STORRINGTON & SULLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Finance and Budget Committee held in the Chanctonbury Room, Sullington Parish Hall, Thakeham Road, Storrington, on Wednesday, 17th January, 2007, commencing at 7.30 p.m.

Present: Mr. R. Dawe in the Chair, Mr. C. Mason, Mr. A. Mullard, Mr. D. Roper, Mr. J. Sanson and Mrs. A. Worthington-Leese.

In Attendance:  Mr. A. Head.

16.    Apologies for Absence.  All Members were present.

17.    To Receive Declarations of Interest from Members.  There were no declarations of interest from Members.

18.    To Approve and Sign the Minutes of the last Meeting held on the 23rd October, 2006.   These minutes were duly AGREED to be a correct record of the proceedings thereat and were signed by the Chairman.

    Matters Arising.

19.    Minute No. 10: Unregistered Land Rear 36 – 42 High Street, Storrington.  It was reported that this work would be included as part of the High Street Scheme in 2008.

20.    Minute No. 13: Alliance Cornhill Insurance.  Alliance Cornhill should be asked what the discount was for agreeing to a five-year term.

21.    Report from Clerk re: Treasury Reserve Account.  Currently the sum of £60,000 had been invested at a rate of 4.65% and £977.99 interest had been received since the last meeting.

    To Consider the following requests for Donations/Funding :-
   
22.    Friends of Storrington School.    Mr. Sanson declared a personal interest in this item because he was a governor of the school, therefore he took no part in the discussion.  They requested a donation toward a list of equipment that they required.  It was AGREED :-

    The Friends should be asked to price the items required and then the Council would donate item(s).

23.    4Sight.  It was AGREED :-

        To donate the sum of £120.00.

24.    St. Barnabas Hospices Lottery.  It was AGREED :-

        To donate the sum of £52.00.

25.    Storrington Greenfingers.  It was AGREED :-

That the sum of £2,000 (the same as last year) would be placed in the budget for the next financial year.

26.    West Sussex Mediation Service.  A copy of their 5th Annual Report had been supplied and they requested a donation to help balance their budget.  It was AGREED not to donate.

27.    West Sussex Rural Mobile Youth Trust – The Purple Bus 2007/8.  It was AGREED :-

    In lieu of a donation to allow free use of the Sullington Parish Hall for meetings four times a year.

28.    Royal British Legion – Remembrance Day Refreshments.  The sum of £104.04 had been paid.  This action was duly RATIFIED.

29.    Storrington Bonfire Society had requested the Parish Council include in its budget for the next financial year a provision for financial assistance to them to enable the event to continue.  They could not provide exact figures, but assured the Council that they would provide substantiation of the eventual amount once a new site had been agreed. The Members did not consider that it would be appropriate for this event to be held on the Hormare Field.  Bearing in mind that the application to develop the Priory land was not successful, it was felt that they should be able to continue to use the existing field.  It was AGREED to request a copy of their balance sheet.

30.    Storrington Bowling Club.  Mr. Roper declared a personal interest in this item and took no part in the discussion thereof.  They requested a donation towards the cost of replacement outdoor benches, tables, chairs, sunshades and umbrellas.  It was AGREED not to donate. 

31.    Friends of Rydon School Association requested a donation towards refitting of the school hall with a better PA system, electrical screen and associated computer software.  Following discussion it was AGREED :-

        The Council was not in a financial position to be able to help. 

32.    Borrowing Approval received from the Department of Communities and Local Government.  Approval had been granted for an amount not exceeding £194,500 and the required amount had to be borrowed prior to the end of the current financial year.

33.    To Consider the Budget for the next Financial Year 1st April, 2007 to 31st March, 2008 and make recommendations to full Council.  Discussion ensued with various questions being raised, following which it was AGREED :-

➢    The Bank Interest figure for the current year should be increased to £2,750.
➢    The Loan should be increased to £169,500 to allow a further £10,000 to be placed in the Pond Reserve (£15,000).  This would make an adjustment of £700 in terms of costs.

With these amendments Mr. Mullard Proposed; Seconded Mr. Sanson and UNANIMOUSLY AGREED :-

    To recommend full Council to accept this budget and to take out the loan as soon as possible.

It was pointed out to the meeting that at the Storrington Recreation Ground, the grassed area at the immediate rear of the children’s playground was currently totally water-logged.  As this area was not originally going to have anything done to it, Royal Haskoning had now been requested to add drainage to this area.  The possible cost of this work would be £7,500, which would be an extra.  The draft budget for approval by the full Council is being amended to reflect this change.

34.    Chairman’s Announcements.  There were no announcements.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.50 p.m.