Minutes
Minutes of the ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING held on Wednesday 12th May 2021 at 7.30pm in The Mountfitchet Exchange, Crafton Green, 72 Chapel Hill, Stansted, Essex.
PRESENT
Cllr M Caton (Chairman), Cllrs A Barnes, P Davies, J Hogg, J Hudson, M Jessup, J Kavanagh, A Khan, J O’Brien, F Richards, G Sell and D Wallace-Jarvis
ATTENDING
Mrs Ruth Clifford – Clerk
Mrs Emma Philbrick – Trainee Deputy Clerk
Mrs Laila Azure-Marxen (via Zoom) – Committee and Project Support Officer
Cty Cllr Ray Gooding (via Zoom)
1 member of the press (via Zoom)
3 members of the public (via Zoom)
1 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – None
2 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
Cllr O’Brien proposed Cllr Caton for the position of Chairman, seconded by Cllr Richards and with no other nominations, it was unanimously
RESOLVED that Cllr Maureen Caton be elected as Chairman for the Civic Year 2021/22
3 ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
Cllr O’Brien proposed Cllr Richards be elected Vice-Chairman, seconded by Cllr Hogg and with no other nominations, it was unanimously
RESOLVED that Cllr Richards be elected as Vice-Chairman for the Civic Year 2021/22
4 APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Brett due to a prior engagement and District Cllr Melvin Caton
5 TO APPOINT THE COUNCIL’S INTERNAL AUIDTOR – CURRENTLY RBS AUDITING SOLUTIONS
Having been proposed by Cllr O’Brien and seconded by Cllr Sell it was unanimously
RESOLVED to continue with RBS Auditing Solutions for the year 2021/22
6 TO APPOINT THE FOLLOWING STANDING COMMITTEES, SUB COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS
Details of the appointments can be found on the attached list.
7 APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODES
- a) Stansted Trust Funds – Christine Stiles and Margaret Hill
- b) Stansted & Birchanger Relief in Sickness Charity – Cllr Richards
- c) Public Transport Representative – Joy and Richard Thomas
- d) Link Committee – Cllr Sell
- e) Stansted Airport Watch (formerly) Stop Stansted Expansion) – Cllr Hogg
8 REVIEW OF STANDING ORDERS, FINANCIAL REGULATIONS, INVESTMENT POLICY AND ASSETS REGISTER
Standing Orders – Amendments had been sent to members prior to the meeting. There was one query with regards to an amendment that the Model NALC Document about which the office had sought legal advice from EALC. It was agreed to defer adoption of the standing orders until the response had been received.
Financial Regulations – As no amendments had been notified since the last review and having been proposed by Cllr O’Brien and seconded by Cllr Caton it was unanimously
RESOLVED To adopt the Financial Regulations for the Civic Year 2021/22
Investment Policy – Amendments to the review dates were agreed and having been proposed by Cllr O’Brien and seconded by Cllr Richards it was unanimously
RESOLVED To adopt the Investment Policy for the Civic Year 2021/22
Assets Register – The updated Asset Register had been circulated prior to the meeting. The Clerk would confirm the figure for the Mountfitchet Exchange valuation once the year end accounts had been completed by the accountants. Having been proposed by Cllr O’Brien and seconded by Cllr Sell it was unanimously
RESOLVED To approve the Asset Register dated 10th May 2021
9 TO RESOLVE THE COUNCIL CONTINUES TO MEET THE CONDITIONS OF THE POWER OF GENERAL COMPETENCE
It was unanimously resolved that the Council continues to meet the conditions of the Power of General Competence.
10 TO INSPECT THE DEEDS, TRUST INSTRUMENTS AND INVENTORY HELD BY THE COUNCIL
The Clerk advised that all documents were in the fire-proof box should anyone wish to inspect them.
11 TO REVIEW THE REGISTER OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
The Clerk gave a polite reminder that if anyone had any changes then they needed to complete a new form which the Parish Council would register on their behalf with UDC.
Meeting closed at 7.48pm