerk writes requesting details of the role of the Council’s representative.

(Vote – For:  3,  Against:  0,  Abstention:  1,  Out of room:  1)

031    GRANT – BIDEFORD GIG CLUB

Members were requested to consider a proposal to make a grant of £10,000.00 to the Bideford Gig Club in order for them to purchase a fibreglass practise boat.  Proposed by Councillor , seconded and

RESOLVED:  That the Club submits a grant application for the financial year 2011/2012.

(Vote – For:  6,  Against:  0)

032    OLD EDGEHILL COLLEGE BOARDING HOUSE

Members were requested to consider a proposal to lease the old Edgehill College Boarding House for the benefit of the youth.  Councillor Clarke advised that matters had moved on and that a meeting is now to be held in September 2010 by the Methodist Board in London after which more information would be available.

033    SOCIETY OF LOCAL COUNCIL CLERKS – ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The members noted the report which is attached and forms part of these Minutes.  Proposed by Councillor Inch, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That the Council approves the Town Clerks attendance at the Annual Conference.

(Vote – For:  6,  Against:  0)

The business of the meeting having been completed, the Chairman thanked the members for their attendance and the meeting concluded at 6.30 pm.




Signature of Town Mayor:  ………………………………….  Date:  ……………………........




Signature of Chairman:  ……………………………………..  Date:  ………………………....