SHENSTONE PARISH COUNCIL
Serving Little Aston, Shenstone, Stonnall, Shenstone Wood End, Lynn, Parish Council Office 25C Main Street
Shenstone WS14 OLZ
Tel: 01543 481 947
e-mail: <admin@shenstonepc.pcwpreview.co.uk >
web: www.shenstone-staffs.gov.uk
Approved minutes of the Finance, Legal, Health & Safety Committee meeting on Tuesday Sept 23rd at Shenstone Parish Office
1 Register of Members in attendance
Cllrs David Salter, David Thompson, Lesley Edgley, Phil Whitehouse, Alan Pugh and Dino D’Ambrosio.
2 Acceptance of apologies.
Cllr Simon Fisher.
3 Public Participation.
Members of the public are invited to address Council for a maximum of 15 minutes.
None
4 Declarations of interest. Members should consider whether they should partake in any discussion or vote on matters on the agenda unless they have a dispensation:
None
5 To elect a Chair of the Finance, Legal, Health & Safety Committee.
Cllr Thompson nominated Cllr Edgley & this was unanimously approved.
To consider any nominations for vacant positions on Finance, Legal, Health & Safety Committee. None.
6 To accept Finance, Legal, Health & Safety Committee terms of reference. It was agreed that the terms of reference need a significant refresh.
Cllr Edgley to take forward.
7 To accept and confirm minutes of the last Finance, Legal, Health & Safety Committee meeting on Weds 6th Aug 2025
8 Finance.
Current financial position as of Tuesday 16th Sept 2025.
Transactions for approval
The Clerk shared all data.
2024/25 External audit by Mazars.
Confirmation:
that the review has been concluded and that the statement of accounts has been published on the website.
of the rights of inspection conferred on local government electors by section 25 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014; and
the address at which, and the hours during which, those rights may be exercised
The Clerk shared the Auditors full report and completion letter with all details noted.
Consideration of current financial position against budget and forecast.
The Clerk provided Members with a full breakdown of income and expenditure against forecast. (attached) There was a long discussion re the breakdown of the Nat West Account ring fenced funds which has recently been designated at Council as earmarked funds for Neighbourhood Plan Projects broken down further to match CIL allocation. £32,071.49 in the account, whilst still earmarked for Neighbourhood Plan Projects, is not as yet specifically apportioned.
Cllr Thompson requested a further breakdown of CIL income per capita.
9 Consideration of 2026/27 Precept.
The following recommendations were made:
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That the Planning & Employment Committees need to feed into the budget plans to include costs relating to future use of the Lengthsman, transfer of assets and functions, additional administrative support, potential election costs and additional costs relating to neighbourhood plans.
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Potential costs relating to Local Government Reorganisation.
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Costs relating to the website such as adoption of the redaction policy and associated work.
Link to Budget and Forecast spreadsheet
10 Review and recommendations of the following policies:
Policy Status
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Grant Funding
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Co-option Policy Draft B circulated. Recommendation to Full Council Required.
Risk Management
Draft A attached. Recommends the migration of existing risk capture documents to a standard register. For discussion and review at the meeting
Link top Draft A Risk Management document.
Redaction Policy Draft A attached for review and discussion at the meeting.
Link to Draft A Redaction Policy.
Redaction Index Details the list of published documents that are being redacted.
RECOMMENDATION: Unanimously approved to go to Council for consideration and adoption. Cllr Pugh was widely praised for all the hard work that has gone into these revisions.
11 Consideration of Councillor led grant for St. Peters School, Stonnall peace garden. Approx £692.00
RECOMMENDATION: After some discussion re the absence of some details, clarification of the timing of the application and some suggestions re self-build of a bug house as opposed to purchase it was recommended that the application be resubmitted to Full Council in October once the further detail is established with Cllr Pugh stating that in his view the application had broad support.
12 Consideration of the purchase of bleed kits for all wards: Small £17.00, medium £64.20, Large £96.00.
RESOLUTION: Agreement to purchase in principle but details of exact locations and numbers required for Full Council. Cllr Salter also to pursue provision of three kits from Lichfield District Council.
13 Next meeting of Finance, Legal, Health & Safety Committee Tues Nov 25th at 5.30pm Shenstone Parish Office.
