Extraordinary Meeting Minutes 5 July 2022

1/0507. RECEIVE ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Association of Labour Councillors - Cllrs A. Wetton and A. Burgin.
Big Warsop Partnership - Cllrs A. Burgin, G. Simpson and W. Williamson-Cooper.
Birklands School Board of Governors - Cllr G. Simpson and W. Williamson-Cooper.
Christmas Smile - Cllr K. Hardy.
Finance & General-Purpose Working Party - Cllrs D. Barlow, A. Burgin, W. Williamson-Cooper, R. Butler and K. Hardy.
Friends of the Earth - Cllrs R. Butler and K. Hardy.
Friends of the Carrs - Cllrs W. Williamson-Cooper & A. Burgin.
Friends of Warsop Vale - Cllr A. Burgin.
Green Party member - Cllr R. Butler.
Labour Party member - Cllr J. Stephenson.
Let Warsop Speak - Cllrs D. Barlow, K. Hardy & R. Butler.
MDC Tenants Association - Cllr W. Williamson-Cooper.
Meden Vale Colts FC - Cllr A. Wetton and D. Scaysbrook.
School Board of Governors (Eastlands & Netherfield) - Cllr G. Simpson.
Sports 4 kidz - Cllr G. Simpson.
Staffing Working Party - Cllrs D. Barlow, A. Burgin, R. Butler, G. Morris, and W. Williamson-Cooper.
Swallows Green - Cllr D. Barlow.
The Rotary Club - Cllr G. Simpson & W. Williamson-Cooper.
Warsop Carnival - Cllr W. Williamson-Cooper.
Warsop Food Share - Cllr W. Williamson-Cooper.
Warsop Youth Club - Cllr G. Simpson.
Warsop Youth & Community Trustee & Secretary at the Shed - Cllr W. Williamson-Cooper.
Where There’s Hope - Cllr W. Williamson-Cooper.

2/0507. APOLOGIES

Cllrs A. Burgin (Chair) (MDC), A. Wetton (MDC), G. Morris and G. Simpson.

ABSENT: Cllr D. Scaysbrook.

CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS:

Exclusion of Public

In accordance with Public Bodies (admission to meetings) Act 1960 section 1 (2) the Council exclude the public and press from the meeting by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.

3/0507. THE CHAIR TO OPEN THE MEETING AND GIVE A BRIEF EXPLANANTION OF WHAT WILL BE DISCUSSED

The Vice-Chair opened the meeting, and briefly spoke about what was to be discussed and that she would not allow the conversation to become about the Town Hall. Town Hall discussions would be left for another meeting. The Chair gave his apologies for this meeting due to a conflict of interest and being the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Leisure at Mansfield District Council.

4/0507. CLLRS TO DISCUSS WARSOP PARISH COUNCILS OPTIONS WITHIN THE WARSOP COMMUNITY HUB

Cllr Barlow started the discussion with concerns over figures that had been quoted to her in relation to the cost of WPC building office space onto the Warsop Leisure Hub. The figure was £250,000. Members were unsure if this was a realistic figure.

Cllr Butler was concerned how WPC could afford to do anything with the Leisure Hub while there were huge on-going Town Hall costs.

Cllr Barlow asked members how any decisions could be made on the Leisure Hub if the Town Hall situation and council finances relating to that can’t be discussed. She stated she would consider selling the Town Hall and the funds raised through the sale could be used for WPC to have a stake in the Leisure Hub.

The Clerk reminded members that Cllr Burgin does not have a conflict of interest in regard to the Town Hall, only the Leisure Hub and he should be given the chance to give his thoughts on the Town Hall discussions.

The Clerk gave an update on an email she received from the new Chair of the Warsop Town Hall Community Group, now called SWITCH. The Chair introduced herself and said the group had worked on a new name, new logo, a social media page, an action plan and constitution.

The Clerk read out some figures that she and the Assistant Clerk had retrieved from Scribe after entering the first quarters accounts earlier in the day. The Clerk and Assistant Clerk both agreed that the councils’ finances were looking slightly worse than predicted and that the best-case scenario for the 2022/23 tax year would be to break even.

Cllr Stephenson asked how financing this project could be achieved considering the figures, increases in utilities along with some reductions in room rental income. He stated that he thought it was important that WPC have an interest in the Warsop Leisure Hub.

The Vice-Chair read through some loan information that a previous Cllr had received from MDC in 2019. This was to give members a guide, all be it outdated, on the figures if the council were to consider a loan.

The Clerk and Assistant Clerk advised the council not to seek a loan. This would be financially irresponsible when considering the councils finances and that the council do not currently have a business plan in place that covers a financial plan. Any loans or council decisions that include large sums of money would need to be put out for public consultation.

Cllr Barlow gave members an update from the scrutiny meeting held at MDC on the Warsop Leisure Hub. She explained where some of the money is coming from and that there is a time limit from the Government to use the £3 million given otherwise MDC will have to give it back. She is concerned that although MDC is led by a Labour Group administration, they currently don’t have a majority and would other parties seek to scrutinise this project past the date the Government set. The Parish Council did not receive any formal invites to be apart of this. Members of the Scrutiny Committee are questioning why Warsop deserve this hub and why are NCC or WPC not contributing towards it. She raised concerns that WPC would be left without any stake or ownership in the hub.

The Vice-Chair was concerned about the progress being made but that any decisions made by WPC must be finalised on finances.

The Assistant Clerk pointed out that the hub might not be the best location for WPC. If the council were to move, it should consider moving to the centre amongst the local shops.
The Vice-Chair and most members agreed that the centre for WPC would be much better.

Other comments raised were, how many hubs are needed in Warsop Parish as there is already The Shed, Warsop Methodist Church/Vibrant Infotech, SWITCH, UBOX, etc, the council should consider a shop in the centre and either selling or handing back the Town Hall to MDC.

Cllr Barlow proposed that the Clerk seek costings for office space at the hub, receive the SWITCH group update and if possible, get an up to date building survey carried out and then attend another meeting to discuss the information. The council would give delegated powers to the Clerk and Assistant Clerk to accept one of the 3 quotes received from chartered building surveyors.
RESOLVED: This was agreed by 4 members to 1.

Cllr Stephenson proposed that another extraordinary meeting be arranged.
RESOLVED: This was unanimously agreed for Tuesday 19th July at 6pm and the 2 items on the agenda would be to discuss the Town Hall and then the Warsop Leisure Hub which would allow Cllr Burgin the chance to participate in the Town Hall discuss and avoid a conflict of interest relating to the hub.

5/0507. CLOSE MEETING

The Chair closed the meeting, thanked members for attending and reminded Cllrs that this meeting and the information heard within it is confidential.