Finance and General Purposes Committee

Meeting Agenda Items

Item

1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

To receive and accept apologies for absence

2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

To receive Declaration of Interests in accordance with the Code of Conduct

3 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th June 2020

Attachment	Size
Agenda 3 - 20.06.15 Finance_Minutes.pdf	197.91 KB

4 MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS

5 SHROPSHIRE PENSION FUND INVESTMENT

To debate the questions asked of Full Council in June 2020; namely

Question 1

"Fossil fuel investments increasingly pose a financial risk to investors as a result of both Covid19 and the global transition to a more sustainable economic and environmental model. Renewables now consistently out-perform fossil fuels. Will Shrewsbury Town Council, as a contributing member of the Shropshire County Pension Fund, call on the Fund to swiftly divest from fossil fuels and re-invest to support a localised and green economy?"

Question 2

In 2019 Shrewsbury Town Council declared a climate emergency after recognising the need for robust and urgent action to stop the growing climate crisis. STC was one of the first town councils in the UK to take this step and I would like to applaud them for their action.

However, I note that the town council continues to support the Shropshire County Pension Fund which has millions of pounds invested in polluting fossil fuel companies like BP and Shell.

Does the town council agree that the ongoing financial support of companies whose business models are preparing for a 5C world (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/bp-shell-oil-global-warming-5-degree-paris-climate-agreement-fossil-fuels-temperature-rise-a8022511.html) is incompatible with the declaration of a climate emergency?

If so, would the town council be happy to propose a motion calling on SCPF to fully divest all its fossil fuel holdings over the next three years?

The town council would not be taking a leap into the dark on this issue. It would be following in the footsteps of many other UK institutions, including local authorities (eg. Swansea, Stroud, Reading and Derby); pensions funds (eg. the Environment Agency, Waltham Forest, South Yorkshire and Cardiff); half of all UK universities including Oxford University; churches; the British Medical Association; the Royal Colleges of GPs, Physicians and Emergency Medicine; the National Trust and Lloyds of London Insurance group.

6 MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS

(i) To receive the quarterly report into the 2020/21 Quarter 1 period 1 April 2020 – 30 June 2020

(ii) To receive the quarterly report into the 2020/21 Quarter 2 period ending 30 September 2020

Attachment	Size
Agenda 6i - Q1 report 20-21.pdf	126.99 KB
Agenda 6i - Q1 accounts 20-21.pdf	120.85 KB

7 2021/22 BUDGET

To consider the format for the determination of the 2021/22 Budget scheduled to be agreed by Council on 25^th January 2021

Attachment	Size
Agenda 7 - 20-21 Budget.pdf	163.65 KB

8 PAYMENT SCHEDULES

To approve the payments schedules for the period 8 September 2020 – 25 September 2020

Attachment	Size
Agenda 8 - Schedule of payments.pdf	163.91 KB

9 EXTERNAL AUDIT

To receive details of the conclusion of the 2019/20 Annual Accounts and grant authorisation to publish those accounts

10 COVID

To consider matters in relation to the Coronavirus Pandemic:

(i) Coronavirus Policy;

(ii) Emergency/Business Continuity Plan in relation to Coronavirus;

(iii) Coronavirus Risk Assessments (these are required to be published on the Council’s website;

Council activity for the remainder of 2020/21 and beyond into 2021/22, in terms of:

a) Financial Forecast Out-turn;

b) Events & Activities;

c) Use of Council Assets;

d) Council Meetings;

Attachment	Size
Agenda 10(i) - COVID-19-Policy.pdf	129.15 KB
Agenda -10(iii) Coronavirus Risk Assessments.pdf	115 KB

11 MARKETS

To receive a update on the current positions of all trading markets under which the Council’s Market Rights apply.

Attachment	Size
Agenda 11 - Markets.pdf	140.36 KB

12 18. POLICIES & PROCEDURES

To consider the need to review policies and procedures

13 CAPITAL PROGRAMME

To receive an update on the amalgamated 2019/20 & 2020/21 Capital Programme

Attachment	Size
Agenda 12 - 2020_2021 Projects In Progress.pdf	158.04 KB

14 CLIMATE EMERGENCY

To receive an update on Climate Emergency Initiatives

Attachment	Size
Agenda -13 Climate Emergency Initiatives.pdf	151.07 KB

15 SMARTWATER

To consider the Council’s position in funding Smartwater.

Attachment	Size
Agenda 14 - Smartwater.pdf	137.8 KB
Agenda 14 - Smartwater - WDBC application briefing 20-21.pdf	331.13 KB

16 EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

To consider exclusion of the Press & Public on the grounds that the consideration of the following items may involve the likely disclosure of confidential information (s1(2) Public Bodies (Admission of Meetings) Act 1960).

17 SPECIALIST SUPPORT IN RELATION TO VAT IN THE MARKET HALL

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Resources regarding the ongoing VAT investigation

18 UPDATE ON VARIOUS LEASES

To receive a report from the Head of Resources regarding the current position of various leasehold properties

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Finance and General Purposes Committee

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Meeting Agenda Items

1

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

2

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

3

MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

4

MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS

5

SHROPSHIRE PENSION FUND INVESTMENT

6

MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS

7

2021/22 BUDGET

8

PAYMENT SCHEDULES

9

EXTERNAL AUDIT

10

COVID

11

MARKETS

12

18. POLICIES & PROCEDURES

13

CAPITAL PROGRAMME

14

CLIMATE EMERGENCY

15

SMARTWATER

16

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

17

SPECIALIST SUPPORT IN RELATION TO VAT IN THE MARKET HALL

18

UPDATE ON VARIOUS LEASES