Present: Chairman, Mr N Searston, Mrs C Allsop, Mrs J Nash, Mr S Gould, Mr M Wardman and the clerk, Mrs S Hampson. Also in attendance was District Councillor J Kempster

Non-Confidential items
24.5.1 Apologies and attendance register
The members present completed the attendance register. Apologies had been received in advance of the meeting from Mrs L Peach and Mr P Moakes

24.5.2 Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman
Chairman: Mr N Searston
Vice Chairman: Mrs L Peach

The above positions were unanimously nominated and agreed by all members present.

24.5.3 Declaration of acceptance of office of Chairman and councillors
These were completely by those present and duly signed by the proper officer, Mrs S Hampson

24.5.4 Declaration of interest of councillors related to the agenda
There was no need, by any member present, to record an interest in the register.

24.5.5 Register of interest of councillors
These had been emailed to councillors in advance of the meeting for completion and return.

24.5.6 Minutes of the previous ordinary meeting
The clerk had forwarded the minutes in advance of the meeting and these had been posted on the website and noticeboards.

Resolved: to accept the minutes as a true record of proceedings. The minutes were signed by the Chairman, Mr Searston.

24.5.7 Public speaking procedures document
This was available for any members of the public in attendance

24.5.8 Public speaking
There were no members of the public in attendance.

24.5.9 Update from the County Councillor
Apologies had been received, in advance of the meeting, from County Councillor Mrs G Heath due to attendance at another meeting.

District Councillor Mr J Kempster was in attendance and provided a lot of information about a number of different grants available through Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) including Climate Action Fund up to £500 bids; SMDC Councillor initiative fund, Moorlands Connect. He also provided information on issues with transport for sixth form pupils to Leek. He had been contacted regarding a decline in fish population in local rivers, including the Manifold.

Resolved: Mrs Allsop and Mrs Peach to complete a Climate Action grant application related to planters/planting of bee friendly items etc also related to the Best Kept Village Competition. District Councillor Kempster to liaise directly with these two councillors regarding this.

24.5.10 Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2024
The clerk had prepared the accounts for the year ended 31st March 2024 and these had been forwarded to the councillors in advance of the meeting.

Resolved: These were accepted as a true record.

24.5.11 Internal audit report for the year ended 31st March 2024
The clerk had met with the internal auditor on Monday, 20th May and concluded the internal report. A copy had been received and forwarded to councillors in advance of the meeting. The invoice was also received advising of a slight increase in costs for the following financial year.

24.5.12 AGAR 2024 annual governance statement
This had been completed by the clerk and Responsible Finance Officer (RFO) and forwarded to members in advance of the meeting. This had been approved by the internal auditor.

Resolved: to accept this as a true record and was signed by the clerk and RFO and Chairman in the meeting.

24.5.13 AGAR Section 2 Accounting statement
This had been completed by the clerk and Responsible Finance Officer (RFO) and forwarded to members in advance of the meeting. This had been approved by the internal auditor.

Resolved: to accept this as a true record and was signed by the clerk and RFO and Chairman in the meeting.

24.5.14 Certificate of exemption
As both the income and expenditure figures for the year ended 31st March 2024 were below £25,000, a full audit will not be required and the clerk and RFO had prepared the Certificate of Exemption for submission to the external auditors, Mazars. This had been forwarded to members in advance of the meeting. This had also been approved by the internal auditor.

Resolved: to accept this as a true record and was signed by the clerk and RFO and Chairman in the meeting.

24.5.15 Best Kept Village Competition progress
Mrs Peach had forwarded receipts for reimbursement related to the competition. Mrs Allsop reported that everyone had pulled together. The village looks good, including displays of planters. Lots of community posters are now displayed around the village, including information in the noticeboards. There has been more awareness this year. The pub is now becoming actively involved in improvements. The next visit by the competition judges will be an unknown date in June. The clerk had contacted the lengthsman regarding regular visits to the village. It was reported that grass clippings are not being collected by the lengthsman and can result in blocking drains.

Resolved: the clerk to liaise with the lengthsman to ask that grass clippings are collected and not blown off pavements and verges to prevent issues with drainage.

Resolved: to consider obtaining a quote prior to November 2024 from an alternative contractor.

24.5.16 Repair café event and District Councillor event
Details of the repair café event in August had been resubmitted to the Community Magazine and Longnor Benefice Magazine.

Liaison with other community groups was discussed with District Councillor Kempster regarding their possible attendance at a community evening in the village hall on 12th June to include displays and talks.

Resolved: The District Councillor to try to obtain noticeboards for displays and to liaise with Mrs Peach regarding the event and some of her involvement with village groups.

24.5.17 Planning, appeals, planning decisions
There were no new planning applications.

24.3.14 Items of account, clerk, lengthsman and possible grant, wayleave, HMRC, general income and expenditure
From the previous meeting
Cq 790 NewtonNewton Flags D-Day Flag* for £28.80 had been sent in respect of payment for the larger sized flag to be displayed in the village by the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The flag had been received by Mr Searston.

The clerk had forwarded details of the parish council insurance renewal in advance of the meeting. Members also considered the premium for the village hall’s insurance.

Resolved: to approve payment to the village hall in respect of the premium for their insurance as it was reported that they had tried alternative insurers for quotes and presented the cheapest one for consideration for payment by the parish council