WALFORD PARISH COUNCIL
Parish Clerk: Catherine Murray. Rose Cottage, Coughton, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 5SF. E Mail: clerk@walford-pc.org.uk Website: www.walford-pc.org.uk
Minutes of the meeting of the Finance Committee held in Walford Village Hall At 6.45 on Wednesday 11th January 2017
Present: Chairman Shane Carlson. Councillors Dave Berry, Karen Chinn, Simeon Cole, Frank Myers arrived a few minutes late. In attendance: Clerk Catherine Murray.
1. Apologies: Heather Evans will be late.
2. Declarations of Interest: None, except a dispensation for Councillors to discuss the precept.
3. Minutes: It was unanimously RESOLVED to accept the minutes of the previous meeting held on 23/11/16
4. Public participation session: A member of the public asked what the taxation position would be regarding the funning of the canoe launch site. The Clerk and Chairman shared information from HALC, to clarify the position.
5. Precept and Budget:
5.1 2017-18 Budget Appendix A(2) and other associated paperwork were considered.
5.2 Precept Proposals: After considering the draft budget, the following proposals were put forward: To maintain the Lengthsman, Rights of Way and the Community Support Schemes. Take a reduction in reserves, in order to maintain the services we currently provide. Ask parishioners for an additional £9,000, in principle to specifically maintain the community support scheme.
5.3 Budget: It was proposed that the budget for 2017-18 be approved for recommendation to Full Council.
6. Banking and payments: It was unanimously RESOLVED to approve and sign Finance Appendix A – the bank reconciliations and the bank statements for November and December.
6.1 It was unanimously RESOLVED to approve the following payments: Data protection Fee. (Information Commissioner’s Office) Lengthsman. Community Support Co-ordinator expenses. HMRC Paye and NI for 3rd Quarter.
6.2 The following payments were noted: Clerk salary and expenses, Community Support Co-ordinator salary.
6.3 Electronic Banking. Cllr Evans has been successfully registered for electronic banking.
7. Information and correspondence:
7.1 Items relevant to finance in Appendix C and HALC Information corner: The Clerk explained that there will be no cap on Parish Council precepts in 2017/18.
7.2 No responses required to finance correspondence received since the last meeting.
8. Public Response Session: A member of the public asked whether any formal tests had been done on risk assessment regarding reserves and is there any external guidance? The Chairman replied that it has been discussed and the Finance Committee will look at it. Another asked when he might get a response to the letter previously sent to the Finance Chairman & Chairman. There will be a response. <<Action Cllr Myers>>
9. Announcement from the Finance Committee Chairman: Cllr Carlson will be stepping down as Finance Chairman, but will remain as Vice Chairman of the Parish Council and member of the Neighbourhood Planning Steering Group. All other involvement will be scaled back.
10. Items for next meeting agenda: Appoint a new Chairman and review the budget again.
11. To discuss the date of the next meeting: 22nd February 2017.
12. Confidential Session: (The public were asked to leave the room)
12.1 Pension obligations.