WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL
FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Of a meeting e held on Wednesday 15th June 2011 at 7pm
in the Council Chamber Town Hall Welshpool
Committee
Cllr E Bleivas, Cllr R Brown, Cllr G Cross, Cllr A Crowe, Cllr M Douglass,
Cllr H Evans, Cllr T Harvey, Cllr A Holloway, Cllr S Kaye, Cllr J Meredith, Cllr Dr J Morgan, Cllr P Pritchard, Cllr S Squibb and Cllr T Squibb.
Remit
All matters relating financial control, budgets, financial strategy, Town Clerks Office provision, staffing, all other matters of a general nature not covered by the other committees including allotments, street lighting, sculptures, railway and transport. Web Site, Community Awards, Community Council Forums, North Wales Association and policing etc.
Authority
To deal with the above following a recommendation approved by Full Council. The Committees authority is limited to making recommendations to the Full Council and following Councils approval to implement such decisions.
Present were:
Cllr Dr J Morgan (Chair), Cllr E Bleivas, Cllr R Brown, Cllr A Crowe,
Cllr M Douglass, Cllr H Evans, Cllr T Harvey, Cllr A Holloway, Cllr J Meredith, Cllr S Squibb and Cllr T Squibb.
In attendance: Robert Robinson Town Clerk
1. Apologies for absence.
There were apologies for absence from Cllr S Kaye and Cllr G Cross.
2. Minutes of the last meeting.
The minutes of the last meeting were accepted as a correct record.
3. Election of a chair for the ensuing year
Cllr Dr J Morgan was elected chair of the Committee.
4. Election of a vice chair for the ensuing year
Cllr R Brown was elected vice chair of the Committee.
5. Declarations of interest
There were no declarations of interest.
6. Financial report.
The financial report figures were issued. The annual accounts are now completed and the annual return ready for signature by Full Council.
The financial report was issued to the members. A full copy has been issued to the Cllrs Dr J Morgan, T Squibb and T Harvey.
7. Update on Toilet provision in Welshpool
An update was given on the negotiations with Powys County Council.
8. Allotments update
There is no other progress that the Town Clerk is aware of.
The idea of the Garden Share Scheme was discussed. It was agreed that details of this should be passed to the Allotments Committee.
9. Pensions - Powys County Council
A meeting has taken place between Cllr Harvey, Cllr Morgan and the Town Clerk together with J Rollins of Powys County Council.
There are several options available which are:
Option 1
To pay the outstanding shortfall in one lump sum.
Option 2
To pay the 17.9% contributions (for the two staff involved) and £10,600 pa for the next 25 years.
Option 3
To pay 35.9% as per current arrangement (for the two staff involved) and to review the situation at the next valuation.
Option 4
To opt out of the scheme altogether and agreed a payment per annum to cover any shortfall. To set up a new scheme by agreement with the staff involved.
Recommendation
The Committee recommends that option 3 be adopted with the matter reviewed at the next valuation.
10. CCTV system
Tesco have agreed to pay for the reinstatement of new cables for one camera which was disturbed by the one way system works. This work has been instructed and is to be carried out shortly.
New dates have been set for the CCTV monitoring course and these are going ahead.
11. Mount Street - Parking Permits
Investigations into the idea of residents parking permits have started with both Powys County Council and the Welsh Assembly. The Welsh Assembly states that it is a Powys County Council matter. Powys County Council says that you can not operate a parking permit scheme other than on private land. However, they are reviewing the situation.
The Town Clerk is to continue to press for a solution.
12. Welshpool Pride
The Welshpool Pride Plan is starting to progress.
Dog Fouling
The left over dog fouling leaflets are being delivered to Ardwyn School for distribution to children and families.
Alochol Free Zone
The requirements for an Alcohol Free Zone are being ascertained from Powys County Council. We are still awaiting the criteria so that matters can go forward.
Street Champions
There have been 5 offers with limited advertising.
These persons will need to meet with the Town Clerk over the
next few weeks to take things forward.
13. Yellow Lines in Welshpool
The Committee considered the yellow line and parking controls for the following:
Red Bank
The Committee considered the plan issued by PCC.
The plan issued was accepted. A copy is to be kept on file with these
minutes.
Town Centre
The Committee considered the plan issued by PCC.
