Present : Councillors P Walsh (Chairman), M Chewings, S Gardner, S McGinley, I Shaw, V Wood and B Tansley

Apologies Approved: Councillor V Allison and D Daws

In Attendance : Councillor Y Wilson, Assistant to the Clerk and 1 member of the public the meeting was held in Studio 4 of Cotgrave Leisure Centre and started at 7.00pm.

128 Councillor B Tansley declared a personal interest in Planning Application No. 11/1853/COU and did not take part in the discussion.

129 Resolved : ‘’That the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th November 2011 be received and confirmed as a true record’’.

130 M076 Cotgrave Road Signs

The five entrance signs have now been installed and look very appealing when entering Cotgrave.

131 The signs have been covered on Council’s insurance policy at no extra cost.

132 Councillor R Butler has been asked to find out if the original road signs will be removed.

133 M089 Bus Stops

Councillor Shaw enquired if Nottinghamshire County Council had replied regarding the resiting of the bus stop near Grassmere to Spring Meadow. No reply had been received and
Councillor R Butler had been asked to discuss this at Nottinghamshire County Council.

134 M115 ID Badges

Council administration staff has requested photos of all councillors and staff to complete the order process.

135 M127 Youth Council

The young resident wishing to form a Youth Council has met with Councillor Wood and updated him on his plans and will be giving a presentation at Full Council 1^st February 2012.

136 Payments

Resolved : ‘’That the payments made since the previous meeting totalling £12,635.14, as recorded below, be approved and the invoices awaiting payment be paid’’.

137 Council noted the cost of the three elections held this year.

138 Cotgrave Town Council paid for the whole cost of the Ash Lea Ward election in October 2011, The May elections were paid for by Referendum, Rushcliffe Borough Council and Cotgrave Town Council.

139 Councillor McGinley and Wilson enquired about income from Mason Owen, Council’s groundsman provides litter clearance on the precinct and cuts the grass on behalf of Mason Owen.

140 Council noted the profit made by lasts years Safari sales.

141 Members considered the October and November statements as reproduced on the inside cover of the Minute Book.

142 At the end of July Council has £292,378.92 in hand.

143 The cost of three elections and a replacement tractor had created a major impact on this years budget.

144 Council are anticipating an overspend in this financial year.

145 Community Events has been created in the budgets and given a fund for next year, with some money allocated for the Festival of Sports Event in June 2012.

146 Recommendation : "That Council accept the budget proposal for 2012-13"

147 Councillor Tansley wished to thank Andrew Neale of RBS Solutions and for everyone who worked on the budgets.

148 Council Staff have not had pay rises for over 2 years and the administration staff has recently taken on extra duties, which has lead to an increase in their working hours.

149 The duties of the Administration Staff need will need to be reviewed.

150 Future considerations may require an extra member of staff to be employed.

151 An advisory committee made up of Councillor I Shaw, Councillor S Gardner and
Councillor P Walsh has been formed to look at the staff wages and any changes that may be required. They will report back at the next Full Town Council Meeting.

152 Council will also consider adopting an annual wage review for all Council staff.

153 A written report was received from the Chairman of Futures.

154 Business is on the expected target for the current year.

155 The Chairman of Cotgrave Futures Board of Trustees gave Council an overview into the business plan.

He also explained the connection of the building with Cotgrave Town Council and the relevance of the yearly grant given to Futures.

156 Futures Building is a community asset and the grant helps to maintain the good condition of the building.

157 Considerations are being discussed to reduce the grant over a period on time and for Cotgrave Futures to become self sufficient.

158 Two suggestions were discussed regarding the grant for Futures, the first suggestion offered by

Councillor Shaw was a grant of £5,000 and a review of the grant with the Board of Trustees and second suggestion discussed offered the same grant as last year and a review with the Board of Trustees over the next financial year.

159 Resolved : "To take a recorded vote"

160 For : Councillors M Chewings, S Gardner, V Wood, B Tansley (4)

Against : Councillors I Shaw and S McGinley (2)

161 Resolved : "To approve the grant of £7,000 for Cotgrave Futures"

162 A request had been received Victim Support. The letter is from the Nottingham branch of the organisation.

163 Council have decided to decline a grant this time.

164 Council noted the tax base for Cotgrave has increased to 2105 in 2012/13 from 2094 in 2011/12.

165 Council noted a letter received from Karen Knight, Council’s Internal Auditor.

166 Areas of concern were noted with regard to the payroll service provided by Nottinghamshire County Council. The error is on the part completed by Nottinghamshire County Council and not the Cotgrave Town Council staff. Nottinghamshire County Council to correct the payroll file.

167 All other areas audited had no areas of concern.

168 Rushcliffe Community & Voluntary Service

A letter has been received with the new address details for this service and included posters for the notice boards.

169 South Nottinghamshire Academy

A newsletter from South Nottinghamshire Academy had been received.

170 Nottinghamshire County Council

A letter from Nottinghamshire County Council has been received updating on temporary restrictions on Colston Road, Cropwell Bishop and Colston Gate, Cotgrave until 30^th April 2012.

171 The Assistant to the Clerk reminded Council about the letter received from Nottinghamshire County Council regarding budget cuts in 2012/13 by County.

172 A letter has been received from Rushcliffe Borough Council asking Councils to consider a community toilet scheme if appropriate within their area. Rushcliffe Borough Council has decided not to explore the scheme.

173 An email received from a resident regarding the new village signs. The resident had previously sent in his photos of his favourite locations and some of these ideas have now appeared on the new signs. Council thanked the resident for his ideas.

174 Councillor Shaw commented on the War Memorial sited in the cemetery and have suggested that he explore the idea of replacing the column at the Cross with the war memorial. The column at the Cross is grade II listed and would be ideally sited in the cemetery.

Council suggested further information would be needed and a public consultation would be required.

175 Councillor Wood mentioned the speed sign entering Cotgrave from Stragglethorpe had been defaced and now reads 80 instead of 30.

The Assistant to the Clerk was asked to contact Nottinghamshire Highways Department.

176 Councillor Chewings commented on the inconsiderate parking along Candleby Lane and back onto the bend.

The Assistant to the Clerk will liaise with the local police.

177 Councillor Walsh has walked the bridleway no 4 with Jane Baines from Nottinghamshire County Council, the bridleway has been altered to the perimeter of the farm instead of through the farmyard. The local farmer has provided a new bridleway at his own cost and with maintain this bridleway.

There being no further business the meeting ended at 8.57pm.