5 May 2026 – Agenda

 

SUMMONS TO ATTEND A MEETING

 

TO: All Members of the Corporate Governance Committee

Cllrs D Bretherton, P Cowell (Deputy Chair), A Dite, M Dyer (Chair), 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 5 May 2026 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: Tuesday 28 April 2026

 

AGENDA

1)        Apologies for Absence

To receive and approve 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 3 February 2026.

3 February 2026 – Minutes (draft)

 

5)        Financial Update

  1. Budget Summary: To monitor actual income and expenditure against estimates.
  2. Balance Sheet: To note balance sheet as at 31 March 2026.
  3. Earmarked Reserves: To receive the latest EMRs.
  4. Bank Reconciliation: To receive the latest 6-monthly bank reconciliation in line with Financial Regulation 2.6.
  5. Payments: To receive the list of regular payments in line with Financial Regulation 6.8

5a. Corporate Governance Budget Figures to 31.03.2026 (pdf)
5b. Detailed Balance Sheet 31.03.2026 (pdf)
5c. Earmarked Reserves 31.03.2026 (pdf)

 

6)        Financial Overspends

To note the following financial overspends against budget line items (greater than the agreed de minimis of £100 / 5%) have been recorded as final for year 25-26.

  1. Staff Training (101-4008) £813 – new starters & on job training for 2 apprentices & all staff Mental Health plus Equality & diversity
  2. Insurance (101-4028) £230 – new art statues & signage + new sound equipment
  3. Insurance (202-4028) £331 – equipment hires x 2 Maintenance projects
  4. Furniture (101-4040) £471 – new staff desk & chairs
  5. Janitorial (102-4016) £527 – new dryers, soap dispensers & uplift in cleaning
  6. Fire Equipment (102-4148) £146 – new chamber extinguisher & stand + building refills
  7. Photocopier (4029) – £2283 (uplift new staff / councillors, 30% increase fairs & Xmas, 50% increase info centre printing bus timetables & events marketing paperwork)

 

7)        Banking Update

To note the opening of a Public Sector Deposit Account with CCLA at an interest rate of 4% which is 1% higher than current Lloyds Bank deposit accounts.  Please also note for the record that Lloyds have increased their indemnity value from £85,000 to £120,000.

 

8)        Internal Software

To note that increased accountancy support, using Rialtas Cloud software, has been brought in-house with effect from 1 April 2026.  An update will be provided to the Corporate Governance committee on 18 August 2026.

 

9)        Investment Update

a) To note the summary of the investment performance.

b) To note the ESG report updating compliance, action and outcome since implementation of the new investment policy.

9a. Portfolio Performance Summary (pdf)
9b. ESG Portfolio Overview & Extended Summary April 2026 (pdf)
9b. MSCI ESG Extended Summary Investment Report April 2026 (pdf) 

 

10)     Utilities Report

To note the utilities graphs report.

10. Utilities Analysis – Graphs – April 2026 (pdf)

 

11)        Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

To receive a monitoring report of CIL income and expenditure.

11. CIL Monitoring as at 29.4.2026 (pdf)

 

12)        Insurance

To note that an insurance claim arising from a road traffic accident is currently pending with Zurich.  This matter is confidential, please note the motor insurance premium has increased 90% as a result and £3,000 will currently be overspent in 26-27 budget. 

 

13)        Council Policies

To approve the following council policies:

  1. Investment Policy
  2. Members Allowance Policy (SODC supporting document attached)
  3. Terrorism Policy

13a. Investment Policy 5.5.26 (pdf)
13b. Members Allowance Policy (pdf)
13b. SODC IRP Parish report November 2025 – Appendix Members Allowances (pdf)
13c. Terrorism Policy Update (pdf)

 

14)         Information Management

To note that two Freedom of Information requests have been received from members of the public.  One concerning the frequency of inspections (weekly, monthly and annual) of play park areas. The second requesting a copy of the Deed of Grant of easements for underground and overhead electric lines and supports at Land West of Windmill, Road Thame (Stones Close Allotment).