At a meeting of the Parish Council held on 26th
February 2007 at 7.00pm
the following Parish
Councillors were present:-
Councillor P Gill (Chairman)
G Downey, M Duggan, F Forrest, G Fraser, L Green, P Harper, J Harkins, C
Mitchell and G Payne
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P Carlton and D
Coombe
Prior
to the commencement of the formal business, Parish Councillors discussed
various cleansing and refuse collection issues with Mr Gary Berwick of Sefton
Council’s Environmental Services Department; two residents also attended.
4347 Minutes – 12th February 2007
The
minutes of the meeting held on 12th February 2007 were received as a
correct record and signed by the Chairman.
4348 Financial Matters
The
Parish Council
|
Payee |
Details |
Amount £-p |
Cheque no. |
|
R
Atherton |
Course fee/mileage |
54-32 |
4678 |
|
Cash |
Petty cash |
48-04 |
4679 |
|
B
& Q |
Grit/paint |
179-32 |
4680 |
|
Euphony |
Telephone calls – January 2007 |
11-36 |
4681 |
|
ICS |
Cleaning materials |
40-51 |
4682 |
|
United
Utilities |
First half year water charge |
455-20 |
4683 |
|
Aitkens |
Park equipment |
99-75 |
4684 |
|
R
G Harris |
Printing/postage |
4-91 |
4685 |
|
LAPTC |
Annual subscription |
704-10 |
4686 |
|
Summary of
receipts/payments |
Receipts £-p |
Payments £-p |
Balance £-p |
|
Total balances b/f |
|
|
118,249.01 |
|
Golf |
|
|
|
|
Tennis |
|
|
|
|
Bowls |
|
|
|
|
Football |
93.88 |
|
|
|
Donation |
20.00 |
|
|
|
VAT refunded |
4,395.01 |
|
|
|
Sefton double rating |
10,968.78 |
|
|
|
Capital reserve interest |
680.82 |
|
|
|
VAT collected |
17.12 |
|
|
Page no. 2747
|
VAT paid |
|
522.80 |
|
|
Payroll |
|
3,855.28 |
|
|
Tax/NI |
|
1,261.04 |
|
|
Bank charges |
|
33.90 |
|
|
Admin expenses |
|
925.00 |
|
|
Telephone |
|
72.74 |
|
|
Electricity |
|
78.00 |
|
|
Water |
|
|
|
|
R/R (see breakdown below) |
|
1,984.04 |
|
|
Plants/compost |
|
247.48 |
|
|
Donations |
|
|
|
|
Fuel |
|
|
|
|
Mileage |
|
|
|
|
Skip hire |
|
|
|
|
Sundries – CPRE annual subscription |
|
27.00 |
|
|
Totals |
£16,175.61 |
£9,007.28 |
£125,417.34 |
Breakdown of repairs/renewals
|
Playground equipment repairs |
£-p 875.00
|
|
Lock repair to shutter |
25.00 |
|
Scaffold purchase |
525.00 |
|
Timber/plywood |
559.04 |
|
Total |
£1,984.04 |
4349 Internal Auditor’s
Report
1) Mr Evans be thanked for his report
2) the report be noted and the RFO be requested to make
the amendment relating to the section 137 grant.
Having received the books
from the Responsible Finance Officer (ROF) I checked the initialling of cheque
counterfoils. I am pleased to report that of the thirty cheques I sampled I
found they all had the required two sets of initials. As a part of my
assessment I checked the arithmetic of the cashbook and in general could find
no reason to raise this as an issue for the Council.
I checked the maintenance
of the cashbook and it is up to date.
I sample checked the
arithmetic for month 5 for Wages, R/R and Mileage and could discern no
anomalies in the Arithmetic. However, it is my opinion that the RFO is erring
on the side of the Council in relation to her own salary and that of the Clerk.
After checking the authority to pay on page 2583 of the Council Minutes I noted
that 1/12 of the annual salary for the RFO is £329.898 which I would round up
to £329.90. The RFO rounds down to £329.89. There is a similar difference in
the salary of the Clerk at £708. 4458 rounded down to £708.44. As noted in my
last report the authority noted above does not
feature in the RFO’s
records. While this is not an issue of consequence the external auditors will
need to see this approval.
Page no. 2748
I checked other invoices
for correctness and have nothing to report for those numbered 142 through to
159. Each had the two signatories prescribed by the Council’s standing orders.
However, I did note an arithmetic error in the claim made by the Clerk to the
Council on invoice 159. There were three invoices amalgamated into one payment
and the invoice I would prefer to see sequenced as 159 (1) the VAT claimed is
incorrect. 17.5% of £12.77 is £2.23 not
£2.48 as claimed. Although this is a small amount I am concerned that neither
the RFO nor the two signatories noticed it. I bring this to your attention in
the hope that this is an isolated incident.
I note that invoice 165 is
a section 137 expenditure which should be recorded separately. The entry within
the cashbook fails to note that this is a section 137 expenditure and I can
find no other indication other than the note on the invoice itself.
The income of the Council
is promptly banked and the bank reconciliation is up to date. The information
provided by the RFO did not include any reference to Petty Cash. I have scanned
the minutes for unusual activity and have nothing to report. I checked the
reclaim of VAT and could find no reason to raise this as an issue for the
Council. I sampled the bank statements for cheques 4411, 4412 and 4413 and they
substantiate the amounts within the finance book. The actual expenditure is
reported to the Council on a regular basis.
In consequence I would
propose that the items highlighted above should be noted and appropriate action
taken by the Council to ensure compliance with Financial Standing Orders and
any other regulatory requirements.”
