Draft Minutes of the Finance and Audit Committee held on Thursday 16th January 2025. This was a Hybrid Meeting held at the Welfare Hall, Heol y Felin, Cwmgwrach and via Zoom at 5.45 pm
Present: Cllr P Rudd (Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee) Cllr J Bulman and Cllr M Mortimore.
Cllr R Williams (Chair) joined the meeting
Council Employees Present: Clerk/RFO L Evans
Chair PR started the meeting. The meeting is held as a multi-hybrid meeting in accordance with The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 & the Council Standing Order 3 (b)
Members of the Public Present: No members of the public were present at this meeting
90/24 Apologies for Absence: There were no apologies at this meeting all members of the Finance and Audit Committee were present.
91/24 Declarations of Interest: There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.
92/24 To Receive the Public Observations on Agenda Items at this Meeting: There were no public observations received at this meeting.
93/24 Matters Arising from the Meeting held on Thursday 24th October 2024
Minute 53/24 b) Council Bank Signatories – Cllr M Mortimore confirmed she needed to action the bank paperwork being held at the Banks Swansea Branch. RESOLVED Cllr M Mortimore will endeavor to complete the paperwork.
94/24 Agenda Items:
a) Quarterly Budget – Clerk presented the prepared documents for the meeting to examine: Quarterly Budget Summary, Quarterly Salary Breakdown, Quarterly Bank Reconciliation and Bank Statements. Items below and above budget were discussed and explained.
Cllr P Rudd noted that the General and Reserve Account totals were the wrong way around. Action: The Clerk will correct the record and reprint for the Finance Records. Councillor M Mortimore requested information regarding “reserved plots” at the Cemetery. Clerk displayed the Council Cemetery Records and how reserved plots were recorded. Cllr M Mortimore requested that Reserved Cemetery Plots be added as an Agenda Item for the February Ordinary Meeting. Clerk will Action.
Councillors accepted the Quarterly Budget and will take to the January Ordinary Meeting for Full Council to approve.
Cllr M Mortimore examined the Council Bank Statement totals and compared with the Bank Reconciliations. A selection of invoices was scrutinised alongside payments. RESOLVED
b) 5 Year Financial Plan – Clerk had investigated the benefits of producing a Medium-Term Financial Plan up to 2026/27. Clerk had an example downloaded from SLCC (Society of Local Council Clerks) and will prepare for the Members to examine at the 4th Quarter Meeting to be held in April 2025. Cllr P Rudd agreed that a high-level overview of expenditure and income along with a financial plan will be beneficial and highlight potential challenges. RESOLVED
95/24 Set Date, Time, Venue and Proposed Agenda Items for the Next Meeting – 4th Quarter 17th April 2025 at the Welfare Hall and Zoom, to commence at 5.45 pm
Meeting closed at 6.25 pm