Agenda item

(a)  That the amount spent on maintenance of the war memorials from the general fund be reimbursed from the War Memorial Garden Trust; and

(b)  That any individual item of expenditure of less than £10,000 from the War Memorial Garden Trust be approved by the Head of Legal Services following consultation with the Commissioner for Neighbourhoods and Renewal.

The Communications Manager introduced a report regarding the funding arrangements for the maintenance works carried out to a number of the Borough’s war memorials in advance of the World War 1 Centenary commemorations in August.

The Cabinet noted that maintenance to clean and tidy four town memorials at Langley Memorial Ground, St Peter’s Church, College Green and St Mary’s Church at a total cost of £8,394.60 had been supported by the general fund due to the tight timescales and the possibility of extra work being undertaken. Members were asked to make a recommendation to full Council, as trustee of the charity, that the general fund be reimbursed for £8,394.60 from the War Memorial Garden Trust established to maintain the town’s memorials.

Speaking under Rule 30, Councillor Smith asked a number of questions about the work that had been carried out and the rationale for the proposed delegation of future approvals.  In response, it was noted that the delegation would ensure that any future maintenance could be carried out swiftly, following the necessary professional advice and agreement of the relevant parties.

Commissioners agreed to recommend the reimbursement to Council and to further recommend that the Head of the Legal Services be given delegated authority to approve expenditure of less than £10,000 in the future.

Recommended –

(a)  That the amount spent on maintenance of the war memorials from the general fund be reimbursed from the War Memorial Garden Trust; and

(b)  That any individual item of expenditure of less than £10,000 from the War Memorial Garden Trust be approved by the Head of Legal Services following consultation with the Commissioner for Neighbourhoods and Renewal.