Apologies: Cllr., Phillips, Evans, Read,
Luckham
Press: M.Gould, M.Farrell, C. Harris
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DECLARATION OF
INTEREST - Cllr. Jeffs declared
an interest in the planning applications that had been passed by her for full
council to make comment. MINUTES OF THE
MEETING OF 6th June 2007 -
Proposed: Cllr.
B. Jeffs Seconded Cllr. Cattle (AGREED) Actions carried
Forward Best Value - For the Facilities Committee to take responsibility for obtaining the best value utilities supplier and agree best value terms and conditions for Arlebury Park utilities. Item carried forward CITY COUNCILLOR’S
REPORT Cllr. E. Jeffs reported on the compendium of Local Development Plan documents. He stated that the LDF encouraged a proactive approach from Parishes and Towns. Although there was a focus on housing development it was being viewed in conjunction with the development of the community as a whole. The new Park and Ride site off M3 (J11) would accommodate 864 cars and alleviate city centre traffic and parking. The Waterlooville settlement would help the district parishes and towns with housing target. Cllr. S. Cook Thanked Cllr. Cattle for his prompt reaction to the vermin problem at Makins Court. He reported on a meeting covering the flooding in Alresford, stating that Perins drainage was part of the problem and HCC had pledged to rectify the situation. He spoke of funding for play strategy in the district and reported that the travellers’ situation was being dealt with by Cllr. Verney. The hubs and clusters management board was reviewing their wider strategy on larger issues. ADJOURNMENT FOR
PUBLIC QUESTIONS Mr. R. Atkins
(email) 1.Have
NATC seen management accounts for APSSC for April and May in accordance with
Exec Minutes 85 in March. 2.Has
APSSC paid quarters rent July/Sept in accordance with lease. 3.Has
APSSC paid its share of electricity bills since Jan 2007 4.Has
APSSC paid all other charges and invoices raised by NATC 5.What
is balance owed by APSSC assuming all of above were properly done. The
answers to Questions 1 – 4 was ‘No’ and to Question 5 ‘Appoximately £1800.00. As
chair of NATC what action are you taking to correct the negative answers
given Cllr. Gentry’s response to
Mr. R Atkins written questions. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the Responsible Finance Officer and previous Chair of Finance failed to properly handle the utility bills or correctly account for them in the Town Council's year-end accounts. The Responsible Finance Officer has since resigned. It was not until the electricity company threatened to cut off the electricity in May that we discovered that no utility bills had been paid since the beginning of the year and no action had been taken to invoice The Arlebury Park Club or the Tennis and Football Clubs in respect of utility bills. It is for that reason that an emergency resolution was passed at the last Town Council meeting to pay the outstanding bill of some £4500 to avoid disconnection. On further investigation we found that no meter readings had been taken to correctly establish the Football Club's electricity use. After extensive work we managed to establish or estimate the electricity used and the various organisations were billed towards the end of May albeit this should have been done before the financial year-end. Those invoices, together with the rent, fell due for payment at the end of June and we wrote to the Arlebury Park Sports and Social Club at that time asking for their proposals for payment. As yet we have received no reply. The outstanding amount is approximately £1800 but there will need to be some adjustment to these figures as the Arlebury Park Club has yet to bill the Town Council in respect of Gas and Water from 1st January until early May when all of the utilities were switched into the name of the Council. It should also be remembered that the rent is payable in advance. If we do not receive a formal response from the club shortly we will consider what further action to take but I would be negligent if I did not say that we feel that these outstanding amounts are at risk. Mr. R. Atkins Q1. Said that that the statement made by Cllr. Gentry was untrue. NATC had been informed of the problems with both Southern Electricity and the Dorlebury contract. Accounts for the club had been available for months and NATC had granted the club a rent reprieve until the end of June to help the club’s financial situation. He recommended that an insolvency practise be contacted to look at the situation as the club was showing a loss and there would be a greater risk to creditors the longer the situation continued. A1. Cllr.Gentry thanked Mr. Atkins for his comments. Mr. D. Goodman Q1. Informed the Council that Sun Hill Infants had received an excellent offsted and that the school was at full capacity. He felt that as a result of the new builds in the town, the school would not have the capacity to cope with the influx of the new resident’s infants. He requested that City Cllr. Porter be alerted to the situation. Q2. Mr. Goodman asked the City Cllrs. If something could be done to clean up the rubbish in the Alresford streets. A1. Cllr. Cook would look into the clearance of the streets. Cllr. Porter would be asked to investigate the situation at Sun Hill Infants. Mr. L. Cook Q1. Are the Council in a position to state what percentage each Alresford person would