November 2025 Minutes
Notes of the Finance & General Purpose Committee Meeting
18th November 2025
Attendees: Cllr Chris Sivill (Chair), Cllr Serv Coulber, Cllr Marc Deller-Smith, Cllr Caroline Dawson, Cllr Neville Edwards, Cllr Jacqueline Gravett and Sarah Kulwicki (Clerk)
Meeting Commenced at 7:15pm
F1-25/26 Apologies for absence
None.
F2-25/26 To receive any declarations of Interest under the Localism Act 2011 and to consider any requests for dispensations for items on the agenda not previously recorded on member’s register of interests
None.
F3-25/26 To approve as a correct record the notes of the meeting held on 19th November 2024 and to authorise the Chair to sign the official minutes.
The Chair signed the official minutes.
F4-25/26 To appoint an internal auditor
Members present chose to use the previous council internal auditor.
F5-25/26 To review the Asset Register
Members present discussed the asset register; changes were made and will be brought to the next council meeting for approval.
F6-25/26 To review Financial Regulations
No changes have been made to the financial regulations. RECCOMENDED for the council to approve the financial regulations.
F7-25/26 To consider and review the draft budget including any future proposals
Proposed changes
• Clerks expenses to be reduce to 0.00 as not required.
• Employer National insurance to be increase due to the previous rise in contributions and not enough funds being budgeted
• Increase in hall hire fee, to allow for cover of all meetings
• Service rates fee to be increased to meet costs. (unmetered supply)
• Allowance for an increase in insurance due to increase in council assets
• Mobile phone reduced to £130 as minimum needed.
• Membership and subscriptions increased to meet costs.
• Website services of £110.00 as still needed to maximise clerks time.
• Grants S137 and other grants/ donations of £500.00
• Village Hall Wi-Fi, to be removed as no longer required
• Reactive speed signs reduced as no more needed at this time
• Street furniture allowance increased to meet costs
• Christmas budget was decreased to £800 to cover trees and lights
• Village Maintenance and repairs increased
• Hedges and spraying reduced as unused
• Siding up increased as needed for 2026
• Flag replacement set to 0 as not required.
• The watering cost of £250, for possible fill ups and the purchase of bulbs/plants.
• Grass cutting reduced by £600.00 as not as many cuts needed.
• Increase of £3,000.00 for amenity land potential.
• Village map and village projects reduced to 0.00 in ring fenced to cover new lectern costs.
F8-25/26 To consider the provisional Precept for 2026/2027
The provisional precept to be applied for is £38,977.07 compared to last year’s precept of £37,667.47 this will be an increase of 3.5%.
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Summary of Draft Budget & Provisional Precept 2026-2027 |
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Expenditure |
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2026-2027 |
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Code |
Budget |
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Administration |
23,122.00 |
|
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Grants |
500.00 |
|
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Community |
3,500.00 |
|
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Events |
1,900.00 |
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Maintenance |
3,500.00 |
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Grass Cutting |
10,000.00 |
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Amenity Land |
5,000.00 |
|
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SUB TOTAL |
47,522.00 |
|
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Reserves |
2026-2027 |
|
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Emergency Planning |
250.00 |
|
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Staffing Reserve |
1,000.00 |
|
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Church Yard & Wall Contingency |
3,000.00 |
|
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Emergency Tree Surgery |
1,500.00 |
|
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IT Repairs & Replacement Fund |
1,000.00 |
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Village Projects |
0 |
|
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Village Map / Guide |
0 |
|
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Elections |
3,000.00 |
|
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SUB TOTAL |
9,750.00 |
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Income |
2026-2027 |
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Other Income |
3,700.00 |
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Grants |
0.00 |
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|
SUB TOTAL |
3,700.00 |
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PRECEPT |
£38,997.07 |
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F9-25/26 To confirm date of next meetings as:
Full Council Meeting on Tuesday 2ND December 2025 at 7.15pm