A G E N D A

1. To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 12th December 2007

2. Financial Reports (attached):

a) To receive and authorise list of payments made on Imprest Account in December 2007
b) To receive and authorise list of Petty Cash payments for December 2007
c) To receive Statement of Town Council Balances
d) To authorise Inter Account Transfers
e) To note the Finance Manager’s report and receive Summary Budget Reports for period April to December 2007

3. Annual Return for the Year Ended 31st March 2007

To note that the District Auditor’s certificate has been received for the Annual Return for the year ended 31st March 2007, with no recommendations

4. Contract for Insurance Cover from 2008/09

To note that the Finance Manager will invite tenders for the Council’s insurance supplier during February 2008, in order that a new contract is effected from 31st May 2008. Tenders will be invited on one, three and five year periods.

5. Community Facilities

To consider recommendation from the Recreation, Leisure & Open Spaces Committee to remove reference to the provision of community facilities in the town from that Committee’s Capital Programme at the present time

6. File Management System (FMS)

To consider waiving Financial Regulations and Standing Orders relating to contracts by not obtaining three quotations to enable officers to work with a local company to develop an effective FMS

7. Ringwood School – Sponsorship of Year 6 Quiz Event

To consider a request from Year 13 Leisure students to make a donation of £20 to cover the costs of a quiz being organised for Year 6 students from local feeder schools

8. Hampshire Pension Fund – 2008 Scheme Changes

From 1st April 2008, pension contributions paid by employees will be based on an agreed table of pay ranges. It is therefore necessary for the Council to agree a policy on when to change an employee’s contribution rate when the employee’s pay moves into a new ‘pay range’ during the financial year (i.e. change immediately or from the next 1st April)

9. Sustainable Community Strategies for New Forest 2008-2012 and Hampshire 2007-2017

To consider the Council’s response to these consultation documents (attached)

10. Community Ownership

To consider, at the request of Cllr Chambers, making representations through Hampshire Association of Local Councils against the Government’s proposals to transfer public assets to non-democratically elected bodies

11. Ringwood Festival

To receive minutes of the meeting of the Ringwood Festival Steering Committee held on 7th January 2008 and approve proposals therein (attached)

12. Members Training

To consider approving attendance by Members on the following training courses offered by Hampshire Association of Local Councils:

· Partnership Working and Community Engagement – 18th February – Botley
· Core Skills for (New) Councillors – 19th March – Alton
· Representing and Leading Communities – 19th June - Southampton

13. Eco-friendly Cotton Bags

To consider approach from a natural eco-friendly cotton bag supplier to purchase cotton bags to minimise use of plastic bags in the town. The cost to the Council of purchasing 5000 bags would be £4,950 (excluding VAT).

14. EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

15. Christmas Lights Working Party

To receive notes of the Christmas Lights Working Party held on 15th January 2008 and approve proposals therein (attached)

16. Staff Matters

To approve salary scales following reorganisation of the office staffing structure