In the interests of openness and transparency Perhaps we need to know why the local MP resigned so suddenly - if only to ensure that any new incumbent does not make the same mistakes.
this was sent to me this morning by the Lead of the Footpaths Working Party Councillor Amanda Berrisford: On Thursday 9th May (tomorrow) Nigel Hopkins from SCC rural team is coming to install the remaining two Kissing gates at the Ditch opposite Frank Speeds and the Stile held up with strin g on H Kennerely's land. He has informed me there are no volunteers available and so I am putting a shout out to you all with the details to see if you can help in any way. I am out all day today so do not have the time to call the people on our list. I do not want to put out on the facebook page as we may get too many folk (going forward that would be great) however, we only have a couple of hrs so on this occasion a small productive team would be best. I am Meeting Nige at the H&T at 10.am then we shall enter the field opposite Betley Court Farm and take his truck to the furthest point where then we have to carry the tools a short ...
We are now in the period when the annual accounts for Betley Parish Council can be examined. Last year (2023/24) the Internal and External Auditors noted 'significant weaknesses' in the AGAR forms submitted - ie in the accounting and governance procedures, which appear not to have been followed correctly or as prescribed by the financial rules and regulations advocated by JPAG for local councils. Although requests for expenditure should be placed on the agenda to be discussed and approved by the council (good practice), they seem to appear, instead, under Chair's Reports or in Expenditure to be approved (as if they had been discussed already). Under this item councillors are asked to approve items which have no figure beside them. And then there is Urgent Business. Numerous requests have been made for the monthly accounts to be more clearly expressed so that expenditure against budget can be more clearly noted, especially when there is an overspend in a bud...
Parish councils are the envy of other local authorities, because they are given powers to do so much; they can also raise a precept (supposedly within reason) which unlike other local councils is not capped. so there is no reason for any Parish Council not to be a 'power house' for achievements' which would improve the plight of rural communities. Keele Parish Council achieved the building of a bypass around its village when national funds were very tight and very difficult to secure. So it seems that success depends upon he calibre of those in charge of the parish - ie the Parish Council. Below is a list of the legal Powers and Duties of Parish Councils. It might be that this list is not definitive, and depending on need, more powers could be accommodated which were community oriented. However, as can be seen from the list several might now be defunct - did Betley Wrinehill or Balterley ever have bath or wash houses? Did it have a p...
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