Minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting held on Tuesday, 6th January 2009 in the Corn Exchange Complex, Hungerford at 7.00pm

Present: G Bullock (Chair), Cllrs E Cardwell, A Buckwell, R Hudson, D Gaines, D Pope, B Acworth, S Parry

1. Apologies: P Harries, J Booth, M Nesbit

2. Declarations of Interests: None

3. Minutes of the Meeting held on 11^th November 2008:

G Bullock proposed we agree minutes, seconded A Buckwell. One abstention, rest in favour.

4. Bank Statements

As at 06/01/09 Treasury Account £185,183.38, Premium £9,978.35, Current £6,218.59, Reserve £1,424.18. Total £203,434.50

5. Committee Budgets and Reports

H&T – Christmas Lights

Consideration is needed over the expense of leaving the lights on all day, 33 days in total. £3,000 has been spent on repair costs (unchanged from last year). £600 of this cost was for LEDs, now used as replacements in order to reduce the energy bill. Expenditure will be close to budget this year. R Desmeules has collected £2,300 so far in donations and received very positive feedback from the town and as far a field as France. Thanks to R Desmeules for all his hard work. The chamber of Commerce lacked support from its traditional sponsors this year for the Victorian Evening. This item to go on the Full Council Agenda. Any HTC Christmas card profit to be divided between C of C and H&T Christmas Lights. D Clemson to help with putting lights away. Seat needs to be moved to free up storage space. D Pope entered 7.30pm.

Budget figures for next year should be amended to Commercial Trees £5,000, Seat Repair £2,500 and Income £3,500.

R Hudson proposed total budget figure of £35,000. Seconded by E Cardwell. Unan. R Desmeules left meeting 7.50pm.

RA&WM – A budget is required of £1,500 for Equipment maintenance as we have purchased a new mower and £3,000 for the maintenance man’s new equipment. Improvements at St Saviours were the special project for this year. Next year it will be new trees for the avenue. Maintenance of the War memorial, Rose Beds and Tragedy memorial will be one item in the budget. £8,000 has been allowed for allotments for ground preparation, fencing and water supply. The skip is to be removed from the Cricket Club and the size of the Grundon Bin has been increased.

E Cardwell proposed a budget for next year of £54,100 on the assumption that we keep on our maintenance man. Seconded by A Buckwell. Unan.

F&GP – This budget now supports 5 staff and includes £3,500 of £5000 for Allotment legal costs and an increased insurance budget of £8,000 following arson. Rent, stationery and postage costs have all risen and a budget of £4,500 has been included for roof repairs.

R Hudson proposed we adjust the budget for Election Costs to £4,500 which covers us should one councillor resign. G Bullock seconded. Unan.

It should be noted HTC are not legally obliged to have an election unless 10 or more members of the public request it and we have at least 2 candidates.

G Bullock proposed a budget of £130,485. R Hudson seconded. Unan.

D Pope left meeting 9pm.

6. Update on Triangle Field Claim

Insurance costs excluding VAT total £43,352. £11,257 has been received from Allianz in reimbursement. A further cheque will follow for £32,000.

7. Alteration of planning application for Triangle Field

The building works have to be completed before we can apply for a change of use. Once the works have been signed off the planning application can be resubmitted. HTC hope to obtain S106 money to help with this project.

8. Internal auditor visit

Auditing Solutions will visit the office on 9^th January. The External Audit report has now been received.

9. Setting of the Precept – to go to Full Council

11. 2010 Finances – R Hudson to provide further information to RFO regards the accounts.

B Acworth will be applying under the heading of HEAT to the Parish Plan for annual funding of £5,000. This will be administered by HTC. HEAT wish to purchase a Thermal Imaging Camera. An application could be made for the allotments fencing and water costs.

12. Chairman’s Financial Analysis – deferred.

13. Risk Assessments - ongoing