Cutcombe
Parish Council
Further Information
Councillors
There are 7 Councillors who also take on special responsibilities. Portfolio Holders are as follows:
Cllr Roger Webber:
Law & Order/Police, Appeals Committee (Chairman), Finance Working Group, Highways, Wheddon Cross Toilets
Cllr John Anson:
Highways, Grievance & Disciplinary Procedures Committee, Exmoor Consultative Forum
Cllr Linda Atkins:
Prescription & Health, Snowdrop Valley Steering Group, Appeals Committee, Wheddon Cross Toilets, Finance Working Group
Cllr Eric Clarbull:
Wheddon Cross toilets, phone box & street lighting, Finance Working Group, Grievance & Disciplinary Procedures Committee (Chairman), co-ordinator for work previously carried out by the Parish Lengthsman
Cllr John Davis:
Housing, Youth & Leisure, Exmoor Area Panel, Appeals Committee, Parish Council representative on the Moorland Hall Committee, Parish Council representative on the Standards Board
Cllr Eric Norman:
Grievance & Disciplinary Committee, Chairman of the Snowdrop Valley Steering Group (Chairman)
Cllr Vivian White:
Appeals Committee, Exmoor Consultative & Parish Forum, Exmoor Panel
Grievance & Displinary Procedures Committee
Chairman: Cllr Clarbull Members: Cllrs Anson and Norman
Appeals Committee
Chairman: Cllr Webber Members: Cllrs Davis, White and Atkins
Finance Working Group
Cllrs Atkins, Clarbull, Webber; the Parish Clerk/RFO
Snowdrop Valley Steering Group
Chairman: Cllr Eric Norman Members: Cllr Atkins and the Parish Clerk/RFO
Terrie Fowler (Snowdrop Valley Co-ordinator), Ros Simons and Roger Foxwell from the Parish are also part of the Snowdrop Valley Steering Group.
Cllr White is also a Parish Representative on the Exmoor National Park Authority
Reporting fallen trees on bridleways, footpaths: Robert Simmonds, Parish Paths Liaison Officer.
What we spend and how we spend it
Council sets a precept each year (ratified at its December meeting) after consultation with the Parish and the Finance Working Party which consists of two councillors (at present Cllrs Tim Gardner, Chris Harding and Linda Atkins) and the Responsible Finance Office, who is also the Parish Clerk. Council’s financial year runs from 1st April to 31st March each year.
Auditors: the internal auditor for Cutcombe Parish Council is Mr Derek Bott, the external auditors are Grant Thornton.
Council members are not paid any allowances, their work is entirely voluntary. Expenses are paid for essential items such as travelling.
The Clerk is paid for 234 hours per annum, the contract being reviewed annually in March, together with necessary expenses.
Council awards a maximum of £200 per annum under Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972. Applications for grants are considered at the December and June meetings each year.
Further detailed financial information (including copies of Annual Returns) is available from the Clerk. Council’s Standing Orders and Code of Conduct may be viewed or downloaded by following the links at the bottom of this page. Cutcombe Parish Council is a member of the National Association of Local Councils (Somerset Branch, SALC)and the Community Council for Somerset. The Clerk is a member of the Society of Local Council Clerks.
What our priorities are and how we are doing
Cutcombe does not have Quality Parish Council status.
The Chairman reports to electors at The Annual Parish Meeting of Electors which is usually held in April or May of each year.
From 2008 Cutcombe Parish Council has been running the Snowdrop Valley Park and Ride Scheme, in conjunction with the Exmoor National Park Authority. The scheme operates in February of each year, up to date details are available on this website www.wheddoncross.org.uk
How we make decisions
All decisions are made by full Council in open-session meetings unless sensitive financial information is to be discussed and the Chairman calls for a closed session. Council’s comments on planning applications are minuted and submitted to the Exmoor National Park Authority as part of the consultation process.
Policies and procedures
Council abides by a set of Standing Orders, a copy of which can be downloaded or viewed by clicking on the link below. All Councillors sign up to a Code of Conduct (a new code was adopted in July 2012, as recommended by the National Association of Local Councils). A copy of the Code of Conduct can be downloaded by clicking on the link below. A register of Members’ Interests is kept. In addition Council has a set of Financial Regulations and operates a Disciplinary and Appeals procedure in case of staff disputes. Declarations of interest at Parish Council meetings are minuted.
Lists and registers
A Register of Members’ Interests is held by West Somerset Council.
An Asset Register is held by the Clerk and is regularly updated.
Risk Assessments for Council and for the Snowdrop Valley Park and Ride Scheme are in place and regularly updated.
The services we offer
Information can be requested under the Freedom of information Act: such requests should be directed to the Clerk. A fee will be levied, at Council’s discretion, for information supplied under the Act which is not readily available on the website. Charges are:
£5 for each application for information under the Act
50p each for the first 5 photocopies supplied
30p each for subsequent photocopies supplied
These charges apply to A4 copies only
Cutcombe Parish Council Code of Conduct (as adopted July 2012 and amended December 2013)
Cutcombe Parish Council Standing Orders (as amended July 2012)
Complaints Procedure: Code of Conduct for Councillors
A copy of West Somerset Council's Arrangements for Dealing with Complaints about the Code of Conduct for Councillors may be viewed or downloaded here: Complaints Procedure. A copy of West Somerset Council's Code of Conduct for Councillors Complaint Form may be viewed or downloaded here: Complaint Form.
2016 to 2017 Accounts
In accordance with Audit Regulations the following documents may be viewed here relating to the Parish Council Accounts 1st April 2016 to 31st March 2017:
Note the accounts have now been audited externally and a copy of the External Auditor'sReport and Certificate and Notes can also be viewed (or downloaded)
A Notice of Conclusion of Audit is on the Cutcombe Parish Council noticeboard at the Wheddon Cross shop
Annual Governance Statement
Account Statements
Declaration that the statement of accounts is unaudited
Notice of commencement of the period for the exercise of public rights
Information on Sections 26 and 27 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014
External Auditor's Report and Certificate and Notes
Parish Council Home
All requests for information should be directed to the Clerk: cutcombeclerk@btinternet.com
