Finance and Strategy Committee – Tuesday 28 April 2026 at 6:30pm

Agenda and Minutes

Attendance: Councillors Sheila Bibb, Stephen Blogg, Nicholas Coxon, Michael Devine, David Dobbie, Paul Hooton, Richard Thompson (sub)

In Attendance:
Rachel Allbones                  Town Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer

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

FS26/170  Apologies for Absence
To note apologies for absence.

Minutes:
Apologies were received from Councillors N Bowler, P Key, K Woolley

FS26/171  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.

FS26/172  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.

FS26/173  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 FS26/179 in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 1(2), due to the confidential nature of the business.

FS26/174  Minutes of the Previous Meeting (Paper A pages 3 to 6)
To receive and resolve to sign as a true and accurate record the minutes of the Finance and Strategy Committee meeting held on Tuesday 31 March 2026.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Finance and Strategy Committee meeting held on Tuesday 31 March 2026 be approved as a true and accurate record and signed by the Chair.

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

 Note: Councillors Blogg and Dobbie arrived at the meeting at 6:33pm.

FS26/175  Finance Reports (Paper B pages 7 to 12)
To receive and consider for approval the following financial reports:
i. Unpaid Expenditure Transactions for 23 April 2026

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To NOTE and approve the following reports:
i. Unpaid Expenditure Transactions for 23 April 2026.

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

FS26/176  Bank Reconciliation (Paper C pages 13 to 29)
To approve and resolve to sign the monthly bank reconciliations for 31 March 2026 per paragraph 2.2 of Financial Regulations.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: That the monthly bank reconciliations for 31 March 2026 be approved and signed, with the following closing balances:

• HSBC Current/Deposit Account: £41,985.59
• CCLA: £320,000.00

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

FS26/177  Risk Register and Risk Management Policy (Paper D pages 30 to 51)
To review the Council’s risk register and Risk Management Policy.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: That the Council’s Risk Register and Risk Management Policy be reviewed and approved.

FS26/178  Asset Register Review (Paper E pages 52 to 65)
To note and review the Council’s assets register and approve items for disposal.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: That the Council’s Asset Register be reviewed and that identified items be approved for disposal.

FS26/179  Insurance (Paper F pages 66 to 229)
To consider Council’s insurance arrangements for the period commencing 1 June 2026.
Exclusion of public and press recommended due to commercially sensitive information.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To RECOMMEND TO FULL COUNCIL that the insurance renewal with Zurich Municipal be approved on a 3-year Long-Term Agreement at a cost of £18,524.59 per annum, with £3,524.59 to be funded from General Reserves.

FS26/180  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. Internal Audit Report 2025/26
ii. Reserves Policy Review – May
iii. Year End Accounts 2025/2026 – May
iv. AGAR – Section 2 Accounting Statements – May
v. Newsletter
vi. Operation Bridges Review
vii. Civic Protocol
viii. Registrar Lease renewal
ix. Unity Trust Bank
x. Strategic Plan
xi. LCAS Silver Status submission

FS26/181  Time and Date of Next Meeting
To note the date and time of the next Finance and Strategy Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 26 May 2026 at 6:30pm.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: to NOTE the date and time of the next Finance and Strategy Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday 26 May 2026 at 6:30pm at Richmond House, Morton Terrace.

The meeting closed at 6:54pm.