July 2020 Minutes
At A Meeting Of The Barkston And Syston Parish Council held on Monday 6th July 2020 via videolink (Zoom) at 7.30pm
Present
Councillor Miss M E Nussey in the Chair
Councillors A.C.Card, P.C.Connor, Miss M.Costall, A.Hine, S.J.Kelly and A.Rowell.
2450. Apologies
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Elnor and Evans (accepted for the purposes of an attendance), Councillor Wootten (County Council) and Councillors Mrs Kaberry-Brown and Ian Stokes (District Council).
2451. Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 9th March 2020, a copy of which had been circulated to all Members, were taken as read and approved as a correct record, subject to the re-numbering of minute 2441 – planning matters as minute 2441/1 (the previous minute was also numbered 2441).
2452. Declarations Of Interest
There were none declared.
2453. Financial Matters
(a) Financial update
The Council received and noted the financial updates for the period ending 31st March 2020, and so far for 2020/21, and the Clerk explained these for the information of members.
(b) Annual Audit for 2019/2020
The Clerk told Members that the audit regime introduced last year, whereby the Council could certify itself as exempt from a limited assurance review if the higher of the Council’s income or expenditure did not exceed £25,000 was continuing. The Council was within these limits, and the Clerk therefore recommended that the Council certify itself as exempt. The appropriate form had been circulated to Members prior to the meeting to help discussion.
Also circulated to Members were the Annual Governance Statement for 2019/20, and the Accounting Statements for 2019/2020. The Clerk explained the elements requiring consideration, and Members also took into account the Annual Internal Audit report, which was read by the Clerk, noting that the Auditor had concluded that all the required objectives had been achieved throughout the financial year, together with the Clerk’s report at (a) above. Having considered the reports and circulated documents, the Council
(i) agreed to certify the Parish Council as exempt from a limited assurance review;
(ii) acknowledged and agreed the Annual Governance Statement for 2019/2020 as circulated; and
(iii) acknowledged and agreed the Accounting Statements for 2019/2020 as circulated.
2454. Accounts Paid
Resolved:-
That payment of the following accounts be approved and confirmed (all online):-
HM Revenue and Customs (Clerk’s PAYE - £276.00
M L Hall (Half year salary) - £1104.00 Note 1
M L Hall (Expenses 2019/20) - £348.97
Lincs. Assoc of Local Councils (Annual sub 20/21) - £224.27
Community Heartbeat Trust (Service agreement 20/21) - £302.40
BDG Mowing Contractors (Mowing – March) - £406.00
Belton & Manthorpe PC (50% speedwatch costs) - £279.26
BDG Mowing Contractors (Mowing – April) - £406.00
Anglian Water Business (Supply 12.2 – 16.3.20) - £4.33
BDG Mowing Contractors (Mowing – May) - £406.00
Allsecure Services (PF Fire Extinguisher service) - £45.00
Lincolnshire CC (Legal fees re picnic area) - £1083.83 Note 2
Zurich Town and Parish (Renewal insurance 20/21) - £1543.98 Note 2
Note 1 – this payment is over the Clerk’s £500 limit, and was in any event a large payment to the Clerk himself. Authorized by email by the Chair (Cllr Nussey), Vice-Chairman (Cllr Card) and Cllr Hine on the advice of the Council’s Internal Auditor, owing to restrictions imposed by lockdown. Copies of the authorizing emails are attached to the invoice and payment authorization.
Note 2 – these two payments were authorized by the Chair and two Councillors, as they were over the Clerk’s £500 limit.
2455. Date And Time Of Next Meeting
Noted that the next meeting was planned for Monday 14th September 2020 at 7.45pm. It was currently uncertain whether the Council would be able to meet in person or whether it would be necessary to hold the meeting using videoconferencing.
The Clerk advised the Council that in any event he intended to keep members as aware as possible on outstanding matters by sending updates via email.