Finance & General Purposes Committee – 20th January 2025

The Finance and General Purposes Committee Meeting welcomed members and noted an apology from Councillor Jay Lunn before approving the minutes from previous meetings. The committee reviewed the projected budget, highlighting increased CCTV costs due to rising electricity prices and discussing the potential reduction in the parks and recreation tree work budget from £33,000 to £22,000, weighing safety against financial constraints. Further discussions included a review of financial reports and reserves, advocating for a minimum reserve of £50,000 amidst a projected deficit. A proposal for a £10,000 investment in a digital notice board sparked debate regarding benefits and security, with details delegated to a working party. Community engagement efforts were discussed to enhance resident communication and define council values. The committee also reviewed cemetery and market stall fees, recommending increases to align with inflation. A proposal for a £4,000 contribution towards obtaining a legal opinion on the local plan was supported as a final challenge. The meeting concluded with a detailed budget planning session for the upcoming year, addressing concerns about projected deficits and agreeing to recommend most of the budget to the full council pending further investigation on specific matters. Action items were noted for follow-up, including inquiries into HR budget clarity and utility cost increases.

Watch a recording of the meeting on YouTube

🏛️ Meeting Opening and Apologies (00:05 – 02:50)
Meeting of Finance and General Purposes Committee
Apologies received from Councillor Jay Lunn
Minutes of previous meetings approved

💰 Budget Review (02:50 – 17:49)
Review of projected expenditure and income
Discussion on various budget sections including corporate management, democratic costs, grants, and street lighting
CCTV costs increased due to rising electricity prices

🌳 Parks and Recreation Budget (17:49 – 28:25)
Discussion on parks maintenance and tree work budgets
Concern raised about reducing tree work budget from £33,000 to £22,000
Debate on balancing safety requirements with budget constraints

📊 Financial Reports and Reserves (28:30 – 40:04)
Review of financial reports and reserve levels
Discussion on general reserves and projected deficit
Proposal to maintain minimum reserve level of £50,000

🖥️ Digital Notice Board Proposal (40:08 – 50:42)
Proposal to invest up to £10,000 in a digital notice board
Discussion on benefits and potential security concerns
Agreement to delegate details to community engagement working party

📝 Community Engagement and Values (50:43 – 01:01:47)
Update on community engagement working group
Discussion on defining council values and mission statement
Emphasis on improving communication with residents

💼 Fees and Charges Review (01:01:51 – 01:14:00)
Review of cemetery fees and charges
Discussion on market stall fees and event charges
Proposal to increase some fees in line with inflation

⚖️ Legal Opinion on Local Plan (01:14:00 – 01:25:50)
Proposal to contribute £4,000 towards seeking legal opinion on local plan
Debate on potential benefits and risks of this action
Decision to support the proposal as a last effort to challenge the plan

📅 Budget Planning for Next Year (01:25:50 – 02:19:45)
Detailed review of proposed budget for next year
Discussion on various budget lines including HR costs and tree work
Concerns raised about projected deficit and need for clarity on some items
Agreement to recommend majority of budget to Full Council, with further investigation on specific items