WADHURST PARISH COUNCIL

THE MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF WADHURST  PARISH  COUNCIL  HELD  AT  THE PAVILION,  SPARROWS GREEN,  WADHURST THURSDAY 26th APRIL, 2012 AT 8.00 P.M.
Present: Councillors Doyle (chair from 8:28 p.m.), Goolden, Konrad, Matthews, Meredith-Hardy and Standley (chair until 8:28 p.m.)

1. To receive apologies and reasons for absence.
Apologies received from Cllr. Pearman; reason accepted. Cllrs. Doyle, Konrad and Meredith-Hardy had previously advised that they would be late.

2. To receive declarations of interests on items on the agenda.
None

3. Public Forum – time limit 15 minutes.
No members of the public present.

4. To approve minutes of the meeting held 26th October, 2011.
Approved.

5. To determine matters arising from the previous meeting for updating and noting.
None.

6. To review and make recommendations to full council relating to grant applications received.
A grant application from Wadhurst Cricket Club for £7,500 towards the £15,000 cost of refurbishing the cricket pavilion at Washwell Lane was discussed. Noted were the number of residents who were members, the benefit to the youth of the village and the recent drive to increase membership of the club.
Cllr. Doyle arrives at 8:28 p.m.
Given that the funds would be used for a capital project and that £1,000 under budget from last year had been transferred to general reserves it was resolved to recommend to full council that £2,500 be pledged towards the refurbishment for payment when it becomes clear that the full amount required has been raised.
Cllrs. Konrad and Meredith-Hardy arrive at 8:32 p.m.

7. To review spend against budget for 2011/12.
Cllrs. Goolden and Standley remarked that the presentation of the financial information could be improved and are to provide the clerk with a template to be used at future meetings. The underspend for the year of £4,400 was discussed with noting of an overspend in clerk’s salary, telephone, employers NICs, election costs and room hire charges being more than compensated for by underspends in grants, highway lighting, snow fund and environment expenditure. Pavilion hire receipts were also higher than had been budgeted for.

8. To review specific reserves and make recommendations to full council.
Cllr. Matthews declared her Personal Interest as a member of the Wadhurst Tennis Club.
Levels of specific reserves were reviewed. Members noted the possible over-reserving of funds for highway lighting and the Beacon Link service and noted the funding request for a new Uplands community bus. Resolved to recommend to full council that additional transfers be made to specific reserves from the year’s underspend and general reserves of £1,500 for fingerpost repairs, that have already been identified, together with £5,000 for works to the War Memorial.

9.  To consider offer of Came and Company Parish Council Insurance to quote at next renewal.
Resolved that Came and Company Parish Council Insurance be invited to quote when the existing policy comes up for renewal in June, 2013.

10. Urgent issues at the discretion of the Chairman for noting or inclusion on future agenda.
Cllr. Standley advised members of proposed changes in the processing of council tax payments that might have an impact to future budgets.

The meeting closed at 9:25 p.m.