The minutes of the FINANCE and POLICY COMMITTEE held on 26th November 2007 at
The Parish Office 3 Gorringe Valley Road Willingdon BN20 9SX

Present:
Cllr Colin Laycock (Chairman)
Councillor John Pritchett (Vice Chairman), Councillors Derek Cooper, Jo Carr, Linda Francis,
Fran Pritchett

Mrs Carol Adams - Clerk

FP07/19 Apologies and substitutes
Cllrs Trish Delaney, John Martin

FP07/20 Declaration of Interests
405 - Cllr John Pritchett - Jubilee Gardens and Foulride Green
406 - Cllr Colin Laycock - Quote for Parish Office Works

FP07/21 Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 3rd September 2007 were agreed.

FP07/22 Matters Arising
a) Neighbourhood Watch Signs
Awaiting erection Clerk to check permission and exact location of where to be erected

b) Tott Yew Road - Footpath
The work on the path has been completed as has the Cemetery work.

c) Completion of Oldfield Road Kerbing.
Meeting with EDF Energy, ESCC and W&JPC to be arranged. Clerk to contact all interested parties and arrange a date.

d) Transfer of footpath in Watermill Ward.
The transfer is still at WDC awaiting completion of legal work.

e) Maintenance of stream and banks behind Meachants Lane
Cllr Dick Broady contacted Nigel Waterson who will assist in the matter. Two other quotes awaited for cost of clearing. Clerk to follow up.

f) ESCC Speed Management - Seven Sisters Road
Traffic Sub-Committee looking into issue and will be targeting this area when SID checks carried out.

FP07/23 Report of Finance Officer / Responsible Finance Officer

Budgetary Control
(a) Orders for payment for September and October 2007 and bank reconciliations for information.
The Referring Finance Officer provided the Committee with the current budget positions

Resolved:
Proposed to accept Orders for payment for September and October 2007 and bank reconciliations. Proposed Cllr Linda Francis, Seconded Cllr Derek Cooper, unanimously agreed.

(b) Quotes for approval for works to be carried out in the Parish Office
The Clerk advised members of the 2 quotes received from C.L. Carpentry Ltd and Phillips Plumbing Services.

Resolved:
Proposed to accept quote from Phillips Plumbing Services. Proposed Cllr John Pritchett, seconded Cllr Jo Carr, unanimously agreed.
Clerk to advise Phillips Plumbing Services

(c) Review of work of Internal Auditor
The Clerk advised Members that Mike Cookson the Internal Auditor, had visited the Parish Office twice and had gone through the financial figures and budgets with the Finance Officer in detail and was assisting and advising on the matter. An Internal Audit Report had been received for work covering the period 01/04/07 - 16/11/07, copy attached.

FP07/24 Finance and Policy Committee budgetary figures for consideration
The Committee viewed the figures, but were unable to understand them. Committee
Agreed to defer to next meeting. Cllr Colin Laycock and the Clerk would meet to go
through.
A request was made to find out the cost of hiring the School Hall and the Jevington
Village Hall. Clerk to find out.

FP07/25 Amenities, Recreation and Cemetery budgetary figures for recommendation

Amenities
The Committee viewed the figures and made some alterations.

Resolved:
Proposed to accept budgetary figures . Proposed Cllr Derek Cooper, seconded Cllr Linda Francis unanimously agreed.

Recreation
The Committee viewed the figures and made some alterations.

Resolved:
Proposed to accept budgetary figures . Proposed Cllr Derek Cooper, seconded Cllr Linda Francis unanimously agreed.

Cemetery
The Committee viewed the figures.

Resolved:
Proposed to accept budgetary figures . Proposed Cllr Linda Francis, seconded Cllr Derek Cooper, unanimously agreed.

FP07/26 Budgetary summary and Reserves analysis.
Committee agreed to defer to next meeting

FP07/27 Recommendation for Precept settings
Committee agreed to defer to next meeting

FP07/28 Grant Applications received by Council

1. St Andrew's Church Jevington for Churchyard Grant
Members were shown the invoices for 2007.

Resolved:
Proposed to award grant of £650 per annum towards maintaining churchyard
Proposed Cllr Colin Laycock, seconded Cllr Derek Cooper unanimously agreed.
Expenditure: LGA Act 1972, s 125(6)

2. Anchor
Resolved:
Proposed to award grant of £200 annually.
Proposed Cllr Derek Cooper , seconded Cllr Fran Pritchett, unanimously agreed.
Expenditure: Charities Act 1960, 2.32

3. Mediation
Committee decided not to award grant at this time as Council already gives grant to CAB. Members decided to ask Mediation to a future Full Council meeting. Clerk to invite.

4. Wannock Memorial Hall

Resolved:
Proposed to award grant of £6000 FOR 2008-2009 and £7000 for 2009-2010 for works to provide adequate facilities and access for disabled users.
Proposed Cllr Colin Laycock, seconded Cllr Derek Cooper, unanimously agreed.
Expenditure: LGA Act 1972, s.133

5. Willingdon Memorial Hall
Committee agreed that this item should be passed to Cllr Ron Cussons for him to view and comment on. Request a third quote and for all quotes to be like for like.
Clerk to action.

