Agenda item

(Copy herewithin)

At the Chair’s invitation, the Deputy Monitoring Officer introduced the report and explained that the budget recommended by the Cross Party Working Group had gone to full Council. Therefore, the budget had been recommended by full Council to the Kingsthorpe Parish Council.

The Deputy Chief Executive from NCALC, Lesley Sambrook Smith presented the report and explained that the figures contained in the budget report had not changed since the previous meeting, but the updated report contained further background information to provide context. The report also contained the band A charge, which would be £21.41p.a compared to the band D charge of £32.11p.a. It also demonstrated that only 19% of the properties in Kingsthorpe fall within the Band A category of council tax banding.

Members asked questions surrounding staffing costs. It was confirmed that the Parish Council was required to have a section 151 officer and a proper officer, however it was acceptable for these roles to be covered by one individual. Another question asked how the Parish Council could receive additional funding and Section 106 monies. In response to this question, it was confirmed that it depended on which grants and projects the Council applied for, as there were varies lottery funds and grant streams available, as well as borrowing in the form of loans. The Deputy Chief Executive, NCALC, explained that the Parish Clerk would work with the principal council (West Northants Council) to identify any Section 106 monies owed to the Kingsthorpe Parish Council.

Members noted that new information relating to allotments was in the report and asked for further information regarding income cost and running cost of the allotments. Members also questioned the accommodation costs of £10,000 detailed in Section 1.2.5 of the report and what accommodation would be used. Cllr Beardsworth explained that she had approached Kingsthorpe Hall, at Thornton Park and the Kingsthorpe Parish Council were permitted to use an office space there, however she felt it would be more effective if the meetings could be held in a central location in Kingsthorpe, such as the Kingsthorpe Community Centre. It was anticipated that most of the meetings could be held remotely, as they were currently being held.

Regarding the allotments and asset transfers, the Deputy Chief Executive, NCALC, explained that as part of the reorganisation order, the allotments would be transferred and come under the management of the Kingsthorpe Parish Council. She explained that the Parish Clerk, Kate Houlihan would be looking into allotments and service-level charges when she starts the position in February. In terms of cost for the allotments, it was hoped that these costs would be looked at with the Town Council, but the cost detailed in the report was there for contingency purposes. It was agreed that a report on allotments, with more accurate cost details, would be brought to a future meeting.

The Chair asked for information regarding the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) and if there were any details on how the proposed increases on Council Tax would impact Kingsthorpe. It was confirmed that the Shadow West Northants Unitary were currently discussing the CTRS and the Clerk, Kate Houlihan, agreed that a report would be brought to a future meeting.

RESOLVED: That the Parish Council considered and agreed the budget recommended by the Cross Party Working Group.