The Annual Report of Hereford City
Council, for the year ended 31st March 2006 is issued to provide
details of its activities during the year 2005-2006.
The Financial information has, from 1st
April 2000, been produced using the Intuit system
known
as QuickBooks. QuickBooks comprises a complete system including Payroll,
Stock
and Time recording.
District Audit audited the Council’s accounts
annually until 2000-2001. With effect
from 1st
April 2002 the Audit Commission has introduced a new ‘lighter touch’ audit
regime for local councils. This has affected
the accounts from the year 2001-2002. The Audit Commission appointed the firm
Winross Hacker Young, from Birmingham, to be the auditors for Hereford city
Council. This basic audit will be carried out under a fixed fee of £1,250 plus
VAT, with additional rates charged for ‘extra work’. The rights of local
electors are not affected and the public continue to have the right to inspect
the accounts and question the auditor.
A
notice to this effect is posted on the Town Hall notice board each year prior
to the time of Audit.
Report
by Madam Mayor – Marcelle Lloyd-Hayes
Report by Town Clerk – M D Fellows
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Hereford City Council |
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Councillors 2005-2006 Ward |
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Members of Hereford City Council
give their time freely and receive no allowances or payments for their services
to the City during the financial year.
HEREFORD CITY COUNCIL COST HEADS
Civic/Ceremonial
Hereford City Council owns the
ancient civic property of the City, comprising swords, maces, charters, chains
of office, silver etc., The collection is of considerable value and historic
importance.
The Mayoralty
of Hereford is one of the oldest in Britain and dates back to 1382, before
which sheriffs and bailiffs fulfilled the role. The first Charter dates back to
1189.
This cost head includes such
traditional function costs as
The Three Choirs Festival
2006 was the ‘host year’ for
Hereford City. The City Council give receptions to artists and officials
throughout the week in addition to hosting a reception for the three choruses
at the end of the week. Additionally in 2006 the City Council sponsored the
free lunch time concerts around the ‘Elgar Statue’ in the Cathedral Close. A
reserve, set aside and built up over the preceding years, is used to meet the increased expenditure,
which reduced the cost impact in the year.
Freedom Ceremonies
There were
no ‘Freedoms’ granted this year. A reserve now exists to fund one ceremony if a
suitable candidate is proposed by the Council.
Twinning -Expenses of Members
The Mayor is occasionally invited to
represent the City in our Twin Towns of Vierzon and Dillenberg. This past year
the Mayor visited both and has received both Twin Town Mayors as visitors
during the year.
A reserve is also kept for 'Twinning' costs in case major twinning
celebrations occur in future years.
Other funded events etc.,
During the year the Mayor welcomes
visitors from all over the world in addition to the many local visitors. A
budget is used to fund any Official visits and Public Ceremonies that may take
place during the year. In addition the Mayor and deputy Mayor have a budget
from which to fund the expenses of their very busy year.
A reserve also exists for Special
Hereford Projects; This reserve holds 20% of its total specifically for
‘Youth’ projects.
Municipal Elections
The May 2003 elections, for which a
reserve of £20,000 had been built up, cost the Council £33,000(38% of total
cost); This was an unexpected cost (since the May 2000 elections had cost the
Council £17,000{50% of total cost}). A full investigation resulted in a
subsequent adjustment of the Council’s funds and future budget. The reserve for
the 2007 elections is expected to stand at £53,600. Postal voting is more
expensive than the traditional method but does increase the number of votes
cast.
