3 Dec 2024 – Finance Meeting (Minutes)

GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Finance Committee

Minutes of meeting: Tuesday 3rd December 2024
Whittle Hall Community Centre

Chair: Cllr Williams
Present: Cllr Pennington
Cllr Watson
Cllr Cotter

In Attendance: K. Carter (Clerk)

1. To receive and approve any apologies for unavoidable absence.
Apologies were received from Cllr Simpson.

2. To approve the minutes of previous meeting 5/11/2024.
The draft minutes were moved and accepted as a true record of the meeting and signed as
such.

FINANCE/2024/91:
To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 5th November 2024 as a true record.

3. To review operating costs and rental rates for community centres
The operating costs and income for the community centres were considered. With staff
costs, there is currently around a £20,000 annual loss over the 5 centres. Improvements to
the centres are also not included in these costs and it was also noted that employers NIC’s
will be increasing from April 2025.

It was agreed that the council needs to implement a rate increase for hire of the centres to
mitigate the increasing costs to operate the community centres without causing undue
difficulties for customers. Rates were therefore agreed for each hire class rather than
applying a blanket percentage increase.

FINANCE/2024/92:
To implement an increase to hire rates for the centres from April 2025 as follows:
Preschools, £6.60 per hour
Community rate, £7 per hour
Business rate, £17.60 per hour
Business rate (off peak), £13.20 per hour
Private functions, £80 for 3-hour booking
LG (Misc. Prov.) Act 1976 s19

4. To be informed of issues with CCTV at Tim Parry Recreation Ground and decide on
action.
Only two cameras are currently working. The maintenance contract wasn’t renewed as the
cover was limited but expensive. The council had previously discussed replacement of the
cameras as they are now around 6 years old. Quotes will be obtained for either repair or
replacement.

5. To be updated on BT phone and broadband contracts.
It was noted that there hadn’t been any problems with the overall service or broadband
provision, with the exception of Hood Manor Community Centre. This was a unique
situation which has been resolved, although the contract is currently still cancelled. The
problems were billing errors, and these have now also been cleared up. The service at the

FC/2024/41
30.12.24
Chair’s Signature:
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Finance Committee

Minutes of meeting: Tuesday 3rd December 2024
Whittle Hall Community Centre

Parish Office needs updating and that at Hood Manor CC reinstating. These could be done
on either a 3-year or 5-year contract. The 5-year is more cost-effective and would bring all
the contracts into line with each other and this was agreed, providing that there is no
reinstatement cost for Hood Manor CC as the termination was an error on BT’s part.

FINANCE/2024/93:
To accept 5-year contracts with BT for the phone and broadband services at the parish
office and broadband at Hood Manor Community Centre, providing there is no
reinstatement fee for Hood Manor (LG (Misc. Prov.) Act 1976 s19; LGA 1972 s111).

6. To review use of Tim Parry Community Centre for private functions.
The introduction of the café and the vehicle barrier at Tim Parry Community Centre has
created some difficulties with private functions and functions with large numbers of people.
It was explained that Tim Parry CC is not often requested as a venue and doesn’t have
many bookings annually. The council could explore the use of Bewsey Barn Community
Centre instead for functions.

FINANCE/2024/94:
To honour the parties currently booked at Tim Parry Community Centre but remove it from
the list of suitable venues for private hire/large events and explore the use of Bewsey Barn
Community Centre instead.

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.

Presented By Description Amount, £
T&O Harrison Greenwaste 60.00
MKM TP Drainage 156.88
Walton Turf TP Drainage – Top Soil 540.00
Comtec Centre Electrical Repairs 330.00
Mature Movers Donation Christmas meal 150.00
Paul Brookes & Sons Patching of footpath with tarmac– TP 300.00
MKM Mini Excavator Hire – TP Drainage 1099.80
Travis Perkins Limestone Chips – TP Drainage 13.50
B&B Hygiene Ltd Cleaning supplies 489.84
Trade UK Centre Maintenance – TP 23.51
MKM Tip Dumper – TP Drainage 902.40
Cheshire Constabulary PCSO Qtr 2 charge July – Sept 24 10,325.00
Ross Safety Workwear Safety Boots 107.82
Tudor Environmental Grounds – site upkeep 205.36
Premier Traffic Ltd Traffic Mngt service for Remembrance 1182.00
MKM Building Materials for TP Garden 13.26
MKM Building Materials for TP Garden 567.41
MKM Building Materials for TP Garden 24.18
MKM Building Material for TP Garden 526.51

