04 November 2025 – Agenda
SUMMONS TO ATTEND A MEETING
TO: All Members of the Corporate Governance Committee
Cllrs D Bretherton, P Cowell (Deputy Chairman), A Dite, M Dyer (Chairman), D Dodds, S McGarry, H Richards, P Swan, A Wainwright and W Wilde
Ex Officio (Voting) Members – A Gilbert (Town Mayor) and D Dawson (Deputy Mayor)
To all other Members for information
You are hereby summoned to attend a meeting of the Corporate Governance Committee on Tuesday 4 November 2025 at 6:30pm (maximum two hours) in the Upper Chamber (Thame Town Hall) for the transaction of business as set out on the attached agenda.
Mandy Sturdy
Clerk of the Council
Date: Wednesday 29 October 2025
AGENDA
1) Apologies for Absence
To receive and agree apologies for absence.
2) Declarations of Interest and Dispensations
To notify of any items that appear in the agenda in which there may be an interest that has not been recorded in the Member’s Register of Interest; and confirmation of any relevant dispensations.
3) Public Participation and Public Questions
To consider applications from members of the public to address the Committee (5 minutes maximum), in respect of any item of business included on the agenda. Applications to speak must have been received by the Town Clerk no later than 5pm on the last working day preceding the meeting.
To consider questions from members of the public (who live, work or run a business in the Parish). Written questions must have been received by the Town Clerk no later than 4pm on the last working day preceding the meeting.
4) Minutes
To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Committee Meeting held on 5 August 2025.
5) Investment Portfolio
To receive an annual report and presentation from Rathbones Group.
5. Rathbones Group Annual Report [PDF]
6) Investment Portfolio Performance Summary
To note the summary of the investment performance.
6. Investment Portfolio Performance Summary [PDF]
7) Financial Update
- Budget Summary: To monitor actual income and expenditure against estimates.
- Balance Sheet: To note balance sheet as at 30 September 2025.
- Earmarked Reserves: To receive the latest EMRs.
- Bank Reconciliation: To receive the latest 6-monthly bank reconciliation in line with Financial Regulation 2.6.
- Payments: To receive the list of regular payments in line with Financial Regulation 6.8
7 a. Corporate Governance Budget Figures 30.09.2025 [PDF]
7 b. Detailed Balance Sheet 30.09.25 [PDF]
7 c. Earmarked Reserves 30.09.2025 [PDF]
8) Financial Overspends
To note the following financial overspends against budget line items (greater than the agreed de minimis of £100 / 5%) have been recorded since the last meeting:
- Community Youth Centre
- Depot roof, waiting for quotations – approx. £150k capital required
9) Utilities Report
To note the utilities report.
9. Utilities Analysis – Graphs – October 2025 [PDF]
10) Health & Safety Audit
To note that the Health & Safety Audit will be undertaken on 10 November 2025.
11) Banking
To receive a verbal update on the Town Council’s bank accounts.
12) Finance Restructure
To receive a verbal update.
13) Council Policies
To approve the following council policies:
- Insurance Strategy
- Work Experience Policy
- Members Allowance Scheme
13 a. Insurance Strategy Nov 2025 [PDF]
13 b. Work Experience Policy Nov 25 [PDF]
13 c. Members Allowances Scheme Nov 2025 [PDF]
14) BT Contract
To note the Town Council’s phone and broadband contract is due to expire. Based on 30% discount offered by BT due to custom lease lines being installed it is likely we will renew a 3-year contract with them. We will however follow best value practice and will ask a few other communication companies for quote to compare and will reconfirm at next meeting.
15) Information Management
To review training needs for Staff and Councillors
- GDPR training
- Cyber Security awareness
16) S106 Funding Agreement for the Community & Youth Centre
In line with 7.3 of the Scheme of Delegations and Standing Order 20.0 to authorise entering into a funding agreement with South Oxfordshire District Council for £779.246.19 of S106 Funds.
To be paid to Thame Town Council in two parts:
- £742,344.61 payable in accordance with clause 5 and paragraph 1.1 of Schedule 3.
- £36,901.58 (plus the indexation amount to be determined under S106 reference 15S32) payable in accordance with clause 5 and paragraph 1.3 of Schedule 3.
This agreement is subject to the approval of the PWL.
To authorise the signing, by two Councillors and sealing of the agreement, in the presence of the Town Clerk