The following were discussed and it was agreed that the items should be carried forward:
1. There should be no removal of car spaces in Broad Street.
2. The enforcement of parking restrictions and loading restrictions
is important.
3. The car spaces taken away in Brook Street (where new yellow lines have been put down) should be put back.
4. The yellow lines in the old part of Union Street should be
removed.
5. The two car spaces by the traffic island (Jehu Road/High Street)
should be removed.
6. A Pedestrian sign by the Jehu Road/High Street is needed.
Mill Place and Dol Y Felin car parking
Residents contacted the Town Council about car parking on the corner of Mill Place and Dol Y Felin. The County Council were passed the information as it is their responsibility. The County Council has responded and said that they would like the Town Council’s views before taking anything forward.
The following actions are requested:
1. Yellow lines around the corners into these roads.
Recommendation:
The Committee resolved to ask Powys County Council to implement the above proposals.
14. Memorial seat scheme
There have been 4 requests for seats in the town and these are being acted upon.
15. Strategy Group
The Town Clerk has in the past suggested a strategy group to consider the future overall strategy for the Council. This is not an urgent item but needs to be considered in the coming months.
16. Archives Committee
Following the decision of the Full Council at its May meeting it was agreed that the Council should set up an archives committee of 3 Councillors.
A discussion took place as to how this was best achieved.
Recommendation:
The Committee recommends that Cllr R Brown, Cllr E Bleivas and Katherine Richards (PCC Archivist) be appointed to this Committee meeting quarterly.
17. Full Council Minutes
Following the decision of the Full Council at its May meeting it was agreed that the Council have a minute taker for the Full Council Meetings.
A discussion took place as to how this was best achieved.
The Town Clerk is to issue a press release seeking a minute taker who would receive a £500pa honorarium for 12 meetings per annum.
18. My Welshpool
The news web site My Welshpool has been very successful and carries a lot of balanced news for Welshpool and district. The web site carries a lot of news on the Town Council and close links ensure that events are covered.
There is advertising on the site for local companies including a main site on the front home page.
This is ending its sponsorship and is available to the Town Council for one year. The site would advertise the Council facilities and give prime position for advertising of events.
The cost of this for one year is £800. The Committee considered if such an offer should be taken up. It was agreed that the idea would be considered as part of an overall strategy for marketing in due course.
19. Cenotaph cleaning
The Committee considered the possibility of cleaning the war memorial in the current year. An estimate of £1,750 has been gained from a specialist company.
Recommendation:
The Committee recommends that the works to the war memorial are carried out.
20. The Armoury (VAT)
The Armoury is proceeding well. However, it would help Chris Stephens if he could have the agreement with a subsidiary company which would not need to be registered for VAT. The Council would still charge VAT on its own part of the income as the Council is fully registered.
It was agreed that, subject to the memorandum and articles being acceptable, in principle the Committee has not objections.
21. TIC Sculpture
A further meeting with Powys County Council has been held and provisional agreement reached whereby they will fund 50% of the sculpture at the TIC.
A revised estimate of cost is being gained.
22. The Old Fountain Sculpture
The Mayor has asked that we consider taking forward the Old Fountain Sculpture. This is has not been discussed with Powys County Council to date. A request for 50% funding from Powys County Council is to be made and an estimate for the works gained, following this further consideration can be given.
23. County Council representation
The County Council have confirmed that County Councillors (who are members of community councillors) may take part in discussions and debates on the issues of Schools and the Wind Farms/Pylons/Hub/Transport. This is a special dispensation for these two items only.
24. Smoking litter around Welshpool
The Committee considered the amount of litter created around the Town Centre by smoking related refuse. The Council recognises the right for people to smoke and has no issue with this. However, the amount of smoking litter (dog ends) everywhere in Welshpool Town Centre is at an unacceptable level.
Recommendation:
The Committee recommends that a limited advertising campaign be carried out over the summer months seeking people who smoke (and drop their litter) to act more responsibility. A press release about the problem is to be issued.
25. Attendance Records
The Town Clerk confirmed that the attendance records each year are issued to the press via the normal Council Agendas which are issued as a matter of course.
The records are correct but it would be better if the ‘other’ column was moved to the end of the schedule in future.
26. Leighton Farm Planning Application
The Town Clerk confirmed that any change in the decision of the planning and development committee has to be approved by the Full Council. The My Welshpool Web Site report did not make this clear.