MINUTES
Minutes of a meeting of the FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE held at 8.10pm on Wednesday 4th March 2020 in The Mountfitchet Exchange, Crafton Green, 72 Chapel Hill, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex.
PRESENT Cllr J O’Brien (Chairman), Cllrs M Caton, M Jessup and F Richards
ATTENDING
Mrs Ruth Clifford – Clerk to the Council
Mrs Emma Philbrick – Admin Assistant
Cllrs A Barnes and D Wallace-Jarvis
1 member of the press
3 members of the public
310 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr D Bowman
311 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Caton – Grant application from Support4Sight
312 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 4TH DECEMBER 2019
RESOLVED To accept the minutes of the meeting held on 4th December 2019 as a true and accurate account.
313 MATTERS ARISING
204a – Cllrs O’Brien, M Caton and M Jessup had completed a site visit and it was pitch black with the only light coming from properties in Millside. It is dangerous and unsettling for anyone having to walk that route at night. Cllr O’Brien then met with Andy from the lighting contractors and discussed the possibility of extending column WL7 below the bridge by 3m. Network Rail would need to be contacted regarding this to discuss if this would affect passing trains. They would also be asked to cut back foliage to help light on the walkway. The Clerk to pursue this.
314 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT – See attached
315 FINANCE
- PAYMENTS FOR AUTHORISATION – Approved
- VAT RETURN TO 31ST DECEMBER 3019 – Tabled by the Clerk
316 LIGHTING
- OUTAGE REPORT
Details given of the lights out around the village and the progress with them.
- GENERAL
Cllr Richards advised that Rev’d Roy Fowler had asked if any more lights could be put up in High Lane. The Clerk advised that Cllr O’Brien would be looking at lighting around the village and that they were also awaiting the results of the Structural Testing to see what other work might need to be done.
317 GRANTS – TO CONSIDER AWARDING GRANTS TO COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS
The Clerk read out five applications which had been received and reminded members that they had £3,000 available to award.
A UTTLESFORD COMMUNITY TRAVEL
Having been proposed by Cllr Richards and seconded by Cllr Jessup it was
RESOLVED to award Uttlesford Community Travel a grant of £1,000.
This was unanimously agreed
B SUPPORT 4 SIGHT
After discussions it was agreed to ask them for more information on how they help the residents of Stansted and to bring back to the next meeting.
C FOREST HALL SCHOOL – GARDENING PROJECT
Having been proposed by Cllr Jessup and seconded by Cllr Caton it was
RESOLVED to award Forest Hall School – Gardening Project a grant of £500
This was unanimously agreed
D STANSTED HALL – ELSENHAM CRICKET CLUB
After discussions it was agreed to ask for a copy of their accounts and find out how much the kit they require will cost. Members would also like to know if they are getting any other contributions.
E CAB
After discussions it was agreed to wait for a decision on their use of The Mountfitchet Exchange before reviewing their grant application.
Cllr Richards left the meeting
318 INVESTMENT STRATEGY – TO CONSIDER UPDATING OUR POLICY
RESOLVED to adopt the Investment Strategy which would be reviewed for 20/21 in May.
This was unanimously agreed
319 STAFF MATTERS – TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE FROM THE PERSONNEL SUB-COMMITTEE HELD ON 3RD MARCH 2020
Cllr Caton advised that lots was still being debated. They are looking at appraisals and any increases in salary. Staffing ratios is also under discussion following the move into The Mountfitchet Exchange. The minutes of the meeting will be circulated in due course.
320 DAY CENTRE
(a) GENERAL
Cllr O’Brien reported that the Assistant to the Clerk, Trevor Lloyd, had managed to get the grant for the Solar Panels transferred to be used for the windows and doors. In conjunction with the Clerk, Cllr O’Brien would be starting an inventory and doing a full appraisal of the fabric of the building
(b)TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS
Covered above
321 WINDMILL
Cllr O’Brien had attended the last Windmill meeting.
The re-pointing and replacement of bricks went very well, and the finish is fantastic. Another section will hopefully be done later in the year. There is an issue with the striking chain; it is not effective so approval has been given for modification and this will be carried out. The spider is bent and needs to be straightened so work will take place this year to rectify. Trevor Lloyd has obtained a lottery grant again for the Windmill Fete.
322 YOUTH CENTRE – TO RECEIVE A PROGRESS REPORT FROM CLLR CATON
Cllr Caton advised that they are progressing with the SLA between Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council, Essex County Council, Uttlesford District Council and Gemini. They have a stakeholder’s agreement which will detail what each party can expect from the others. It will also give Gemini a number of safeguards and give them support. Cllr Caton is speaking to Cty Cllr Gooding separately regarding possible provision for under 13’s.
Meeting closed at 8.50pm
ACTION POINTS
313 Clerk to contact Network Rail
317 Contact applicants to inform them of decisions and ask for more information where required.
Agenda
NOTICE OF MEETING A meeting of the FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE will be held on Wednesday 4th March 2020 at 8.00pm or as soon after as possible in The Mountfitchet Exchange, Crafton Green, 72 Chapel Hill, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex.
1 To receive apologies for absence
2 To receive Declarations of Interest
3 To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 4th December 2019
4 Matters Arising
5 Chairman’s Report
6 Finance:
a) payments for authorisation
b) VAT return to 31st December 2019
8 Lighting:
a) Outage Report
b) General
9 Grants – to consider awarding grants to community organisations
10 Investment Strategy – to consider updating our policy
11 Staff Matters -to receive an update from the Personnel Sub-Committee meeting held on 3rd March 2020
12 Day Centre a) General
- b) To receive an update on planned improvements
14 Windmill
15 Youth Centre – to receive a progress report from Cllr Caton
Ruth Clifford, Parish Clerk – 26 February 2020