Minutes - Finance and Policy - 15 February 2021

Draft notes of a meeting of Finance & Policy committee held remotely via Zoom on 15th February 2021 at 19:00
Present: Cllrs Barr, Callan, Kilcoyne, Manders and Walker.
 
In attendance: Mrs S Knowles, Clerk to Council. Cllr Broad observed the meeting. No members of public were present
 
1. To receive apologies and accept valid reasons for absence– Nil
 
2. To receive members’ declarations of disclosable pecuniary, non-disclosable pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests in relation to any agenda item – Cllr Kilcoyne declared a non-pecuniary interest in matters relating to the Local Council Awards Scheme.
 
3. To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 15th December 2020- It was RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Finance & Policy committee held on 15th December 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the chairman.
 
4. To consider budget, income and expenditure – The clerk gave a verbal update on this item.
 
5. To confirm the parish council grant for the Bracebridge Heath Friendship Club– It was RESOLVED: That a grant of £250 be awarded to the Bracebridge Heath Friendship Club.
 
6. To consider Council communications
- Adoption of Council email accounts and purchase of a domain name – It was RESOLVED: That a recommendation be made to Full Council that a .gov.uk domain be set up with associated email accounts for employees and members.
 
It was RESOLVED: That a recommendation to Council be made that Cloudnext be contracted to set up the .gov.uk domain and provide email accounts as necessary.
 
It was agreed that the Clerk would begin to develop policies to support the use of new email accounts.
 
- Development of a Communication strategy – A verbal discussion was held.
 
7. To consider secure disposal of council paperwork – It was RESOLVED: That permission be given to the clerk to securely dispose of Council paperwork as required through Data Shred Lincs.
 
8. To consider policies and governance documents for review
a. Councillor Induction pack – It was agreed that Cllrs Callan and Manders begin work on this document.
b. Equality policy – It was RESOLVED: That the review of the Equality policy be accepted, v1.3 adopted.
c. Expenses policy – It was RESOLVED: That the review of the Expenses policy be accepted, v2.1 adopted.
d. Emergency scheme of delegation – It was RESOLVED: That a recommendation be made to Full council that the Emergency Scheme of Delegation v1.0 be adopted.
e. Financial Reserves Policy – It was RESOLVED: That a recommendation be made to Full Council that the Financial Reserves policy v1.0 be adopted.
f. Risk Register – It was RESOLVED: That a recommendation be made to Full Council that the revised risk register v1.1 be adopted.
g. Asset register – It was agreed that the clerk investigate items missing from the asset register and insurance values for these items. The updated asset register to be used in April 2021 to determine levels of insurance cover.
 
9. To consider the Local Council Awards Scheme – A verbal update was given.
 
10. Items for the agenda of the next committee meeting – Insurance, action plan
 
There being no further business the chairman closed the meeting at 20:57
 
Signed_______________________________Chairman                                   19th April 2021