pay to meet the costs of the Steven’s case? A1. Not at the moment but the cost of this and the Arlebury Park Extension would be made public. Q1. A personal undertaken had been given that the rate payers would not bear the cost of this case. A1. NATC believed there could be no precept increment to cover the cost of the Steven’s case. Mr. L. Orton Stated that on the basis of legal advise given at the time NATC believed they had no mandate to pay the Steven’s charges, events and subsequent advise did not support this initial perception of the case. Mr. N. Woodham Q1. Felt that there was an NATC minute qualifying the NATC public committee with regards to the Steven’s case made during a 2004/2005 meeting. Al. The minutes would be checked to clarify the situation.. COMMITTEES Committee Schedule Resolution: For Annual Town Meeting to be held in March. Proposed Cllr. Gentry. Seconded Cllr. B. Jeffs (AGREED) Recreation Reported on 3 key issues. CPO was being progressed. A meeting was scheduled for 27th July Open Space Funding for the Football Club would be discussed at the next meeting (18th July). Perins were liaising with NATC for stronger relationships. Stratton Bates Footpath A request was made for the recreation committee to agenda a resolution to install a footpath from the verge to the car parking area at Stratton Bates. (For 26th Sept. Agenda) Environment Resolution: To purchase cycle racks for broad Street at a maximum
cost of £500. Proposed Cllr. Cattle. Seconded Cllr. B. Jeffs (AGREED) Plastic Bag Initiative ha been adopted by the Chamber and a jute bag with an Alresford logo was being introduced. Tesco and Co-op to be approach to join the incentive. It was stated that there appeared to be a conflict as cleaning up the environment would result in a cost to the public for the jute bags. Broad Street Paving and Bollards The Town Trust was requested to take action with regard to the numerous cracked and missing paving slabs together with the missing bollards. Town Trust to action HCC for replacements and repairs of Broad Street paving slabs and bollards. Waste Disposal. The change of times for commercial waste collection had resulted in waste bins being left on public display in Broad Street all day as shops were unable to retrieve their bins during opening hours. City Cllr. E. Jeffs to take up the matter with SERCO. Cllr. M. Byrne left the meeting Watercress Festival Resolution: For NATC to pledge £2,500 towards the 2008 Watercress Festival together with 50 hours of NATC administration resources to co-ordinate local organisations. Proposed Cllr. Cattle. Seconded Cllr. B. Jeffs. (AGREED) Tourism The public toilets in Station Road had been refurbished to a high standard. A plaque would be installed informing the public that the site had been used in the 1960’s for espionage. Facilities Resolution: To unblock
silt from drain at Arlebury Park minimum. cost £300 (dependant upon blockage) Proposed Cllr. Power Seconded
Cllr. Yeldham (AGREED) GRANTS Resolution: Interim grant to Citizens Advice Bureau for a Monday outreach service £250 Proposed Cllr. B. Jeffs Seconded Cllr. Power (AGREED). Clerk to write to CAB for Alresford attendance figures Resolution: To grant St. Johns Parish Church funds for
replacement of bench in old part of graveyard. (£600). Grant
denied. Clerk to write suggesting the American Embassy be approached for
funds. Resolution: To grant HCC Community Service £200 to run Summer Youth Groups for Alresford youths. Proposed Cllr.
Yeldham Seconded Cllr. B. Jeffs (AGREED) Resolution: To grant the Bowling Club £250 for renewing fencing. Proposed Cllr. Middleton Seconded Cllr. B. Jeffs (AGREED) FINANCE Resolution: To approve payments for June £30,536.28 Proposed Cllr. Power Seconded Cllr. Middleton (AGREED) Resolution: To ratify NATC year end
accounts for public view (Not
proposed) Resolution: To continue investigation on year end accounts in order that NATC may accurately report
back to the public. Proposed
Cllr. B. Jeffs. Seconded Cllr. Power
(AGREED) Resolution: To pay all invoices
within 30 days of receipt and to fully implement a purchase order system. Proposed Cllr. Cattle Seconded Cllr. Power (AGREED) Resolution: To purchase sage
accounting package at a cost of
£550 and instant payroll at a cost of £150 (incl. 2008 updates). Proposed
Cllr. Yeldham Seconded Cllr. Power
(AGREED) Resolution: To implement electronic banking. (Not proposed) Resolution reject until after the implementation of the new SAGE software. Resolution: To move NATC account from the Co-op to a bank with an Alresford branch. (Best terms and conditions and most secure electronic banking to be the selection criteria.) Proposed Cllr. Power Seconded Cllr. B. Jeffs (AGREED) Resolution: To pay £36 per session for watering of hanging baskets. Proposed Cllr. Gentry Seconded Cllr.Cattle (AGREED) PLANNING NATC comments forward to WCC planning were as follows:- Station Mill, Station Road. - (Existing building) - Approved Station Mill, Station Road. - (New building) – Materials to be in keeping with the Station Mill 72, The Dean – Objection. Loss of agricultural land and heritage. 47, West Street – No Comment 1, Russet Close – No Comment DATE OF NEXT
MEETING 7.30 Thursday 13th
September, 2007 at Town Offices, Upper Meeting Room,Arlebury Park. Closed meeting 9.25pm
Chairman’s Signature…………………………………….Date……………………. |
FAC S.Cook J.Porter SK SK REC JC/TS KY/TS E.Jeffs SK SK RG SK SK SK |