Finance Committee
Oversees the council’s budget and spend and makes decisions on grant applications.
Macclesfield Town Council Finance Committee
Macclesfield Town Council Notice of Meeting
3rd February 2023
To Chair Councillor Neil Puttick and Councillors Sarah Bennett-Wake, Alift Harewood-Jones, Mike Hutchison, Chris Wilcock and Fiona Wilson.
You are hereby summoned to attend a meeting of
Macclesfield Town Council’s Finance Committee meeting to be held at
Macclesfield Town Hall
on
13th February 2023
commencing at 7pm,
for the purpose of transacting the business shown on the attached agenda.
With thanks,
Laura Smith
Town Clerk
Agenda
Agenda of the meeting to be held on the 13th February 2023 at 7pm at Macclesfield Town Hall.
This meeting is open to the public, but space may be limited. Should you wish to attend please inform the Town Clerk.
1 Apologies for Absence
2 Declarations of Interest
To receive declarations of interests from members relevant to items under discussion at the meeting.
Public Questions
The meeting will be adjourned to invite comments and questions from the public.
The meeting will then be reconvened.
3 Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting held on 7th November 2022
Action: To approve the minutes.
4 Updates from the Minutes
Action: To note any actions.
5 Grant Applications
5.1 Friends of West Park
Action: To consider the grant application for £250
5.2 Cheshire Streetwise
Action: To consider the grant application for £1300
5.3 Silk Life Foodbank
Action: To consider the grant application for £2000
5.4 Hurdsfield Phoenix
Action: To consider the grant application for £2000.
Total requested: £5550
6 Grant Updates
6.1 Refugees Welcome
To note the report.
6.2 Scoop and Scales
To note the report.
6.3 Macclesfield Cricket Club
To note the report.
6.4 Macclesfield Boys Boxing Club
To note the report.
6.5 Macclesfield Music Centre
To note the report.
7 Ward Budgets
To consider the ward budget applications.
8 Finances
8.1 Spend to Date
Action: The spend to date (DEC 22) of £692,904 is approved for recommendation to Full Council on 6th March 2023.
8.2 Reports
Action: The following reports were noted:
8.2.1 Income and Expenditure
8.2.2 Bank Reconciliation
8.2.3 Receipts and Payments
8.2.4 Authorised Payments
8.2.5 Internal Audit Report.
9 Date/Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Finance Committee will be held at 7pm on 3rd April 2023, at Macclesfield Town Hall.
Macclesfield Town Council Finance Committee
Minutes of the meeting held on the 13th February 2023 at 7pm at Macclesfield Town Hall.
1 Apologies for Absence
There were no apologies for absence.
2 Declarations of Interest
5.3 Cllr Wilcock declared a non-pecuniary declaration in Silk life food bank as he knows the manager on a personal level.
5.4 Cllr Bennet-Wake declared a non-pecuniary interest in Hurdsfield Phoenix, as she knows children and adults who attend.
Public Questions
The meeting was adjourned to invite comments and questions from the public.
Mark Gleaves spoke about the Friends of West Park Grant, this will be for family events in West Park. They have done practice events, where many families engaged and enjoyed the events. They use recycled crayons, provide fruit and at the end of the event they will give out little prizes.
Cllr Harewood asked how many people attended, Mark replied between 70- 90 individuals have attended events (scavenger hunts).
Cllr Puttick asked how people found out about it, Mark replied on the noticeboard at the park and on the facebook page.
Cllr Hutchison, said he met the group first hand while litter picking for Britain in Bloom, and was impressed by the enthusiasm of the group.
Next, Dan Blackman, team led coordinator for Silklife foodbank, spoke on their grant application. He informed the committee that 50 agencies refer to them now, and there has been a 39% increase in referrals in Jan 2023, as a result of the cost of living crisis. They had done a harvest appeal and Christmas appeal to prepare for this increase.
They have set up a period poverty team, a warm space open to everyone, and Pearls of Cheshire have requested an ethnic foodbank and they are going to invest £500 in this.
Jane Blackman, has been working with families and identified a need for baby resources, such as nappies. They started providing this in April 2022, and over 18,000 nappies have been given out since then. Again, there is an increase in Jan 2023. Feedback is very positive, helping those who are struggling financially. They are also creating weaning kits.
Cllr Puttick thanked the group for the help they are giving to children and families and asked if they are linked with the baby library, which they are.
Cllr Bennett- Wake, again thanked the group, and said that it is wonderful what they are helping those in need and the working poor. She also asked if any have costed disposable nappies with reusable nappies. Jane, replied that there is a scheme in place and they are trying to work with ANSA, about the voucher scheme they offer when you use reusable nappies.
Finally, Paul Mellor, spoke on behalf of Hurdsfield Phoenix football group, saying the grant would assist the club to keep running as they have 370 players and have to pay for pitches as they do not have their own pitch. They also wish to provide kits for the kids.
Cllr Harewood asked if it was open to all children or just Hurdsfield, which it is. She also asked what the gender balance split is. Paul replied 80% boys, 20% girls.
Cllr Hutchison asked how long the kits last, Paul replied they are all handed down to the next groups. He asked if they wash them themselves, which they do.
Cllr Wilson, thanked Paul and congratulations on the growth they have had, which is excellent and also said it was great they have more girls playing, and also for displaying the Macclesfield Town logo, which Paul said they are very proud to wear.
Cllr Bennett-Wake said that the grant was all compassing, kits, pitches, safeguarding training and is a very well organised team.
Cllr Harewood, asked for posters so that she could advertise, Paul said he did not, as they advertised through the grassroots website and they reached many people.
The meeting was then be reconvened.
3 Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting held on 7th November 2022
Resolved: The minutes were approved.
4 Updates from the Minutes
Resolved: There were no updates.
5 Grant Applications
5.1 Friends of West Park
Resolved: The grant application for £250 was approved.
5.2 Cheshire Streetwise
Resolved: This grant application was withdrawn.
5.3 Silk Life Foodbank
Resolved: The grant application for £2000 was approved.
5.4 Hurdsfield Phoenix
Resolved: The grant application for £2000 was approved.
6 Grant Updates
6.1 Refugees Welcome
The report was noted.
6.2 Scoop and Scales
The report was noted.
6.3 Macclesfield Cricket Club
The report was noted.
6.4 Macclesfield Boys Boxing Club
The report was noted. Cllr Wilson spoke on this item, and thanked the MBBC for their detailed report on how the grants have been spent. As Mayor, Cllr Wilson attended a boxing tournament in Feb 2023, and said she was very impressed with the approach in discipline and respect for others. Cllr Wilson also said that the girls who the granted assisted to go to Ireland, who all won their bouts.
Cllr Bennett-Wake did state that they maybe should rebrand, as they have girls there, and Cllr Wilson did add that this is under discussion.
6.5 Macclesfield Music Centre
The report was noted.
7 Ward Budgets
The ward budget applications were approved.
8 Finances
8.1 Spend to Date
Resolved: The spend to date (DEC 22) of £692,904 was approved for recommendation to Full Council on 6th March 2023.
8.2 Reports
Resolved: The following reports were noted:
8.2.1 Income and Expenditure
8.2.2 Bank Reconciliation
8.2.3 Receipts and Payments
8.2.4 Authorised Payments
8.2.5 Internal Audit Report.
9 Date/Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Finance Committee will be held at 7pm on 3rd April 2023, at Macclesfield Town Hall.
Chair: Cllr Neil Puttick
Clerk: Laura Smith
Meeting closed: 8:22pm