The Parish Council has a new Website. To view all new articles please go to: www.westfieldparishcouncil.com.
This section of the website is to provide details of the monthly and annual financial reports, activities and regulations for Westfield Parish Council.
Financial Regulations
Westfield Parish Council has agreed Financial Regulations which apply to its activities. You can view them here. The regulations are reviewed every year at the Council’s Annual General Meeting.
Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2019/20
The Parish Council’s Annual Accounts are audited each year in accordance with guidelines issued by the Audit Commission. Please click on the below links to view the unaudited files. The files will also be externally audited:
- Section One - Annual Governance Statement 2019/20
- Section Two - Accounting Statements 2019/20
- Annual Internal Audit Report 2019/20
- Full notice for Public Rights and Publication of Unaudited AGAR 2019/20
NOTICE OF PUBLIC RIGHTS & PUBLICATION
Of Unaudited Annual Governance and Accountability Return Accounts for the Year Ended 31st March 2020 - Under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 Sections 25, 26 and 27, The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/234) and The Accounts and Audit (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/404)
Posted on the 5th June 2020
Each year the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) needs to be reviewed by an external auditor appointed by Smaller Authorities’ Audit Appointments Ltd. The unaudited AGAR has been published with this notice. As it has yet to be reviewed by the appointed auditor, it is subject to change as a result of that review.
Any person interested has the right to inspect and make copies of the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records must be made available for inspection by any person interested. For the year ended 31 March 2020, these documents will be available on reasonable notice by application to:
Jane Clarke, Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer
Westfield Parish Council, PO Box 61, Etchingham, TN19 7YZ
Telephone: 01424 575266 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Monthly Finance Reports 2020/21
September
- Summary of receipt and payments
- Earmarked reserves
July
May
April
Precept for 2020/21
The Parish Council raises income by means of a precept levied on households in the parish and this is collected together with Council Tax by Rother District Council. Each year, by January at the latest, Council has to agree the budget and precept for the forthcoming financial year.
In December Council approved the budget and agreed to increase the precept to £42,375. This is an increase of £3,875 from last year. This will equate to £34.41 per annum for Band D Council tax payers, which is an increase of just £0.06 per week. Details of the budget can be found below:
The Parish Council's asset register can be viewed here:
Section 137 and General Power of Competency
In meetings and in reports, councillors or the Parish Clerk will sometimes refer to Section 137 expenditure. This is a section of the Local Government Act of 1972 which allows councils to spend money in a way which is “in the interests of and will directly benefit its area or any part of it and some or all of its inhabitants”. However as Westfield Parish has over two thirds of elected members and the Clerk is CiLCA Qualified (Certificate in Local Council Administration) the Council is awarded the General Power of Competecy. This allows parish councils to have the power to do anything an individual can do, provided it is not against the law or is used to try and over come existing legislation.
Grants to Local Organisations
Westfield Parish Council sets aside money each year to make grants to organisations for projects that benefit local residents.
- Westfield Parish Council Grants and Donations Policy
- Westfield Parish Council Grants Applcation Form
The Local Government Transparency Code requires WPC to publish details of its grants to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations. See below for recent grant details.
| Organisation | 2020-19 | 2018-19 | 2017-18 | 2016-17 |
| St John the Baptist |
|
£1,500 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| Playgroup | ||||
| Youth Club | ||||
| WFC football | £400 | |||
| WBC bowls | £50 | |||
| RBL | £250 | £250 | £250 | £200 |
| Victim Support | £50 | £50 | £50 | £50 |
| Rural Rother Trust | ||||
| BACT | £500 | £500 | £350 | |
| Rye Harbour Nature Reserve | £300 | |||
| TOTAL | £2,650 | £2,200 | £2,100 |
Expenditure over £500
The Local Government Transparency Code requires local authorities to publish details of individual items of expenditure above £500, on a quarterly basis. Click below for recent payments.
- 2020-2021 1st Quarter - TBC
- 2020-2021 2nd Quarter - TBC
- 2020-2021 3rd Quarter - TBC
- 2020-2021 4th Quarter - TBC
Salaries & Pay Multiple
The Local Government Transparency Code requires local authorities to publish details (including job descriptions, responsibilities, budgets and staff numbers) of any senior employees earning over £50,000 per annum. Westfield Parish Council has no staff member earning over £50,000 per annum.