4350 Beech Tree Known as the “Ain Tree”
The
Parish Council
1) noted
that the residents who were assessing the cost of a stone and plaque to be
placed in the library grounds with appropriate lettering to commemorate the
former beech tree known as the “Ain Tree” had indicated that the cost would now
likely be around £1,600
2) agreed
that it would be mindful to make a section 137 grant of £1,600 to the Aintree
Initiative Group, the overarching body involved in the project, subject now to
the Parish Council's involvement in the project
3) agreed
that Councillor Harkins be requested to represent the Parish Council at
meetings with the residents concerned
4) Councillor
Harkins be requested to inform the residents that it was never the Parish
Council's intention that the residents would need to seek finance for the
project.
Councillor Harper requested
that his vote against 1) be recorded insofar as it related to the siting of the
stone and plaque in the library grounds and Councillor Forrest requested that
his vote against 2) be recorded insofar as the £1,600 grant was concerned.”
4351 Atholl Crescent Entrance to the Park
The
Parish Council
1) considered
a letter from Councillor Harper asking on behalf of the residents near the
entrance, if they could buy the sections of the path which adjoined their
properties or alternatively, if the Parish Council could keep the gate
permanently locked
2) agreed
that it could not sell the land
3) agreed
that the gate again be closed and the matter re-considered at the next meeting.
Page no.
2749
4352 General Correspondence
1)
Aintree and Melling Partnership; noted that its next meeting would clash
with the Parish Council's next meeting on 19th March 2007 at 7.00pm.
2)
Sefton Council – noted that the Parish Council's sign at Spencer’s Lane
had been disposed of.
3)
Sefton PCT re Area Committee’s ten point plan noted.
4)
Sefton Area Committee of Town and Parish Councils – noted that a special
meeting would be held on 8th March 2007, Maghull Town Hall at 7.00pm
at which Mr N Middlehurst would brief Parish Councillors on the forthcoming
elections.
5)
LAPTC – advance notice of the 2007 Conference 11th/12th
May 2007 noted.
6)
Sefton Council re section 106 agreements noted but Clerk to enquire if
such recent developments at Aintree Racecourse, the former Paradox site, ASDA
and Emerson Holdings attracted section 106 payments.
7)
Aintree Racecourse – the Parish
Council agreed to the closure of the footpath across the racecourse from
midnight on Monday 9th April 2007 until midnight on Monday 16th
April 2007.
8)
Councillor G Howe – noted that he would be attending a planning meeting
at the racecourse on 2nd March 2007; the Parish Council had no
issues to raise.
9)
LAPTC – Royal Garden Party on 17th July 2007 – Councillor C
Mitchell was nominated.
4353 Planning Issues
The
Parish Council noted the following planning matters:-
|
Application Number |
General Details |
|
1131 |
Approval for garden
change of use – 2 Haileybury Avenue |
|
0945 |
Approval for extension –
School Lane |
|
1150 |
Approval for external
covered area – Blue Anchor Public House |
|
1164 |
Approval to new frontage
– Unit 3 Racecourse Retail Park |
|
0108 |
Application for extension
– Rugby Drive |
Councillors Downey and Forrest declared
their interests in 0108 as near neighbours
4354 Park/Safety Issues
The
Parish Council agreed that
1)
Mr Atherton’s attention be drawn to the female toilets which were
blocked and the leaving of the main gate open last Saturday evening
2)
part time employees be given pro rata Bank Holiday entitlement in
accordance with the new legislation on the matter
3)
appropriate fire exit signs be purchased
4)
noted that Mr Ryan of COMTECHSA would be visiting the park on 28th
February 2007 regarding the drainage problems; Councillors Mitchell and Payne
agreed to attend
5)
noted that following an Aintree Lane resident claiming that her drainage
problems might be caused by drains in the park, an officer from Sefton Council
had visited the park and had found no evidence to substantiate the claim
6)
staff again be reminded not to allow the public into their
accommodation.
4355 Quality Parish Council
Status
The
Parish Council
1)
considered the requirements which it and the Clerk would need to comply
with in order to qualify for Quality Parish Council status
2)
agreed to re-affirm its previous decision not to apply but to keep
abreast of any developments.
Page no. 2750
4356 Parish Councillors
Business/Clipboard
1)
Merseyside Skip – slip road Aintree Village/Melling border.
2)
Holy Rosary Junior School – progress report.
3)
The Family Centre – progress report.
4)
Wango Lane street lighting.
5)
2007 Summer Pops, probably to be held at the racecourse.
6)
PC S Al-Ramhadan liaising with the Youth Club leaders.
7)
Noted more police cover for the Parish.
8)
Local shops – 60% rent increases; Mr Bleasdale to be asked if this is
correct.
9)
Councillor Fraser presented the Parish Council with an aerial photograph
of the parish; Councillor Fraser was thanked for his gift and the Clerk was
requested to purchase a frame.
10)
Sunday evening at Aintree Station – cyclists riding along the station and
causing anti-social behaviour outside.
11)
Referendum on possible elected Mayor – Clerk to seek clarification from
the Legal Services Director on recent public advertisement.
4357 Next Meetings
The Parish Council noted that the next meetings would be held at 7.00pm
on the following dates:-
|
19 March 2007 |
|
10 April 2007 Annual Parish Meeting followed by a
Parish Council meeting |
|
23 April 2007 |
|
14 May 2007 Annual General Meeting |
|
11 June 2007 |
|
25 June 2007 |
|
9 July
2007 |
|
23 July 2007 |