Tuesday 1st November 2022

11am

Present

The Mayor: Councillor T Berry (Chairman)
Councillors: V Higgs; D Little; J Thomas

Officers: S Saunders (Town Clerk);G Shaw (Treasurer)

11. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

There were no apologies for absence.

12. MINUTES

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on the 1^st June 2022 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

13. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

14. EXTERNAL AUDIT CERTIFICATE

Members received the External Audit Certificate which gave a clean audit. The Treasurer advised that the external auditor had notified that in respect of trust funds the “2 boxes” had been incorrectly completed and the response should have been N/A for both. This was noted for future submissions.

The External Audit Certificate was endorsed.

15. HALF YEARLY BUDGET REPORT

Members received a report from the Treasurer which gave information on the actual expenditure and income for the six months up to 30^th September 2021. The Treasurer informed Members that a forecast of £19,000 overspend was predicted at the present time, details of which were provided in the report.

He also asked Members to start giving consideration to next years budget.

The Treasurer was thanked for this informative report.

16. PAYMENT METHODS

The Treasurer informed Members that the Council were now paying approximately 99% of its invoices via BACS. This was saving on postage, bank charges and stationery. The reconciliation was also much easier to undertake. The information was noted.

17. CHAIRMANSHIP OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

Members were advised that traditionally the Chairman of the Finance Committee had always been the Mayor. This had predominately been because the Mayor was in the office at least a couple of days a week and cheques needed to be signed. However, with the movement to online banking and payments being made via the BACS system, it now made more sense that a councillor with an interest in finance would be more suitable to being chair. A discussion took place and the Town Clerk would look at the relevant legislation to see if any councillor could be chair.

18. UPDATE FROM THE TOWN CLERK - VARIOUS ITEMS

Members received an update from the Town Clerk and were asked for approval on quotations received:

Fire Damage to Play Equipment, at War Memorial Park

Repairs to the play equipment amounted to £2,082.72.

Riverside Meadows Toilets and Water Testing

The Council had taken over the Riverside Toilets in April 2022 and in addition to the regular cleaning, the Council had incurred £1,250 for a general tidy up of the toilets plus £553.50 for water testing (Legionella).

Riverside Paddling Pool

Following vandalism to the paddling pool, costs incurred were £1307.10 for repairs to the surface and installation of CCTV costing £1,240.

Kingsway Allotments

New gates had been installed at a cost of £3,965.00. This had been agreed at the 1^st June 2022 Finance Committee meeting.

19. REVIEW QUOTATIONS RECEIVED

Members agreed that re-upholstering of twelve chairs in the Mayors Parlour be carried out at a cost of £780.

The Mayors board needed to be updated. After a discussion, Councillor Little would speak to a carpenter who could be able to assist.

20. MAYOR'S SURGERY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2022

The Mayor informed Members that at his surgery on 6^th September, one appointment had led to the following comments:

• Compliments were made about the staff at the Town Council.
• A charity box be in a location near to the paddling pool to help with costs.
• Refuse bins were not being emptied enough at the riverside.
• The district council were not cleaning pathways at the riverside after flooding occurred.

Councillor Thomas would speak to Wyre Forest District Council regarding refuse bins and flood cleaning.

Members agreed not to proceed with a charity box as it was felt it was not appropriate.

21. EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

Decision: "Under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of "exempt information" as defined in paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

22. UPDATES FROM THE TOWN CLERK

a) Expressions of Interest - The Civic Hall

The closing date for Expressions of Interest had now closed. The Council would follow up documentation received. The Town Clerk was asked to check on PACT and electrical testing and also check the asbestos report.

b) Stourport Community Centre

This item would be on a future agenda.

23. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.

Chairman

The Meeting closed at 11.57am.