FC/2024/42
30.12.24
Chair’s Signature:
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Finance Committee

Minutes of meeting: Tuesday 3rd December 2024
Whittle Hall Community Centre

Woodend Nursery 2 Phormiom 14.00
Chalc Finance for Councillors training 35.00
360 Aggregates Grade 1 Top Soil for TP Garden 286.80
The Landscape Academy Training Course – Intro to Landscaping 1,080.00
MKM Tip dump hire – TP Drainage 676.80
MKM Cable locator hire – TP Drainage 21.14
MKM Green Treated Timber – LG 959.52
MKM Mini Excavator hire – TP Drainage 884.84
Beechwood Industries GM Planting Bulb Planting 28,339.20
Trade UK Padlocks and locks for Centres 22.48
Trade UK Necked door bolt 2.49
MKM Green Treated Timber – LG 359.82
Cheshire Turf Machinery Mower service 445.94
Firecheck Northwest Ltd Fire safety upgrades Centres 408.84
B&B Hygiene Ltd Cleaning supplies 263.25
All Steel Fencing Mesh Fencing 594.00
Toilets on the Go Fun Day Toilets – 2025 264.00
Equals Petty cash top-up 1016.56
TOTAL £52,692.15

FINANCE/2024/95:
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 October were also checked:
Novuna 01/10/2024 Electric Van Lease 456.20
BT 01/10/2024 WIFI/Telephone WH-Office 129.24
Lex Autolease 01/10/2024 Council Electric Van Lease 851.98
Water Plus 01/10/2024 Water charges BB 44.69
Water Plus 01/10/2024 Water charges HM 50.95
Water Plus 01/10/2024 Water charges WH 80.38
SSE Energy 02/10/2024 GAS HM 87.80
SSE Energy 02/10/2024 GAS BB 71.31
SSE Energy 02/10/2024 GAS HL 30.85
SSE Energy 07/10/2024 GAS 355.88
Peninsula 11/10/2024 H&S Service H&S 200.93
Global 4 Comm 14/10/2024 Office 365/email Office 5.87
Water Plus 21/10/2024 Water charges HL 28.00
Water Plus 21/10/2024 Water charges TP 83.37
SSE Energy 21/10/2024 Electricity BB 336.64
WBC 30/10/2024 September Business Rates TP 96.00
WBC 30/10/2024 September Business Rates HM 61.00
WBC 30/10/2024 September Business Rates WH 65.00
WBC 30/10/2024 September Business Rates BB 52.00

FC/2024/43
30.12.24
Chair’s Signature:
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Finance Committee

Minutes of meeting: Tuesday 3rd December 2024
Whittle Hall Community Centre

BT 31/10/2024 WIFI/Telephone WH-Office 129.24
Utility Warehouse 31/10/2024 Mobile phones Office 53.40
Service Fee Charge 31/10/2024 Service Charge Office 16.20
TOTAL £3286.93

8. To consider any quotes received and authorise or make recommendations to full
Council where appropriate.
a. for walkie talkies for use at Sankey Summer Fun Day. Proposed by councillors who
attended as marshals on Remembrance Sunday where these were used. GSPC usually
hires walkie talkies for the Fun Day; these would be a more cost-effective option (£94.99 for
4). Agreed to purchase 8 units.

FINANCE/2024/96:
To purchase 8nr Motorola TLKR T62 walkie talkie radios for use at Sankey Summer Fun
Day and other events (LGA 1972 s145).

b. to install perimeter fencing around Bewsey Barn Community Centre to protect the site
and customers using the centre. The grounds are large, approx. 280m of fencing is required
with two gates – one pedestrian, one vehicular. Two quotes had been received prior to the
meeting, a third is expected with prices from £19,652 to ££16,060. A query was raised with
regard to the VAT on one quote. It was agreed to clarify the VAT and await the final quote
before making the final decision via email. Funding for this project will be drawn in part from
remaining funds in the grounds budget and the rest from the newsletter budget which is no
longer required.

