Agenda and Minutes

Present: Councillors Sheila Bibb, Stephen Blogg, Nigel Bowler, Nicholas Coxon, Michael Devine, Paul Hooton, Paul Key, Richard Thompson (substitute) 

In Attendance:
Rachel Allbones                  Town ClerK & Responsible Finance Officer

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

FS26/142  Apologies for Absence
To note apologies for absence.

Minutes: 
Apologies were received from Councillors Dobbie, Woolley.

FS26/143  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 declared.

FS26/144  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.

FS26/145  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 FS26/151, FS26/152 in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 1 (2) due to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed.

FS26/146  Minutes of the Previous Meeting (Paper A pages 4 to 9)
To receive and resolve to sign as a true and accurate record the minutes of the Finance and Strategy Committee meeting held on Tuesday 27 January 2026.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Finance and Strategy Committee meeting held on Tuesday 27 January 2026 be approved as a true and accurate record and signed by the Chair.

Note: Councillor Hooton abstained from voting on the above resolution.

FS26/147  Finance Reports
To receive and consider for approval the following financial reports:
i. Unpaid Expenditure Transactions for 19 February 2026 (Paper B pages 10 to 15)
ii. Cashbook Summary (including due and unpaid transactions) for 19 February 2026 (Paper C pages 16 to 17)
iii. Budget Comparison Report (including due and unpaid transactions) for 19 February 2026 (Paper D pages 18 to 35)

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To NOTE and approve the following reports:
i. Unpaid Expenditure Transactions for 19 February 2026.
ii. Cashbook Summary (including due and unpaid transactions) for 19 February 2026.
iii. Budget Comparison Report (including due and unpaid transactions) for 19 February 2026.

FS26/148  Bank Reconciliation (Paper E pages 36 to 52)
To approve and resolve to sign the monthly bank reconciliations for 31 January 2026 per paragraph 2.2 of Financial Regulations

Minutes:
RESOLVED: That the monthly bank reconciliations for 31 January 2026 be approved and signed, with the following closing balances:
i. HSBC Current/Deposit Account: £76,259.34
ii. CCLA: £430,000.00

FS26/149  Investment Strategy Review
To review and adopt updated Investment Strategy.
Paper F (pages 53 to 59) Track changed document
Paper G (pages 60 to 66) Proposed document 

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To adopt updated Investment Strategy.

FS26/150  Councillor Laptop Use & Return Agreement (Paper H pages 67 to 81)
To consider recommending the adoption of the Councillor Laptop Use & Return Agreement.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To RECOMMEND TO FULL COUNCIL the adoption of the Councillor Laptop Use & Return Agreement.

FS26/151  Fee Waiver Request (Paper I pages 82 to 84)
To consider request to suspend the agreed 2026/27 fee increase.
Exclusion of public and press recommended due to the confidential nature.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: That the request to suspend the increase in fees for 2026/27 be rejected; however, as a goodwill gesture, an additional free week be offered during the 2025/26 financial year.
Note: Councillor Key abstained from voting on the above resolution.

FS26/152  Marshalls Bowls Club Lease (Paper J pages 85 to 100)
To consider new lease for Marshalls Bowls Club.
Exclusion of public and press recommended due to the confidential nature.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To approve the draft Lease and authorise the Town Clerk to progress the matter subject to completion of the legal process and receipt of the Licence to Underlet.

FS26/153  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. Community Grants – March
ii. Earmarked Reserves Review – March
iii. Internal Controls – March
iv. Debtor Review – March
v. Asset Register Review – March
vi. Love Lane Allotment Garages – March
vii. Risk Management Policy & Register Review – April
viii. Operation Bridges Review
ix. Civic Protocol
x. Registrar Lease renewal
xi. Unity Trust Bank
xii. Strategic Plan
xiii. LCAS Silver Status submission

FS26/15    Time and Date of Next Meeting
To note the date and time of the next Finance and Strategy Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 31 March 2026 at 6:30pm.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: to NOTE the date and time of the next Finance and Strategy Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday 31 March 2026 at 6:30pm at Richmond House, Morton Terrace.

The meeting closed at 7:29pm.