A meeting of the Finance Committee of West Chiltington Parish Council was held at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 6 January 2004 in the Parish Office at the Reading Room, Church Street, West Chiltington.

Present: James Mursell (Chairman), Neil Longson (Vice-Chairman), Estelle Warriner, Michael Jackson, Harvie Steele, Roger Watts.

Also in attendance: Peter Evans (Clerk to the Council), one member of the public.

The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed everyone, and wished all present a happy new year.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

None, all Members of the Committee being present.

2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the previous meeting, held on 9 December 2003, were agreed to be correct, and were signed by the Chairman.

3. BUDGET AND PRECEPT FOR 2004/5

The Chairman introduced the revised budget for 2004/5, which included changes recommended by the Committee at its previous meeting. In summary these were:

- a reduction of £5,500 in gross expenditure

- inclusion of £6,000 income from the section 106 agreement (Homemount and Wychacre,  

  Harborough Hill) for work at the recreation ground

- a precept of £42,630, an increase of 2.72% over 2003/4, to produce a balanced budget.

Michael Jackson considered the proposed increase acceptable, and said the District Council would strive to keep any increase in its Council tax to the absolute minimum. He was confident that the Village Hall Committee would not object to the proposed 60/40 split of the £10,000 section 106 payment, currently held by the District Council. Roger Watts hoped this would be the case, given the level of the Parish Council’s financial support for the Village Hall over the years.

Members thanked Michael for his efforts to secure contributions to local facilities from developers, and noted that further planning gain (section 106) monies might be expected from other new developments in the Parish. However, concerns were expressed at what appeared to be the arbitrary nature of the system. There was no standard way of operating: the District Council, as Planning Authority, entered into an agreement with the developer for what were considered worthwhile projects. The Parish Council could bid for financial assistance when a new planning application was made, but it was the District Council’s responsibility to administer the section 106 money and ensure that it was spent properly.

Difficulties could arise if the Parish Council cut planned spending to the bone, then received a windfall planning gain payment. The Chairman’s suggestion, that the Committee continue to budget on its existing basis, was unanimously supported. The matter could be reviewed 12 months hence when the effect of planning gain payments on Parish Council finances might be clearer. Michael Jackson suggested that the Council prepare a list of desirable projects which might be financed from section 106 payments. 

Returning to the precept, Neil Longson felt that if the Parish Council accepted the Committee’s recommendations, the Council should ensure that the minimal increase in precept be widely publicised. Michael Jackson said the Committee’s proposals were sensible, and in the best interests of the Village. It was then proposed by Roger Watts, seconded by Neil Longson and agreed to recommend the Parish Council to adopt the budget as amended and to precept for £42,630 in the financial year to 31 March 2005.

The Clerk had received a letter of thanks from the Treasurer of the PCC for the Parish Council’s grant for churchyard maintenance. Members noted the cost of providing a new handrail in the Churchyard.

The Tennis Club had asked if a new sign could be provided in Mill Road to direct visitors to the tennis courts. The Committee was happy for the Club to erect a new sign at their own cost.

4. ANY OTHER FINANCE BUSINESS

No matters were raised.

ADJOURNMENT

Pat Tinworth suggested that the Committee could have recommended further cuts in discretionary expenditure, and that the operation of the planning gain system might give rise to a perception that a conflict of interests existed.

There being no further business the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8.19 pm.