Morpeth Town Council
Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee
Wednesday 11thJuly2012
at 6:30 pm in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall, Morpeth
Present:
Councillors:D Parker-Chairman
Dr N Best
K Brown
M Horton-Mayor
P Taylor
A Tebbutt
D Thompson
Clerks:Miss G Turner
Mrs S Matthews
Absent Councillors:L Cassie-Apologies Received
R Thompson-Apologies Received
098/12Committee Chairman’s Announcements
(i)Morpeth Flood Action Group will be holding a fund-raising coffee morning on Saturday 28th July 2012.
099/12Mayor’s Announcements
(i)The Mayor will present a full diary at Full Council.
100/12Declarations of Interest
The Chairman receivedDeclarations of Interest from:
Councillor Dr N Best in respect of:
Wednesday Morpeth Market Management (Personal – Chair of Markets Partnership)
Councillor M Horton in respect of:
Purchase of AMT Benchmarking Toolkit (Personal – Honorary President of Chamber of Trade)
Councillor D Parker in respect of:
Authorisation of Payments List (Personal – Expenses recipient)
Code of Conduct for Local Councils (Member of NALCCounty Committee)
CouncillorA Tebbuttin respect of
Local Government Pension Scheme (Personal- Member of LGPS Scheme))
Traffic Management Matters (Personal and Prejudicial Member of NCC - Chair of 12th July 2012 Meeting)
Wednesday Morpeth Market Management (Personal – member of NCC)
Joint Meetings of NCC and Parish/Town Councils (Personal – Member of NCC)
Area Committee Issues (Personal – NCC Member)
Code of Conduct for Local Councils (Personal – Member of NCC Standards Committee)
Item in Closed Session – Terrace Car Park Toilets (Personal – Financial Contributor )
101/12Public Question Time
There were no members of the public present to address the Committee or any written questions received for this meeting.
102/12Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee held on13th June 2012
The Minutes were approved as a true record.
In Matters Arising:
Min. 046/12 - Flood Update (including Flood Insurance)
Subsequent to the publishing of a statement by the Secretary of State for Defra, Caroline Spelman, expressing the Government’s decision to ensure affordable flood risk insurance is available for all, the Chairman of this Committee and Chairman of the MTC Flood Insurance Working Group circulated a press release in respect of the work undertaken by this Group in preparation of the ‘Morpeth Model’. This document has contributed significantly to the Government’s consideration.
Agreed:- It was agreed that the press release be forwarded to Alan Bell of the Flood Action Group, and Co-Author of the document, and if approved, that all local press and certain nationals receive Councillor Parker’s statement.
It was also agreed to inform NALC and National Flood Forum (NFF) and request they inform other local councils of the work undertaken.
Councillor A Tebbutt arrived at this point in the meeting.
Min. 046/12 –Grants and Subsidies
Following a meeting with Dr David Francis of NALC, the Clerk reported the protocol for awarding grants to individuals:
The grant may be awarded if the recipient’s purpose is to benefit the people of Morpeth or promote interest in the town. This must be precisely minuted to this effect.
Agreed:- It was agreed that this item be included on the next agenda of this Committee, to discuss the liaising with other organisations, such as the Lions, and informing them accordingly.
Min. 053/12 –Boundary Drive Play Area
Members considered the Clerk’s report on financial implications of management of this play area.
Agreed:- It was agreed to accept the transfer of the play area but NCC to carry out an inspection of the large, diseased sycamore tree and ascertain whether there is a risk of collapse. It the tree requires removal, then any replacement should be appropriate to the location and responsibility for maintenance remain with NCC.
Min. 057/12 –Future MTC Web Page
A meeting was held with the preferred supplier of the above and a copy of the Business Case was circulated.
Agreed: It was agreed to recommend to Full Council the acceptance of the proposals for the new style website, with Phase 1 commencing August 2012.
103/12Chairman’s Question Time
There were no questions received on this occasion.
104/02Authorisation of Payments
TheJuly 2012listing of payments to creditors, totalling £38,453.41was approved.
Councillor D Parker Declared a Personal Interest in this matter.
105/12 Grants and Subsidy Application
A request from SNRG (South Northumberland Radio Group) requesting financial support was considered.
Agreed:- It was agreed to invite the Organisation to interview Councillor Parker regarding Flood Insurance, as a”test” to determine their willingness to engage with councillors and interest in Morpeth. A decision regarding financial support will be duly made.
106/12 Local Government Pension Scheme 2014 (LPGS 2014)
A copy of the proposed LGPS 2014, for implementation from 1st April 2014, was received.
Agreed:- It was agreed to accept the proposed Scheme and that Unison be congratulated on securing a better deal for employees.
