Agenda and minutes

Budget, Town Council - Wednesday, 24th January 2024 7.00 pm

Venue: The Manor House, Old Town Street, Dawlish, EX7 9AP

Contact: Town Clerk  Email: townclerk@dawlish.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

150.

Apologies for Absence

To receive, note and where requested, approve the reasons for apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Goodman-Bradbury, Graham-Ellis, A. James, Mayne, and J. Petherick.

 

Resolved that the apologies be noted.

151.

Agreement of the Agenda between Parts I and II

Minutes:

There was no Part II.

152.

Declarations of Interest

To declare any disclosable interests relating to the forthcoming items of business (if any).

Minutes:

Councillor Dawson declared an Appendix B interest in relation to recommendation B of the proposed Budget & Precept 2024/25 item by virtue of her organisation hiring rooms at the Manor House.  She advised she would not speak or vote on the setting of fees and charges.

153.

Dispensations

To receive and consider requests for dispensation (if any).

Minutes:

There were no dispensations.

154.

Planning Committee Vacancy

The Town Council is recommended to appoint Councillor Lynda Littlewood, and up to one other Councillor, to serve on the Town Council’s Planning Committee.

Minutes:

Resolved that Councillor Littlewood be appointed to the Town Council’s Planning Committee and that the further vacancy be considered at a future meeting of the Town Council.

 

 

155.

Town Council Budget and Precept 2024/25 pdf icon PDF 182 KB

Council is requested to:

 

(a)    Consider, approve, and adopt the Town Council budget for the 2024/25 financial year, as recommended by the Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting held on 18 January 2024,

(b)   Consider, and approve the proposed fees and charges for the 2024/25 financial year with effect from 1 April 2024, as recommended by the Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting held on 18 January 2023; and

(c)    Approve and issue a precept demand to the collecting authority Teignbridge District Council as recommended by the Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting held on 18 January 2024.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received and considered the previously circulated report of the Town Clerk and Finance & General purposes Committee, detailing the recommendations of that Committee to set a budget and precept for the 2024/25 financial year.

 

The Mayor expressed gratitude to the officer team and particularly the Finance Officer for the work undertaken to bring the proposed budget to fruition.

 

The Chair of the Finance & General Purposes Committee introduced the report and detailed the budget highlights.

 

The Town Clerk advised that page 7 of the agenda report, paragraph 3.1 (table) – second line, the precept income should read 616,994, and cost per band D household (same line) should read £8.75 / month.  These amendments were already detailed in the budget appendix and did not change the final totals.

 

Following questions, the Town Clerk confirmed that the external auditors recommended larger authorities having between three- and twelve-months expenditure in general reserves, and the Town Council had a policy of maintaining between three- and six-months expenditure in general reserves.  The proposed budget realised a general reserve of approximately six months expenditure.

 

Resolved that

 

(a)    The Town Council budget for the 2024/25 financial year totalling £696,944 be approved as set out,

 

(b)   The the scale of fees and charges for the 2024/25 financial year be approved and adopted as set out, with effect from 1 April 2024 (Councillor Dawson not voting); and

 

(c)    The level of precept for the 2024/25 financial year be set at £616,994 and transmitted to Teignbridge District Council for collection.