Finance & General Purposes Committee Agenda

To approve as a correct record the Minutes and Confidential Minutes of the meeting of the Finance & General Purposes Committee held on Wednesday 8^th December 2021 (circulated separately)

• MIN F65/21 – Transportable Regalia Case has been ordered and received

• MIN 67/21 – Council Website revamp is in progress.  Completion now expected into the new financial year due to work prioritisation.

• MIN F80/20 – To receive update on endeavours to arrange an informal council meeting with Ian Taylor of TDC in relation to Leisure Facilities.

• MIN F33/21 – To review the decision taken to extend the rent ‘holiday’ to tenants of the former Hill School site until the end of the 2021/22 financial year.

• MIN F37/21 – To receive update on works to install additional lighting in the Guildhall hallway.

• MIN F48/21 – To provide update on licence for the Putting Green.

Cllr D Smith to report findings following an independent review of the accounts and bank reconciliation on 16th March for the period Oct-Dec 2021.

To agree to carry over untaken annual leave entitlement of all HTC employees to the next annual leave year, taking regard of ACAS guidance surrounding Covid.

• To consider pricing for 2022 season.

• To authorise expenditure of c£25, for purchase of materials (piping) for putting green, to be expended from the Leisure Maintenance budget.

To authorise Data Protection training for 1x employee at cost of £14 to be expended from the Training budget.

• To agree to proceed with inspections at Buildings 1, 3 and 5 at the Hill School site at a cost of £360, £244 and £244, respectively to be expended from the Hill School Professional costs budget in 2022/23.

• To authorise all future inspections as a health & safety duty and streamline inspections for all Hill School site buildings by arranging for these to be carried out within the same financial year, commencing in March 2027.

To agree to utilise surplus EMR for ‘Writing on the Sea Wall’ E&C project.

To review Financial Regulations for 2022/23 and adopt accordingly.

• To review the Financial Risk Assessment and confirm measures taken to mitigate risk are adequate.

• To consider the current System of Internal Control and carry out a review of its effectiveness.

• Letters of acknowledgement of grant from Age Concern Colchester/Age Well East; Harwich & District Social Stroke Group and CVST.

• Letter received from the Harwich Quay Fireworks Committee to confirm 2021 event was cancelled due to Covid restrictions and the full grant of £1500 was returned to the council on 7^th Jan.

• Evaluation forms received from Harwich International Shanty Festival and Harwich & Dovercourt Traders following grant.

• To note expenditure of £310, authorised under delegated authority, for the replacement of office lighting due to fault, to be expended from the Guildhall Maintenance budget.

• To note expenditure of £37.50, authorised under delegated authority, for the purchase of paint for repairs to the internal walls and ceilings at the Guildhall.

• The NJC has reached agreement on the 2021-22 pay awards at 1.75% and these are implemented with immediate effect for all applicable employees, along with the necessary back pay.  No agreement has been made on the 2022-23 pay awards.

• To note expenditure of £105, authorised under delegated authority, for stair lift emergency callout and purchase of replacement batteries at £20 each, to be expended from the Premises budget.

To consider additional duty (Ref: MIN E37/21)

• To ratify appointments to Leisure Attendant vacancies for 2022

• To consider providing a uniform allowance in lieu of a uniform.