Minutes of the meeting of the Policies and Finance Committee

held in the Stevenson Centre on Monday 27^th March 2006

Present            Councillors          H.N.Todd                                Chairman

                                                        D.C.Allen                                                      

                                                        Mrs.C.J.Baker

                                                        P.K.Beer

                                                        M.Fryer

                                                        D.R.G.Thomas                  

              Council Manager            M.J. Fitt

1)  Apologies for Absence

      Apologies were received from Councillors A.C.Bavington

2)  Declarations of Interest, Gifts or Hospitality

      Cllr.P.K.Beer declared a Personal Interest with regards to his

      membership of Sudbury Town Council, Babergh District Council and Suffolk County Council.

      Cllr.H.N.Todd declared a Personal Interest with regards to his

      membership of Babergh District Council    

3)  Chairman’s Announcements

Nothing to report

4) Correspondence

     Cllrs.P.K.Beer and H.N.Todd declared a Prejudicial Interest and left the

     meeting for this item only. Cllr.Mrs.C.J.Baker took the Chair for this

     item only.

a)     Cornard Tye Residents Association: Request for financial Assistance

The Residents Association requested funds to help defray the costs of mounting a campaign to oppose the inclusion of the Carsons Drive site in the Local Plan as building land.

The Parish Council had made its own submission to the District Council and had expended any funds it had available for that purpose. The Council had also, in fact, already contributed to the Residents Association campaign by providing paper and photocopying facilities for the 3500 leaflets delivered door to door.

The Parish Council would thank the Residents Association for its determined campaign but regret that it has no funds available to make a donation.

5) Items Brought Forward

a)     Risk Assessment and Standing Orders.

The Modernisation Committee was considering a Risk Assessment and a rewrite of Council’s Standing Orders produced by the Council Manager, and these will be placed before the Council at its next full meeting with a recommendation that they be adopted.

b)     Blackhouse Lane Pavilion

The Council Chairman advised the Committee of a meeting he had had with representatives from the Cricket Club and a representative from Cornard Dynamos concerning a dispute over water for the pitches.

He further advised the Committee that at the present time he has no intention of signing the lease, when it is to hand, until these matters are satisfactorily resolved.

AGREED to refer this matter to the Recreation & Leisure Committee with a recommendation that their Chairman, with the Council Manager, meets with the parties concerned to resolve the matter.

6)  Financial Matters

a)     Expenditure to date

Figures were presented to the Committee covering the current financial year up to 20^th March 2006.

With less than a month to go to the end of the financial year it was hoped that the Council would have i. Paid off the deficit from 2004/5,

ii. Established a Capital reserve, iii. Broken even on its day to day expenditure.

b)     Cheques issued, Credits in

Meeting Closed 8.35pm