Finance and Strategy Committee – Tuesday 23 June 2026 at 6:30pm

Agenda and Minutes

Present: Councillors Stephen Blogg, Nicholas Coxon, Michael Devine, David Dobbie, Paul Hooton, Paul Key, Glenn Puxty

In Attendance:
Rachel Allbones                  Town Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer

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

FS27/016  Apologies for Absence
To note apologies for absence.

Minutes:
Apologies were received from Councillors Bowler and Craig.

FS27/017  Declarations of Interest
To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011.

Minutes:
Councillor Dobbie declared a personal interest in agenda item FS27/23i as a member of Gainsborough Men’s Shed.

FS27/018  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.

FS27/019  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:
No items for the exclusion of public and press.

FS27/020  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 26 May 2026.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Finance and Strategy Committee meeting held on Tuesday 26 May 2026 be approved as a true and accurate record and signed by the Chair.
Note: Councillor Hooton abstained from voting on the above resolution.

FS27/021  Finance Reports
To receive and consider for approval the following financial reports:
i. Unpaid Expenditure Transactions for 18 June 2026 (Paper B pages 8 to 13)
ii. Cashbook Summary (including due and unpaid transactions) for 18 June 2026 (Paper C pages 14 to 15)
iii. Budget Comparison Report (including due and unpaid transactions) for 18 June 2026 (Paper D pages 16 to 51) 

Minutes:
Note: Councillor Puxty arrived at the meeting at 6:35pm.

RESOLVED: To receive, note and approve the following reports:
i. Unpaid Expenditure Transactions for 18 June 2026.
ii. Cashbook Summary (including due and unpaid transactions) for 18 June 2026
iii. Budget Comparison Report (including due and unpaid transactions) for 18 June 2026

FS27/022  Bank Reconciliation (Paper E pages 52 to 72)
To approve and resolve to sign the monthly bank reconciliations for 31 May 2026 per paragraph 2.2 of Financial Regulations.

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

• HSBC Current/Deposit Account: £504,346.21
• CCLA: £500,000.00

FS27/023  Community Grant Applications
To consider grant applications received.
i. Gainsborough Men’s Shed – £1,525 Paper F (pages 73 to 77)
ii. Rotary Club of Gainsborough – £1,000 Paper G (pages 78 to 84)
iii. Gainsborough Croquet Club – £600 Paper H (pages 85 to 89)
iv. All Saints’ Parish Church – £500 Paper I (pages 90 to 96)
v. Wright Way Sports & Education – £984.96 Paper J (pages 97 to 100)

To note that the following Community Grant funds are available:
£6,000 in 2026 / 2027 budget
£3,549 in earmarked reserves
Paper K (pages 101 to 106)

Minutes:
Members considered the following grant applications received.
i. Gainsborough Men’s Shed – £1,525
RESOLVED: To award the Gainsborough Men’s Shed a Community Grant of £1,525.
Note: Councillor Dobbie abstained from voting on the above resolution.

ii. Rotary Club of Gainsborough – £1,000
RESOLVED: To award the Rotary Club of Gainsborough a Community Grant of £500.
Note: Councillor Hooton abstained from voting on the above resolution.

iii. Gainsborough Croquet Club – £600
RESOLVED: To award the Gainsborough Croquet Club a Community Grant of £600.
Note: Councillor Key abstained from voting on the above resolution.

iv. All Saints’ Parish Church – £500
RESOLVED: To award the All Saints’ Parish Church a Community Grant of £500.

v. Wright Way Sports & Education – £984.96
RESOLVED: To award the Wright Way Sports & Education a Community Grant of £984.96.

FS27/024  Appropriate Policy Document (Paper L pages 107 to 112)
To consider recommending to Full Council the adoption of the Appropriate Policy Document.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To RECOMMEND TO FULL COUNCIL the adoption of the Appropriate Policy Document.

FS27/025  Internal Audit Report 2025/26 (Paper M pages 113 to 134)
To review and note interim internal audit report and consider any action necessary resulting from the report.

Minutes:
RESOLVED: To review the effectiveness of the Council’s system of internal control, note the interim Internal Audit Report for 2025/26 and action the recommendations where appropriate.
Note: Councillor Key voted against the above resolution.

FS27/026  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. Newsletter
ii. Operation Bridges Review
iii. Civic Protocol
iv. Registrar Lease renewal
v. Unity Trust Bank
vi. Strategic Plan
vii. LCAS Silver Status submission

FS27/027  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 July 2026 at 6:30pm.

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

The meeting closed at 7:18pm.