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Minutes – Finance Committee (Special meeting) – 2 November 2020

The minutes of this meeting are presented below.

You can also download a PDF copy of the minutes here: Minutes – Finance Committee (Special meeting) – 2 November 2020

MINUTES OF THE VIRTUAL SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
HELD ON MONDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2020 AT 10.00AM

PRESENT:

  • Councillors Scicluna (Chairman) and K Hughes

EX-OFFICIO:

  • The Mayor (Councillor Plowman), The Deputy Mayor (Councillor J Hughes)

APOLOGIES:

  • Councillors Apel, Barrie, Dignum, Harry

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Town Clerk
  • Deputy Town Clerk (Responsible Finance Officer)
  • Member Services Support Officer

75. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

As recorded above.

76. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE IN MATTERS ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING

The Mayor declared a personal interest as a member of Rotary.

77. PUBLIC BODIES (ADMISSION TO MEETINGS) ACT 1960

RESOLVED that, in the view of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted, the public (including the Press) be excluded from the meeting for agenda items 3 and 4 because of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted, namely staffing matters.

78. REQUEST FOR FUNDING FROM CHICHESTER ROTARY TO SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF THE CHICHESTER CITY CENTRE CHRISTMAS TREE

Members reviewed the application for funds that had been submitted by the Rotary Club.

The Town Clerk confirmed that the plans to erect the tree would be proceeding despite the new lockdown measures that had been implemented. He also suggested to Members that Rotary should be asked to ensure that any future funding and other requests related to the Christmas tree be made well in advance to allow full and proper consideration by the Committee.

The Chairman agreed and also suggested that Rotary be advised that applying for the Grant in the future would not necessarily mean that the funds would be forthcoming as each application would be considered on its merits and allocated on that basis.

The Mayor gave Members a short update on why the application had been necessary in the circumstances around the Covid19 pandemic. He also emphasised the importance of making sure that best efforts were made to ensure that Chichester was as welcoming as possible over the Christmas period to support the city centre businesses during difficult times.

The Deputy Mayor expressed strong support for the granting of the application in order to make sure a tree was installed.

Councillor K Hughes expressed concern about how the application had been presented at short notice to the Finance Committee on 20 October 2020. He also noted that it could create a difficult precedent if the City Council were seen to favour Rotary at this difficult time.

The Chairman agreed with Councillor K Hughes’ comments and reiterated to Members that Rotary should understand that this would not be acceptable in the future.

The Mayor apologised to Members for the issues surrounding this application and any misunderstanding that had arisen.

After further discussion by Members, it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to agree the Rotary application for £500 in support of the provision of a Christmas tree in Chichester city centre for 2020, with the caveat that future applications should follow the City Council’s existing Discretionary Grants application process.

79. CHICHESTER CITY COUNCIL REMEMBRANCE VIDEO

The Chairman and Town Clerk gave Members a brief background to the video and the video maker.

The Member Services Support Officer gave some further background and explained to Members how much work and effort the video maker, Mr Clive Hand, had put in to making the video and still had to put in to complete it in time for the Remembrance weekend; at no cost to the City Council.

The Member Services Support Officer suggested to Members it might be a fitting gesture to donate a sum of money to Chichester Film and Video Makers as a suitable thank you for the time and effort that Mr Hand had given for the production of the video.

The Mayor gave further background information about Mr Hand and also expressed his support for a thank you gesture being made.

The Chairman suggested that copies could be made available for the public for possible purchase.

The Member Services Support Officer clarified that the video would remain the property of the City Council and be available for anyone to watch on the City Council’s YouTube channel.

After a short further discussion it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that the City Council would make a donation of £100 to Chichester Film and Video Makers as a thank you to Mr Clive Hand for his hard work in the production of the City Council’s Remembrance video 2020.

The meeting closed at 10.25am

DATE OF THE NEXT ORDINARY MEETING: THURSDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2020 AT 2PM

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DAY

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