|
Precept 2009/10 - How Your Money Is Spent
REPORT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCE MANAGEMENT PANEL
A Precept is raised each year by the Town Council to provide services for the community. These include the maintenance of the Burial Ground, Football pitches, play areas, street lighting, allotments, maintenance of planted and grassed areas and Flitwick Manor Park.
The Rufus Centre, which houses the Town Council offices, also provides office space for small businesses and other organisations and has 8 conference rooms which include the Lockyer Suite and the recently refurbished and upgraded Davis Suite. The income from the conference and tenancy businesses underwrites the funding of the Rufus Centre and provides funds to support the Precept.
Within the Council budget grants are provided annually for local organisations to assist them in the provision of facilities for the community.
During the current financial year the Council committees, Policy and Resources, Local Amenities and Community Focus, have each formulated a Strategy for the next three years. This enables the Town Council to set its budget to provide the facilities shown in these Strategies. In addition the Rufus Centre Business Plan has been updated and the new Plan will operate from the 1st April for the next three years.
The Management Team produced a draft budget for consideration by the Finance Management Panel, Chairman of Committees and the Town Mayor. The Management Team took into account the present economic down turn together with the need to continue services at the level that the community expect. Also in accordance with the Strategies produced by the Committees, areas of growth, such as Community Development, were identified.
The Management Team in its proposal examined all aspects of the Council's operations to ensure that the figures are as cost effective as they could be. They made some specific comments, for instance with regard to the Rufus Centre 10th Anniversary Celebrations, that no funding be included for this and any events should be self financing or sponsored. The Town Clerk and all members of the Management Team had produced savings in their budgets during the present financial year and had identified areas where they could continue to do so.
When the Finance Meeting considered this proposed Precept several suggestions were considered including reduction in the number of additional highway grass cuts the Town Council paid for, but this was rejected as it was felt that the residents would wish to see this continue. A reduction in the training budget was considered but this was felt to be very small already to cover the needs of staff and councillors and any reduction would be counter productive, especially in areas of new legislation such as health and safety.
It was noted that the biggest increase was in Community Development, but it was felt that this area of growth was needed to address youth issues, anticipated community issues relating to the economic down turn and community safety.
After due consideration, the Finance Meeting did not feel it could improve on the proposed budget and therefore endorsed the proposals. I therefore Recommend to Council that the Precept for 2009/10, as presented, be adopted in the sum of £598,644, a 2.7% increase on the current year's Precept, lower than the increase on last year's precept which was 2.9% and that the Management Team be thanked for their work in producing the Precept.
I would like to add also, that I hope that the other precepting authorities such as Central Beds, Beds Fire and Rescue and the Police Authority will be as prudent and take account of the economic pressures currently facing the community.
Cllr D W Thompson, Chairman Finance Management Panel
Precept 2009/10
Policy & Resources Committee 316,741
Local Amenities Committee 203,784
Rufus Centre Management Panel 0
Community Focus Committee 106,119
Business Continuity 2,000
Total 628,644
Less amount from
Rufus Centre Management 30,000
Precept for 2009/10 598,644
Policy and Resources
Administration
£301,641 This covers all running costs, including staff, printing, postage, equipment, stationery, advertising, health and safety, training, loan payments, newsletter production, insurance, telecommunications, meeting expenses and Audit fees.
Grants
Grant funding to local organisations in the sum of £11,500.
Civic Expenses
£3,600 is allocated for expenses for the Town Mayor, Deputy Town Mayor, Annual Town Meeting expenditure, Civic Service and election costs.
Community Focus
Administration
£106,119 This includes staff costs, insurances, Arts in Flitwick, community events including the Fun Day and Community Safety initiatives.
Rufus Centre
The Rufus Centre has a zero budget and is self financing and for the Financial Year 2009/10 has contributed £30,000 to the genera Precept.
Local Amenities
Administration and General Maintenance
£179,084 This covers staff costs, vehicles, insurances, fuel, planting, grass cutting, car park, street lighting, tree maintenance, pitch maintenance, portaloo, The Mount, The Dew Pond and waste disposal.
Burial Ground
£7,620 Maintenance of Burial Ground including water and portaloo costs. The Town Council receive income for the Closed Section of the Burial Ground and Burials.
Play Areas
£11,000 The Council maintains nine play areas in Flitwick with daily inspections .
Allotments
£1,080 Maintenance of two allotment sites.
Flitwick Manor Park
At the present time the heritage section and the carriage ride of the Manor Park is open to the public. £5,000 is allocated for the upkeep of the Manor Land.
Business Continuity
£2,000
|
Publications 
