2 June 2026 – Finance Committee (minutes)

GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Finance Committee

Minutes of meeting: Tuesday 2nd June 2026
Whittle Hall Community Centre

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

In Attendance: K Carter (Clerk)

1. To receive and approve any apologies for unavoidable absence.
Apologies had been received from Cllr Hussain.

2. To approve the minutes of previous meeting 5/5/26.
The draft minutes were moved and accepted as a true record of the meeting and signed as
such.

FINANCE/2026/06/43: Resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 5th May
2026 as a true record (LGA 1972 Sch 12 41(1).

3. To scrutinise accounts for the year ending 31st March 2026 and make a
recommendation on acceptance to full Council on the
i) Annual Governance Statement.
FINANCE/2026/06/44: Recommended to accept and approve the Annual Governance
Statement for the financial year 2025-26 (Accounts & Audit Regulations 2015, reg 12)

ii) Accounting Statement.
FINANCE/2026/06/45: Recommended to accept and approve the Accounting Statement
for the financial year 2025-26 (Accounts & Audit Regulations 2015, reg 12)

4. To receive the Annual Internal Auditors Report and decide on any actions to be
taken.
The auditor had made 3 comments:
i. That the Council reviews and increases its fidelity cover as the maximum projected
cash balance at 31/3/26 exceeded the current level of cover.
ii. A sample of bookings which were checked had highlighted one where the invoiced
hours was 30mins less than the booked hours. It was explained to members that this
was because a free half hour was given at the end of the session on this particular
date. It was noted that the auditor would prefer the booking on the system to reflect this
and be logged as two separate bookings with different charge rates.
iii. That the council should consider utilising a bespoke accounts package.
FINANCE/2026/06/46: Recommended to accept the Annual Internal Audit Report and
implement the following action plan:
i) To discuss increasing the council’s fidelity cover with its insurers.
ii) To ensure the number of hours booked on the bookings system matches the hours on
the invoices.
iii) To investigate options and costs for accounts software and set up, plus training for staff.

FC/2026/25 30.6.26
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Finance Committee

Minutes of meeting: Tuesday 2nd June 2026
Whittle Hall Community Centre

5. To be updated on Council investments and receive information relating to the
General Reserve.
At the last Finance Committee meeting it was agreed to allow the Clerk to look at options
for transferring the annual precept to a savings account to receive interest until the monies
are required. A 32-day notice account with Unity Trust Bank has been opened (2.73% AER)
and £400,000 transferred. This leaves enough funds in the current account for business
until August, when the committee can consider transferring some back from the savings
account. Should the council need funds quickly, it is possible to withdraw funds without
notice, although the interest on this amount would be lost.

The council had also approved increasing the General Reserve to £150,000. There is
currently £100,000 invested with WBC and the committee asked to check the conditions of
the fund before investing more. The interest rate for 2026-27 is 3.11% with 2-days’ notice
required to withdraw funds and no fixed term for investment. The monies are invested with
highly secure Money Market Funds with AAA credit ratings. The committee agreed to
recommend that the additional £50k for the General Reserve is invested with WBC.

FINANCE/2026/06/47: Recommended that the investment with WBC for the General
Reserve is increased by £50k to £150,000.

6. 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.

Presented By Description Amount, £
Impact Graphix Date change Fun Day Banners 60.00
Landscape Academy Abrasive Wheels training – CMO 167.40
Taylor Rose Legal Fees unit Penketh 4642.14
Wicksteed Playground TP bolt replacements 70.58
Trade UK Centre repairs 213.97
Zurich UK Insurance renewal 11,260.99
Amazon Trauma First Aid Kit 44.90
360 Landscape Ltd Sleepers – Grounds 300.00
360 Landscape Ltd Sleepers – Grounds 128.00
Viking Ltd Office stationery 194.77
Amazon Hanging baskets & bird feeders 39.92
Trade UK Centre Maintenance – TP 36.55
Trade UK Centre Maintenance 17.98
Comtec Replace faulty socket WH 120.00
Tudor Ecotech paint & Graffiti wipes 25.18
MKM Prepacked Tarmac 27.19
MKM Hire plate compactor 33.84
JDH Business 25/26 Internal audit 1,039.20
GMA PPF Drainage 1139.52
360 Aggregates Top soil 1t 73.00