The Wards of Hereford City Parish are as follows:
|
Ward |
Ward
letters |
Number of
Electors |
Sub-totals |
Grand
total |
|
Aylestone |
- HAA |
1,458 |
|
|
|
|
- HAB |
1,017 |
|
|
|
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- HAC |
1,356 |
|
|
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- HAD |
941 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,772 |
|
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Belmont |
- HCB |
1,800 |
|
|
|
|
- HCC |
1,084 |
|
|
|
|
- HCD |
1,191 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,075 |
|
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Central |
- HIA |
1,075 |
|
|
|
|
- HIB |
654 |
|
|
|
|
- HIC |
255 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,984 |
|
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St
Martins & Hinton |
-HFFA |
1,004 |
|
|
|
|
-HFFB |
970 |
|
|
|
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-HFFC |
1,642 |
|
|
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-HFFD |
772 |
|
|
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-HFFE |
1,208 |
|
|
|
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-HFFF |
1,035 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,631 |
|
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St
Nicholas |
-HGGA |
1,394 |
|
|
|
|
-HGGB |
1,310 |
|
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-HGGC |
789 |
|
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-HGGD |
1,404 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,897 |
|
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Three
Elms |
-HJJA |
1,715 |
|
|
|
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-HJJB |
2,055 |
|
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|
|
-HJJC |
1,039 |
|
|
|
|
-HJJD |
1,885 |
|
|
|
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-HJJE |
1,147 |
|
|
|
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|
|
7,841 |
|
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Tupsley |
-HKKA |
1,745 |
|
|
|
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-HKKB |
1,582 |
|
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-HKKC |
2,369 |
|
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-HKKD |
1,416 |
|
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7,112 |
|
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37,312 |
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Committee Structure
Council
Finance
& Appointments Committee
Planning
Committee Protocol & Procedures
Committee
Grants/Donations
Working Party
City Cost
Expenditure recharged against the
Parish by Herefordshire Unitary Authority,
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2004-2005 £ |
2005-2006 £ |
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|
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C.C.T.V. – section 136 |
28,534 |
29,432 |
|
Christmas Lights – section 137 |
23,250 |
24,000 |
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|
. |
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Parks & Open Spaces – section 136 |
211,367 |
218,025 |
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_______ |
_______ |
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£263,151 |
£271,457 |
Herefordshire District Council recharge the
City Council a percentage ( approx. 30%) of the BT costs of City CCTV ; £24,000
towards Herefordshire’s Christmas lights in the City( approx. 68%) , £218,025 towards
the enhanced maintenance of the City Parks & Open Spaces.
The
Service Level Agreement terminated 31st March 2005 and was
continued, at Herefordshire Council’s request for a further 12 months. The
Christmas lights are being managed by the City Council for 2006. New
applications for contributions are expected, from Herefordshire Council, in
respect of CCTV and Parks & Open Spaces from 2006-2007 onwards. The Parish
expects to work in partnership with the Unitary Authority to provide
enhancements to the duties and responsibilities carried out by the Unitary
Authority within the City of Hereford.
Grants/Donations
The Council
has the power to make grants to various local organizations.
Applications for grants/donations received by Hereford
City Council were decided as follows:
|
|
£ £ £ |
Section
137 LG Act 1972
Elgar in Hereford Group 1,500
Hereford Young Farmers 850
Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust 2,450
Marie Curie Cancer Care in Hereford 1,000
RNA – Trafalgar Celebrations 2,000
Fetch Theatre Company – Hereford
production 1,500
City
Costs –
Hereford City Partnership–Management Salary
15,000
Hereford In Bloom 8,927
Christmas Lights in Hereford 26,000
Special
Hereford Projects -
Hereford Regeneration Group 1,000
Trafalgar Celebrations at Town Hall 1,460
2XL Youth Project in Hereford 2,000
South Hereford Regeneration 2,399
Section 142 LG Act 1972amended ----------------66,086
Age Concern (Hereford) 1,500
Herefordshire Family Mediation – Hereford 1,175
Newton Farm Community Association 2,000
South Wye News 1,500
Section 144 LG Act 1972 ----------- 6,175
Hereford Guild of Guides 300
Section 145 LG Act 1972 ---------- 300
Hereford Concert Band 213
Section 19 LG Misc.Provn. 1976 ---------- 213
St Martins Bowling Club 750
----------- 750
======== 73,524
Allotments
During the year Rockfield Farm Allotments
received a contribution towards new sheds and some paving stones that amounted
to £1,253. It is expected to part-fund a new toilet facility at College Road
Allotments in the next financial year.
