Finance and Strategy Committee – 19.10.2021

AGENDA - Finance and Strategy Committee - Tuesday 19 October 2021 - PUBLIC

 

Agenda & meeting papers can be accessed in the PDF pack above.

MINUTES of a Meeting of the Finance and Strategy Committee held in the Ceremony Room, Richmond House, Richmond Park, Morton Terrace, Gainsborough on Tuesday 19 October 2021 at 7.00pm

 Present:

Councillor Matt Boles (Chairman) – ex officio

Councillor Tim Davies (Vice Chairman)

Councillor Paul Key

Councillor Chris Lambie

Councillor James Plastow

Councillor Denise Schofield

In Attendance:

Rachel Allbones                      Deputy Clerk & RFO

Sean Alcock                           Operations Manager

1. TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Councillor Richard Craig – ex officio

Councillor David Dobbie

2. TO RECEIVE MEMBERS’ DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011 AND TO RECEIVE ANY APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATION

 None declared.

 3. MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING (Papers A & B)

i. Minutes of the meeting of Finance and Strategy Committee held Tuesday 21 September 2021

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Finance and Strategy Committee meeting held on Tuesday 21 September 2021 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Note: Councillors Key & Lambie abstained from the above resolution.

ii. Minutes of the meeting of Finance and Strategy Committee held Friday 1 October 2021

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Finance and Strategy Committee meeting held on Friday 1 October 2021 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Note: Councillors Davies, Lambie, Plastow, Schofield abstained from the above resolution.

4. FINANCIAL REPORTS (Papers C, D & E)

Committee received and considered the following reports:

i. Unpaid Expenditure Transactions for 14 October 2021

ii. Cashbook Summary (including due and unpaid transactions) for 14 October 2021

iii.    Budget Comparison Report (including due and unpaid transactions) for 14 October 2021

 RESOLVED that Members accept and approve the following reports: –

• Unpaid Expenditure Transactions for 14 October 2021
• Cashbook Summary (including due and unpaid transactions) for 14 October 2021
• Budget Comparison Report (including due and unpaid transactions) for 14 October 2021

5. MONTHLY BANK RECONCILIATIONS (Papers F)

Committee considered sign off of the monthly bank reconciliations for the months of for 30 September 2021 as per the paragraph 2.2 in Financial Regulations.

RESOLVED to accept and sign off the Bank Reconciliation for 30 September 2021.

6. CRICKET PITCH HIRE (Paper G)

Committee considered the request from Lea and Roses Cricket Club for a reduction in pitch fees due to lack of player availability and match cancellation.

Due to the confidential nature of the following, members RESOLVED to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the item in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960.

RESOLVED to no provide a reduction in pitch fees, due to the wicket being prepared and no advanced notice of match cancellation was received from the club.

RESOLVED to allow press and public back into the meeting.

7.  2022 / 2023 BUDGET

Committee considered budget requirements for 2022/23 and considered the budget estimate and precept level for WLDC.

The following specific budgetary areas are considered as part of the Committee’s remit:

• Administration

 The Deputy Clerk advised the deadline for the budget estimate to WLDC is Friday 26 November and would be providing a more detailed report on the Committees budgetary areas at the November meeting.

8. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON

 Committee was updated by Councillor Boles on the uptake from schools for the ‘event’ and also outlined the vision of the ‘event’, that being a filming company film the lights being switched on in the Market Place by the Mayor and showcase the new lighting scheme, Salvation Army playing and being filmed in the Market Place, local school choirs being filmed in their own environment and a professional film be put together of all the above.

RESOLVED to engage Business Video Experts and agree their quotation received, but agree the spend of the budget, up to £5,000

 Note: Coucillor Key to speak with Business Video Experts to obtain dates they have availability to film.

9. EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

Due to the confidential nature of the following, members RESOLVED to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the next three items in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960.

10. RICHMOND HOUSE CONSERVATORY (Paper H)

Committee considered the emails received from WLDC and LCC regarding the build of a new conservatory following the tenders being received.

RESOLVED to delay any works and reassess in the future as part of a reassessment of Richmond House as a whole.

11. LOVE LANE ALLOTMENT ACCESS AND LOVE LANE AND MIDDLEFIELD LANE ALLOTMENT RENT REVIEW (Paper I)

Committee considered the email received from Thonock and Somerby Estates and instruct Officers on next steps.

RESOLVED to hold the licence of the new access area to Love Lane allotments in abeyance until such time as LCC highways have formally agreed and given a time frame for the works that need carrying out on Ropery Road to enable access.

RESOLVED to note the rent increase for both Love Lane and Middlefield Lane allotments, from £1,500 to £1,750 per annum.

12. COMPLAINTS (Paper J)

Committee received a report from the Operations Manager of complaints disposed of by direct action, complaints being dealt with by Officers or Members which require Member input.

Showfield Allotments – Bonfires

Contact has been made in the past but agreed to write to the complainant acknowledging their complaint and advise the Secretary had been contacted in order to remind plot holders to be mindful of local residents when lighting fires and reiterate the rules of what can be burnt.

Foxby Hill Allotments – Threats

Write to the complainant advising that if they receive any threats of violence or vandalism to contact the Police and then report to the Town Council with a crime number.

Love Lane Allotments – Abusive behaviour

Members thoroughly discussed the several complaints received from an individual plot holder, as it is an ongoing issue Committee decided to write to the 4 plot holders involved advising that any confrontations, verbal abuse, vandalism and complaints must stop immediately otherwise the Council will have no other choice but to allocate alternative plots on different sites or termination of the tenancy agreement.

Meeting concluded at 8.30pm