Minutes of the Staffing, Finance & General Purposes Committee held in the Town Hall, Bideford on Thursday 16 June 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
Councillor J McKenzie
IN ATTENDANCE:
Mrs H J Blackburn (Town Clerk)
1 x Members of the public.
001. ELECTION OF A CHAIRMAN
Councillor Bushby was proposed by Councillor Inch and seconded by Councillor McKenzie.
RESOLVED: That Councillor Bushby is appointed as Chairman of the Committee for the coming year.
(Vote – For: 8, Against: 0)
002. ELECTION OF A VICE CHAIRMAN
Councillor Inch was proposed by Councillor Mrs Gubb and seconded by Councillor McKenzie.
RESOLVED: That Councillor Inch is appointed as Vice Chairman of the Committee for the coming year.
(Vote – For: 8, Against: 0)
003. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
The Town Clerk advised that Councillor Mrs Corfe has resigned from the Committee and that a replacement Councillor will be nominated at the Town Council meeting.
004. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND ANY REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATION ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
No declarations of interest were declared at this point.
005. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION OF 15 MINUTES DURATION
The member of the public did not wish to speak.
006. MINUTES
Proposed by Councillor McKenzie and seconded by Councillor Mrs Gubb, the minutes of the meeting held on 28 April 2022 were approved and signed as a correct record.
(Vote – For: 7, Against: 0, Abstentions: 1)
007. CHAIRMAN’S ITEMS
There were no items to raise.
008. ACCOUNTS
Members received the list of payments.
Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Inch, and
RESOLVED: That the draft list of payments is approved
(Vote – For: 8, Against: 0)
009. Members received and approved the Council’s interim Independent Auditor’s Report as at 31 March 2022.
Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor McGeough and
RESOLVED: That the Council’s Independent Auditor’s Report as at 31 March 2022 is accepted.
(Vote For: 8, Against: 0)
010. PROVISIONAL BUDGET FOR 2022/23
Members considered the provisional budget for 2023/24 which recommends the provision of a budget for the repayment of the Public Works Board Loan and the sum to be borrowed for the purchase of the land and the build costs associated with the Maintenance Team Depot build.
Proposed by Councillor McKenzie, seconded by Councillor Bushby, and
RECCOMENDED: That a provisional budget totalling £566,700.00 which makes provision for the repayment of a Public Works Board Loan is recommended to Full Council.
(Vote For: 8, Against: 0)
011. EMERGENCY GRANT
Members considered a request from the Bideford Rowing Club.
Proposed by Councillor McGeough, seconded by Councillor McKenzie and
RESOLVED: That a grant of £1,882.80 will be awarded to the Bideford Rowing Club.
(Vote For: 7, Against: 0, Abstention: 1)
Councillor McGeough suggested that all the local authorities should work together to resolve the vandalism issue.
012. CARNIVAL
Councillor Mrs Gubb declared a non-pecuniary interest (Chairman of the Carnival Committee).
Councillor Inch declared a non-pecuniary interest (Member of the Carnival Committee).
Councillor McKenzie declared a non-pecuniary interest (Member of the Carnival Committee).
Members considered a request from the Carnival Committee to use the Town Council Maintenance vehicle to pull a carnival float on September 10th, 2022, for the Bideford Carnival. Councillor Inch advised that he would drive the vehicle.
Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor McKenzie and
RESOLVED: That the request from the Carnival Committee is approved and that the appropriate additional insurance is purchased.
(Vote – For: 8, Against: 0)
013. POLLYFIELD PATH
Members considered the current solicitor’s advice regarding the easement for the Pollyfield path.
Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Inch and
RESOLVED: That Advanced Pallets are contacted to establish that they are still willing to allow part of their land be used as a public footpath and that the Town Clerk makes enquiries with a solicitor specialising in commercial property with regard to the easement.
(Vote – For: 8, Against: 0)
014. SKI TRAINER
Members considered the report regarding the purchase of a ski trainer to replace the broken piece of equipment in Victoria Park
Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Inch and
RESOLVED: That the Town Clerk contacts the supplier to ask for a 50% reduction in carriage. If the maintenance team carry out the removal and installation work, and the carriage is reduced by 50%, a new ski trainer may be purchased from Mant Leisure.
(Vote – For: 8, Against: 0)
015. PARADE CONSULTATION
Members considered the results of the Parade consultation and whether any changes need to be made to the current format.
After having fully considered all the comments received it was proposed by Councillor McGeough, seconded by Councillor Inch and
RESOLVED: That the parade remains in the same format.
(Vote – For: 7, Against: 0, Abstention 1)
Members felt that the original complaint received regarding the parade consultation had been fully investigated.
016. MAINTENANCE OPERATIVES
Members received an update on the tasks undertaken by the Maintenance Operatives and noted the report.
Councillor Lawrence asked that the team are thanked for the professional way in which they assisted the emergency services recently, by blocking off the road, when there was an emergency incident in Buttgarden street.
There was a discussion about the clearance of dog fouling on the Marland path, and the number of enforcement notices given out by Torridge District Council, which were not felt to be adequate. Councillor Bushby advised that he would speak with the appropriate Torridge Officer to see what could be done.
017. PART II CLOSED SESSION
Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Mrs Gubb 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)
018. STAFFING MATTERS
There is a confidential minute associated with this item.
019. Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Mrs Gubb 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 7.25 pm.