MINUTES OF THE CHOPPINGTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 16 OCTOBER 2018 IN STAKEFORD AND BOMARSUND SPORTS AND SOCIAL WELFARE CENTRE
THOSE ATTENDING:
Cllr H Allsopp Cllr E A Barrell Cllr K Grimes Cllr G Huntley Cllr Alley
Cllr L Watson
IN ATTENDANCE:
Mr D L Nicholson JP, Parish Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer, Ms A Brindley, Deputy Parish Clerk and County Councillor D Ledger.
In the absence of Cllr PS Vaughan, Cllr EA Barrell took the chair.
AGENDA PART 1
C028/18 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr J Foster (NCC commitment), Cllr J Rowell (external meeting) and Cllr PS Vaughan (work commitment). The meeting accepted that these were proper reasons for absence.
C029/18 2. DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY AND OTHER REGISTERABLE INTEREST(s)
None received.
C030/18 3. PUBLIC QUESTIONS.
None received.
C031/18 4. PLANNING MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION.
The Chairman of the Planning Committee reported that there were no matters to refer to council.
C032/18 5. TO RECEIVE AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 24 JULY 2018.
The meeting received the minutes agreeing they are a true record of proceedings and authorising the Chairman to sign as such.
C033/18 6. MATTERS ARISING.
The Parish Clerk updated members on minute C023/18
(review of the Parish Council’s scheme for the delegation of
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responsibilities), reporting that a draft document has been prepared, which takes account of comments made by members since the document was last reviewed in 2017. This will be presented to the Chairman and Vice Chairman for comments prior to it being considered by members of the Staffing and Policy Committee. The Parish Clerk will also present a report to the same committee on those rules governing the awarding of grants to be considered alongside the delegation scheme.
The Parish Clerk invited any member who wished to discuss either of these issues to contact him after the meeting.
In response to a question the Parish Clerk updated members on minute C024/18 4. (Riversdale House), detailing the legal process embarked on by Northumberland County Council.
C034/18
C035/18
C036/18
TO RECEIVE AND NOTE THE MINUTES OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HELD ON 24 JULY 2018.
The minutes were received.
TO RECEIVE AND NOTE THE MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE HELD ON 26 SEPTEMBER 2018.
The minutes were received by members. Minute 013/18 detailed the problems caused by Bedlington Academy’s unilateral decision to make redundant community staff engaged on the delivery of youth clubs in Guide Post. Cllr K Grimes, who also serves as an East Bedlington Parish Councillor explained that East Bedlington Parish Council had been similarly disadvantaged. Members were concerned that Bedlington Academy had made its decision to withdraw their commitment to partnership services with local councils without any consultation.
RESOLVED: Members proposed that the Chairman and Parish Clerk together with their counterparts in East Bedlington Parish Council meet with Head of Bedlington Academy to seek explanation for the Academy’s conduct.
PARISH CLERKS REPORT.
Finance Report
Members received a report from the PC/RFO on the expenditure made and income received since the last meeting of the Parish Council. The meeting agreed to place this information on the Parish Council website.
Financial Performance to the end of the financial quarter.
Members received the report and agreed that there were no
matters to be referred to the Finance Committee.
External Audit 2017/18.
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The Parish Clerk confirmed that PKF Littlejohn LLP have written to him to confirm that they have completed their audit and on the basis of their review of Sections 1 and 2 of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) have expressed their opinion that the information contained is in accordance with proper practices and that no other matters have come to their attention giving cause for concern that relevant legislation and regulatory requirements have not been met. They also report that there are no other matters affecting their opinion to draw to the attention of the authority.
The Parish Clerk reported that the preparatory work for the audit and the supervision of accounts during 2017/18 had been largely within the responsibility of the Deputy Parish Clerk who was recognised as the Responsible Finance Officer (Designate) from the beginning of this financial year. He thanked the DPC for her work and advised that there were no performance barriers to prevent her from being appointed as DPC/RFO.
RESOLVED: Members considered the letter from the external auditor, agreeing that there were no matters requiring further consideration.
Agenda – Part 2. Members, in consideration of Standing Order 46a and because of their special and confidential nature, decided the following items should be considered after the exclusion of press and public.
C037/18 C038/18
C039/18
Consideration of any matters referred from Agenda Part 1.
None to be considered.
Parish Clerk’s Retirement. Members discussed the Parish Clerks intention to retire and gave guidance on the process to be employed for the appointment of his successor.