FC/2026/26 30.6.26
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Finance Committee

Minutes of meeting: Tuesday 2nd June 2026
Whittle Hall Community Centre

Amazon Line Marker Spray/ Towel Dispenser 84.76
Amazon Tree Tie Straps 14.97
TV Licensing Colour tv licenses x 5 Centre 900.00
Woodend Nursery 24 troughs refilled 662.40
MKM Post Fix – Grounds 18.61
Amazon Sun cream, staff PPE 22.60
K Ashby Reimbursement for fuel for mower 4.86
B&B Hygiene Cleaning Supplies 325.28
Equals Card Petty Cash top up 187.86
Karen Carter Reimbursement for Council refreshments 6.00
TOTAL 21,862.47

FINANCE/2026/06/48: 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 April were also checked:

Novuna 01/04/2026 Electric Van Lease 801.20
Lex Autolease 01/04/2026 Council Electric Van TP 851.98
Water Plus 01/04/2026 Water charges BB 122.98
BT 07/04/2026 WIFI/Telephone HL/TP/BB/HM 396.49
SSE Energy 09/04/2026 Gas TP 223.59
Smart Pension Ltd 10/04/2026 Pension payment Feb Wages 1521.28
Peninsula 13/04/2026 HR/H&S Services HR 515.48
SSE Energy 13/04/2026 Gas HM 369.78
SSE Energy 13/04/2026 Gas WH 235.34
SSE Energy 13/04/2026 Gas BB 428.32
SSE Energy 13/04/2026 Gas BB 336.46
Global 4 Comms 14/04/2026 Office 365/email E-mail 52.45
SSE Energy 27/04/2026 Electricity WH 1141.58
SSE Energy 27/04/2026 Electricity TP 518.54
Water Plus 27/04/2026 Water charges TP 123.44
BT 28/04/2026 WIFI/Telephone WH 280.32
WBC 30/04/2026 April Business Rates TP 303.36
WBC 30/04/2026 April Business Rates HM 212.46
WBC 30/04/2026 April Business Rates BB 230.60
WBC 30/04/2026 April Business Rates WH 196.00
Utility Warehouse 30/04/2026 Mobile phones Office 94.87
Water Plus 30/04/2026 Water charges HM 45.60
Water Plus 30/04/2026 Water charges WH 74.96
Service Fee Charge 30/04/2026 Service Charge Office 28.15
TOTAL £9,105.23

FC/2026/27 30.6.26
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Finance Committee

Minutes of meeting: Tuesday 2nd June 2026
Whittle Hall Community Centre

7. To consider any quotes received and authorise or make recommendations to full
Council where appropriate.
None.

8. To consider requests for financial assistance.
None.

9. Budget 2026-7: to scrutinise documentation and when satisfied as to correctness to
sign off financial reports and bank reconciliations for April.
The bank reconciliation and budget monitoring pages for April were considered and
accepted. Checks on financial transactions were carried out prior to the meeting by Cllrs
Catlow and Pennington.

FINANCE/2026/06/49: Resolved to accept the bank reconciliation and budget monitoring
pages for April 2026 (Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 reg 4).

10. To authorise payment of wages, tax and ERNIC for May.
The list of wages to be paid was considered and authorised. Total Employment Costs for
May (including salaries, pensions & HMRC) were £24,190.33

FINANCE/2026/05/50: Resolved to authorise payment of wages and HMRC costs
(£24,190.33 total) for May 2026 (LGA 1972 s112).

FC/2026/28 30.6.26