IN RYDE BAPTIST CHURCH, GEORGE STREET
Members Present: Cllr Simon Cooke, Cllr Jess Higgins, Cllr Richard May, Cllr Jo Elliott, Cllr Tom Hanley, Cllr Georgie Carter (Chair), Cllr Malcolm Ross and Cllr Michael Lilley.
Also in Attendance: Tara Bloomfield (Responsible Financial Officer), Robert Clark (Finance Assistant), Cllr Diana Conyers
Members of the Public - 5
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
DRAFT
A member of The Ryde Society expressed their support for item 12 on the agenda.
It was asked what the payment to Haylands Farm for 38 hanging baskets was for as the member of the public had not seen the baskets in the town. The RFO explained that this was a scheme run with shop owners where they contributed £10 towards a hanging basket for their shopfront. It was further explained that these baskets had been on display on various shopfronts throughout the town since May.
Another member of the public firstly asked if Ryde Town Council could provide a grant to save Oakfield Football Club (and in turn the services that run from there), and secondly wanted to make it known that the seats at the bus station are too high for the elderly. Cllr Lilley explained that officers are currently in talks with Oakfield Football club about their future, and Cllr Cooke informed the audience that the issue with seating at the bus station is being addressed by the Isle of Wight Council.
A question was submitted to the RFO ahead of the meeting by a member of the public and read out:
I note from page 6 of the Budget Monitor Half Year report that Beach Hire Equipment Income has been a paltry £3,339 for the summer months compared to a budget of
£14,000. Last summer’s income was £8,351 compared to a fantasy budget of £46,000.
Does Ryde Town Council admit that their ambition to “explore new revenue streams” and “create additional income” [quotes from 2023/24 RTC Budget Report] has utterly failed and instead actually added to the tax burden for Ryde precept payers?
The RFO responded both at the meeting, and in writing to the member of the public:
As everyone is aware, this year the Island faced an extremely wet summer, which in turn, did not allow many operating days for the beachfront hire.
Costs incurred this year included £590 of replacement equipment, staff training and advertising costs, all of which were incurred prior to the season being a complete wash out. Also, within these costs were £1,683 of capital expenditure on a new trailer that will allow the council to expand the area in which the deckchairs are hired out and open opportunities for corporate hire.
The direct operating costs of staff time vs revenue saw a £362.08 loss for the summer period.
Apologies received from Cllr Jordan
None declared.
None requested.
Cllr Cooke asked for an update on the loan repayment from the Armed Forces Day Committee. The RFO explains that it had not yet been repaid but that it is being chased on a regular basis.
DRAFT
Cllr Lilley asks if contact has been made with Seaview & Nettlestone regarding a contribution to the beach cleaning. This was to be followed up.
The minutes to the previous meetings held on 18 July 2023 were reviewed.
RESOLVED:
The list of payments for 01/06/2023 – 30/09/2023 were presented and approved.
The bank reconciliations for the period ending 30 June 2023, 31 July 2023, 31 August
2023 and 30 September 2023 were presented and approved.
Members were presented with the updated Fixed Asset Register for the council as at 30 September 2023. Cllr Lilley asked why the palm trees were still listed, the RFO is still awaiting confirmation that they are to be disposed of.
Members were provided with a new policy for approval which is for the use of corporate purchasing cards. The RFO explained that since moving bank there is no longer a debit card facility for online payments. A select number of staff members have been given the cards with restricted credit limits based on their roles.
RESOLVED:
.
The committee were presented with a half year budget monitoring and report.
Members were asked to consider the current 5-year grant agreement made with Vic Gallucci for the Classic Car event due to his passing in May 2023.
In the report there were 4 options given to committee, however, after discussion a new option was proposed by Cllr May.
DRAFT
RESOLVED:
The committee were asked to consider approval of £5,000 match funding for a £10,000 “DIY” skatepark project that would act as an interim provision for the town. The project is being led by Zoe Thompson of John Cattle Skate Club CIC.
There were the following options proposed in the report:
Option 1: Agree to contribute up to the remaining £2,000 budget for the project. Option 2: Agree to match fund up to £5,000, of which, £3,000 will be taken from the
Earmarked Reserve.
Option 3: Do not provide any funding for the project.
RESOLVED:
Members were asked to decide if the RFO should continue with the quotation process for Cyber Insurance which was triggered by a member of the Council being a victim of a scam via email.
Cllr Cooke spoke to the committee from an IT background and explained that cyber insurance is not something that a council would require due to no online trading.
Cllr Elliott suggested that all councillors should undertake cyber security and GDPR training, and maybe that could be provided by IWALC (Isle of Wight Association of Local Councils).
RESOLVED:
Members were asked to agree on a date for an informal meeting of the Finance Committee in which to discuss the budget requirements for 2024/25.
RESOLVED:
DRAFT