Held at Bishopswood Village Hall
Wednesday 15 January 2020 at 6.30pm
Present:
Councillors: Joanne Akers, Simeon Cole, Bob Puzey and Monica van Lienden
In attendance: Richard Abolins (Clerk), 2 members of the public
In the absence of the Chair of the Committee, Cllr Akers was proposed, seconded and voted as Chair of the meeting.
1. Apologies for absence: – Councillors Karen Chinn and Ruth Dolman
2. Declarations of interest and written requests for dispensation: – none.
3. Adoption of Minutes of previous meeting: – It was resolved to adopt the minutes and confidential minutes of the meeting held on 27 November 2019 as a true and accurate record. They were signed by the Chair of the meeting.
4. Public participation session: –
4.1 A member of the public asked whether the Council would consider providing sandbags for parishioners now that Balfour Beatty had stopped supplying them and should this cost be in the budget. Cllr Cole explained that the bags did not last very long and it was not feasible to store them for this purpose.
5. Financial information: –
5.1 The Income and Expenditure account for December was received. There were no questions
5.2 All members had received the bank statements and reconciliation before the meeting and Cllr Cole signed the bank reconciliation as being accurate.
5.3 The Howling Bull Run have donated £1,000 to the Walford Community Support Scheme. Cllr Chinn had acknowledged the Council’s gratitude and the Committee wished to minute its thanks also.
6. Payments: –
6.1 It was resolved to approve the payments on Appendix 3.
6.2 It was resolved to ratify the payments on Appendix 3.
6.3 The Clerk had concluded that until the benefits of the HP Instant Ink were known, there was no clear need to purchase a new one. The options may be reviewed at a later date.
7. Draft budget for 2020/21: –
7.1 The third draft budget was received and no question were asked.
7.2 The prospect of the Smartwater scheme was discussed and it was agreed that given the uncertainty of the timing of the project, it should be considered in the final review of the budget at the next meeting. If the project were to be included, the committee would be unlikely to recommend an increase in precept to fund it.
Cllr Chinn had provided some new estimates for WCSS. Although costs had been reduced significantly, so had income. The end result was a small improvement in the deficit – £200. It was agreed to accept these figures and make a final decision in the next meeting, when the possibility of more grant income may be confirmed.
It was resolved to recommend a preliminary 5% increase in precept to the Council
1/20
8. County maintenance grants: – the Ward Councillor believed that funding was available for maintenance and when she returns from holiday, she will be seeking this on behalf of the Council.
9. Banking arrangements: -There had been no news about the charge card application and the Clerk will follow up.
10. Risk management: -There was no change to the risk management schedule.
11. Items for next meeting agenda: –
11.1 Final budget and precept recommendations for 2020/21
11.2 County maintenance grants
11.3 Recommendations from meeting to Full Council
12. Next meeting: – Wednesday 19 February 2020 at Bishopswood Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 19:17
SIGNED Cllr Chinn DATE 26 February 2020