Councillor A Tebbutt Declared a Personal Interest in this matter
107/12Traffic Management Matters in respect of Bridge Street/Telford Bridge
It was agreed to await the outcome of the meeting on 12th July 2012 before making any decision on this matter. Councillor D Parker will represent MTC at the meeting and Councillor A Tebbutt, in his role as CountyCouncillor, will Chair the meeting.
Councillor A Tebbutt Declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in this matter
108/12Wednesday Morpeth Market
Changes to management of the Wednesday Morpeth Market were received.
Agreed:- The proposals were welcomed, especially the inclusion of a councillor on the Markets Partnership, and seen a s a positive endeavour to attract new stalls.
It was proposed and unanimously agreed that Neil Brown be invited to give a presentation to thisCommittee.
CouncillorsDr N Best and A Tebbutt Declared a PersonalInterest in this matter
109/12AMT Harrogate/Public Sector Deposit Fund
Members considered the merits of the above.
Agreed:- It was agreed to check the ethical status of the Fund and that a report be brought to the next meeting of this Committee before further consideration as a provider to MTC.
110/12Purchase of AMTTown Benchmarking Toolkit
A proposal to consider the possible purchase of a Benchmarking Toolkit was received.
Agreed:- It was agreed that MTC procure the above kit and provide leadership to the Town Team, who will provide objective data from which an Action Plan will be formulated.
Councillor M Horton Declared a Personal Interest in this matter
111/12JointCounty Council/Parish and Town Council Meetings
Details of October 2012 meetings were received and members and it was reported that Councillor Dr N Best will attend the Morpeth meeting on 8th October 2012.
Agreed:- It was agreed that this item be included on the agenda for the next meeting of this Committee and that members forward any questions to be submitted to NCC for consideration on the night.
Councillor A Tebbutt Declared a Personal Interest in this matter
112/12Transfer of Services
An email was received from NCC regarding the transfer of further services: FairmoorCemetery and the playing fields at StoreyParkand Swinneys Field. The cemetery is in Hebron Parish and although NCC have indicated the parish does not wish to takeover the same, no proposals have been received from them by MTC.
Q:Governance issues – should parish boundaries be revised to include the cemetery in Morpeth Parish?
Q:Joint Parish Board – should this be set up to include both parishes?
Q:More information regarding who uses the cemetery, costs, etc.
Q:Options – should MTC NCC manage the cemetery and MTC pay for the provision?
Q:St Mary’s Churchyard – a ‘closed churchyard’ – this should not be transferred to MTC: there is a statutory obligation for this to be maintained by the Principal Authority.
Agreed:- It was agreed that Councillor G Trotter, Chairman of Planning and Transport, approach Dave Watson of Hebron Parish to discuss further the transfer of FairmoorCemetery.
Councillor A Tebbutt Declared a Personal Interest in this matter
113/12Area Committee Issues
Q:Code of Conduct Clarification
Q:What is NCC doing with regard to assisting the recovery of Northumberland’s Economy?
It was proposed that Peter McIntyre of ARCH (Regeneration) be invited to attend a meeting of this Committee.
114/12Code of Conduct for Local Councils
The recommended Code of Conduct for adoption by all local councils was received, together with additional guidance from Dr David Francis of NALC. It was reported that there is to be an All Party Meeting at NCC as the Monitoring Officer, Andy Thom, has disputed some of the content of the Code
Agreed:- It was agreed to recommend to Full Council to await the outcome of the All Party Meeting, after which the appropriate recommendation will be made.
Councillors D Parker and A Tebbutt Declared a Personal Interest in this matter
115/12Councillor Reports
Following a decision by Full Council Members representing MTC on Outside Bodies should forward reports to the Clerk for collation and circulation. Where there is nothing to report, the Clerk should be informed “Nil Report”. This information will be included with Full Council papers.
Agreed:- It was agreed that members be reminded in advance of the meeting to submit any reports.
There were no reports of any other nature received at this meeting.
116/12Any Other Urgent Business
There was no other urgent business to discuss and the Chairman requested that the following resolution be passed to discuss the next agenda items in Closed Session (8:19 pm):
“ That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the disclosure of the following item on the agenda as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A in the 1972 Act as indicated below “
Terrace Car Park Toilets
A formal Resolution was subsequently passed to re-open the meeting for the purpose of closure. The meeting concluded at 8:21 pm with Councillors Dr N Best, K Brown, M Horton (Mayor), D Parker (Chairman), P Taylor, A Tebbutt and D Thompson present.
Items Discussed in Closed Session
117/12Terrace Car Park Toilets
Four tenders were considered and it was agreed to accept the quotation from Sincera, totalling £13,800, plus the suggested external enhancements up to the budgeted figure of £21,000, subject to the receipt of satisfactory references.
Councillor A Tebbutt Declared a Personal Interest in this matter
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