6. JPK Project
Resolved:
Proposed to award grant of £1000 annually.
Proposed Cllr Colin Laycock, seconded Cllr Fran Pritchett, unanimously agreed.
Expenditure: Charities Act 1960, 2.32

7. Sussex County Playing Fields Association

Resolved:
Proposed to award grant of £15.00.
Proposed Cllr Colin Laycock, seconded Cllr Fran Pritchett, unanimously agreed.
Expenditure: Charities Act 1960, 2.32

8. Open spaces Society

Resolved:
Proposed to award grant of £15.00.
Proposed Cllr Colin Laycock, seconded Cllr Derek Cooper, unanimously agreed.
Expenditure: Charities Act 1960, 2.32

9. Homecall

Resolved:
Proposed to award grant of £330.00.
Proposed Cllr Colin Laycock, seconded Cllr Derek Cooper, unanimously agreed.
Expenditure: Charities Act 1960, 2.32

FP07/29 Parish Administration - Parish Clerk
(a) WDC - Temporary Road closure for the Annual Christmas Carol Concert at the
Triangle 6th December

(b) WDC - Councillors Allowances

(e) Papers on deposit at the Parish Office:-
" Wealden District Council Agenda and reports of Council Meeting 31/10/2007
" DEFRA -'Ways to tackle climate change'
" Action in Rural Sussex October 2007 update
" Sussex Review Autumn 2007-11-20
" East Sussex Downs & Weald PCT Report and Accounts
" Fieldwork Magazine -September 2007
" South East Planning Aid
" Wealden District Council - Forward Plan November - February 2008
" Wealden District Council - 2007 Consultation Response to the Green Paper: Homes for the Future
" Sussex Branch Newsletter Autumn 2007
" Sussex Association of Local Councils - Annual Report and Accounts 2006/2007
" South Downs Joint Committee - Annual Parish Update
" Environment Agency - Cuckmere estuary draft flood risk management strategy consultation
" Wealden District Council - Local Development Framework Issues and Options Consultation
" Town and Parish Standard September 2007
" Wealden View - Newsletter for the Community and Voluntary Sector in Wealden
" Eastbourne Association of Voluntary Services - Annual Report and Christmas Invitation.
" Cuckmere Community Bus Letter 1/11/07
" ESCC Bus Service Change
" WDC Ancient Tree Hunt Competition
" Wealden Citizens Advice Annual Report
" East Sussex Fire Authority Consultation on Integrated Risk Management Annual Action Plan
" Sussex Rural Community Council Report end 31/3/07
" Wealden Business Focus Autumn 07
" Your County ESCC Autumn 07
" Express Yourself ESCC

FP07/30 Hailsham Town Council Bus service subsidy - Consideration of contribution
Clerk advised Members of Hailsham Town Council's actions and payment for the
continuation of the late bus service to Hailsham, and their request for a contribution
towards the cost for period end of October 2007. The Committee agreed to pay £200
towards the cost.

Resolved:
Proposed to contribute £200.00 towards the cost of continuing bus service for period end October 2007.
Proposed Cllr Derek Cooper, seconded Cllr Jo Carr, unanimously agreed.
Expenditure: LG and Rating Act 1997 ss.26-29

FP07/31 Bus Shelter Cleaning
The Clerk advised members of the two quotes received. Members requested that quotes
are provided like for like and that an additional quote be obtained. Clerk to ask for
re-quotes and obtain additional quote.

FP07/32 Jevington Pond Maintenance Quote
Members were advised of the quote received from Southern Land Services. Committee
agreed for matter to be referred back to Amenities Committee. Clerk to put on next
Amenities Committee agenda.

FP07/33 Dates of meetings 2008
Committee were provided with the proposed Meetings Schedule. Members to look at it
and report back.

FP07/34 Councillors Training
The Clerk advised the Committee of the need for Councillors to be provided with training. Some Councillors have received training, but there are still a considerable amount that would
benefit from training. Committee agreed to approach Trevor Leggo of SALC, to provide
training locally. Clerk to speak to Trevor Leggo.

FP07/35 Councillors Allowances
The Clerk advised members of the updated allowances for Councillors. Members agreed
that this should be taken to Full Council.

FP07/36 Liaison with Police and Police Community Support Officer
The Clerk advised the Committee of the PCSO's report to date. PCSO Richie Davidson
will report at the Full Council meeting.

FP07/37 'Any other business - for noting or referral to next Agenda for Council or appropriate
committee'.

Cllr Jo Carr advised the Committee of the proposal to divert the footpath across the field off of Green Lane and the actions needed to be taken in order for this to be achieved.

The Clerk advised the Committee that the order for bus shelter in Farmlands Way to be turned around, has been processed.

Meeting Closed at 9.50 p.m.