Agenda – Meeting 3 (2024/25)
Meeting Pack 23-09-2024
1. Apologies for Absence
To approve apologies for absence.
2. Declarations of interest
To receive any declarations of interest in item which are on the agenda.
3. Requests from the public to speak
Members of the public are invited to speak on items which are on the agenda.
4. PCSO
To note the report from PCSO N Flanagan.
5. Cheshire West and Chester Councillors
To note the report from Cllr M Garvey and Cllr L Sumner.
6. Minutes
To approve the minutes from the meeting held on 22nd July 2024.
6. FTC Meeting Minutes 22-07-2024
7. Finance reports
(i) July 2024
(a) To note that the income in July 2024 was £5,731.83
(b) To note that the expenditure in July 2024 was £19,961.84
(c) To note that the sum of all bank accounts as at 31st July 2024 was £457,503
(d) To approve the monthly (July) Finance Report.
(e) To note that the bank reconciliation checks as at 31st July 2024 were checked to bank statements and cashbook by Cllr Holman.
(ii) August 2024
(a) To note that the income in August 2024 was £928.65
(b) To note that the expenditure in August 2024 was £9,946.37
(c) To note that the sum of all accounts as at 31st August 2024 was £450,404
(d) To note that the bank reconciliation checks as at 31st August 2024 were checked to bank statements and cashbook by Cllr Wade.
(e) To approve the monthly (August) Finance Report.
(f) To appoint a councillor to carry out the bank reconciliation checks as at 30th September 2024.
8. Staff Appraisals
(a) To note that the Town Clerk’s Appraisal was carried out on 17th June 2024 by the Chair of Council
(b) To note that the Cemetery Clerk’ Appraisal was carried out on 16th September 2024 by the Town Clerk
(c) To note that the Administrative Officer’s Appraisal was carried out on 16th September 2024 by the Town Clerk.
(d) To approve the recommendation from Cllr Hayes (Chair of Council) to increase the salary scale of the Town Clerk to SCP 41 as per contractual agreement following Annual Appraisal (backdated to April 2024).
(e) To approve the recommendation from the Town Clerk to increase the salary scale of the Cemetery Clerk to SCP 18 following Annual Appraisal (backdated to April 2024) and into band LC2 (18-23).
(f) To approve the recommendation from the Town Clerk to increase: the salary scale of the Administrative Officer to SCP 13 following Annual Appraisal (backdated to April 2024) and into band LC1 (13-17); approve an additional salary scale on successful completion of FiLCA; amend job description to Assistant Town Clerk on successful completion of FiLCA.
9. Email Policy
To approve revisions to the email policy (removal of wording in square [] brackets and additions in italics).
10. Christmas Lights 2022 (Church Street tree wrapping)
To note the procurement report provided by the Clerk.
11. Grounds Maintenance Service Level Agreement
To note the report provided by the Clerk following the meeting with Northwich Town Council.
12. Tarvin Road Burial Ground
12a. Tarvin Road Burial Ground
(a) To note the report regarding conversion of the Burial Ground building to FTC office/meeting room.
(b) To consider carrying out a feasibility study on converting the building.
13. Frodsham Youth Association
(a) To approve the payment of the approved budget of £15,000 to Frodsham Youth Association (discretionary expenditure code )
(b) To note that the Clerk has requested a copy of the accounts from the period 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024
14. Christmas Voucher Scheme
Christmas Gift Voucher Scheme 2024
(a) To note that the 2024 scheme was launched on 6th September 2024 based on the 2023 scheme. The launch was approved by Cllr H Hayes (Chair) and Cllr B Wade (Vice Chair) as no Finance & General Purposed Committee Meeting took place in August.
(b) To note that there are no changes to the 2023 Scheme and that all terms and conditions are published on FTC’s website.
(c) To note that the closing date for applications to be received from residents is Friday 1st
(d) To note that there are no changes to the 2023 Scheme and that all terms and conditions are published on FTC’s website.
