Minutes of a meeting of the Finance Advisory Committee held in the Council Chamber, Windmill Lane, Northam on Tuesday 19th August 2008

PRESENT: Chairman - Cllr B M Edwards

Members - Cllrs Mrs S Collins, C K Langton, R H Osborne

Other Members in attendance were Cllrs Mrs A J Boyle, Mrs M Cox, A Eastman and P Hames.

1. Minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held Thursday 10 th June 2008 were approved and signed.

(Vote: Unanimous)

2. Town Council – Income and Expenditure 2008

Members examined the income and expenditure for the current year. It was agreed that Committees be asked to consider their proposals in relation to their budgets.

3. Northam Burrows passes – Income and Expenditure

Members considered the Town Clerk's report on the income and expenditure for the Burrows passes for the current calendar year. It was noted that the demand for passes continues to increase albeit slightly. In view of the work involved by the staff and the need to ensure that the budget remains in credit it was thought prudent to recommend that the cost of a pass be increased to £12 for 2009.

4. Bridge Hall - Expenditure

Members considered the expenditure to date on the Bridge Hall. The Chairman reported on the works to the drain which thanks to a local builder had been done at minimal cost. He advised that Braddicks were to remove the bus shelter at the entrance to the hall site with a view to replacing it with something more suitable at a later date.

Cllr Mrs Boyle left the meeting at this juncture.

5. Grant application Form

Members considered the grant application form which was approved subject to the addition of telephone number and e-mail address of applicants.

6. Devon Association of Community Buildings

Cllr Hames explained the benefits of being a member of this association, the annual subscription being £75. It was agreed to recommend to Council that the Town Council becomes a member.

7. Repairs to Bus shelters

The Town Clerk reported that two shelters along Golf Links Road required panes of glass to be replaced. The quoted costs from the bus shelter manufacturer was £704 for the two shelters. It was agreed to see if a local builder could offer a more competitive price

8. Contribution towards coast protection works

Members considered the Golf Club's proposal to recharge a section of the pebble ridge near the 8 th tee. It was understood they were in the process of making an application to Natural England for consent to undertake the works. It is also understood that Natural England are likely to give consent for a small recharge of approximately 3,000 tonnes. The Town Clerk advised that he thought the District Council had not, as yet, agreed to assist in funding the works and they were currently examining the terms of the lease between themselves and the Golf Club to see if they had any liability.

Members agreed to support the proposals of the Golf Club to the extent that they would forgo next year's payment in respect of topping of the fairways, estimated to be £2975, subject to the Golf Club pledging the same amount, the District Council funding the majority of the costs and that Natural England approved the works.

9. Matters from Town Projects Advisory Committee

The Committee considered the financial implications of the Town Projects Advisory Committee and were in agreement with the expenditure on festive lighting, dog bins and street cleaning, all of which could be funded from the existing budgets.

10. Any other matters

Cllr Osborne suggested that the Council write to County Cllr Ford to ascertain from him how the money that the County Council has received from the sale of Exeter airport has been, or is going to be, spent in this area. It was agreed to recommend this to full Council.