Finance and General Purposes Working Party Meeting Minutes 10 January 2024

1/1001. RECEIVE ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Age UK - Cllr R. Butler.
Christmas Smile - Cllrs K. Hardy, D. Scaysbrook and K. Bonsall.
Finance & General-Purpose Working Party - Cllrs K. Hardy, D. Barlow, A. Burgin, R. Butler and K. Bonsall.
Friends of the Earth - Cllrs R. Butler and K. Hardy.
Friends of the Carrs - Cllr A. Burgin.
Friends of Warsop Vale CIC Director - Cllr A. Burgin.
Green Party Member - Cllr R. Butler.
Labour Party Member - Cllr A. Burgin.
Meden Medical Services PPG - Cllr K. Bonsall.
Staffing Working Party - Cllrs K. Hardy, D. Barlow, A. Burgin, R. Butler and D. Scaysbrook.
Swallows Green - Cllr D. Barlow.
WPC Room Hire (Ferocious Dog) - Cllr K. Bonsall.

2/1001. APOLOGIES

Cllrs D. Barlow (Vice-Chairperson) (Extended apologies).

ABSENT: Cllr R. Butler.

3/1001. DISCUSS WITH LIZ PHILLIPS THE PROGRESS OF THE TOWN HALL ASSET TRANSFER

Liz stated that she has been chasing her solicitor and confirmed that they are waiting for a document from WPC. She has informed her legal team that this transfer needs to be completed by 31st March at the latest.

Cllr Scaysbrook requested that his following comments were minuted. He said if the transfer is not complete by the middle of March then the building should be handed back to MDC as the Parish Council has a duty and is legally required to set a balanced budget.
Cllrs Burgin respected Cllrs Scaysbrook comments but stated there is an agreement in place and some matters aren’t as simple as his statement suggests.

Lifespring have started running a number of activities from the Town Hall already, these are Arts and Crafts, Prayer meetings, Freedom, mindfulness/beauty and CAR Warsop which provide food hampers for those in need. Other activities due to start are a food club and an autism support group. A construction college has offered do some works such as removing materials, re-plastering etc which reduces costs and allows work experience for the students.

Lifespring did not get the funding originally applied for. However, on the positive side they have been given information that will lead to the successful attempt of funds for this project.

RECOMMENDED: The council should discuss this update.

4/1001. DISCUSS AND REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS PROVIDED BY THE COUNCIL’S SOLICITOR FOR THE TOWN HALL ASSET TRANSFER AND QUESTIONS FROM OFFICERS ON THE COUNCIL’S RELOCATION

The Clerk gave members a copy of the information provided by the council’s solicitor that was received from Lifespring’s legal representatives. The answers provided by the Clerk and solicitor were discussed.

RECOMMENDED: The answers are agreed by full council and ask the solicitor to confirm that the answers are suitable and correct.

RECOMMENDED: The council cancel the February Council meeting to allow officers time to prepare for the relocation of the Parish Council.

RECOMMENDED: The council consider items/equipment needed for the relocation move such as skips/clearance, storage and an intercom system.

5/1001. REVIEW, DISCUSS AND MAKE ANY REQUIRED RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE QUARTERLY BUDGETS

Members read through the information provided and asked questions on the 3rd quarter.

RECOMMENDED: The March edition of Warsop Parish News to be cancelled due to the current printers closing down. This will also ease the council’s finance situation.

RECOMMENDED: The council accept the quarterly budget.

6/1001. REVIEW AND DISCUSS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE 24/25 BUDGET AND PRECEPT

An in-depth discussion too place. All areas of the budget were considered, and a number of recommendations were made.

RECOMMENDED: Full council are to discuss and decide options for the precept decision. Officers will provide costings for a 1% increase up to a 10% increase.

7/1001. REVIEW, DISCUSS AND RECOMMEND ANY S137 APPLICATIONS

There were no applications to discuss.

8/1001. CONSIDER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE RESIGNATION OF THE VICE-CHAIRPERSON AND ELECTION OF A NEW VICE-CHAIRPERSON

Cllrs discussed the resignation letter received by the Vice-Chairperson. Members spoke about the great work Cllr Barlow has achieved at the council, her incredible knowledge and the positive influence she is to all Cllrs and officers.
Nominations for a new Vice-Chairperson were discussed.

RECOMMENDED: The council accept Cllr Barlow’s resignation as Vice-Chairperson only and to continue in her role as Parish Cllr. The Parish Council should send a letter of thanks to Cllr Barlow.

RECOMMENDED: Cllr Scaysbrook to take the role of Vice-Chairperson.

9/1001. DISCUSS THE DEATH OF CLLE MORRIS, A MEMORIAL FOR CLLR MORRIS AND DATES FOR ADVERTISING THE VACANCY

All members agreed that this is a huge loss for Warsop Parish Council and at the next Parish Council meeting a minute’s silence in Cllr Morris’s memory will be undertaken at the start of the meeting. Suggestions of planting a tree or having a plaque were made for a memorial.
There were discussions on waiting until after Cllr Morris’s funeral before advertising the vacancy as a mark of respect and extending the length of the agreement for Nadine Mcguiness to be consider for the position without completing the interview process again.

RECOMMENDED: A date for the vacancy will be decided after Cllr Morris’s funeral and planting a tree in the Parish Council’s car park as a memorial to him.

RECOMMENDED: Extend the agreement for Nadine Mcguiness by 3 months.

10/1001. DISCUSS NOMINATION DATES FOR THE PC COMMUNITY AWARD AND CONSIDER A VOLUNTEER AWARD TO RECOHNISE INDIVIDUALS LIKE GRAHAM HALL WHO VOLUNTEER IN THE PARISH

Members discussed the idea of an individual community award but came to the conclusion that a lot of individual achievements could be missed. It was discussed that letters could be sent to individuals to acknowledge their achievements. It was also suggested that the community award could be presented at an event like Warsop Carnival.

RECOMMENDED: The council write a letter of congratulations and thanks for Graham Hall on his MBE award.

RECOMMENDED: The nominations will open in February/March and the award present in April.

RECOMMENDED: The council to vote on 2 options for presenting the community award. One is for the award to continue being presented in the Council Chambers in full council or seek permission for it to be presented at Warsop Carnival.

11/1001. DISCUSS THE OUTCOME OF THE PLANNING APPLICATION FOR THE OLD BINGO SITE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD DO NEXT

Members discussed the refusal of planning permission for housing on the old bingo site and the dates for appeal. It was discussed that any council involvement is restricted due to council finances. Other development companies were discussed.

RECOMMENDED: Move this item to the March agenda due to budget decisions and relocating the Parish Council.

12/1001. DISCUSS THE TOWN HALL CLEANING NEEDS

Officers explained that the current cleaning of the Town Hall as been done by them, and that the agreement was in place for them to do this while the usage of the Town Hall was limited. The Town Hall is now used most days by Lifespring church, and the toilet areas are becoming a problem.

RECOMMENDED: The council ask Lifespring to help with cleaning duties and inspect/clean the toilets after use.

13/1001. CLOSE MEETING

The meeting was closed at 8.30pm.

These will be presented to Full Council on Monday 15th January 2024.