November 2025 Finance Committee

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF

GRIMOLDBY AND MANBY PARISH COUNCIL

HELD IN THE PAVILION, GIBSON WAY, MANBY

ON WEDNESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 2025

 

Present                                              Councillor T. Knowles (in the chair)

Councillors:      M. Bruce (MB) and C. Fairburn (CF)

Councillors not present: Mrs. EB

Two members of the public and the Clerk, Mrs. L.M. Phillips were also present.

  1. Election of Chairman
    It was RESOLVED that Cllr. TK should be elected as Chairman of the Finance Committee to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2026.
     
  2. Election of Vice Chairman
    It was RESOLVED that Cllr. MB should be elected as the Vice Chairman of the Finance Committee to hold office until the Annual Meeting of the Council 2026.
     
  3. Apologies for Absence
    Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. Mrs. EB.
     
  4. Declarations of Interest / Dispensations
    No declarations of interest were received. 
     
  5. Minutes
    It was RESOLVED to approve as a correct the record the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting held on 6th November 2024.
     
  6. Review of Risk Register
    The Committee considered the above and the risks that the Council faces and ways to mitigate these.  It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to recommend approval of the Risk Register to Council on 19th November 2025.
     
  7. Village Maintenance
    The Committee considered the village maintenance schedule. The Committee noted that no changes were proposed in 2026/27.  It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to recommend approval to the Council on 19th November 2025.
     
  8. Review of Reserves Policy
    The Committee considered the above and it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that the Reserves Policy should be recommended for approval by the Council on 19th November 2025.
     
  9. Budget 2026/27
    1. Earmarked Reserve Review
      The Committee considered the above report, which detailed the different reserves, explained the purpose of each EMR individually and made suggestions.  It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to recommend that the Earmarked Reserve Report be approved by Council on 19th November 2025.
    2. Draft 2026/27 Budget
      The Committee considered the above, noting current year spend, projections and the condition of its reserves.  It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that the budget, as presented be approved and the following be recommended to Council:
      1. That a precept of £24,474.07 be levied in 2026/27 which equated to a 13% increase on 2025/26 of £2,840.07 and an annual cost to a band d ratepayer of £37.25.  (The Committee noted that these calculations were based on 2025/26 tax base figures and should decrease slightly when tax base figures for 2026/27 were released).  See below for breakdown.

 

 

Draft Budget 2026/27                                                                                       

                                                            26/27              26/27                  26/27               Notes

                                                       Amount          Amount                Actual

                                                            to be               to be                   Draft

                                                            taken       Precepted               Budget

                                                             from                  For

                                                      Reserves                                                  

                                                              £                      £                        £        

 INCOME                                                                                                            

 Precept                                                        -                         -                             -    

 VAT                                                              -                         -               1,300.00     1/4/24 to 31/3/25

 Bank Interest                                               -                         -                             -    

 Grasscutting cont's from LCC                      -                         -               2,553.93     As notified by LCC 7/2/25

 HMRC                                                           -                         -                             -    

 Grants                                                          -                         -               2,000.00     From TK @ ELDC to go towards new village signs

 Allotment rent                                             -                         -                  250.00     £25 pa x 10

 Pavilion Rent                                                -                         -               1,092.00     £7 ph x 2 x 40 weeks = 560& £7 ph x 2 x 38 weeks = 532

 Football Club rent                                        -                         -                  250.00     As previously discussed

 Cllr. T. Knowles                                            -                         -                             -    

 Playpark                                                       -                         -                             -    

 Write back                                                   -                         -                             -    

 Total                                                            -                         -               7,445.93    

                                                                                                                           

 EXPENDITURE                                                                                                   

 Day to Day Running                                                                                          

 Salary                                                            -         12,000.00           12,000.00         Allows for increase in hours or overtime and/or uplift

 PAYE/NIC                                         1,100.00           2,400.00             3,500.00         Allows for above and possible inclusion in pension scheme

 Rent (Mtgs)                                                   -              100.00                100.00         Allows for 2 public mtgs at £50 each

 Play Park/Tennis Courts                                -           1,500.00             1,500.00         Allows for maintenance, inspection, repairs and replacements

 Tennis Courts                                                -                          -                           -         

 Grasscutting/maintenance of

right of way footpaths                                  -                         -                           -         

 Seats                                                             -                          -                           -         

                                                                                                                                 

 Bus Shelters                                                  -                          -                           -         

 Subscriptions                                                -              700.00                700.00         LALC, NALC, SLCC, Allotment Soc.,

