Welshpool Town Council

Finance & Governance Committee

Wednesday 21/01/2026 at 6:30pm in Council Chamber, Welshpool Town Hall.

Agenda Agenda & Reports Pack Approved Minutes

You can access this meeting via Zoom by clicking https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81300122335?pwd=VW0OeoXyl3eQnLXTBdaSgMoMsC1sZr.1.

Zoom Meeting ID: 813 0012 2335
Passcode: 159287

Below shows the attendance for the meeting.

Attendee Attendance Role
Cllr Alison Davies   Apologies for absence Committee Member
Cllr Carol Robinson   In attendance Committee Member
Cllr David France   In attendance Committee Member
Cllr Estelle Bleivas   Apologies for absence Committee Member
Cllr Morag Bailey   In attendance Committee Member
Cllr Phil Owen   In attendance Committee Member
Cllr Phil Pritchard   In attendance Committee Member
Cllr Richard Church   In attendance Committee Member
Cllr Revd William Rowell   In attendance Committee Member

TBC

1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

The Chair will welcome Councillors and members of the public and will receive, and if desired, resolve to approve, any apologies for absence.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS AND DISPENSATIONS

To receive and resolve if desired, declarations of interest and relevant dispensations.

3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

To receive members of the public who wish to address the meeting, in respect of any item of business included in the agenda. No resolutions may be made under this item and should relate only to matters of Council policy or practice, and not individual affairs or the questioner or any other named person.

4. MINUTES AND MATTERS ARISING

4.1. Previous Minutes

To approve and sign as a correct record, the minutes from the meeting of the Finance & Governance Committee on 19/11/2025.

4.2. Matters Arising

To report for information purposes only matters arising from the Finance & Governance Committee on 19/11/2025.

5. FINANCIAL MATTERS

5.1. Council Accounts (December - Period 9)

To consider the Income and Expenditure Reports and Cash and Bank Totals for December 2025 and note the bank balances as of 31st December 2025:
- General Fund - £20,560.18
- 30 Day Account - £275,135.68
- Petty Cash - £31.11
- Hub Community Account - £3,204.16

5.2. Payment of Invoices - January

To consider payment of invoices for January 2026, including any additional payments tabled on the night.

5.3. Scrutiny of Payments

To hear the feedback from December 2025 (Cllr Bailey) for the scrutiny of payments exercise as set out in Financial Regulations and to elect new councillors for February and March 2026.

5.4. BUSINESS PLANNING & FINANCIAL MATTERS

5.4.1. ISP Action Plan

To consider the approved committee ISP action plan.

6. BUDGET 2026/2027 - FINAL DRAFT

To consider the final draft budget for 2026/2027 and recommend to Full Council accordingly.

7. STRATEGY & POLICY

7.1. Complaints, Comments & Feedback Policy

To consider the adoption of the draft Complaints, Comments & Feedback Policy.

7.2. Gritting and Snow Removal Policy

To consider the adoption of the draft FOI Gritting and Snow Removal Policy.

7.3. Financial Regulations 2025-2026

To consider the adoption and approval of updated Financial Regulations for 2025-2026.

8. OTHER MATTERS

8.1. Petty Cash & Pre-Paid Cards

To consider the report from the Town Clerk & RFO in respect of petty cash and pre-paid cards.

8.2. Section 137 Expenditure Limit - 2026/27

To note the correspondence from Welsh Government setting the Section 137 expenditure limit for 2026/27.

8.3. Digital Engagement - Q3 2025

To note the digital engagement report for Q3 2025 (October 2025 to December 2025).

9. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

To note that the next meeting of Finance & Governance Committee will be held on 18th February 2026 at 6:30pm.

10. CONFIDENTIAL SESSION - EXCLUSION

To resolve, if required, that members of the public and press be requested to leave the meeting by reason of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted.

11. PENSION REVALUATION [CONFIDENTIAL]

To receive an update from the Town Clerk & RFO in respect of LGPS actuarial revaluation.

12. STAFFING

12.1. Operations Team Review [CONFIDENTIAL]

To appoint up to two councillors to work with the Town Clerk & RFO on the upcoming review into the Operations Team.

12.2. Staffing Update [CONFIDENTIAL]

To consider any staffing updates from the Town Clerk & RFO.

# Item
1 Welcome and Apologies for Absence
The Chair will welcome Councillors and members of the public and will receive, and if desired, resolve to approve, any apologies for absence.
2 Declarations of Interests and Dispensations
To receive and resolve if desired, declarations of interest and relevant dispensations.
3 Public Participation
To receive members of the public who wish to address the meeting, in respect of any item of business included in the agenda. No resolutions may be made under this item and should relate only to matters of Council policy or practice, and not individual affairs or the questioner or any other named person.
4 MINUTES AND MATTERS ARISING
4.1 Previous Minutes
To approve and sign as a correct record, the minutes from the meeting of the Finance & Governance Committee on 19/11/2025.
4.2 Matters Arising
To report for information purposes only matters arising from the Finance & Governance Committee on 19/11/2025.
5 FINANCIAL MATTERS
5.1 Council Accounts (December - Period 9)
To consider the Income and Expenditure Reports and Cash and Bank Totals for December 2025 and note the bank balances as of 31st December 2025:
- General Fund - £20,560.18
- 30 Day Account - £275,135.68
- Petty Cash - £31.11
- Hub Community Account - £3,204.16
5.2 Payment of Invoices - January
To consider payment of invoices for January 2026, including any additional payments tabled on the night.
5.3 Scrutiny of Payments
To hear the feedback from December 2025 (Cllr Bailey) for the scrutiny of payments exercise as set out in Financial Regulations and to elect new councillors for February and March 2026.
5.4 BUSINESS PLANNING & FINANCIAL MATTERS
5.4.1 ISP Action Plan
To consider the approved committee ISP action plan.
6 Budget 2026/2027 - Final Draft
To consider the final draft budget for 2026/2027 and recommend to Full Council accordingly.
7 STRATEGY & POLICY
7.1 Complaints, Comments & Feedback Policy
To consider the adoption of the draft Complaints, Comments & Feedback Policy.
7.2 Gritting and Snow Removal Policy
To consider the adoption of the draft FOI Gritting and Snow Removal Policy.
7.3 Financial Regulations 2025-2026
To consider the adoption and approval of updated Financial Regulations for 2025-2026.
8 OTHER MATTERS
8.1 Petty Cash & Pre-Paid Cards
To consider the report from the Town Clerk & RFO in respect of petty cash and pre-paid cards.
8.2 Section 137 Expenditure Limit - 2026/27
To note the correspondence from Welsh Government setting the Section 137 expenditure limit for 2026/27.
8.3 Digital Engagement - Q3 2025
To note the digital engagement report for Q3 2025 (October 2025 to December 2025).
9 Date of Next Meeting
To note that the next meeting of Finance & Governance Committee will be held on 18th February 2026 at 6:30pm.
10 Confidential Session - Exclusion
To resolve, if required, that members of the public and press be requested to leave the meeting by reason of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted.
11 Pension Revaluation Confidential
To receive an update from the Town Clerk & RFO in respect of LGPS actuarial revaluation.
12 STAFFING
12.1 Operations Team Review Confidential
To appoint up to two councillors to work with the Town Clerk & RFO on the upcoming review into the Operations Team.
12.2 Staffing Update Confidential
To consider any staffing updates from the Town Clerk & RFO.