The City
Council Allotment sites are as follows:
Ash Avenue 10
plots
College
Road 28
plots
Drybridge 24
plots
Eign Mill 12
plots
Golden Post 2 plots
Holmer 53
plots
Rockfield
Farm 57
plots
Westfaling
Street 12 plots
Wordsworth 75
plots
The title to the Allotments (approx. 17acres), having been confirmed as
transferred to the Parish, in 2000, is awaiting a new agreement to be
drawn up between Hereford City Council and The Allotments Association (HALGS)
who manage the allotments.
.City
Centre Management
An annual
contribution of £15,000 is paid towards the management salary costs of Hereford
City Centre Partnership Ltd. This is a section 137 LG Act 1972 payment.
Hereford in Bloom
The Council
sponsors a number of sites as follows:
Ledbury Road (between Tupsley Cross and the
roundabout) £2,233
Ring Road
troughs £6,226
St Peter’s
Street – Post Office £2,077
St Peter’s
Square – War memorial £2,392
--------£12,928
Planning
The Parish Council became a consultative
body in respect of plans submitted for Hereford City with effect from 1st
April 2000. The Council submits its observations to Herefordshire District
Council, which then determines the applications. This has required
approximately fortnightly committee meetings, which generate an increased
administration cost ( officer time, stationery etc.,) but provide an important
voice for the citizens of Hereford. The estimated (but not shown)
administrative cost is in the region of £12,000.
Employee Costs
A Town Clerk was appointed in March 2000 to
manage the Civic/Legal affairs of the Parish; the salaries of the staff are now
in accordance with NJC and NALC rates and conditions of service. The Clerk and
the Treasurer are paid hourly; The Mayor’s Officer works to a basic 37hr week
(point 26 of the NJC scale) which includes unsocial hours due to the Mayoral
programme; The Mayor’s Secretarial post (15hr week including unsocial hors)
deals with the Mayoral programme and the Mayor’s attendance at events, and Town Clerk/Treasurer’s Secretary (20hr week)
deals with Civic/Ceremonial/Administrative matters. The External Audit
arrangements require the employment of an Internal Auditor. This post is
part-time and is filled by a person with years of experience both as an
internal audit chief and as a chief accountant in local government; Time
involved is not expected to take up more than 5 hours in the year.
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Structure 2003-2004 |
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Town Clerk – M D Fellows (P/T –approx 8hrs/week) |
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Treasurer –D V
Piears (P/T –20/25 hrs/week) |
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Mayor’s Secretary -Mrs. A Double (Based on 18 hrs/week) |
Mayor’s Officer - R W
Stokes (Based on 30hrs/week) |
Town Clerk/Treasurer’s
secretary – Mrs E Nixon (Based on 20 hrs/week) |
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Liveried Officers |
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(8 paid £17 per attendance |
) |
