To: All Members of Winsford Town Council (for attendance)
Local Press
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THIS MEETING
Dear Councillor
You are summoned to attend a meeting of the Finance Committee to be held in the Winsford Town Council Offices, Wyvern House, The Drumber CW7 1AH on Monday 19th December 2016 at 6.30pm.
Yours sincerely
Mark Bailey
Town Clerk/Finance Officer
AGENDA
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Members must provide apologies to the Town Clerk before 5.00pm on the day of the meeting, together with reasons for their absence.
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members to declare any interest under the following categories:
· Disclosable Pecuniary Interest
· Outside Bodies Interest
· Family, Friend or Close Associate Interest
3. MINUTES - To sign as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting of the Finance Committee held on 21st November 2016 (‘A’)
4. ARISING - any points of clarification from the above minutes.
5. ACCOUNTS FOR APPROVAL
Schedule ‘B’ lists payments made since the last meeting – no accounts to approve under this item
Schedule ‘C’ lists accounts for approval at this meeting.
6. BANK ACCOUNT MONTHLY RECONCILIATION STATEMENTS
Financial probity recommends monthly reconciliation of the Town Council’s accounts. Reconciliation summaries and individual monthly reconciliation statements are available from the Town Council offices and will be circulated at the meeting.
7. GRANTS SUB-COMMITTEE
To approve or otherwise the minutes of a meeting of the Grants Sub-Committee held on 14th December 2016 (‘D’ – to follow)
8. BUDGET PREPARATION 2017/18
Following the Budget Seminar, held on 7th December 2016, work is ongoing on developing the draft budget for 2017/18.
A copy of the draft budget has been circulated to all Members and comments have been requested.
As per the draft timetable presented to the Finance Committee meeting on 17th October 2016, Members are asked to approve the following as the agreed timetable for the 2017/18 budget setting process: -
22nd December 2016 Draft budget formally issued
From 23rd December 2016 Political group discussions on draft budget and public consultation
w/c 9th January 2017 Clerk to be notified of amendments to the draft budget from political groups and public feedback. Details of comments will be included with agenda for Finance Committee meeting on 16th January 2016
w/c 16th January 2017 each political group will be invited to make a budget statement before Finance Committee considers the draft budget for 2017/18
20th February 2017 Town Council formally ratifies recommendations from the Finance Committee and approves 2017/18 budget and levies precept
9. COUNCIL VEHICLE
The Council’s current vehicle – a VW Transport van, is held on a 4 year lease which expires in February 2017.
Authority is sought to seek quotations for a replacement vehicle on similar terms to the current lease agreement.
10. REVIEW OF THE TOWN COUNCIL’S FINANCIAL REGULATIONS
Members are asked to note the updated Town Council Financial Regulations as discussed at the last meeting of the Finance Committee in November 2016. (‘E’ – to follow)
11. REVIEW OF TREASURY MANAGEMENT POLICY
Members are asked to note the attached updated copy of the Town Council’s Treasury Management Policy. Members are also asked to make any comments on the contents and/or structure of the Policy. (‘F’)
12. APPLICATION FOR ONLINE BANKING
Members will recall that approval was given for a series of changes to the Town Council’s financial systems and methods of payment. Within this report was a proposed new system which replaces the current system of cheques with a system based on online banking. A copy of the application form is attached. (‘G’)
RECOMMENDED: That Members note the contents of the attached application form for online banking and ask signatories to sign the form as indicated on behalf of the Town Council.
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