February 2020

Minutes of a meeting of Finance & Policy committee held on 19th February 2020 in the Pavilion at the Bath Road Recreation Ground at 15:00

Present: Cllrs Barr, Callan, Kilcoyne, Manders, Moran, Parr.
In attendance: Mrs S Knowles, Clerk to Council. No members of public were present

1. To receive apologies and accept valid reasons for absence– It was RESOLVED: That apologies be accepted from Cllr Walker

2. To receive members’ declarations of disclosable pecuniary, non-disclosable pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests in relation to any agenda item - Cllr Callan declared a non-pecuniary interest in matters relating to the Community Library.

3. To confirm the minutes of the meeting held 16th December 2019 - It was RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Finance & Policy committee held on 16th December 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the chairman.

4. To consider an employer discretion statement for the pension scheme – It was RESOLVED: That the employer discretion statement be adopted by Council.

5. To consider Council’s risk register – It was agreed that additional detail was required and the item be referred to Full Council for consideration. It was agreed that Council should undertake a skills audit in relation to this item.

6. To consider community building valuations and levels of insurance - It was RESOLVED: That the committee accept the valuations and alter the insurance as appropriate.

7. To consider policies for review

1. Disciplinary policy – It was RESOLVED: That subject to alterations discussed, the policy be adopted by Council.
2. Grievance policy – A number of changes were required. The policy would be considered again by the committee or Full Council.
3. Training policy – 

Cllr Kilcoyne declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to the training policy at 15:40.
It was RESOLVED: That subject to alterations discussed, the policy be adopted by Council.

8. To consider expenditure of the Healthy Hubs grant – It was agreed that the Clerk to Council would investigate:

• the provision of a sports programme for pre-school aged children and carers; and
• financial assistance for the Woollen Woods event.

9. To consider expenditure of the Community Library Capital Grant – It was RESOLVED: That additional tables be purchased for the library from FG Library & Learning and the Clerk draw money from the capital grant as required for the purchase.

10. To consider VE Day 75 event – It was RESOLVED: That Patchwork Audio be commissioned to provide sound equipment and engineer assistance for the VE Day event.
It was RESOLVED: That refreshments be purchased from the Pantry Café for the Orchestra and Choir.
The committee discussed the risk assessment and safety information for the event. Documents would be shared with Full Council in due course.

11. To review the budget 2019-2020 – The clerk to council gave a verbal report. It was noted that the training budget for the year is overspent. No other major issues or concerns were raised.

12. Items for the agenda of the next committee meeting – Awards scheme, skills audit, civic calendar.

There being no further business the chairman closed the meeting at 16:44
Signed_______________________________Chairman 20th April 2020