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Premises
The accommodation rents amount to £8,244 per
annum. Accommodation comprises Offices (Flats 1 & 2), the Mayoral Parlours
and the Vaults at the Town Hall. The Premises costs are split as follows:
Parlours/Vault £5,242
Offices £2,062
Garage £ 702
Decoration/repairs £
184
HEREFORD CITY
COUNCIL
The expenditure of the authority is met by
levying a precept on the Unitary Authority. Analysis of the precept over the
Expenditure estimates is as follows: -
|
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Hereford City Council Band-D
Equivalents of Estimates/Precept |
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|
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2003-2004 |
2004-2005 |
2005-2006 |
||||
|
|
Base |
£16,181.31 |
£16,346.62 |
£16,451.86 |
||||
|
|
Band-D |
£29.11 |
£29.24 |
£31.55 |
||||
|
|
Precept |
£471,000 |
£478,000 |
£519,000 |
||||
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|
Analysed as |
£ |
Band-D |
£ |
Band-D |
£ |
Band-D |
|
|
|
Civic Ceremonial |
19,570 |
1.21 |
18,720 |
1.15 |
17,100 |
1.04 |
|
|
|
Employees |
88,360 |
5.46 |
92,730 |
5.67 |
108,380 |
6.59 |
|
|
|
Mayoral |
11,620 |
0.72 |
11,800 |
0.72 |
11,990 |
0.73 |
|
|
|
Premises |
9,450 |
0.58 |
9,360 |
0.57 |
9,500 |
0.58 |
|
|
|
Supplies/Services |
17,609 |
1.09 |
14,435 |
0.88 |
15,910 |
0.97 |
|
|
|
Transport |
5,220 |
0.32 |
5,415 |
0.33 |
5,620 |
0.34 |
|
|
|
City Centre Partnership |
15,000 |
0.93 |
15,000 |
0.92 |
15,000 |
0.91 |
|
|
|
Allotments |
10,000 |
0.62 |
10,000 |
0.61 |
10,000 |
0.61 |
|
|
|
Grants/Donations |
15,000 |
0.93 |
15,000 |
0.92 |
15,000 |
0.91 |
|
|
|
HCC Web pages |
1,000 |
0.06 |
1,050 |
0.06 |
1,150 |
0.07 |
|
|
|
Hereford in Bloom |
14,000 |
0.87 |
14,000 |
0.86 |
14,000 |
0.85 |
|
|
|
Municipal Elections |
7,500 |
0.46 |
20,000 |
1.22 |
21,500 |
1.31 |
|
|
|
Other Sp.Hfd.Projects |
200 |
0.01 |
200 |
0.01 |
850 |
0.05 |
|
|
|
Parish Spend |
214,429 |
|
227,710 |
|
246,000 |
|
|
|
|
City Costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CCTV |
27,811 |
1.72 |
28,540 |
1.75 |
30,200 |
1.84 |
|
|
|
Christmas Lights |
22,660 |
1.40 |
23,250 |
1.42 |
24,000 |
1.46 |
|
|
|
Parks & Open Spaces |
206,000 |
12.73 |
211,400 |
12.93 |
218,000 |
13.30 |
|
|
|
Recharged
to Parish by Herefordshire |
256,471 |
|
263,190 |
|
273,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
The precepts are generally expressed as Equivalent Band-D property
figures i.e. how much each Band-D
Property within the Unitary
Authority, would contribute towards the cost of the precept in the year - if it were wholly funded by Band-D
properties. The precepts are actually funded by all property Council Tax
collected and are thus different for each banded property; The Band-d
equivalent is just a convenient measure for comparison purposes.
N.B.
The above figures comprise net estimates of income and expenditure including
additions to/from reserves.
Whereas the Final Accounts that follow this
section show actual expenditure prior to adjusting the reserves in the Balance
Sheet.
FINAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR
2005-2006
Income and Expenditure Account
For the year ended 31st March 2006
|
Hereford City Council s |
Income |
|
|
Hereford City Council |
|
2004-2005 |
|
|
|
2005-2006 |
|
£ |
|
|
|
£ |
|
478,000 |
Precept |
|
|
519,000 |
|
11,128 |
Interest Receivable |
|
|
13,388 |
|
489,128 |
|
|
|
532,388 |
|
|
Expenditure
|
|
|
|
|
89,473 |
Employees- Payroll |
|
|
100,170 |
|
4,974 |
- Other |
|
|
5,321 |
|
980 |
City Council Web pages |
|
|
402 |
|
8,173 |
Mayoral |
|
|
10,688 |
|
0 |
Municipal Elections |
|
|
3,067 |
|
25 |
Planning |
|
|
0 |
|
8,108 |
Premises |
|
|
8,190 |
|
2,027 |
Subscriptions |
|
|
2,310 |
|
10,194 |
Supplies & Services |
|
|
12,932 |
|
2,625 |
Transport |
|
|
2,942 |
|
304,940 |
City Costs |
|
|
323,495 |
|
9,088 |
Civic Expenses |
|
|
9,823 |
|
1,503 |
Alarms |
|
|
1,589 |
|
1,982 |
Telephones |
|
|
1,813 |
|
1,720 |
Special Expenditure |
|
|
___
797 |
|
445,812 |
|
|
|
483,539 |
Balance Sheet
As at 31st March 2004
|
Hereford City Council |
|
|
|
|
Hereford City Council |
|
2004-2005 |
|
|
|
|
2005-2006 |
|
£ |
|
|
|
£ |
£ |
|
0 |
Fixed Assets
|
|
|
|
830,344 |
|
|
|
. |
|
|
|
|
(10,105) |
Moved to reserves
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
Long Term Assets |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Current Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
1,564 |
Debtors |
|
|
5,469 |
|
|
235,658 |
Cash |
|
|
330,703 |
|
|
3,695 |
Mayoral Stocks |
|
|
3,758 |
339,930 |
|
_______ |
|
|
|
|
______ _ |
|
230,812 |
|
|
|
|
1,170,274 |
|
|
Less Current Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
Loans |
|
|
0 |
|
|
12,677 |
Creditors/Provisions |
|
|
9,441 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,441 |
|
|
Represented By |
|
|
|
|
|
218,135 |
General Reserves |
|
|
269,389 |
|
|
|
Fixed Asset Restatement
Reserve |
|
|
830,344 |
1,099,733 |
|
0 |
Capital Receipts |
|
|
|
61,000 |
|
230,812 |
|
|
|
|
1,170,274 |
|
|
Hereford City Council |
|
|
Targets 2004-2005 |
Achieved
? |
Targets
2005-2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
1. City Costs |
|
|
|
a. C.C.T.V |
Confirmation of costs-CCTV |
SLA ends 31st March 2006 Receive application for grant for 1st April 2006 onwards |
|
b. Christmas Lights |
|
Christmas 2005 possibly last
time organised by Herefordshire -City Council to organise/fund Christmas
Lights 2006 ?? |
|
c. City Centre Management |
Confirmed new management structure |
.Continue contribution and look into increase. |
|
d. Parks & Open Spaces |
Confirmation of adequate
service/enhancement |
SLA ends 31st March 2006 Receive application for grant
for 1st April 2006 onwards |
|
e. Hereford in Bloom |
Now 5 Sponsored sites |
|
|
2. Allotments |
|
|
|
a. Association Agreement/Management |
Still in Progress |
T/Clerk to prepare/initiate new agreement effective from 1st April 2000 |
|
b. Drybridge/Asda |
Incorporated within plans for
site. Security of access still ongoing. |
T/Clerk to ensure access is protected. |
|
c. Site toilets |
College Road Allotments facility in progress |
Improve other site facilities re toilets |
|
3. Website –Hereford City Council – Mayoral report |
Mayoral programme reported on |
Look into translation services |
|
|
|
Ensure that Agendas & Minutes are available on web site |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Targets 2004-2005 |
Achieved
? |
Targets
2005-2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
4.Employees - contracts |
- Commenced & in Progress |
T/Clerk to produce conditions
of service for all employees and to |
|
Separate Secretary’s post into |
|
review Establishment |
|
(i) Mayor |
-hours increased to 18 hrs/week from 2004-2005 |
. |
|
(ii) Clerk/Treasurer – 20 hours pw |
- hours confirmed |
T/Clerk to clarify conditions of service |
|
(iii) Appoint Internal Auditor
–p/time |
-appointment of C Jones |
Re-appoint for 2006-2007 |
|
|
|
|
Bound
copies of this report are available from:
Hereford City Council,
Parish Offices, Town Hall,
St
Owen Street, Hereford.
HR1
2PJ
A
charge of £5 will be made and should accompany the order; cheques should be
made payable to ‘Hereford City Council’.