Minutes of the Estimates Meeting of Great Cornard Parish Council

held in the Stevenson Centre on 8^th January 2007

PRESENT             Councillors        P.K.Beer                    Chairman                 

                                                            Mrs.C.J.Baker

                                                            M. Fryer

                                                            Mrs F.A.Jackson

                                                            N.MacMaster

                                                            N.H.T.Proctor

                                                            J.R.A.Sayers

                                                            D.R.G.Thomas

                                                            H.N.Todd

                                                            Mrs P.White                                                  

                        Council Manager      M.J.Fitt

                        Clerical Assistant     Mrs.N.C.Tamlyn

1)   Apologies for Absence

      Councillors D.C.Allen, A.C.Bavington, R.R.Simms and Mrs.C.A.Beer-Todd.

2)   Precept 2007/2008      

The Chairman opened the meeting and invited Cllr.H.N.Todd as Chairman of the Policy and Finance Committee to propose the Budget.

     Cllr.Todd thanked Cllr.Baker for all her work in preparing last year’s

budget, advising that the proposed budget continued the emphasis on

youth projects and to also build the Council’s reserves.  

     Cllr.Todd advised that he had included a figure of £3000 for Election

     Expenses,  as well as £500 to cover the majority of the cost for the over

     60’s Christmas Party.

Cllr.Todd proposed the budget as per Appendix A. This would mean an increase of 2.75% which would be less than the predicted rise in inflation. In real terms this would mean a rise in the parish rate for a Band D house of £1.83 per year from £67.75 to £69.58.

The proposed budget was seconded by Cllr.P.K.Beer and passed by the Council. The Precept on the Charging Authority will be £168,243 for the year 2007/2008.

The Council also considered the figures tabled of expenditure to date compared to budget for the current year.

AGREED the Council Manager to prepare a report for the next P & F committee meeting, highlighting grants received by the Council for FY2006/7.

AGREED the Chairman of the R & L committee to review our current Grounds Maintenance Contract and see if any possible savings could be made.

Also, the matter of the general condition of all the Council’s Notice Boards to be added to the next agenda.

Meeting Closed 7.56pm

                                                                        Signed                                              

                                                                        P.K.Beer: Chairman