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Minutes of an extra meeting of Mere Town Council held on Monday, 23rd May 2022

 Mere Town Council

Town Clerk – Mrs. L. C. Wood

 

Minutes of an extra meeting of Mere Town Council held on Monday, 23rd May 2022 at The Andy Young Pavilion, Springfield Road, Mere.  BA12 6EW at 7.00 pm. 

 

Present:  Cllr. Mrs. Lesley Traves (Chair), Mrs. Kate Symonds (Vice-Chair), Nick Beale, Aubrey Colman, Philip Coward, Rodney Coward, Clive Hazzard, Raymond Hill, Glen Ings, George Jeans & John Jordan.

 

Meeting convened at 7.05 with Public Session

  • No members of the public present

 

Members observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect in memory of Councillor Eric Mitchell who had sadly died on 10th May.

Apologies for absence received from Councillors Mrs. Debbie Beale & Rachael Hansford.

  1. Insurance renewal premium (new information since last Town Council meeting).

The Clerk reminded members that during the last Town Council meeting she pointed out that our insurance renewal premium had risen by £1200 or 37% and the Council decided that it would be better not to opt for the 3-year Long Term Agreement (LTA) but just to renew for one year and to get some quotations from alternative providers in good time before next year’s renewal.  The Clerk said that as far as she was aware there are only really two insurance brokers that cover Local Council insurance – one is Gallaghers (our existing broker) and the other is BHIB Councils and she had actually asked BHIB Councils for a quote before the last Town Council meeting but didn’t mention it because they hadn’t responded in time for the meeting.  However, the Clerk had now received a response and reported that their insurers have declined to quote for us due to our claims experience.

In the meantime, the Clerk had informed the Council’s existing brokers that she had been instructed to renew for one year only as members were concerned about the 37% increase in premium but had accepted that there was not enough time to get alternative quotations in time for renewal.  Gallaghers had now emailed back to clarify, Hiscox are now their preferred and single provider of local council insurance and it is their strong recommendation that the 3-year Long Term Agreement is taken to prevent any chance of rate increase at renewal 2023.

In view of the fact that there are very few companies out there now that provide insurance for Local Councils and the fact that one had declined to provide a quotation due to our claims experience, the Clerk advised the Town Council that it would be prudent to opt for the 3-year LTA with Hiscox via Gallaghers and to hope that during the next 3 years, the Town Council doesn’t need to make any more insurance claims and may be able to get more competitive quotations after that time.

 

Cllr. Philip Coward proposed that we reluctantly sign up to the 3-year Long Term Agreement with Hiscox via Gallaghers – as quoted.  Proposal seconded by Cllr. Colman and carried with a unanimous vote.

  1. EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC – RESOLVED to exclude the press and public from the meeting, in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, section 1(2), to transact business for which publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of its confidential nature (staffing matters).  Proposal made by Cllr. P. Coward, seconded by Cllr. Colman and carried with a unanimous vote.