MINUTES OF THE LOUTH TOWN COUNCIL GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
HELD ONLINE USING THE ZOOM PLATFORM
ON TUESDAY 15th DECEMBER 2020
Present Cllr. Mrs. E. Ballard (EB), (in the chair).
Councillors: J. Baskett (JB), M. Bellwood (MB), L. Cooney (LMC), A. Cox (AC), S. Crew (SC), H. Filer (HF), D. Ford (DF), J. Garrett (JG), D.J.E. Hall (DJEH), D Hobson (DH), G.E. Horton (GEH), A. Leonard (AL), Mrs. S.E. Locking (SEL), Mrs. J. Makinson-Sanders (JMS), K. Norman (KN), J. Simmons (JS) F.W.P. Treanor (FWPT), Mrs. P.F. Watson (PFW) and D. Wing (DEW).
Councillors not present: D. Jackman (DJ).
The Town Clerk, Mrs. L.M. Phillips and the Town Clerk’s Assistant, Mrs. M Vincent were also present.
215. Apologies for Absence
No apologies for absence were received.
216. Declarations of Interest / Dispensations
Cllrs. Mrs. JMS, AL and DEW – item 4 as members of the Hubbard’s Hills Trust.
It was noted that Cllr. Mrs. JMS had a dispensation to speak on any item relating to Hubbard’s Hills but that none of the Trustees could vote.
217. Minutes
It was RESOLVED that the notes of the Governance and Finance Committee Meeting held on 17th November 2020 be approved as the Minutes.
218. Budget 2021/22
The Town Clerk talked the Committee through the draft budget line by line and this was approved for recommendation to Town Council with the following changes:
a. Item 4090 Grants S137 Open Resource, budget to be increased from £4,000 to £6,000 to assist local groups who will have struggled during the Covid 19 pandemic.
b. Item 4282 Hubbard’s Hills Maintenance, budget to be reduced to £35,000 from £45,000.
A recorded vote was taken to resolve upon whether to reduce the budget set for Hubbard’s Hills from £45,000 to £35,000. The results of this were as follows:
For: EB, MB, JB, AC, LMC, SC, HF, DF, JG, DJEH, DH, KN, JS, PFW
Against: FWPT
Abstain: GEH, SEL
Not Voting: JMS, DEW, AL
Absent: DJ
The Council reviewed the proposals for treatment of Earmarked Reserves and approved its recommendation as part of the whole draft budget to Town Council.
Taking into account the above it was resolved to recommend to Town Council that for 2021/22 a precept of £275,668 be requested, a 12.69% decrease on 2020/21, cost per band D property of £53.54 pa (based on the 20/21 Tax Base (which would be updated in January 2021)).
NB During discussions it was also agreed to add to a forthcoming agenda the feasibility of LTC taking on the weed spraying service in the town, currently undertaken by LCC.
219. Next Meeting
The Committee noted that the date of the next scheduled Governance and Finance Committee meeting was 2nd February 2021.
The Meeting Closed at 9.30pm.
Signed_______________________ (Chairman) Dated_________________________