(e) To note that the admin team have contacted businesses within the town to promote and encourage participation.
(f) To consider donating any surplus budget to Runcorn and District Food Bank for the benefit of Frodsham residents.
15. Frodsham Christmas Festival 2025
(a) To approve the payment of the approved budget of £15,000 to Frodsham Christmas Festival Organising Committee (discretionary expenditure code )
(b) To note that a copy of the accounts for the 2024 Christmas Festival have been received and reviewed by Frodsham Town Council.
(c) To agree any action to be taken
16. Grants Scheme
(a) To note the format and total budget of £7,500.
(b) To note that the Finance & General Purposes Committee will appoint members to the Grants Working Group at the meeting to be held on 28th October 2024.
(c) To approve the closure date for grant applications as Friday 29th November 2024.
(d) To note that a short list of suitable grants and apportionment of the grant budget will be presented to the full Council for approval at the council meeting to be held on 27th January 2025.
(e) To agree any further action to be taken.
17. Lease (Frodsham Community Centre/Frodsham Youth Association/Frodsham Town Council)
(a) Heads of Terms have been provided to all parties however Frodsham Community Centre has not yet agreed the terms and are, in particular, querying the advice from FTC’s solicitor (DTM Legal LLP) with regard to insurance and have appointed their own solicitor.
(b) To note that DTM Legal LLP has requested a meeting with FCA appointed solicitor to attempt to agree to Heads of Terms.
(c) To note that FTC has been informed by DTM Legal LLP that an energy certificate will be required and the survey needs to be carried out by a certified contractor appointed by FTC (as landlord) as part of the legal process to register the lease.
(d) To note that FTC agreed to spend a maximum of £750 which represents a third of the estimated costs for a simple lease, anything costs over and above this would need to be met by FYA and FCA (minute ref: 27/03/2023/121).
(e) To note that the protracted process for securing the lease will have added to the costs.
(f) To agree any action to be taken.
18. Joint Councillor Surgeries (CWAC and FTC)
(a) To agree a date and venue for the first meeting of Castle Park Ward Councillors (Cllr Holman, Cllr Moorcroft, Cllr Neild & Cllr Wood)
(b) To agree a date and venue for the first meeting of Lakes Ward Councillors (Cllr D Critchley, Cllr D Critchley & Cllr Lofts)
(c) To agree a date and venue for the first meeting of Overton & Five Crosses Ward Councillors (Cllr Hayes & Cllr Lowrie)
(d) To agree a date and venue for the first meeting of Waterside Ward Councillors (Cllr Pennington, Cllr Sumner, Cllr Wade)
19. Runcorn Carbon Dioxide Spur Pipeline Proposed Development (Hynet)
(a) To note that members of the council and the Clerk met (via Zoom) with representatives of Hynet on 20/08/2024.
(b) To note that the slides from the meeting have been circulated to all Councillors.
(c) To note that surveys are currently underway to test the makeup of the land and level of contamination within Frodsham Marshes. The surveys will inform the route of the Proposed Development and any mitigation measures required.
(d) To note that the surveys will be included and summarised within the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which will form a key part of the future planning application for the Runcorn Carbon Dioxide Spur Pipeline Proposed Development
(e) To note that once the planning application is submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council and Halton Borough Council, the EIA will be available for all to view, and comments can be submitted to both Councils as part of the planning process.
20. Frodsham Solar
(a) To note that members of the council and the Clerk met (via Zoom) with representatives of Frodsham Solar on 14/08/2024.
(b) To note that reports provided at the meeting have been circulated to all Councillors.
21. Team Meeting 19/09/2024
To receive a report from Cllr Hayes.
22. Legacy Landfill Sites
(a) To note the report from A Future Without Rubbish CIC (previously circulated to all councillors)
(b) To consider any action to be taken
23. Frodsham Leisure Centre
(a) To receive a report from Cllr Moorcroft
(b) To decide any action to be taken
24. Office Closure – Christmas
To note the office will close on Friday 20th December and re-open on Monday 6th January 2025.