POLICY & RESOURCES MINUTES 16072008

Minutes of a meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee held in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Radstock Lane, Earley, Berkshire on Wednesday, 16^th July 2008 commencing at 7.45 pm.

Councillors J Armstrong, C J W Edmunds (from 8.50pm), S Khan, Mrs J A Lissaman, T Maher and P L Willis

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A T Bradley, M A P Deegan (Business) and G A Hughes.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee held on 4^th June 2008 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

Consideration was given to the Minutes of the Youth & Community Sub-Committee held on 17^th June 2008, a copy of which is appended to these Minutes for the information of Members only.

RESOLVED that the report be received and the Recommendations contained therein be adopted.

Members were reminded that, at Minute 6 of the last meeting of this Committee, a number of resolutions were passed relating to a decision on future membership of BALC. Although the majority of those resolutions deferred decisions for consideration at the November meeting of this Committee, the Town Clerk had made enquiries into the possibility of subscribing to the NALC Direct Information Service.

Consideration was, therefore, given to a leaflet outlining the subscription fees, a copy of which was attached to the Agenda for the information of Members. The Town Clerk had also obtained a sample copy of a DIS bulletin which was available at the meeting for Members perusal.

Further to a suggestion that copies of the sample bulletin be circulated to all Committee members to enable them to make a more informed decision, the Town Clerk advised Members that they could access a copy from the web site.

RESOLVED that a decision be deferred to enable Members the opportunity to consider the bulletin in more detail.

The Town Clerk reported that he had been advised by the Berkshire Local Government Pension Scheme that there was a requirement for each member employer to formulate policies relating to discretions that might be allowed under the terms of the scheme.

Consideration was, therefore, given to the discretions and, also, Officers’ recommendations, a copy of which was attached to the Agenda for the information of Members.

RESOLVED that the Officers’ recommendations, as amended and attached for the information of Members only, be approved.

The Committee noted details of Orders for Payment paid since the last meeting of the Town Council.

RESOLVED that the various accounts set out on the attached list (Vouchers 127 – 165) be paid in the sums as stated and details of the Imprest (Vouchers 039 - 055) be noted.

The Committee noted that the following items had been received and were available for viewing in the Council Chamber:

21. PRESS RELEASES

RESOLVED that the item relating to the Youth Festival Fishing Competition should receive emphasis.