2024 Finance Committee

Minutes of the Finance Committee of Bardney Group Parish Council held in the Pavilion, Silver Street, Bardney on Tuesday 02 July 2024.

Present:

Chair

Cllr Keith Laughton

Councillors:

Cllr Robin Darby, Cllr Ken Hutchinson and Cllr Ruth Lane

Also present:

Eddie Findlay (Clerk/RFO) to the Parish Council

1 member of the public was in attendance.

At 6:00 pm prior to inviting members of the public to speak the Chair members of the public to direct questions to the Chair and to act with civility and respect towards others at the meeting.

Public Forum
MOP 1 – asked if the Committee/Council could clarify that there was no ‘conflict of interest’ in the Internal Auditor being appointed by LALC.  The Chair would look to confirm this with LALC, but the Internal Auditors employed through LALC are Clerks in their own right and our only working to the guidelines set out in the Joint Panel on Accountability and Governance (JPAG) Practitioner Guide.

At 6:10 pm the Chair declared the meeting open.

39-24/25

Election of a Chair of the Finance Committee for the new civic year.
Cllr Laughton proposed Cllr Darby to act as Committee Chair, seconded by Cllr Hutchinson.

Cllr Darby felt unable to dedicate the time required as Chair so was unwilling to act as Chair.

No one else present wished to be considered at this time.

Action:  The Committee RESOLVED to approve Cllr Laughton act as Finance Committee Chair for this meeting only.
Proposed by Cllr Lane, seconded by Cllr Hutchinson and approved unanimously.

40-24/25

Apologies for Absence.
To receive and accept apologies, where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Clerk prior to the meeting, in accordance with LGA 1972, Sch 12, para 40.

Cllr O’Sullivan’s absence was noted.

41-24/25

Declarations of Interest.
To receive declarations of interest and to consider dispensation applications in relation to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.

None declared at this time.

42-24/25

Review and amend the NALC Model Financial Regulations.
Review and amend the NALC Model Financial Regulations, as issued May 2024, to be presented to Council at the July ordinary meeting.
LALC had that afternoon, circulated an email, to say that due to errors and omission found within the May 2024 Model Financial Regulations, NALC Executive Officers had confirmed that the corrections would be made and a new template reissued.  They did not have a timeframe for this, but LALC would circulate the amended version as soon as possible.
Action:  The Committee RESOLVED to defer this matter until the new template became available.

Proposed by Cllr Laughton, seconded by Cllr Lane and approved unanimously.

43-24/25

Carry out a budget review.

Following the introduction of a Grounds Maintenance contract, which had not been budgeted for, the Committee reviewed the various lines and how money could be allocated to the contract budget line.
£8,000.00 had been budgeted as a general Reserve, which could be used, along with the £1,000.00 set aside for a new mower purchase, which was no longer required due to the Grounds Maintenance contract.  Additionally monies could be used form the general reserve from the end of the last FY.
Action:  The Committee RESOLVED to set up a working party of Cllr Hutchinson and the Clerk/RFO to do a line by line review and report back at the next Committee meeting, TBD.
Proposed by Cllr Laughton, seconded by Cllr Lane and approved unanimously.

44-24/25

Consider a way forward following the conclusion of the Internal Audit and the submission of information to the External Auditor (PKF Littlejohn).
The Clerk would check with LALC on the appointing of an Internal Auditor for the current AGAR period (Apr-2024 to Mar-2025).
Action:  The Committee RESOLVED to defer a course of action on the Internal Audit report until the next Committee meeting, TBD.
Proposed by Cllr Laughton, seconded by Cllr Lane and approved unanimously.

45-24/25

Consider any amendments to the Committee Terms of Reference.
Any amendments to be presented to full Council at the July ordinary meeting.
Due to time constraints, this matter was to be deferred.
Action:  The Committee RESOLVED to defer the item until the next Committee meeting, TBD.
Proposed by Cllr Laughton, seconded by Cllr Lane and approved unanimously.

46-24/25

To resolve to go into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, as amended by Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972 to discuss the following matters.

1. Discuss staff salary matters.

Action:  The Committee RESOLVED to go into Closed Session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, as amended by Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972.
Proposed by Cllr Laughton, seconded by Cllr Darby and approved unanimously.

This part of the meeting closed 7:05 pm.

The meeting continued in the absence of press and public at 7:05 pm.

Confidential Minutes

1. Discuss staff salary matters.

Action:  Due to the nature of the matter, the Committee RESOLVED to pass the item to the Personnel and Review Committee, for their next meeting which is planned for Tuesday 09-Jul-2024.
Proposed by Cllr Lane, seconded by Cllr Hutchinson and approved unanimously.

The meeting closed at 7:20 pm.

Signature:

Printed Name:

Date: