Taking Account

 

Already the Betley Parish Accounts for 2025-2026 are being discussed and the precept drawn up. 

At the end of the financial year 2023-24 the Betley Parish Council received an external audit, which was published, eventually, in November 2024.  

The report made interesting reading in that the External Auditor found ‘significant weaknesses within the Parish Council system’ and that ‘the Council should ensure that the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) form in 2024-25 is prepared in accordance with proper practices’. 

This would support the view of the only Councillor who had frequently queried the accounts and the way in which the AGAR Form had been completed by the Parish Council over the last two years, and more latterly, the Audit and Accounts Committee.

Clearly the ‘explanation’ Minuted after the November 2024 Parish Council meeting had not been accepted by the External Auditor ((see November 2024 Minutes, Minute  14 (a)- (d)). 

The External Auditor’s full Report, available on the PC web site, makes interesting reading, and should vindicate and justify ‘the behaviour’ so-called of the Councillor who had been not only unjustly criticised in the Council Minutes on a regular basis, but who had also been unjustly criticised and penalised- not to say silenced for making an objection to the way in which the Council was completing the AGAR form.

As stated elsewhere on this blog – the truth will always out!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Clarification

 It has been noted in the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2024 Minute 5 a statement made about this blog 'by a member of the parish council'- 'that  any comments submitted to the author of the blog which questioned the factual accuracy of the contents of its reports were ignored and not published'.  This is an assumption (yet another) not a fact.   It also seems to be yet another example of attempts to undermine the integrity of the blog (and its author). The blog, it has been noted, presents another view point which often differs from the 'standard'/'official' view presented via the Minutes particularly, where statements are made and treated as if they were universal truths rather than just  'a view' of a group of people. It needs to be pointed out here, therefore, that all comments received are read and considered, even though they come from a very small pool of anonymous, in the main, individuals, some with obvious agendas and with mali...
Read more

When a Hearing is not a Hearing

 Anyone attempting to follow the Hearing of 30 April 2024 might have found it difficult to follow since the microphones were not working properly neither were the subtitles up to scratch.  'Councillor' was transcribed as 'Chancellor', for example - and that was the least of it.  Trying to follow what was being said using the subtitles was therefore not only difficult but almost impossible.  The text presented to the hearing is below:    I am attending this hearing because it is important to know what it is that I am being accused of. The Monitoring Officer in June 2023 asked the complainants to provide him with the 'specifics'   - ie the evidence to support their allegations.     Without it, he stated   he could not proceed.   It has taken two years and a new MO to arrive at this point.   2024 is a different country, it seems.       If evidence was submitted, then I have not seen it.   I have looked at ...
Read more

Behind Closed Doors 2: Recent Parish Council Meeting Highlights Ongoing Tensions

At the last Parish Council meeting, the Chair and Vice Chair presented a verbal summary of the Clerk's performance appraisal, as part of fulfilling the Council's annual requirement. However, the written report was not shared with members, prompting one Councillor to request its circulation. This request was declined by the Chair.  The Vice Chair expressed loudly, his strong objections to the question, stating that his integrity was being questioned, before leaving the meeting abruptly (slamming the door). During the public forum, three of the attendees read statements criticizing the local blog and Wrinehill residents' newsletter.  One being the former Clerk questioned the Councillor's vote on the end-of-year accounts. He also raised concerns about the Councillor's actions, suggesting that any queries about the Parish Council accounts should be addressed to him (rather than to the proper auditing authorities'. The statements, read out (which later became attache...
Read more