Pool Parish Council  Budget 2012 –Questions and Answers

Q. A footnote indicating current and forecast cash balances and reserves will improve understanding of the  

     parish finances.

A. This information is provided on the monthly finance report.

Q. Do the figures for the traffic project include VAT?

A. No

Q. Salaries £17575.18 Separate sums for clerical work and street cleaning will improve clarity and

     transparency.

A. As this relates to individuals this is exempt information under the Local Government Act 1972.

Q. Website £173. Does the Parish Council intend to adopt a free website and save money

A. No we are in year 2 of a 3 year contract.  We will review this when the contract is due for renewal

Q. Subscriptions and conferences £1045. With a qualified clerk, councillors with decades of experience and a  

     mass of online information does the Parish Council need this level of support from umbrella organisations to  

     deliver less than £25K worth of essential services?

A. The Council believes in continuing professional development for councillors and staff. The sector is  

     undergoing substantial change and we feel that our memberships of YLCA & SLCC and attendance at sector  

     specific events are the most effective way to ensure that we remain up to date.

Q. Insurance £1680. For parish councils, this sum remains significantly higher than other similar organisations  

     and charities. Have any of the umbrella organisations reported on the insurers inflated cost to risk  

     calculations.?

A. The matter has been raised. We have entered in a 3 year contract with our insurers as this gave us a 5%  

     reduction in premium.

Q. Dog bins £1260. After many years and thousands of pounds of cost, what outcome does the Parish Council  

     expect? The amount of dog faeces on Pool’s streets remains unabated.  

A. Our service does not cover the streets. At the last consultation on dog control orders the RGMC reported that   

     our joint working to reduce this problem on the recreational space seems to be effective.

Q. Amenity refurbishment £4000. Does this figure include any new capital items?

A. No

Q. Grants £5090. It is understandable that in these difficult times grants should be reduced by 9%. Why were   

     the Parish Council’s overheads not subject to a similar adjustment?

A. Every line of the budget has been carefully reviewed and reduced where possible e.g printing/stationery

     reduced by 40% Honorary Citizen/Civic Service down 31%  Internal Audit (the bit we can control) down     

     27%