Finance and Strategy Committee – Tuesday 31 March 2026 at 6:30pm

Agenda and Minutes

Present: Councillors Sheila Bibb, Stephen Blogg, Nigel Bowler, Nicholas Coxon, Michael Devine, David Dobbie, Paul Key, Doug Owles (sub), Richard Thompson (sub)

In Attendance:
Rachel Allbones                  Town Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer

Venue: Meeting Room, Richmond House, Richmond Park, Morton Terrace, Gainsborough, DN21 2RJ

FS26/155  Apologies for Absence
To note apologies for absence.

Minutes:
Apologies were received from Councillors Hooton, Woolley.

FS26/156  Declarations of Interest
To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011.

Minutes: 
No declarations of interest were made.

FS26/157  Dispensation Requests
To consider any dispensation requests received by the Town Clerk in relation to personal and/or disclosable pecuniary interests, not previously recorded.

Minutes:
No dispensation requests were received.

FS26/158  Items for Exclusion of Public and Press
To determine which items on the agenda, if any, require the exclusion of public and press under the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 1 (2) and resolve to exclude public and press for these items.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To exclude the public and press from items FS26/165, FS26/166 and FS26/167 in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 1(2), due to the confidential nature of the business.

FS26/159  Minutes of the Previous Meeting (Paper A pages 4 to 7)
To receive and resolve to sign as a true and accurate record the minutes of the Finance and Strategy Committee meeting held on Tuesday 24 February 2026.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Finance and Strategy Committee meeting held on Tuesday 24 February 2026 be approved as a true and accurate record and signed by the Chair.
Note: Councillors Dobbie and Owles abstained from voting on the above resolution.

FS26/160  Finance Reports
To receive and consider for approval the following financial reports:
i. Unpaid Expenditure Transactions for 26 March 2026 (Paper B pages 8 to 15)
ii. Cashbook Summary (including due and unpaid transactions) for 26 March 2026 (Paper C pages 16 to 17)
iii. Budget Comparison Report (including due and unpaid transactions) for 26 March 2026 (Paper D pages 18 to 53)

Minutes: 
RESOLVED: To NOTE and approve the following reports:
i. Unpaid Expenditure Transactions for 26 March 2026.
ii. Cashbook Summary (including due and unpaid transactions) for 26 March 2026.
iii. Budget Comparison Report (including due and unpaid transactions) for 26 March 2026.

FS26/161  Bank Reconciliation (Paper E pages 54 to 68)
To approve and resolve to sign the monthly bank reconciliations for 28 February 2026 per paragraph 2.2 of Financial Regulations.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: That the monthly bank reconciliations for 28 February 2026 be approved and signed, with the following closing balances:
i. HSBC Current/Deposit Account: £74,471.75
ii. CCLA: £350,000.00

FS25/162  HSBC Daily Payment Limit
To consider and approve increase of the HSBC daily payment limit from £30,000 to £50,000.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To approve increase of the HSBC daily payment limit from £30,000 to £50,000.

FS25/163  Earmarked Reserves (Paper F pages 69 to 71)
To consider proposed ear marked reserves for YE 31 March 2026.

Minutes: 
RESOLVED: To approve proposed ear marked reserves for YE 31 March 2026.

FS25/164  Internal Controls (Paper G pages 72 to 86)
To review the internal controls in place and consider changes.

Minutes: 
RESOLVED: To review and approve the internal controls in place for 2025/26.

FS25/165  Outstanding Debtors (Paper H pages 87 to 89)
To receive report of outstanding debtors and consider any action necessary.
Exclusion of Public and Press recommended due to confidential nature of discussion.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To note the old debtors described in section 3 of the report.

FS26/166  Love Lane Allotment Garages (Paper I pages 90 to 93)
To consider update and recommendations on the management and inspection of garages and parking spaces.
Exclusion of Public and Press recommended due to confidential nature of discussion.

Minutes: 
RESOLVED: To
i. Note the completion of inspections and the disconnection of electricity supplies.
ii. Approve the removal of garages on spaces: 248, 266, 272, 274
iii. Give priority to addressing garages identified as: damaged asbestos, structurally unsafe, or non-compliant with licence conditions
iv. Endorse a phased approach to implementation of the Council’s long-term policy to revert sites to parking spaces only.
v. Request that the company removing garages carry out an asbestos survey and report their findings.
Note: Councillor Key abstained from voting on the above resolution.

FS26/167  Fee Waiver Request (Paper J pages 94 to ??)
To consider request from allotment tenant for a waiver of annual rent fees.
Exclusion of Public and Press recommended due to confidential nature of discussion.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To defer the decision until after:
• Completion of the planned drainage works; and
• Assessment of whether the issue has been resolved;
A letter will be sent to the individual advising that they will be invoiced as normal in April, but the Council will reconsider if the issue persists.
Note: Councillors Bowler and Coxon abstained from voting on the above resolution.

FS26/168  Items for Notification
To receive any items for notification to be included on a future agenda (for information only)

Minutes: 
RESOLVED: to NOTE the items for notification to be included on a future agendas:
i. Asset Register Review – April
ii. Risk Management Policy & Register Review – April
iii. Insurance – April
iv. Internal Audit Report 2025/26
v. Reserves Policy Review – May
vi. Year End Accounts 2025/2026 – May
vii. AGAR – Section 2 Accounting Statements – May
viii. Newsletter
ix. Operation Bridges Review
x. Civic Protocol
xi. Registrar Lease renewal
xii. Unity Trust Bank
xiii. Strategic Plan
xiv. LCAS Silver Status submission

FS26/169  Time and Date of Next Meeting
To note the date and time of the next Finance and Strategy Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 28 April 2026 at 6:30pm.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: to NOTE the date and time of the next Finance and Strategy Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday 28 April 2026 at 6:30pm at Richmond House, Morton Terrace.

The meeting closed at 7:52pm.