COOKHAM   PARISH   COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the

 FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

PRESENT:      Cllr M. Wellman (Chairman)

Cllrs: P. Brockwell, M. Coker, G. Harris, F. Hewer and H.J. Woodbridge.

1.            APOLOGIES AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Apologies were received from Cllrs M. Barnes and Jean Stretton. There were no Declarations of Interest.

2.            REVIEW THE ACCOUNTS FOR 2008-2009 FINANCIAL YEAR: The figures were circulated to all Councillors with the agendas. A Summary of Accounts for the 2008-2009 financial year was also circulated. The Adoptive Acts Committee had reviewed the figures and made no amendments.  Since the last meeting the figures had changed marginally. Total expenditure at the end of November was £72,021 and total income was £110,599 with an estimated bank account figure of approx. £78,274. It was noted that the 106 monies tends to distort the figures on the Footpaths Committee by £22,000 but this would be balanced by the receipt of the monies from RBWM. Cllr Woodbridge suggested that the “Reserved Funds” should be re-named “Strategic Reserve Funds”. This was AGREED by Committee members.

3.            BUDGET FIGURES FOR THE 2009-2010 FINANCIAL YEAR: The budget figures for 2009-2010 financial year show expenditure at £143,875 and income at £137,796. This is a deficit of approx. £6,079 and the Chairman said it would be nice to close the gap between income and expenditure. It was agreed however, that expenditure could be controlled to ensure this gap did not widen throughout the year.

4.            PRECEPT REQUEST FOR 2009-2010 FINANCIAL YEAR: Cllr HJ Woodbridge proposed an increase of 2.5% or £2,0000 to our current precept. This would result in a precept request of £92,000 for the 2009-2010 financial year. This proposal was seconded by Cllr Innes. VOTE: In Favour = 6, Against = 1. Cllr Hewer requested some more information on the figures. It was AGREED to present the precept request for ratification at the next Full Council Meeting. The Clerk agreed to include some extra information on how the precept is worked out by the Finance Department at the Town Hall with the next agenda.

5.             PROGRESS REPORT ON THE INSURANCE OF STREETLIGHTS: The Clerk confirmed that we were still awaiting figures from SEC for insuring the

replacement of our streetlights at their cost value. This sum would be received well before the insurance was due to be renewed. 

The meeting ended at 9.00pm.