F22/039 PRESENT
Councillors Robertson, Forbes, Houghton, Malloy and McCulloch.
A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk)
F22/040 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllrs Gardiner and Nicholson (health).
F22/041 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
Cllr Forbes declared a personal interest in the grant application from Just Drop In on the grounds of having received a report from students of Knutsford Academy concerning access to mental health services in his capacity as a member of a patient participation group, and in relation to the grant application from the Mid Cheshire Shed on the grounds of having worked in the building where the service is based.
In the interests of openness and transparency Cllr Houghton declared that during his mayoral year he was fundraising to establish a Men’s Shed in Knutsford.
F22/042 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
No members of the public wished to speak.
F22/043 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
Cllr McCulloch joined the meeting.
It was RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 12th September 2022.
F22/044 LARGE GRANT SCHEME APPLICATIONS
A representative of Just Drop In addressed the committee and took questions from members.
It was RESOLVED that whilst the council is supportive of the scheme the grant application be refused and the applicant re-apply under the small grant scheme in 2023/24.
Representatives of the Mid Cheshire Shed addressed the committee and took questions from members.
It was RESOLVED to refuse the grant application due to the lack of direct benefit to Knutsford residents.
F22/045 COUNCIL BUDGET 2023/24
It was RESOLVED to:
- reduce the council grant scheme budget by £2,500
reduce the projected expenditure for the council grant scheme budget by £1,700
- increase the Council Offices gas budget by £1,600
increase the exclusive right to burial income to £18,500
- remove the cemetery improvements budget
remove the cemetery chapel professional fees budget, deferring the building surveys by 12 months
- add the market license fee income of £400
reduce the grounds and open spaces external contractors budget by £250
- remove the horticulture street furniture budget
remove the highways budget
- remove the budget for the lantern parade
remove the budget for bunting
- reduce the increase to the EM rental reserve to £1,144
reduce the increase to the EM play areas reserve to £500
and recommend the budget and reserves as amended to Full Council, requiring a precept of £574,629 noting it could be reduced to £565,713 should council approve the sale of 60 King Street.
F22/046 AMENDMENT TO FINANCIAL REGULATIONS
It was RESOLVED to amend 11.1b and Annex 1 of Financial Regulations to replace reference to “EU Thresholds” with “Thresholds set under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015” and “EU Tender Process” with “Tender via Find a Tender and in line with relevant Government directives”
F22/047 CONCLUSION OF EXTERNAL AUDIT
The conclusion of external audit for the 2021/22 financial year was noted.
F22/048 QUESTIONS TO THE TOWN CLERK
No questions were raised.
F22/049 OUTSTANDING MATTERS LOG
It was noted that no matters were outstanding.
F22/050 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
It was noted that the next scheduled meeting is planned for 16th January 2023 at 7:30pm.