MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF CHOPPINGTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 13 MAY 2026 AT STAKEFORD AND BOMARSUND SPORT AND SOCIAL WELFARE CENTRE
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Cllr H Allsopp
Cllr K Burn
Cllr A Cottrell
Cllr J Foster (arrived item 23)
Cllr G Huntley
Cllr M Jackson
Cllr J Rowell (Chairman)
IN ATTENDANCE:
Ms A Brindley Parish Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer, Mr D Iley Finance Assistant, Mr R Delap Operations Manager County Councillor R Spriddell
CO01/26 1. ELECTION OF A CHAIRMAN FOR THE ENSUING YEAR.
The Parish Clerk reported that nominations had been received for Councillor J Rowell for the position of Chairman. As the sole nominee Cllr J Rowell was duly elected to serve as Chairman for council year 2026/2
CO02/26 2. DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE
Councillor J Rowell duly signed declaration of acceptance of office of Chairman
C0O3/26 3. THOSE ATTENDING AND APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
Apologies were received Cllr L Watson for leave and Cllr D FitzGerald for illness
The meeting accepted these as a valid reason for absence.
CO04/26 4. DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY AND OTHER REGISTERABLE PERSONAL INTEREST(S).
There were no declarations
CO05/26 5. PUBLIC QUESTIONS.
No public questions had been submitted
C006/26 6. TO RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF
13 MAY 2025 (reported previously to the Parish Council meeting of 28 MAY)
The minutes were received by the Parish Council,
C007/26 7. THE ELECTION OF A VICE-CHAIRMAN FOR THE ENSUING
YEAR.
The Parish Clerk reported that 4 nominations had been received for Councillor L Watson for the position of Vice Chairman. As the sole nominee Cllr L Watson was duly elected to serve as Vice-Chairman for Council year 2026/27.
CO08/25 8. 1. TO APPOINT MEMBERS TO SERVE ON COMMITTEES OF
THE PARISH COUNCIL.
As the Council only has 9 councillors, all members are automatically appointed to all committees unless individual Councillors wish to withdraw their nominations. As last year, Cllr Foster wished to serve only on the Allotment Committee. Parish Council agreed the following committee memberships:
Committee Allotment Committee
Membership Cllr H Allsopp
Cllr A Cottrell
Cllr D FitzGerald
Cllr J Foster
Cllr K Burn
Cllr G Huntley
Cllr M Jackson
Cllr J Rowell
Cllr L Watson
Committee Community Development and Environment Committee
Membership Cllr H Allsopp
Cllr A Cottrell
Cllr D FitzGerald
Cllr K Burn
Cllr G Huntley
Cllr M Jackson
Cllr J Rowell
Cllr L Watson
Committee Finance Committee
Membership Cllr H Allsopp
Cllr A Cottrell
Cllr D FitzGerald
Cllr K Burn
Cllr G Huntley
Cllr M Jackson
Cllr J Rowell
Cllr L Watson
Committee Planning Committee
Membership Cllr H Allsopp
Cllr A Cottrell
Cllr D FitzGerald
Cllr K Burn
Cllr G Huntley
Cllr M Jackson
Cllr J Rowell
Cllr L Watson
Committee Staffing and Policy Development Committee
Membership Cllr H Allsopp
Cllr A Cottrell
Cllr D FitzGerald
Cllr K Burn
Cllr G Huntley
Cllr M Jackson
Cllr J Rowell
Cllr L Watson
2. TERMS OF REFERENCE
Terms of reference for all committees will be agreed at the first meeting of each committee.
CO09/26 9. TO APPOINT REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES.
RESOLVED: Members agreed the following appointments:
- The executive of Northumberland Association of Local Councils is reserved for the Chairman of the Council, Cllr J Rowell advised that she can attend Saturday meetings but due to work commitments she is unable to attend those held around lunch times. Members agreed that the Vice Chairman could attend as reserve.
- Cllrs H Allsopp, G Huntley and K Burn was appointed to serve on the committee of Choppington Disability Group.
- Cllrs H Allsopp, and G Huntley appointed to serve as trustees to Stakeford and Bomarsund Sport and Social Welfare Centre, the third appointee to be made a later date.
- Cllrs H Allsopp, L Watson and K Burns appointed to serve as Trustees of West Sleekburn Community Trust.
Members agreed that consideration of any other vacancies arising during the year will be delegated to the Parish Clerk in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Council.
CO10/26 10. CYCLE OF MEETINGS FOR 2026/27.
Members received a draft schedule of meetings and agreed the schedule.
CO11/26 11. PAYROLL SERVICES for 2026/27.
Current payroll providers are Northumberland County Council which provides a complete payroll service including liaising with HRMC and the pension agency
RESOLVED: Members approved Northumberland County Council as the payroll services provider for 2026/27.
CO12/25 12. APPOINTMENT OF INTERNAL AUDITOR FOR 2026/27.
The Council’s internal auditor is Gareth Davies who has 8 years experience as a Clerk at Berwick upon Tweed, is an auditor for 2 other parishes and is a member of the Smaller Authorities Internal Audit
RESOLVED: Members approved the reappointment of Gareth Davies as Auditor.
