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Minutes of the Staffing, Finance & General Purposes Committee held in the Town Hall, Bideford on Thursday 28 July 2022 at 6.30 pm
 
PRESENT:
 
North Ward:
 
Councillor P S Christie
Councillor D Bushby (Chairman)
 
South Ward:
 
Councillor S G Inch
Councillor P Lawrence 
 
East Ward:
 
Councillor Mrs J Gubb
Councillor Mrs L Hellyer 
Councillor J McKenzie
 
West Ward:
 
Councillor C Hawkins
 
IN ATTENDANCE:
 
Mrs H J Blackburn (Town Clerk) 
1 Member of the Public (Town Crier)
  
020.    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
 
There were no apologies for absence.
 
021.    DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND ANY REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATION ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
 
Councillor Mrs Gubb declared a pecuniary interest in agenda item 14 (Husband is a seasonal Member of the Maintenance Team).
 
022.    PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION OF 15 MINUTES DURATION
 
The Members of the public (Town Crier) did not wish to speak at this point, although he passed around a framed certificate that had been presented to him from Biddeford Maine during Minute number 030.
 
023.    MINUTES
 
Proposed by Councillor Inch and seconded by Councillor Mrs Gubb, the minutes of the meeting held on 16 June 2022 were approved and signed as a correct record.  
 
(Vote – For: 7, Against: 0, Abstentions: 1)
 
024.   CHAIRMAN’S ITEMS
 
The Town Clerk advised: 
 
• That the Beadle has requested permission to take her Tricorn and Gown to Wootton Basset as she has been chosen to be special guest and parade leader for the Guild of Town Criers Competition in September.  Members agreed to this request.
• The Town Centre Partnership have written to say that they would like to gift the Table Tennis tables in Victoria Park.  Members agreed to this request and asked the Clerk to arrange the appropriate insurance.
• Councillor Christie advised that a District Council Officer had been suggesting that a commercial return should be sought from the library.  Members felt that it was important to keep the library within the public realm, and not sell it as a private concern.  It is a Carnegie building and Councillor Mrs Hellyer wondered if there would be any restrictions on its sale, although the 1976 local government reorganisation, may have precluded this.  Councillor Christie said that he would speak to Mr Redwood at Torridge District Council to explore the possibility of listing the library as an Asset of Community Value.
 
025.    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)
 
026.    INTERNAL AUDITOR’S REPORT
 
Members received and approved the Internal Auditor’s Report as at 30 June 2022.
 
Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Mrs Hellyer and
 
RESOLVED:  That the Council’s Internal Auditor’s Report as at 30 June 2022 is accepted. 
 
(Vote For: 8, Against: 0) 
 
Thanks were expressed for Councillor Mrs Langford work as Internal Auditor
 
027.    REPAIR OF ST MARY’S CLOCK
 
Members discussed the request for a contribution towards the repair of St Mary’s Church clock and the estimate provided.
 
Proposed by Councillor Mrs Hellyer, seconded by Councillor McKenzie and  
 
RESOLVED: That the Town Council make a donation of £2,000 from the Projects Budget towards repairing the Clock at St Mary’s as it is widely considered to be the town clock.
 
(Vote For: 8, Against: 0) 
 
028.    INSURANCE QUOTATIONS 
 
Proposed by Councillor McKenzie, seconded by Councillor Mrs Hellyer and  
 
RESOLVED: That the Town Council renews its insurance with Zurich for a further term of 5 years.
 
(Vote For: 8, Against: 0) 
 
029.   DATE OF MANOR COURT
 
Members considered moving the date for Manor Court from 18 March 2023 to 25 March 2023 due to the unavailability of the Royal Hotel for the reception on the 18 March
 
Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Mrs Hellyer and  
 
RECOMMENDED:  That the date of Manor Court is moved from Saturday 18 March 2023 to Saturday 25 March 2023.
 
(Vote For: 8, Against: 0)
 
030.   TOWN CRIER VISIT TO CANADA AND THE USA
 
Members considered a request from the Town Crier to take the Town Crier’s bell and uniform with him on a visit to Canada and the USA.  The Town Crier will organise the necessary insurance himself.
 
Proposed by Councillor McKenzie, seconded by Councillor Mrs Gubb  and  
 
RESOLVED:  That the Town Crier’s request to take the Town Crier’s bell and uniform with him on a visit to Canada and the USA is agreed.
 
(Vote For: 8, Against: 0)
 
031.  CONTRIBUTION TO THE NORTH DEVON RECORD OFFICE
 
Members considered a request from the North Devon Record office for a backdated contribution to their facility as a result of an invoicing error.
 
Proposed by Councillor Lawrence seconded by Councillor Inch   and  
 
RESOLVED:  That the request from the North Devon Record office for a backdated contribution is agreed.
 
(Vote For: 8, Against: 0)
 
032.   POSTCODE GARDENER
 
Members considered the renewal of the Postcode Gardener (self-employed) contract on a rolling month by month basis and the possibility of a funding contribution.
 
Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Inch and  
 
RESOLVED:  That the renewal of the Postcode Gardener (self-employed) contract on a rolling month by month basis is agreed, but that there are no funds available for a funding contribution at the present time.
 
(Vote For: 8, Against: 0)
 
033.   MAINTENANCE OPERATIVES
 
Members received an update on the tasks undertaken by the Maintenance Operatives and noted the report.  
 
The Clerk was asked to thank the team for their prompt response to the request to remove an overhanging branch, and the very professional way they had responded to a medical emergency near the Pannier Market and carried out a road closure.
 
The business of the meeting having been completed, the Chairman thanked the members for their attendance and the meeting concluded at 7.02 pm.
 
Accounts for approval at Staffing Finance & General Purposes Commottee 28 July 22
 
 

 


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