Draft Minutes (18)
FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
12th June 2007
PRESENT Councillors: Ms.J.Russell (Chairman)
M.Dolan
S.Gibson
Mrs.J.Hazel
B.Mortimer
A.R.Nicholls
Mrs.L.A.K.Nicholls
V.Redpath
P.Richardson
M.Simper
Apologies were received from Cllr: Mrs.L.Clark and M.V.Daymond
Apologies were also received from: W.Wells, Mayor’s Advisor and Sgt. R. Partridge.
Also in attendance: Mrs.V.Bright, Town Clerk and Mrs.J.Gaskell, Assistant to the Town Clerk.
53/07 Declarations of Interest.
Agenda Item 3(a) Councillor P.W.Richardson declared a personal interest as he is an active member of the community churches in Verwood.
54/07 Policing.
Sgt. Partridge was not able to attend the meeting but had sent a written report which was copied to all members. The report included information on: crime figures; anti social behaviour; the Police open day which was a great success. Any members with questions should inform the Clerk who will then
e mail them to Sgt. Partridge.
The Chairman of the Verwood Hub Community Association gave information regarding the increasing use of the Hub car park by contractors working on the adjacent building site taking up valuable spaces for visitors. The contractors have been asked not to park in the Hub car park and as a consequence they are now parking on both sides of Brock Way leading up to the entrance to the Hub. This is causing a major obstruction in the area. He informed members that he would be writing to the Police to bring this problem to their attention.
55/07 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. The Clerk had met with an officer from Dorset County Council on site, after which she had received an e mail. This stated that after visiting the site, in his experience, the small numbers of pedestrians wishing to cross the road would not be sufficient to meet their intervention criterion. This criterion needs to be met before they are able to prioritise funding for a crossing and an assessment to definitively answer whether this site meets it could be arranged. After discussion it was agreed that the matter would be re-evaluated after a 12 month period.
b) Churches Together in Verwood wrote asking the Town Council to support Verwood becoming a Fairtrade Town. The letter and information was copied to all Members. Discussion took place and members agreed that it was an excellent idea. Various ways to achieve Verwood becoming a Fair-trade Town were discussed and what role the Town Council should play in achieving this aim. After discussion the Clerk was asked to write to Churches Together informing them that the Town Council would be happy to facilitate a meeting at the Town Council offices if Churches Together would gather together any interested parties.
c) Synergy Housing Group wrote giving an update on the possible redevelopment of Montrose
Close, Verwood. The letter was copied to all Members and was noted.
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d) Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty wrote on their Landscape Character Assessment
& Management Guidance – consultation draft. The consultation draft can be downloaded at the following website: www.dorsetaonb.org.uk . The letter was copied to all Members and was noted.
e) T.I.L.A.D. (There Is Life After Death) Friendship/Bereavement Group, wrote thanking the
Town Council for Grant Aid for 2007/2008. This was noted.
f) Forest FM, wrote thanking the Town Council for Grant Aid for 2007/2008. This was noted.
g) Street Enforcement Strategy. The Clerk had attended a meeting at East Dorset District Council
where information was given on the Strategy. There will be no extra resources from the District
Council for this Strategy and existing staff will be appointed enforcement officers. The Core
Offences are: depositing litter; abandoning a vehicle; nuisance vehicles; dogs; fly posting and
graffiti; fly tipping. One issue the Town Council had raised was the time that the rubbish bags and
bins should be put out before collection. In the Strategy it states that all waste receptacles must be
left for collection within 3m of a public highway (unless otherwise agreed in writing) and, where
waste containers have to be left on the highway, containers should not be put out before midday on
the day before collection and ideally not before 18:00 and removed by 20:00 on the day of collection.
The Strategy can be viewed at the Town Council or if any member wishes to have a copy please
contact the Office.
h) Minute 27/07 (c) refers Speed Indicator Device. The Clerk has contacted Dorset County
Council and an officer is willing to meet informally with some members of the Council to discuss the
criteria. He will only be able to discuss SID’s, not enforcement or speed limits! The Clerk would
arrange a meeting and The Mayor and Councillor Mrs. Hazel would attend. Councillor Mrs. Dedden
would be asked if she wished to attend as she had brought the matter to the Council.
i) Internal Audit. A letter had been received from Mr.Mike Preston, Internal Auditor regarding the
Annual Return analysis of expenditure figures, general fund and earmarked funds analysis,
maximisation of investment interest and the Review of the Effectiveness of the System of Internal
Audit. Mr.Preston also sent a quotation for 2007/2008. Most of what has been raised will be dealt
with by the Accounts Assistant as it will help the Audit Trail. The Clerk would be consulting with
Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils regarding the Review of the Effectiveness of the System of Internal Audit. This was noted.
j) Dorset Association of Parish & Town Councils. An e mail had been received from DAPTC
regarding a major consultation about nuclear power generation. The e mail was sent by Dialogue by
Design, a facilitator of the Nuclear Consultation on behalf of DTI. To help the country tackle climate
change and give secure energy supplies, it is the Government’s preliminary view that it is in the
public interest to allow energy companies the option of investing in new nuclear power stations. The
consultation closes on 10th October 2007 and is on line at
http://www.direct.gov.uk/nuclearpower2007 This was noted.
k) Minute 40/07 (a) refers Manor Road Junction/Springfield Road. No information has been
received to date regarding the Manor Road Junction to enable members to have a full and proper
debate on this matter. This matter will be put on an agenda when the information is available. With
regard to Springfield Road a letter will be sent to the Town Council regarding the private street works
priority list, which will include Springfield Road, Manor Lane, Glenwood Road and Moneyfly Road.
Information was given that centre road markings have now been put in place along Brock Way and
into Jenner Close.
l) Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance wrote thanking the Town Council for Grant Aid for
2007/2008. This was noted.
m) Victim Support Dorset wrote thanking the Town Council for Grant Aid for
2007/2008. This was noted.
n) The Verwood and District Carers Group wrote thanking the Town Council for Grant Aid for
2007/2008. This was noted.
56/07 Monthly Budgets.
The monthly budget report will be presented at the next Full Town Council Meeting.
57/07 Access & Disability Audit.
No report.
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58/07 Reports on Health and Safety aspects from the relevant Chairmen.
Reports had been received from the Manager of the Verwood Leisure Centre. The Vice Chairman of
the Amenities Committee had carried out an inspection at the Cemetery. A member of the Amenities
Committee had carried out the inspections of the Recreation Grounds and Open Spaces. The Clerk
will arrange for any necessary work to be carried out.
59/07 Other reports and items for future agendas.
None.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.10 p.m.
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Chairman