MINUTES: FINANCE & RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 26th April 2021 at 7pm via video conferencing.
Present: Cllr Mike Facey (Chairman), Cllrs Peter Clayton, Chris Allen, Louise Parkin, Nick Tolley, Allan Matthews, , Phil Harvey, Sue Harvey, Mike Murphy, and with Sam Winter (Town Clerk) and Sally Jones (RFO) in attendance.
Six members of the public were present and one member of the news media.
Public Participation
There were no speakers.
21/21/F&R Apologies
Apologies were received from Cllr Andrew Brewer
Apologies were noted for Cllr Bill Hancock via Cllr Peter Clayton
Apologies were noted for Cllr Helen Groves via Cllr Phil Harvey
22/21/F&R Declarations of Interest in items on this agenda & dispensations granted
Cllr Mike Murphy declared an interest in item 25/21/F&R (5) (grant for Crosses Penn Community Sports Trust)
With regards item 25/21/F&R (8), Cllr Chris Allen notified the meeting that she is the council’s allocated representative on the Air cadet group and will choose to abstain from the vote on that item.
23/21/F&R Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Finance & Resources Committee held on Monday 8th March 2021 were approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
24/21/F&R Action List
The Action List was noted as completed
Motions for note/resolution
25/21/F&R To consider applications received for grant funding and agree any funds to be awarded:
- Application for £4264, Monarchs Gymnastics
£2,500 in revenue grant was awarded to help pay towards the lease of the gym as numbers of gymnasts able to participate in the club has been significantly reduced due to Covid restrictions..
- Application for £2500, The Brickworks Studio
The full revenue grant applied for was awarded to support a project that will bridge the gap between education and the working world by opening a co-work space at The Brickwork Studio dedicated to artists in the local area.
- Application for £2500, Somewhere House Somerset
The full revenue grant applied for was awarded to pay for 100 hours of counselling for local people in response to increased demand for this service.
- Application for £2500, BOS Fest
The full revenue grant applied for was awarded to pay towards the costs of putting on the community event, BOS Fest scheduled to be held on the 3rd and 4th of September 2021.
Cllr Mike Murphy left the meeting
- Application for £2500 Crosses Penn Community Sports Trust
£950 in revenue grant was awarded to support payment of insurance and the fees for affiliation to appropriate sports and funding bodies. It was further agreed that the Trust is invited to liaise with the town council office with the intention that in-kind support will be provided using the council’s website/zoom or administrative processes, where appropriate.
Cllr Mike Murphy re-joined the meeting
- Application for £500, Eat:festivals The Peoples Plot
The full revenue grant applied for was awarded to support alternative travel choices to the Eat:fesitvals food festival in May and September, and to support the outdoor art competition run during the events.
- Application for £299.87, Burnham and Highbridge Karate Club
The full grant applied for was awarded to support the capital project to help fund a new storage shed for the group’s equipment.
- £268, RAF Air Cadets 290 Squadron Detached Flight Burnham & Highbridge
The full grant applied for was awarded to support the capital project to fund an upgraded flight simulator with a more enhanced experience.
26/21/F&R To adopt the Pensions Discretion policy as reviewed and recommended by the Human Resources sub-Committee, minute ref: 04/21/HR
The meeting resolved to adopt the Pensions Discretion Policy.
27/21/F&T To note the error made by Sedgemoor District Council that incorrectly applied £14678.67 small business relief to the town council’s business rates (£10,000 Small Business Grant Fund received in 2020-2021 and £4678.67 from 2017) and to agree the source of the repayment by the town council.
The meeting heard that the notification had been received from Sedgemoor District Council late within the 20/21 financial year and it was suggested by the RFO that, as the 20/21 accounts are yet to be finalised the £10,000 grant could be repaid out of the 20/21 accounts and that the £4678.67 could be repaid from the general reserve. This suggestion was proposed, seconded and resolved.
28/21/F&R To review the payments made by direct debit
The meeting reviewed the payments made by direct debit and no issues were raised.
29/21/F&R Financial Reports
The financial reports were received and noted.
30/21/F&R Minutes of HR Sub committee
It was noted that the minutes of the HR subcommittee held on the 25th February had been circulated and published.
31/21/F&R Date of Next meeting
The next meeting of this committee will be held on Monday 5th July 2021 at 7pm.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 19.48