Minutes of an extraordinary meeting of
RAINFORD PARISH COUNCIL
held on Wednesday 10 July 2024 commencing at 6pm in the Council Chamber
Present: Councillors: Bardsley, Long, Robinson, Stockton-Pugh, Whalley
In attendance: Sally Powell (Clerk)
Absent: Councillors: Holden, Reynolds, Roberts, Turner
Councillor Bardsley proposed that Councillor Stockton-Pugh chaired the meeting. This was seconded by Councillor Bardsley and carried unanimously.
1. Apologies for Absence:
Councillors: Bimpson (Away), Bowden (Family), Denton (Away), Dodson (Business), Lee (Business)
- Annual accounts Year ending 31.03.2024:
Annual Governance Statement 2023/24
Councillor Stockton-Pugh proposed that Rainford Parish Council agree the following statements for the financial year 2023/24:
During the financial year ended 31 March 2023, this authority’s internal auditor acting independently and on the basis of an assessment of risk, carried out a selective assessment of compliance with the relevant procedures and controls in operation and obtained appropriate evidence from the authority.
We acknowledge as the members of Rainford Parish Council our responsibility for ensuring that there is a sound system of internal control, including arrangements for the preparation of the Accounting Statements.
We confirm, to the best of our knowledge and belief, with respect to the Accounting Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024, that:
- We have put in place arrangements for effective financial management during the year, and for the preparation of the accounting statements.
- We maintained an adequate system of internal control including measures designed to prevent and detect fraud and corruption and reviewed its effectiveness.
- We took all reasonable steps to assure ourselves that there are no matters of actual or potential non-compliance with laws, regulations and Proper Practices that could have a significant financial effect on the ability of this authority to conduct its business or manage its finances.
- We provided proper opportunity during the year for the exercise of electors’ rights in accordance with the requirements of the Accounts and Audit Regulations.
- We carried out an assessment of the risks facing this authority and took appropriate steps to manage those risks, including the introduction of internal controls and/or external insurance cover where required.
- We maintained throughout the year an adequate and effective system of internal audit of the accounting records and control systems.
- We took appropriate action on all matters raised in reports from internal and external audit.
- We considered whether any litigation, liabilities or commitments, events or transactions, occurring either during or after the year-end, have a financial impact on this authority and, where appropriate, have included them in the accounting statements.
This was seconded by Councillor Bardsley and carried unanimously.
- Annual accounts Year ending 31.03.2024:
The Clerk went through the figures and answered queries regarding differences between 2022/23 and 2023/24.
See Appendix 1 for full details.
Councillor Stockton-Pugh proposed the approval of the Annual Accounting Statement for the financial year ended 31.03.2024. The accounts have been prepared on an Income & Expenditure basis following the guidance in the Governance and Accountability for Smaller Authorities: A Practitioners’ Guide to Proper Practices and present fairly the financial position of this authority at 31.03.2024. This was seconded by Councillor Bardsley and carried unanimously.
There being no other business, the meeting closed at 6.30pm.
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Councillor Liz Dodson
Chairwoman, Rainford Parish Council 2024/25
Appendix 1
