Cutcombe Parish Council

Further Information

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 Clarbull and Webber) and the Responsible Finance Officer. The precept for 2008/09 was set at £5,800. The precept for 2009/10 is £5,700. Council’s financial year runs from 1st April to 31st March each year.
Auditors: the internal auditor for Cutcombe Parish Council is Mr Colin Stevenson, the external auditors are Moore Stephens of Bath.
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 210 hours per annum, the contract being reviewed annually in March, together with necessary expenses.
Council awards £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. Council supports Cutcombe’s burial ground with an annual grant (currently £500).
Further detailed financial information (including copies of Annual Returns) is available from the Clerk together with a copy of Council’s Financial Standing Orders and Regulations. Cutcombe Parish Council is a member of the National Association of Local Councils (Somerset Branch).

What our priorities are and how we are doing
Parish Plan: Cutcombe currently has a grant to produce a Parish Plan and is actively trying to engage the community in this project.
Cutcombe does not have Quality Parish Council status at present.
The Chairman reports to electors at The Annual Parish Meeting of Electors which is usually held in March or April 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. All Councillors sign up to the 2007 Code of Conduct and 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 updated annually.
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

All requests for information should be directed to the Clerk.

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