Staffing Finance & General Purposes 8 September 2022
Minutes of the Staffing, Finance & General Purposes Committee held in the Town Hall, Bideford on Thursday 8 September 2022 at 6.30 pm
PRESENT:
North Ward:
Councillor P S Christie
Councillor D Bushby (Chairman)
Councillor D McGeough
South Ward:
Councillor S Inch
Councillor P Lawrence
East Ward:
Councillor Mrs J Gubb
Councillor Mrs L Hellyer
West Ward:
Councillor C Hawkins
IN ATTENDANCE:
Mrs H J Blackburn (Town Clerk)
034. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Councillor McKenzie (East Ward – personal)
035. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND ANY REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATION ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
Councillor Mrs Gubb declared a pecuniary interest in agenda item 6 (Husband is a seasonal Member of the Maintenance Team).
Councillor Bushby declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 9 (Associated with the Conservative Club).
036. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION OF 15 MINUTES DURATION
No Members of the public were present at the meeting.
037. MINUTES
Proposed by Councillor Bushby and seconded Councillor Inch, the minutes of the meeting held on 28 July 2022 were approved and signed as a correct record.
(Vote – For: 6, Against: 0, Abstention: 1)
038. CHAIRMAN’S ITEMS
• The Town Clerk circulated a letter from Jurassic Fibre and asked if Members would like a presentation from them at a future Town Council meeting. Members felt that this would not be required.
• Councillor Christie advised that the total cost of the plaque agreed for Chudleigh Fort and Victoria Park was £372 each. The plaque for Victoria Park will be sited on the back of the existing poles at Victoria Park whereas the siting at Chudleigh Fort will probably be on a separate set of poles.
039. ACCOUNTS
Members received the list of payments.
Proposed by Councillor Inch, seconded by Councillor Bushby, and
RESOLVED: That the draft list of payments is approved
(Vote – For: 7, Against: 0)
040. EXTERNAL AUDITOR APPOINTMENT ARRANGEMENTS
Members considered the option to opt out of the Smaller Authorities Audit Appointments (SAAA) central external auditor appointment arrangements. The Town Clerk advised that this was not a decision to be taken lightly, and she recommended that the Council continues with the existing arrangements.
Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Mrs Gubb, and
RESOLVED: That Bideford Town Council continues to use the SAAA central external auditor appointment arrangements.
(Vote – For: 7 Against: 0)
041. CHRISTMAS FREE PARKING
(Councillor Mrs Hellyer arrived at the meeting)
Members considered the parking costs for free parking in Bideford (from 10.00 am) in Bridge St., The Pill, The Manor and The Quay during the Christmas period and confirmed with the Town Clerk that the costings did not include Honestone Street.
Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Lawrence, and
RESOLVED: That free parking at Christmas is agreed as follows:
Sat 3rd Dec - TDC Small Business Day
Sun 4th Dec – (Christmas light switch on) - Taken from free parking day allowance for Bideford.
Sat 17th Dec - Taken from free parking day allowance for Bideford.
(Vote For: 8, Against: 0)
042. REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY BUFFET
Members considered the provision of a buffet following the Remembrance Sunday Parade and Church Service
Proposed by Councillor Inch, seconded by Councillor Mrs Hellyer and
RESOLVED: That the Town Council organises a buffet at the Conservative Club following the Remembrance Sunday Parade and Church Service. An open invite to attend the buffet should be announced at the War Memorial at Victoria Park, St Mary’s Church, and via social media.
(Vote For: 8, Against: 0)
043. FORD WOODS
Members considered the fixed price quotation received for the annual boundary survey required at Ford woods.
Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Inch and
RESOLVED: That Glendale is asked to conduct the annual boundary survey.
(Vote: For: 8, Against: 0)
044. HANGING BASKET REFILLS
Members considered the Hanging Basket refills for 2023 and whether a contribution should be requested from the traders..
Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor McGeough and
RESOLVED: That delegated authority is given to the Mayor, Chair of Staffing and Finance and Town Clerk to authorise the purchase of the refills for 2023, when the quotation is received, unless it is significantly increased on last year, in which case it will be returned to the meeting for a decision.
(Vote: For: 8, Against: 0)
045. MAINTENANCE OPERATIVES
Members received an update on the tasks undertaken by the Maintenance Operatives and noted the report.
Members noted the issue with the leak coming from the Torridge District Council toilets which in turn had caused water to penetrate one of the shops in Butcher’s Row. The Chairman asked to be kept up to date with the situation and advised that the Town Council should be reimbursed by Torridge District Council for any expenditure arising from the leak.
046. PART II CLOSED SESSION
Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Inch and
RESOLVED: That in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be discussed, the meeting moves into part II.
(Vote For: 8, Against: 0)
047. STAFFING MATTERS
There is a confidential Minute associated with this item.
048. Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Inch and
RESOLVED: That the meeting returns to Standing Orders.
(Vote For: 8, Against: 0)
The business of the meeting having been completed, the Chairman thanked the members for their attendance and the meeting concluded at 7.10 pm.
