PADDOCK WOOD TOWN COUNCIL
The Podmore Building, St Andrew’s Road, Paddock Wood, TN12 6HT
Telephone: 01892 837373
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE held on Monday 23rd September 2024 in the Day Centre Commercial Road at 7.45 pm
PRESENT: R. Atkins, (in the Chair)
Cllrs M. Munday, R. Moon, B. Robichaud, J Thompson, C. Williams
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs N Reay, Town Clerk
Mrs T Maxwell, Responsible Finance Officer
APOLOGY: Cllr D Dray
F12 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
F13 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
Cllr Atkins proposed, Cllr Thompson seconded:
That the minutes of the meeting held on the 19th June 2024.
CARRIED unanimously
F14 UPDATE FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES
There were no updates from the previous minutes.
F15. RESERVES
The current balance in the reserve accounts as of 31st August is £629,844.35. The RFO advised that Council’s with a budget of over £200,000 should hold 3 months of funds in their Reserves.
F16 CURRENT ACCOUNT
The balance of the current account as of the 31st of August is £221,878. The RFO advised that she would have information on CCLA who offer a higher rate of return on deposits but also offer Instant Access.
F17 RPI & CPI
According to the Office of National Statistics the figures for July are as follows: RPI = 3.6% & CPI = 3.1%.
F18 FEES and TARIFFS
Members discussed the Council’ fees and tariffs for the year 2025/2026. In 2024/25 all fees were increased by 6.7%. It was agreed that any increases would be considered at the next meeting when the later CPI figures were available.
A cost analysis of the football & rugby pitches was requested for the next meeting. There was currently on 2 regular paid groups using the Day Centre – the events during the daytime were not charged for.
. The allotment rents increased to £40 for a ten-rod plot and £20 for a five-rod plot per annum in April 2024. Those who have reached state pensionable age pay half these amounts. Twelve months’ notice from April 2025 will to be given if members wish to increase the rents for 2026. Members discussed whether a deposit should be charged for new plot holders, but no final decision was made.
Cllr Williams proposed, Cllr Robichaud seconded:
That allotment rents should remain unchanged for now.
CARRIED unanimously
The Council is also seeing an increase in the request for plaques at the cemetery and to date has only charged the cost of the plaque. The cost of the cemetery clerk’s time has not been included and needs to be considered.
F19 STAFF SALARIES & PENSIONS
a) The clerks are paid according to the SLCC pay scales and the Estates Staff are paid at a locally agreed rate, although salaries are in line with the recommended rates from the GMA (formerly the IOG.) To date no agreement has been reached for pay increases for 2024/25. The pay offer was for a flat rate increase of £1,290 for SCP 2 – 43 or 2.5% for SCP 44 upwards, however this has gone out to ballot with Unions and no agreement is anticipated before October.
b) Pensions – the Town Council currently makes a 6% contribution (matched by staff) to the Aviva Workplace Pension Scheme. The minimum contribution into a pension scheme is 8% (5% staff & 3% employer contribution).
The Clerk & RFO left the meeting for the following item.
c) Members discussed paying a bonus to all staff in recognition of the additional workload that been created by the absence of an Estates Manager all summer.
(Cllr Moon left the meeting)
Cllr Thompson proposed, Cllr Munday seconded.
That £750 be paid to the clerk and £500 for other officers’ (pro rata).
CARRIED unanimously
Letter should be sent to officers to state this is an exceptional year. The bonus is not performance rated.
F20 AUDIT
Cllr Atkins proposed, Cllr Thompson seconded:
That Mike Platten of April Skies as the Council’s auditor for 2024/25.
CARRIED 4 in favour 1 abstention
F21 BUDGET
(a) Existing Contracts – members noted the list and asked for the Facilities Management contract to be added to the list.
(b) Every year the Council pays subscriptions to the following organisations:
NALC/KALC
SLCC x 2
Institute of Cemetery Management
Grounds Management Association (formerly IOG) x 2
CIMA
(c) Members NOTED the current budget position for 2024/25
(d) Members reviewed the draft budget items for 2025/26 and asked for £30k to be included for the skateboard park.
Please note these figures will be finalised at the November meeting.
F22 SECTION 106
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council have advised they are now in receipt of the Outdoor Recreation Contribution £223,500.00 (£302,287.30 inc. indexation) funding towards Green Lane Playing Fields, Paddock Wood, from Land at Church Farm 14/504140/HYBRID. (Phase 1) development.
Cllr Atkins proposed, Cllr Williams seconded:
Under section 1 (2) of the Public Bodies (admission to meetings) Act 1960 the following item should be exempt from the press and public.
F23 LOAN REPAYMENT
Cllr Atkins proposed, Cllr Robichaud seconded:
That the clerk is given authority to negotiate on behalf of the Council to pay off up to £70k of the TWBC loan and extend the repayment period until the remaining S106 funding is received.
CARRIED unanimously.
F24 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held on Monday 28th October 2024.
The meeting closed at 10.15 pm