held in Stert House on 1st May 2018
Present:
- Clive Boyes (CB), Chairman
- Lucy Barker (LB), Councillor/Treasurer
- William Howkins (WH), Councillor/Clerk
- Apologies for absence
Councillors Alick Edwards and Chris Lawrence sent their apologies. Since the last meeting, Sam Deacon had resigned from the Council due to work commitments. The PC expressed their thanks to Sam for her work on the Council over the past 11 years, especially for her expertise in environmental matters, and hoped to be able to call on her professional advice in the future.
- Declaration of Interest
None.
- Minutes of previous meetings
The Minutes of the PC meeting held on 22nd February 2018 were approved (proposed by LB and seconded by WH) and signed by the Chairman.
- Treasurer’s Report
4.1 FY2017/18
LB submitted a spreadsheet summarising the income and expenditure from account for the past year compared with the previous year. This will be posted on the PC’s website. She reported there had been one payment since the last meeting of £40 for use of the church on 19/2/18, and the balance on 31st March was £2253.99 (confirmed in the passbook by WH).
Excluding the Christmas party, the budget for expenses had been set at £700 and the actual amount spent was £609,25. Including the Christmas party, the total spent during the year was £807.12.
4.2 FY 2018/19
We have received the precept for the current year of £915.05 and the balance now stands at £3169.04 (confirmed by WH in the passbook).
It was agreed to set the budget for the coming year at £1300 as follows:
- £650 for normal recurring expenses,
- £200 for the Christmas party,
- £450 for phone box renovation.
It was agreed from FY2019/20 to earmark annually a reserve of £50 for phone box renovation, needed about every 10 years, and note the accumulated amount each year. The PC confirmed it could not see any other cases where similar reserves need to be established.
It was a agreed to accept the quotation of £450 from Mr. Neville Moody for repainting the telephone box as this was in line with the previous bill for £403 in 2009.
4.3 Parish Audit 2017/18
4.3.1 The PC agreed to adopt the set of financial regulations previously circulated by LB. (Proposed by CB and seconded by WH.) These are to be posted on the PC’s website.
4.3.2 The certificate of exemption from external audit was agreed and signed by CB and LB.
4.3.3 It was agreed to reappoint Mr Neville Burrell as our Internal Auditor (proposed by WH and seconded by LB).
4.3.4 The Governance Statement, including a risk assessment of Parish assets, was discussed and approved by the PC and the statement signed by CB and WH as chairman and clerk respectively.
4.3.5 The Parish account statement for FY2017/18 was approved and signed by CB and LB.
- Neighbourhood Watch
It was noted that following notice by Wiltshire Council, the caravan beside the road above the Lion Monument had been removed.
WH had nothing special to report apart from a few general theft/scam warnings from the police passed onto residents by email. He reported that, in compliance with Government data protection regulations, he had sent a circular asking residents to confirm they were happy to be on the PC’s mailing list. He had received confirmation from most of Stert residents and CB said he would follow up on those who had not yet replied.
- Tinkfield Recycling Centre.
It was noted that there had been no progress with the bund earthworks during the past months due to the very wet conditions. CB agreed to visit the site to get an update on the work schedule for the coming summer and the autumn planting on the bund.
- Crookwood MotoX
Councillor Philip Whitehead briefed Stert residents in the church the previous evening on the issuing of an Article 4 directive by Wiltshire Council to remove permitted rights (14 days a year of non agricultural use of farmland) from Crookwood Farm, in order to prevent MotoX events being held at Crookwood Farm on the basis of inadequate safety and lack of proper access.
- AOB
8.1 LB wished to table a vote of thanks to the snow wardens (AE and WH) who had been out spreading salt with the PC’s salt spreader during last month’s snow storm.
8.2 WH had received notice that WC’s Parish Steward will visit Stert on 26th June, 24th July and 18th September. He will request the deterioration of the tarmac by Barn Cottage to be made good.
- Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held in Stert House on 4th June 2018, at 7.30 pm.
Stert Parish 