GRANTS. No requests for grants have been received.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 21.10
Chairman Date
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Transactions July – September 2018
Expenditure
Transaction Detail
Date Paid
Amount
Payee Name
Childrens Play at Northumberland Live
05/07/2018
1,000.00
East Bedlington Parish Council
Lock repair allotments
05/07/2018
73.70
Bradleys Master Locksmith Ltd
Play area repairs
05/07/2018
402.00
J Smith & Sons
Mower service
05/07/2018
224.67
Greenlay Ltd
Village Hall construction – balance
05/07/2018
29,109.60
Nixon Hire
Bus shelter repair
05/07/2018
1,060.18
Queensbury Shelters
Photocopying
05/07/2018
37.42
United Carlton Office Systems
Youth/community sports /mobile court
06/07/2018
1,583.50
PFC
Telephone/broadband
Grant activities for older persons
09/07/2018
96.68
British Telecom
reimburse
10/07/2018
250.00
PC/RFO
Stationery /office goods
10/07/2018
140.01
Coastline
Older persons Activities
10/07/2018
100.00
Heather Dixon Fitness Instructor
Subscriptions
10/07/2018
1,217.69
Northumberland Assoc of Local councils
Stationery/office goods
10/07/2018
12.45
Coastline
Older persons Activities
10/07/2018
50.00
Heather Dixon Fitness Instructor
IT/Functional Support
10/07/2018
393.75
Members
Microsoft Office licences
10/07/2018
20.99
PC/RFO
Subscription
12/07/2018
78.00
National Association Of Councillors
Training contract
12/07/2018
4,171.20
National Association Of Councillors
Allotment water
12/07/2018
117.71
Northumbrian Water
Older persons Activities
17/07/2018
1,025.00
Stakeford & Bomarsund Welfare
Small Grant Scheme CO22/17
19/07/2018
100.00
ADMVC
Small Grant Scheme CO22/17
19/07/2018
150.00
Toddle In
IT support
19/07/2018
65.00
DB Computer Support Services
Small! Grant Scheme
19/07/2018
500.00
Wansbeck Valley Foodbank
Subscription
30/07/2018
100.00
Community Action North’land
Travel expenses staff
31/07/2018
FAO
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51.30
Travel expenses staff
31/07/2018
119.70
PC/RFO
Total
42,250.55
Allotment track repairs
08/08/2018
3,500.00
DA Johnstone
Response services
01/08/2018
33.46
Royal Mail
Photocopying
02/08/2018
75.97
United Carlton Office Systems
Room Hire Burlesque, Holiday play, meetings
02/08/2018
510.00
Stakeford & Bomarsund Welfare
West Sleekburn Village Hall
04/08/2018
4,261.88
Howdens Joinery
Sport In The Community
06/08/2018
1,410.17
PFC
Sport In The Community
06/08/2018
173.33
PFC
Landscaping
08/08/2018
480.00
WL Straughan & Sons Ltd
IT Support
08/08/2018
50.00
DB Computer Support Services
Golden B Burlesque
08/08/2018
125.00
Heather Dixon Fitness Instruct
Golden B Burlesque
08/08/2018
50.00
Heather Dixon Fitness Instruct
Fees & Charges
08/08/2018
8.00
bank
Telephone/broadband
08/08/2018
83.78
British Telecom
IT/Functional Support
10/08/2018
393.75
Members
IT/telecoms
10/08/2018
20.99
PC/RFO
Holiday Play
14/08/2018
1,610.80
Bad Apples NE
Play area repairs
16/08/2018
456.00
J Smith & Sons
Alarm Contract & Call outs
16/08/2018
498.00
Delta One Security Services Ltd
Youth Provision
31/08/2018
93.33
Reimburse CDO
Community Services
31/08/2018
134.94
Reimburse CDO
Total
13,969.40
Payroll
05/09/2018
12,832.60
Northumberland County Council
Photocopying and printing
06/09/2018
85.22
United Carlton Office Systems
Room Hire
06/09/2018
672.50
Stakeford & Bomarsund Welfare
Photocopying
06/09/2018
Total Business Group
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16.55
Muga hire for wildcats
06/09/2018
420.00
Stakeford & Bomarsund Welfare
Mobile sports court deployment
06/09/2018
173.33
PFC
School sports programme
06/09/2018
1,410.17
PFC
Return of payment made in error
10/09/2018
480.00
North East Learning Trust
Skip Hire
10/09/2018
240.00
PS Services
IT/Functional Support
10/09/2018
393.75
Members
IT/telecoms
10/09/2018
20.99
PC/RFO
Telephone/broadband
10/09/2018
80.11
British Telecom
NAC Management Group
11/09/2018
333.50
PC/RFO
Groundwork for memorial seat
11/09/2018
144.00
Stakeford & Bomarsund Welfare
Travel Expenses
14/09/2018
27.10
Members
Kitchen (West Sleekburn Village Hall}
20/09/2018
1,000.00
Floors2adoor
Staff/members training
24/09/2018
192.00
Soc of Local Council Clerks
IT support
24/09/2018
80.00
DB Computer Support Services
Training – members
24/09/2018
723.95
PC/RFO
Staff training
26/09/2018
30.00
Soc of Local Council Clerks
Research/reference materials
27/09/2018
47.70
Soc of Local Council Clerks
Service charge
30/09/2018
34.05
bank
Total
19,437.52
Income
investment interest
03/07/2018
28.31
NE Learning Trust youth club refund
04/07/2018
480.00
Shared service income
25/07/2018
273.99
Interest received
02/08/2018
47.74
Interest received
04/09/2018
54.30
Precept received
05/09/2018
191,542.00
Total
192,426.34
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