Danbury Parish Council

 

RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Minutes of the Meeting held on 19 December, 2006 at the Parish Office

 

Present:  Councillors:

D. Whiteing (Chairman)

J. Brooks ( Vice Chairman)

S. Berlyn

D. Hawkins

D. Powell

J. Thomson


In attendance: Clerk to Parish Council

 

Public Question Time

No Members of the Public were present 

 

100  Apologies for absence

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr M Wood .

 

101 Declarations of Interest

None were declared

 

102  Minutes of the Meeting held on 22nd November, 2006

RESOLVED  that the Minutes of 22nd November, 2006 be approved and signed as a correct record. 

 

103  Financial Information  for November, 2006

103.1 Approval of payments for November, 2006

The Clerk circulated paymentsl from 22nd November, 2006  until 19th December, 2006 and is attached as Appendix I.  Members agreed to pay the Clerk’s Membership to the SLCC of £135.00

RESOLVED:   that the payments from 22nd November, 2006 until 19th December be approved.

 

103.2 Reconciliation sheet to 30th November, 2006.

Balances at bank including Petty Cash were checked by Cllr D Powell all balances matched.  See Appendix II.

 

RESOLVED: that the information be noted.

 

103.3 Receipts until 12th December, 2006

The Clerk circulated an up-to-date list of receipts. See Appendix III.

 

RESOLVED: that the information be noted.

 

103.4 Debtors more than 3 months

There were none.

 

RESOLVED: that the information be noted.

 

103.5  Consideration to Place £20,000 from the Budget into Earmarked Reserves for Car Park and Drainage

One Member was against the transfer of the £20,000 all other members present agreed that the monies should be placed in the Car Park/Drainage Budget.

 

RESOLVED: that £20,000 is placed into Earmarked Car Park and Drainage Budget

 

103.5 Earmarked Reserves as at 30.11.2006 and Council Reserves

Earmarked Reserves and Council Reserves as at 30.11.2006 were circulated. See Appendix IV.

 

A lengthy discussion took place regarding the Reserve Figure for the Council. This figure had been checked by the Chairman of the Council and was agreed as correct. The carry forward figure was used by the Council as part of the budget for 2007 – 2008.  The Clerk explained that this practise had been used for several years.

 

Members raised concerns that now monies were earmarked for projects, monies were not left for a general reserve figure. Some members thought that the carry forward figure was also used as a working balance.  The Clerk also explained that this was a predicted carry forward figure it may change at the end of year. The Clerk explained that if all monies were spent as included in the budget then the reserves of the Council would reduce.

 

RESOLVED:  that a) to review potential carry forward figure in January 2007 ready for next meeting

b) if necessary the committees would revise their budgets

 

103.6 Public liability for Bus Shelter Cleaning

No further reply had been received. Members unanimously decided to give the contractor notice of 3 months until 31st March,2007,  to supply the correct Public Liability Insurance otherwise his contract would be terminated. Also that Environment Committee be informed of the decision and requested to investigate a new contractor. 

 

RESOLVED: that a) the contractor be given 3 months notice until 31st March, 2007 to supply the correct Public Liability Insurance otherwise his contract would be terminated

b) the Environment Committee be informed of the decision and requested to investigate a new contractor.

 

104 Precept

Further to Minute 81.2 the agreed precept figure of £158,000  shown as Appendix V was circulated to the meeting this was a 4.64% increase on last year.  Members had discussed the matter regarding reserves under Minute 103.5 of this meeting. 

 

RESOLVED: that the item be noted.

 

105 Information Technology

There were still problems with the spam.  Lodge had tried to use a free spam filter through terrapin but unfortunately this had not worked as the Parish Council Computers kept crashing.  Discussion took place regarding the agreed £240.00 filter, it was requested that the following action be taken before implementing the payment of the spam filter.  Only one councillor appears to receive spam e.mails and it was wondered if a check could be made whether the spam was definitely being received from Danbury Parish Office link. Cllr Brooks agreed to have his home computer checked to see if there was any link to spam and the Danbury Parish Office link.

 

RESOLVED:  that a) the clerk speaks to support company regarding where misaddressed emails go.

b) request Cllr Wood to check if the spam was definitely being received via Danbury Parish Office link to his home computer

c) Cllr Brooks to check if spam was being received via Danbury Parish Office link to his home computer

 

106 Request for Additional Funding from Committees

106.1 Additional Funding for Hatifield Peverel Working Group

Further to Minute 67 of the Environment Committee held on 6th December, 2006.  Members requested that Environment find the £50 for the Hatfield Peverel Working Group from their budget.

 

RESOLVED: that Environment Committee was requested to take the £50.00 from their budget.

 

106.2 Hire of Danbury Mission

Cllrs Brooks, Hawkins, Thomson and Powell declared a general interest in this item.

A payment of £60.00 was agreed last year, it was agreed that this payment be made this year.

 

RESOLVED: that a payment of £60.00 as Local Government Act 1972 Section 137 payment be made for the hire of the hall.

 

107  Credit Card Facility

The Chairman of the Council requested that this item be placed on the Agend a.   The Clerk had contacted the EALC who advised against this.  The Clerk also had contacted customer service representative at the bank who explained that two signatures would be required to operate this system.  The clerk agreed to contact other Parish Councils to ascertain if anyone had a credit card facility and also to check with the Parish Council’s Business Manager regarding the procedure.

 

RESOLVED: that a) the clerk contact other Parish Councils to ascertain if anyone had a credit card facility

b) the clerk check with the Parish Council’s Business Manager regarding the procedure

 

108 Matters for Report

Clllr Powell requested that a three year forecast be placed on the Agenda to discuss at the next meeting.

 

109    Exclusion of Press and Public

RESOLVED: that pursuant to S.1 of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 the meeting be not now open to the public and press for the following items of business and they were instructed to withdraw.

 

110     Staff 

110.1 Job description Groundsman/Handyman

Members agreed the Job Description with the following alterations:

Under Main Activities the words and “Risk Management” be included.

Under Job Description items 2 and 3 be placed at the end of the items.

Under Job Description items 7 and 8 include the wording “or equivalent”

Under Job Description add Maintain appropriate record keeping.

 

RESOLVED: that the Job Description be adopted for the Groundsperson/Handyman. 

 

111 Dates of meetings in 2007

24th January, 21st February, 21st March, 23rd April, 30th May, 27th June,

18th July, 18th September, 24th October, 21st November,

and Tuesday 18th December

 

 

Business having been concluded, the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.00pm.