FINANCE/2024/97:
To install perimeter fencing at Bewsey Barn Community Centre; To clarify the VAT on one
quote and await a third quote; final decision to be made via email (LGA (Misc. Prov.) Act
1976 s19).

9. To consider requests for financial assistance
Request 1: from Sankey Seniors for donation towards Christmas party for 40 members –
£200 approved.

FINANCE/2024/98:
To give a donation of £200 to Sankey Seniors towards their Christmas party (LGA 1972
s137).

Request 2: from Great Sankey Primary School for donation towards toy hampers for
families in need – £100 approved.

FINANCE/2024/99:
To give a donation of £100 to Great Sankey Primary School for toy hampers (LGA 1972
s137).

Request 3: from Warrington Open Doors at Christmas – £250 approved.

FINANCE/2024/100:
To give a donation of £250 to WODAC (LGA 1972 s137).

FC/2024/44
30.12.24
Chair’s Signature:
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Finance Committee

Minutes of meeting: Tuesday 3rd December 2024
Whittle Hall Community Centre

Request 4: from Cadets (Bewsey Barn Community Centre) for permission to use an indoor
air rifle range. Example risk assessments have been forwarded; if permission is granted
specific risk assessments will be produced for the centre. Clerk was asked to ensure rifles
are not to be stored on site, that the pellet size is suitable for indoor use (.177 rather than
.22), there is a sufficient backstop and that the floor is swept carefully after use for any
spent pellets. Permission is granted if these conditions are agreed to.

FINANCE/2024/101:
To give permission to the Army Cadet group at Bewsey Barn Community Centre providing
rifles are not stored on site, pellet size is suitable for indoor use (.177), there is a sufficient
backstop, and any spent pellets are collected after use (LG (Misc. Prov.) Act 1976 s19).

10. Budget 2024-25: to scrutinise documentation and when satisfied as to correctness to
sign off financial reports and bank reconciliations for October.
The bank reconciliation and budget monitoring pages for October were considered and
accepted. Checks on financial transactions were carried out prior to the meeting by Cllrs
Watson and Pennington.

FINANCE/2024/102:
To accept the bank reconciliation and budget monitoring pages for October 2024 (Accounts
and Audit Regulations 2015 reg 4).

11. To be informed of tax base for the 2025-26 precept and review the draft budget.
There has been a small increase in the tax base for 2025-26 (11143 compared to 11046 for
current year). The draft budget was considered; this includes operating costs for the council
and monies for community projects. A small increase in the precept of at least 5% will be
needed to cover operating costs. At present, there is no budget allocated for new grounds
projects, for an additional apprentice to be taken on or for the project to relocate the
grounds depot to a permanent home. Also discussed was the possible enhanced
maintenance needed on the Parish Playing Field if the funding for drainage installation is
successful. It was proposed that the increase of £7.29 per annum for a Band D property is
requested; this is a 15% increase but is a relatively small amount in real terms and it is
hoped that residents will recognise the investment that has been happening into the parish
by the council. The recommendation will be made to full council for discussion ahead of the
final decision which will be made in January 2025.

FINANCE/2024/103:
To propose an increase in the precept of £7.29 per annum on a band D property (annual
cost £55.88) to give a precept of £622, 654 (LGFA 1992, Part 1, s41).

12. To authorise payment of wages, tax and ERNIC for November.
The list of wages to be paid was considered and authorised. It was noted that this month’s
wages include the back pay for the approved salary increase from April 2024 for key
personnel and a £100 Christmas bonus for all staff. Total Employment Costs (including
salaries, pensions & HMRC) were £26,850.24.

FINANCE/2024/104:
To authorise payment of wages and HMRC costs (£26,850.24 total) for November 2024
(LGA 1972 s112).

FC/2024/45
30.12.24
Chair’s Signature:
GREAT SANKEY PARISH COUNCIL
Finance Committee

Minutes of meeting: Tuesday 3rd December 2024
Whittle Hall Community Centre

13. To agree date of Finance Committee meeting for January 2025
Agreed as Monday 30th December 2024.

FC/2024/46
30.12.24
Chair’s Signature: