1 Mar 2026 – Finance Meeting (Minutes)

GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Finance Committee

Minutes of meeting: Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Whittle Hall Community Centre

Chair: Cllr S Pennington
Present: Cllr P Watson
Cllr B Simpson
Cllr N Catlow
Cllr C Wren
Cllr M Hussain

In Attendance: K Carter (Clerk)

1. To receive and approve any apologies for unavoidable absence.
None.

2. To approve the minutes of previous meeting 3/2/26.
The draft minutes were moved and accepted as a true record of the meeting and signed as
such.

FINANCE/2026/03/15: Resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 3rd
February 2026 as a true record.

3. To decide on terms for the hire of community centres for adult private functions.
At the last Finance Committee meeting, a revised policy for adult functions was discussed
following recent issues with such events. It was recognised that these form a very small
proportion of bookings, around 5%, and tend to be those that wish to have an evening
event. Rather than prohibit these functions, it was agreed to put the following conditions in
place:
• Finish time will remain as stated in the Centre Operations Policy, 7pm at weekends
and 9pm weekdays.
• A refundable deposit of £100 will be taken which will be forfeit if the booking
conditions are breached, e.g. if the booking overruns, the centre is not left clean and
tidy, or if damage occurs.
• Dependent upon the location, time and reason for the booking, two staff members
may be assigned to close at the end of the session. The necessity for this will be at
the discretion of the Clerk/Deputy Clerk.
• A councillor contact will be assigned to provide backup support to staff in the event
of difficulties with customers leaving the building.
The centre booking form will be amended appropriately for use with these functions.

FINANCE/2026/03/16: Resolved to amend the centre booking form & operations policy
with additional conditions for adult private functions (LG (Misc. Prov.) Act 1976 s19).

4. To be updated on the Parish Playing Drainage Project; Discharge of Conditions and
correspondence from the Football Foundation.
WBC’s Planning had notified that the Condition for the Construction Management Plan had
not been discharged. The Highways Department required more detail on some aspects,
particularly vehicle numbers, access and wheel washing facilities. The contractor is working
on amending the plan; it is unclear whether the planning department will be able to approve
this directly, or whether the parish council will need to reapply for the discharge of

FC/2026/11 31.3.26
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Finance Committee

Minutes of meeting: Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Whittle Hall Community Centre

conditions. The Football Foundation has also been in contact, stating that there needs to be
some form of commencement before the end of March for the funding to still be available. It
was agreed that, once the amended plan has been received, the Clerk should contact the
Planning Officer & Highways Department to see if the plan can be approved, fully
explaining the timing issue with the grant funding. Cllr Hussain, who is also a Borough
Councillor and the current Mayor, may be able to assist in the process and will be copied
into the correspondence. The Parish Council will then look to providing a preparatory
invoice for Talbot Construction to satisfy the Football Foundation’s requirements.

FINANCE/2026/03/17: Resolved to contact WBC Planning & Highways Department with
the amended Construction Management Plan and request approval of the Discharge of
Condition. Request to be backed up by Cllr Hussain if necessary (Open Spaces Act 1906,
s124).

FINANCE/2026/18: Recommended to provide an initial, advance payment to Talbot
Construction for the works to meet with the requirements of the Football Foundation (Open
Spaces Act 1906, s10).

5. To be updated on lease negotiations for the unit on Penketh Business Park and
decide on signatories for completion
Details of the lease for the unit have now been agreed, and completion is just awaiting the
final version for signing. Legal documents require signing by two authorised councillors and
witnessed by the Clerk. It was agreed the Chair of the Council, and Chair of Finance should
be signatories.

FINANCE/2026/03/19: Recommended that Cllrs Watson & Pennington be the authorised
signatories for the lease on the unit at Penketh Business Park (LGA 1972 s124).

6. To receive further information on playscheme costs and decide whether to increase
the fees per attendee.
The quote to provide the summer playscheme was discussed at the last meeting (£700 per
week for 6 weeks = £4,200 in total). The fee charged to parents is £4 per child per session
and the committee queried whether this could be raised to £5 to reduce the cost to the
council without adversely impacting attendance. The provider was asked and they believe
that this shouldn’t cause a problem, and the increase in fee was therefore agreed.

FINANCE/2026/03/20: Recommended that the quote for the summer playscheme is
accepted at £700 per week for 6 weeks. Cost per child per session to be increased to £5
with the additional £1 to be refunded to GSPC (LGA 1972 s145).

7. To scrutinise financial expenditure arising since the last meeting, including
payments by Direct Debit.
A list of payments to be made had been circulated prior to the meeting. The following
payments were considered and approved.

Amount,
Presented By Description
£
The Tom Taylor Co Part 2 Payment Website 1977.00
The Tom Taylor Co Redesign of website part 1 6000.00

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GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Finance Committee

Minutes of meeting: Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Whittle Hall Community Centre

Vans North West Ltd Repairs to van 461.88
Samrose Windows Repair to WH Fire Door 95.00
Cheshire Trailers Service of Trailer 234.00
Steve Mahon Fit new gas cooker WH 120.00
Smiths Training Ladder User Training 468.00
Amazon Business Mug 14.64
Tudor Environmental Knapsack Sprayer 213.26
B&B Hygiene Ltd Cleaning Supplies 291.67
Trade UK Repair to TP tree 23.53
Tudor Environmental Steel weld mesh tree guard x 8 411.94
Trade UK Galvanised staples 17.98
Trade UK PPE trousers 21.87
Brentwood Moss Green Waste Compost 122.40
Northwest Air Con Service of AC units TP/WH 288.00
Trade UK Filing kit 73.98
Viking Office Stationery 238.69
Ross Safety Wear Staff PPE 182.59
Tudor Environmental Tools 192.90
Multi Glazing Ltd Main Entrance Door WH – supply & fit 5,279.65
MKM Plate hire compactor 33.84
Trade UK Toilet repair – HM 38.67
Trade UK Tool Clips – Grounds 5.49
Trade UK Ladder tags – Grounds 24.98
Trade UK Storage Hooks 19.68
Equals Card Petty Cash top up 596.64
Brentwood Moss Green Waste Compost 122.40
CHALC Introduction to AI Training 80.00
SLCC Membership Fee – Renewal 379.00
Amazon Business Samsung Galaxy phone – staff work phone 199.99
Amazon Business Phone charger adapter 6.62
Amazon Business Phone charger adapter 8.05
HortWeek Hortweek Online – Staff 299.00
Brentwood Moss 24 Tree Stakes 113.76
Brentwood Moss Green Waste Compost 122.40
B&T Skip hire Skip hire 230.00
Amazon Business Phone Screen Cover 9.98
Peter Watson Chairs Allowance 1520.00
The Tom Taylor Co Website redesign part payment 6000.00
Brentwood Moss Greenwaste Compost 122.40
Terrier Tools Blades for mower 54.79
TOTAL 26,716.67

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GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Finance Committee

Minutes of meeting: Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Whittle Hall Community Centre

FINANCE/2026/03/21: Resolved to authorise all payments listed (under LGA 1976 s19 or
LGA 1972 s15(5), s101, 111, 112, 133, 142 or 137).

The following direct debits on the Council’s account during January were also noted:
Novuna 02/01/2026 Electric Van Lease 456.20
BT 02/01/2026 WIFI/Telephone HL/TP/BB/HM 396.49
Lex Autolease 02/01/2026 Council Electric Van Lease 851.98
SSE Energy 05/01/2026 Electricity TP 567.91
SSE Energy 05/01/2026 Gas TP 874.05
Peninsula 12/01/2026 H&S Service H&S 200.93
Global 4
Communication 12/01/2026 Office 365/email Office 122.04
Public Works Loans 19/01/2026 Office 11666.94
SSE Energy 21/01/2026 Electricity BB 542.07
Water Plus 26/01/2026 Water charges TP 72.49
BT 27/01/2026 WIFI/Telephone WH 260.36
WBC 30/01/2026 November Business Rates TP 235.00
WBC 30/01/2026 November Business Rates HM 147.00
WBC 30/01/2026 November Business Rates WH 156.00
WBC 30/01/2026 November Business Rates BB 125.00
Utility Warehouse 30/01/2026 Mobile phones Office 56.38
Service Fee Charge 31/01/2026 Service Charge Office 24.30
TOTAL 16,755.14

8. To consider any quotes received and authorise or make recommendations to full
Council where appropriate.
From Peninsula for HR services. As new employment legislation has come into effect and
the council is expanding, the council recognises that there is a need to ensure contracts
and working practices are still fit-for-purpose. Peninsula is already engaged by GSPC to
provide H&S services, and a quote was obtained to extend this to HR services as well. The
service will provide a review of current contracts, staff handbook and policies, an HR
advisory service, tribunal protection, eLearning for staff and an employee assistance
program to support the health and wellbeing of staff. After discussion, it was proposed to
take on the 60-month quote of £277.58 pm, fixed for the duration of the service term.

FINANCE/2026/03/22: Recommended that the quote from Peninsula for HR services is
accepted, £277.58pm for 60 months (LGA 1972 s111).

9. To consider requests for financial assistance.
Eve Community Project – request for any assistance towards a project to develop a
communal garden in an underused and unadopted alleyway between housing in Sankey
South. Residents have already worked to clear the space with assistance from WBC who
have also agreed to scrape and level the land. Some concerns were raised over potential
ownership; WBC have conducted searches on the land and understand that the previous
owner emigrated around 30years ago and has now passed away. It was agreed that GSPC
could not offer any physical assistance to the project but may be able to give some advice
on soil preparation and planting. It was agreed that Cllrs Hussain and Wren would meet
with the project leaders along with GSPC’s Head Gardener and report back to the council
on possibilities.

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GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Finance Committee

Minutes of meeting: Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Whittle Hall Community Centre

FINANCE/2026/03/23: Recommended that a site visit is conducted with the Eve
Community Project leaders, Cllrs Hussain and Wren and the Head Gardener to understand
the site and ascertain whether any advice on planting can be offered (LGA 1972, s137).

Life’s Too Short Project – considered and agreed by the Community Projects Committee on
26.2.26 for an initial pilot event. This has been proposed by a member of council staff who
is willing to take the lead in organising a social event to be held at Tim Parry Community
Centre aimed at older people in the area. 28 people have already registered an interest and
if the event is a success, it is hoped to repeat it on a regular basis. It was proposed that the
council takes overall responsibility for the initial trial and supports the event with a £150
contribution from the Chairmans Discretionary Allowance. The project leader to be
reimbursed for purchases such as crockery.

FINANCE/2026/03/24: Resolved to allow, and take responsibility for, an initial pilot social
event at Tim Parry Community Centre, ‘Life’s Too Short’ project. To reimburse the project
leader for up to £150 towards set up from the Chairmans Discretionary Allowance (LGA
1972 s145)

10. Budget 2025-26: to scrutinise documentation and when satisfied as to correctness to
sign off financial reports and bank reconciliations for January.
Members were unable to complete the scrutiny checks prior to the meeting, and these will
be done on 10.3.26 by Cllrs Watson & Pennington. The bank reconciliation and budget
monitoring pages had been provided at the meeting and were considered before accepting.

FINANCE/2026/03/25: Resolved to accept the bank reconciliation and budget monitoring
pages for January 2026 (Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 reg 4).

11. To authorise payment of wages, tax and ERNIC for February.
The list of wages to be paid was considered and authorised. Total Employment Costs
(including salaries, pensions & HMRC) were £22,985.24

FINANCE/2026/03/26: Resolved to authorise payment of wages and HMRC costs
(£22,985.24 total) for February 2026 (LGA 1972 s112).

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