2024 September 03 Minutes of Parish Council meeting

The guidance from the National Neighbourhood Watch scheme indicates that “On a local level Neighbourhood Watch groups are run within communities by local volunteer Coordinators. Local Neighbourhood Watch schemes work in a variety of ways that reflect the needs of the local community. This includes: sharing crime prevention advice and information; running awareness campaigns; holding social events and awards for local people and businesses; leading community projects, such as litter picks,a community café, flood defence response, presentations in schools and work with young people and children and community messaging with the police. ”

The next steps are for the public to come to the next Parish Council meeting and be able to articulate precisely what they might want to achieve by establishing such a group (or groups) in Towersey. Each group would need a “street co-ordinator” and will require volunteers from the local community to run the scheme as it would not be a Parish Council run team. Volunteers are welcome to identify themselves.

Cllr. Tim Shreeve reminded the public present that the details of the planning appeals active in the Parish can be found on the SODC planning website with information on relevant dates.

2024.76 MINUTES and MATTERS ARISING.
The minutes of the meeting held on 6^th August 2024 were approved by Council and signed by the Chairman.

2024.77 UPDATES FROM OCC and SODC WARD COUNCILLORS – A written report was received from our SODC ward representatives and taken as read.

2024.78 PLANNING MATTERS

FOR CONSIDERATION:- None

FOR INFORMATION :- None

2024.79 FINANCE.

The receipts and payments schedule was reviewed. Cheque payments were approved and signed by 2 Councillors. The Bank Balance as at 3 September 2024 was read out.

The Clerk confirmed that at long last the updates to the bank mandates had been processed by our Bank.

The Parish Clerk confirmed that the external auditors had raised a list of observations and questions on our submission with a deadline for a response of 3 September 2024. As they were only received 2^nd September 2024 the Clerk has informed the external auditors that they should only expect a reply in the next 7 days. The questions and comments received included :-

We note that the Council has a high level of expenditure.

Could you please provide us with an explanation for the questions below and support the explanations through documentation and extracts of minutes of the meetings held to discuss the projects that have led to the high levels of expenditure:

1. Did the council properly obtain and consider tenders before employing a contractor?

2. Did the council consider the powers under which the expenditure was made?

3. Was the project properly managed and the council informed of progress?

4. Was a budget prepared?

5. Were any grants received properly authorised?

6. Were Financial Regulations followed?

We note that the reserves held by the Council are low. Please could you provide us with an explanation for this.

We note that within Section 2, Box 11a has not been completed. Please could you provide us with a revised copy of this report with this box completed (initialling and dating the amendment as per the guidance notes on Page 2 of the AGAR) and ensure that this form is then published in place of the previous copy.

The Clerk will update the Parish Council next month.

2024.80 SIGNIFICANT LETTERS not dealt with elsewhere – None

2024.81 PARISH BUSINESS.

New Parish Council website – The .GOV email system is up and running and all Parish Councillors have now been converted over. The population and conversion of the website is still in progress and should go live in the next weeks. C/F

2024.82 ANY OTHER BUSINESS –

The speed indicating devices in the village have not yet been re-erected. C/F

The Parish Council is planing to have a “work party” on 13^th October 2024 with the focus on bulb planting on the verges and elsewhere AND ditch clearing. All villagers are welcome and encouraged to participate in this community activity which benefits us all.

It was noted that Windmill Road is planned to be completely closed between the solar farm and the sewage works by UK Power Networks commencing on 7 October 2024 and planned to last 2 weeks. Diversion signs will be in place.

It was mentioned by several members of the attending public thatdue to the acoustics of the Memorial Hall it was often impossible to hear the Councillor’s discussion. A request will be made to the management of the Memorial Hall for provision of a suitable Public Address system.

The next meeting of the Towersey Parish Council will be Tuesday 1^st October 2024 in the War Memorial Hall at 19:30.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 20:30

Print Name: ………………………………………… Signed ……………………………….

Date …………………….