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

 

 Agenda and Draft Minutes

Present: Councillors Stephen Blogg, Nigel Bowler (C), Nicholas Coxon, Richard Craig, Michael Devine, David Dobbie, 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

FS27/036  Apologies for Absence
To note apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors Bibb and Hooton.

FS27/037  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.

FS27/038  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.

FS27/039  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 FS27/043, FS27/044 in accordance with the Section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, due to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed.

FS27/040  Minutes of the Previous Meeting
To receive and resolve to sign as a true and accurate record the minutes of the Finance and Strategy Committee meeting held on Tuesday 7 July 2026.
Paper A (pages 4 to 6)

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Finance and Strategy Committee meeting held on Tuesday 7 July 2026 be approved as a true and accurate record and signed by the Chair.

Note: Councillor Craig and Puxty abstained from voting on the above resolution.

FS27/041  Finance Reports
To receive and consider for approval the following financial reports:
i. Unpaid Expenditure Transactions for 23 July 2026 Paper B (pages 7 to 13)
ii. Cashbook Summary (including due and unpaid transactions) for 23 July 2026 Paper C (pages 14 to 15)
iii. Budget Comparison Report (including due and unpaid transactions) for 23 July 2026 Paper D (pages 16 to 33)

Minutes:

RESOLVED: To receive, note and approve the following reports:
i. Unpaid Expenditure Transactions for 23 July 2026.
ii. Cashbook Summary (including due and unpaid transactions) for 23 July 2026
iii. Budget Comparison Report (including due and unpaid transactions) for 23 July 2026

FS27/042  Bank Reconciliation
To approve and resolve to sign the monthly bank reconciliations for 30 June 2026 per paragraph 2.2 of Financial Regulations.
Paper E (pages 34 to 50)

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That the monthly bank reconciliations for 30 June 2026 be approved and signed, with the following closing balances:
• HSBC Current/Deposit Account: £430,089.24
• CCLA: £500,000.00

FS27/043  Asset Transfer Updates
To update Members on progress in relation to the proposed transfer of assets from West Lindsey District Council to Gainsborough Town Council and to seek direction on the next steps for those assets requiring further action or commitment.
Exclusion of public and press recommended due to confidential information.
Paper F (pages 51 to 55)

Minutes:

RESOLVED: To
i. Note the progress made in relation to the proposed transfer of assets from West Lindsey District Council to Gainsborough Town Council.
ii. Reaffirm the Town Council’s in-principle commitment to progressing the Richmond House project and confirm its commitment to meeting the agreed financial contribution.
iii. Confirm that officers continue discussions with West Lindsey District Council and Local Partnerships regarding the wider programme of asset transfers.
iv. Approve the Town Clerk completing the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) Application Form following communication from West Lindsey District Council.
v. Note the current position regarding Roses Sports Ground.
vi. Authorise the Town Clerk to continue discussions and negotiations with West Lindsey District Council and report back to Members as further information becomes available.

FS27/044  Request for Revocation of Structure Application
To consider a request from a tenant seeking revocation of a decision to withdraw approval for a proposed replacement polytunnel.
Exclusion of public and press recommended due to confidential information.
Paper G (pages 56 to 77)

Minutes:

RESOLVED: To
i. Notes the correspondence received on 23 June 2026.
ii. Determine that the revocation of the approval for the proposed replacement polytunnel was made in accordance with the Council’s allotment management procedures and on the basis of the information available at the time.
iii. Determine that the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 does not apply to the Council’s internal allotment structure approval process.
iv. Decline the request to revisit the revocation decision, noting that the applicant was invited to submit a fresh application once sufficient construction details were available and that the tenancy has since been terminated following separate decisions previously determined by Committee.
v. Note that the former tenant has not removed their belongings from the allotment following expiry of the Notice to Quit and that this matter will continue to be managed separately under the Council’s tenancy management procedures.
vi. Instruct the Town Clerk to notify the former tenant of the Committee’s decision and advise that this concludes the Council’s consideration of the matter.

FS27/045  Items for Notification
To receive any items for notification to be included on a future agenda (for information only)
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

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

FS27/046  Time and Date of Next Meeting
To note the date and time of the next Finance and Strategy Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 25 August 2026 at 6:30pm.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: To NOTE the date and time of the next Finance and Strategy Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday 25 August 2026 at 6:30pm at Richmond House, Morton Terrace.

The meeting closed at 7:18pm.