Draft Minutes                                                                 (10)

FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

                                                                  22nd May 2007

PRESENT       Councillors:                  M.Simper         (Deputy Mayor)

                                                            M.V.Daymond

                                                            M.Dolan

                                                            S.Gibson

                                                            Mrs.J.Hazel

                                                            B.Mortimer

                                                            V.Redpath

                                                            P.Richardson

                                                            Ms.J.Russell

                                                                                   

Apologies were received from Cllrs:  Mrs.L.Clark,  A.R.Nicholls & Mrs.L.A.K.Nicholls

Also in attendance Cllrs: A.R.Dedden & Mrs.L.Dedden

Also in attendance: Mrs.V.Bright, Town Clerk, Mrs.J.Gaskell, Assistant to the Town Clerk & Sgt. R.Partridge.

30/07   Election of Chairman.

Upon nominations being called for Councillor Ms.J.Russell was proposed and seconded and was duly elected Chairman of the Committee for the ensuing year.

31/07   Election of Vice Chairman.

Upon nominations being called for Councillor B. Mortimer was proposed and seconded and was duly elected Vice Chairman of the Committee for the ensuing year.

32/07   Declarations of Interest.

            None

33/07   Policing.

Sgt. Partridge introduced himself to the new members of the Committee and gave a brief history on his time here in Verwood. A report was given on crime figures and anti social behaviour problems. Information was given on the Police Open day in Verwood on 31st May from 10.00am to 3.00pm, also that the new town beat officer will be holding a series of public surgeries around the town area in the next month and the search for Special Constables for Verwood. Members asked questions regarding distraction burglaries, anti social behaviour and funding for the surgeries at Three Legged Cross

34/07   Clerk’s Report.

a)  Minute 404/06 Provision of a pedestrian crossing on Home Farm Road close to the rear entrance of The Verwood Hub. A letter has been sent to Dorset County Council. This was noted.

b)  Dorset Association of Parish & Town Councils (DAPTC) wrote with information on Connecting Dorset. This is offering Town and Parish Councils hardware and IT connections and will be delivered in phases, the aim being to ensure all T & P Councils have this equipment by 1st June 2008. There will be internet provision, a gov. address, a wireless router, a laptop and Software, which will be Vista and Microsoft Office 2007. The letter and agreement was copied to all Members. After discussion it was proposed, seconded and

RECOMMENDED that the Town Council engage in this project and the Service Level Agreement be signed by the Mayor.

c) Verwood Stroke Club wrote thanking the Town Council for Grant Aid for 2007/2008. This was noted.

d) East Dorset District Council sent a copy of ‘The Constitution of East Dorset District Council’. This was noted.

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e) A resident wrote requesting that consideration be given to providing two bus shelters on Newtown Road. It was agreed that the Town Clerk should acknowledge the letter and that a file be opened to consider requests for bus shelters and these would be looked at before budgets are set for the next financial year.

35/07   Monthly Budgets.

The monthly budget report for May was circulated to all Members. They had been examined and no issues were raised.

36/07   Access & Disability Audit.

            A radar lock has now been fitted to the kissing gate in Ringwood Road, Verwood.       

37/07   Standing Orders 15(k) and 52(a), (b) & (c).

The Model Code of Conduct incorporates paragraph 12(2) which is of course not mandatory for Parish and Towns, but does allow councillors more freedom to speak. If the Town Council wish to adopt 12(2) then they must pass a resolution adopting the Model Code of Conduct including paragraph 12(2).  Due to 12 (2) the Town Council may need a revision to Standing Orders and NALC are considering something suitable. Basically Para 12 (2) gives councillors the same rights to speak at meetings as a member of the public. The Town Council need to adopt the Model Code of Conduct before they can apply for Quality Status. Consideration was also given to discuss Standing Order 15(k), (Min. 22/07 refers) to allow electors to address the council as well as ask questions.

Discussion took place regarding the chairman of each committee and the Mayor at the Full Town Council meetings, giving permission for a member of the public, who is an elector, to comment in order to provide information or clarification on issues being debated. This would mean an addition  to Standing Orders 52 (a), (b) & (c) and an additional item in Standing Orders which would be 15(l).

Members were asked to amend Standing Order 15(k) to enable an elector of the Parish to address the Council or ask a question.

After much discussion it was proposed, seconded and

RECOMMENDED that Standing Orders 52 (a), (b) & (c) have the following addition and that a new Standing Order 15(l) read

“With permission and at the discretion of the Chairman/Mayor any member of the public may comment on an issue being debated by the Council in order to provide information or clarification of items relevant to the matter being debated. This facility will normally be limited to a maximum of only three minutes per person on the subject being debated.”

and that Standing Order 15(k) be amended to read:-

“At the end of the meeting, for a period not exceeding fifteen minutes, to allow any electors of the Civil Parish a maximum of three minutes, to address the Council on a relevant matter or ask a question.”

38/07   ‘Sting in the Tale Festival.’

Members are asked to consider financially sponsoring the “Sting in the Tale” Festival 2007.

The letter received from the Sting in the Tale Committee was copied to all Members.  The Clerk gave further information at the meeting, which included the venues being used for the Festival, which are, The Hub, Verwood Library and the Heritage Centre. After discussion it was proposed, seconded and

RECOMMENDED that £250 be allocated to sponsoring the Festival.

39/07   Reports on Health and Safety aspects from the relevant Chairmen.

Reports had been received from the Manager of the Verwood Leisure Centre. The Clerk and the Assistant to the Town Clerk have carried out an inspection at the Cemetery and Councillor V.Redpath would be carrying out inspections of the Recreation Grounds, Open Spaces and Play Areas. The Clerk will arrange for any necessary work to be carried out.

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40/07  Other reports and items for future agendas.

a)  An Agenda item to discuss the Manor Road junction was requested and also the progress of the making up of Springfield Road. The Clerk was asked to obtain information on the results of the survey carried out on the Manor Road junction.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.31p.m.

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         Chairman