CO13/26 13. APPOINTMENT OF EXTERNAL AUDITOR FOR 2026/27
Under the Local Audit (Smaller Authorities) Regulations 2015, the Smaller Authorities Audit Appointments (SAAA) is responsible for appointing external auditors to all opted-in smaller authorities. The SAAA has appointed Mazars as the Council’s external auditor. Any member with a personal conflict with this appointment should advise the Clerk.
RESOLVED: Members acknowledged the re-appointment of Mazars accountancy firm as the authority’s external auditor.
CO14/26 14. EXTERNAL AUDIT 2024/25. Results of AGAR
CO14/26 14. EXTERNAL AUDIT 2024/25. Results of AGAR
This item was usually considered at the September Parish Council, but the completion notice was received in December during budget setting and it is now being reported formally at this meeting. The Parish Clerk reported that the AGAR had received limited assurance with no matters requiring further attention. The conclusion of the audit was placed on the website as soon as it was received.
RESOLVED: Members expressed their appreciation of the work of Parish Council staff, particularly that undertaken by the Parish Clerk/RFO and the Finance officer in preparing AGAR returns.
CO15/26 15. REVIEW OF INVESTMENT POLICY.
The Parish Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer presented the councils investment policy, explaining that the policy informs the Parish Council’s annual investment strategy for the year to come. The policy concentrates on low-risk investments that spreads risk and affords protection for Parish Council funds.
The PC/RFO stated that transfers to and from the ‘investment’ account will be reported to the Finance Committee. This policy is displayed on the website
RESOLVED: Members confirmed the investment policy attached to these minutes.
CO16/26 16. REVIEW OF INVESTMENT STRATEGY.
Due to the special and confidential nature of the business to be discussed, the meeting resolved to discuss this in part 2 of the agenda.
CO17/26 17. ANNUAL STATEMENT OF RISK 2026/27.
The Parish Clerk presented the annual statement of risk for 2026/27 bringing to the attention of the meeting any updates from the previous year.
RESOLVED: The meeting accepted the statement as presented.
CO18/25 18. ASSET REGISTER AND WRITE OFFS AS AT YEAR END 2025/26
The parish Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer presented the list of fixed assets for inclusion in the year end accounts to date. Following the audit of litter bins there has been a readjustment of the number of bins that have been replaced in recent years. This years write offs contain a number of litter bins which have been removed or replaced due to vandalism or wear and tear over many years.
Resolved: Members reviewed the list of fixed assets approving their inclusion in the year end accounts to date, and approved the list of write offs from the asset register.
CO19/26 19. REVIEW OF STANDING ORDERS.
The Parish Clerk presented Standing Orders with no changes from 2025/26.
RESOLVED: Members approved Standing Orders.
CO20/26 20. REVIEW OF FINANCIAL REGULATIONS
The Clerk presented the Financial Regulations for approval
RESOLVED: Members approved Financial Regulations
CO21/26 21. GDPR POLICY 2026/27
The Clerk presented the GDPR Policy for approval
RESOLVED: Members approved the policy
CO22/26 22. AUTHORISED SIGNATORIES
Due to the special and confidential nature of the business to be discussed, the meeting resolved to discuss this in part 2 of the agenda
CO23/26 23 APPROVAL OF REGULAR PAYMENTS
Members received notice of categories of payments that although been approved through the budget process, for transparency require particular approval.
1 Standing orders, Direct Debits, and other regular payments.
PFC Professional SLA
Stakeford & Bomarsund Rent
Google Cloud
BT
2. Grant payments made annually to community organisations included in the budget.
Snooker- veteran league teams
Toddle In
Citizens Advice
Bedlington Youth Brass Band
Wansbeck Food Bank
Mind Active for events (as and when)
Ashington and District Male Voice Choir
Warm Hub sponsorship
Friends of Choppington Woods for accommodation
The Clerk identified a payment to Wansbeck Food Bank that requires approval to use the S137 free resource authority
3. Those under Financial Regulation 5.6
Monthly payments to NCC for staff salariesLocal Service contract to NCC (1-9 Month)
Local Service contract to NCC (10-12 Month)
Monthly payments to Youth Club Leader and volunteers
RESOLVED:
Members approved the directly paid Standing Orders and Direct Debits
Community Grants and approval for S137 for Wansbeck Food Bank
Payments under Financial regulation 5.6
CO24/26 ELECTRONIC SUMMONSES.
Under the Local Government (Electronic Communications) England Order 2015, Members are offered the opportunity to request to receive summonses electronically.
RESOLVED: No member requested an electronic summons therefore all members present to receive summons as hard copies
Agenda, Part 2.
Members in consideration of Standing Order 3 and the special and confidential nature of the business to be transacted, resolved the press and public be excluded and asked to withdraw.
CO25/26 Consideration of any matters referred from Agenda Part 1.
CO16/26 REVIEW OF INVESTMENT STRATEGY.
RESOLVED: Members reviewed the investment strategy, resolving that the Finance committee consider any transfers to our higher yield account during the year.
CO26/25 AUTHORISED SIGNATORIES
CO22/26 Members agreed that signatories include the Chairman, Vice Chairman and members easily available.
Current account 4 existing signatories agreed JR, LW, AC, GH
Higher yield account 4 signatories JR, LW, KB, HA including Parish Clerk
There was no further business to be considered under Agenda Part 2
On conclusion of this item the meeting closed at 6.50 pm
Signed by the Chairman: Date