 Grants                                                200.00               600.00                800.00         Allows for 4 grants of £200 each

 Publications and Training                             -              300.00                300.00        

 Insurance                                                      -           1,450.00             1,450.00         Allows for possible slight increase due to tax

 Audit                                                             -              250.00                250.00         25/26 £40 internal audit, £210 external

 Wreaths                                                        -                50.00                   50.00         Remembrance wreaths x 2

 Speed Sign                                                    -                          -                           -         

 Shrub/hedge/noticeboard etc

Maintenance in G&M                                    -                          -                           -         

 Defibrillator                                                  -              200.00                200.00         Council should be prepared to spend it's EMR now that it has taken responsibility for replacing the pads and batteries on the defib located on the Pavilion wall.

 Elections                                                       -                          -                           -         

 Allotments/Football Field/Pavilion             -           3,500.00             3,500.00         Grasscutting, power, maintenance etc.

 Amenity Grasscutting                                   -           1,500.00             1,500.00         Allows for approx. 12 cuts with a cylinder mower and follow up strimming (weather permitting)

 General Reserve                                           -                          -                           -         

 Platinum Jubilee                                           -                          -                           -         

 VAT                                                                -                          -                           -         

 Village Maintenance                                               7,000.00             7,000.00        

 Admin Equipment/IT/GDPR               750.00               250.00             1,000.00         Allows for software licences etc.

 Bank Charges                                                -              120.00                120.00         New in 2026/27

 Total Day to Day Running              2,050.00         31,920.00           33,850.00        

                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                  

                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                   

 Expenditure Total                                                                           68,676.17  

 Of which to come from General Reserve                                         2,050.00   

 Of which precepted for                                                                  31,920.00  

 Income Total                                                                                     7,445.93   

 Precept (expenditure minus income)                                            24,474.07  

                                                                                                                           

 25/26 Cost per band d property (based on 25/26 tax base)                             32.92        

 26/27 Cost per band d property (based on 25/26 tax base)                            37.25        

 26/27 Change in band d (based on 25/26 tax base)                                            4.33        

 26/27 Monthly cost per band d property (based on 25/26 tax base)                3.10        

 26/27 weekly cost per band d property (based on 25/26 tax base)                   0.72        

 26/27 % increase/decrease (based on 25/26 tax base)                                      13%        

                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                   

RESERVES

 EARMARKED RESERVES                                                                                   

                                                             25/26               25/26              25/26 Notes

                                                         Amount           Amount             Actual

                                                              to be                to be               Draft

                                                             taken        Precepted            Budget

                                                               from                   For

                                                        Reserves                                                

 EMR War Memorial                                      -                        -                         -           

 EMR Specialist .gov email addresses/IT      -                        -           1,126.17 = Balance at end of 2025/26

 EMR Speed Sign                                            -                          -           2,500.00 = Balance at end of 2025/26

 EMR Play Park                                               -                          -           5,000.00 = Balance at end of 2025/26

 EMR Elections                                               -                          -           2,500.00 = Balance at end of 2025/26

 EMR Audit                                                     -                          -              200.00 = Balance at end of 2025/26

                                                                                                                      

 EMR Allotment/Football Field/Pavilion                                -           6,500.00 = Balance at end of 2025/26

 EMR Defibrillator                                          -                          -           1,500.00 = Balance at end of 2025/26

 EMR Tennis Courts                                        -                          -           5,500.00 = Balance at end of 2025/26

 EMR Contingency                                          -                          -           4,000.00 = Balance at end of 2025/26

 EMR Noticeboards                                        -                          -           3,000.00 = Balance at end of 2025/26

 EMR Filing Cabinets/Office Equipment       -                          -           3,000.00 = Balance at end of 2025/26

 EMR Village Signs                                          -                          -                         -  = Balance at end of 2025/26

 Total Earmarked Reserves                           -                          -        34,826.17

                                                                                                                                                   

It was noted that some authorities are capped and can only raise their precept by a maximum of 5%.  However, this capping had not been extended to Town and Parish Council yet.  Given that the amount being raised by G&M PC in precept was small, relative to other Council’s, any small increase in it resulted in a seemingly large percentage increase.  The Council must prepare for a time when it might be capped and ensure that it is equipped to meet any demands made of it when Local Government Reorganisation had taken place.  The Council recognised that the cost of living had increased substantially over the last few years, everyone was struggling and that it endeavoured not to raise its precept more than absolutely necessary.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

 

 

The meeting closed at 6.20pm.

 

 

 

 

Signed_______________________ (Chairman)                Dated_________________________