Introduction by the Clerk – Neil King

Report of the Chairman – Councillor Paul Dodsworth

Draft Annual Accounts

           

Introduction

Dear Parishioners

It is with great pleasure that I introduce this annual report for the municipal year 2007/08.  This has been my second year as Clerk, in what has been a very busy year.  I am pleased to report that the Parish Council is continually evolving and ensuring that it will be in a position to take on an increased role in the community when the opportunity arises. 

 

We have been very busy in continuing to put together the many building blocks that are needed to meet our aspiration to seek “Quality Parish Council Status” in the future.  With this in mind I have personally been attending mentoring sessions that will help me put together my portfolio for the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiCLA) that is a requirement of the quality council scheme.

 

Report of the Chairman

Dear Parishioners,

This has been my first year as Chairman of the Parish Council following the elections in May 2007.  At the election we lost Five long standing experienced Councillors, I would like to pass on my personal thanks along with the thanks and appreciation of the Parish Council and the local community for the contribution of these Councillors.

 

The new Councillors have taken on their new role with great enthusiasm, undertaking training sessions along side existing Councillors to improve their knowledge and ability to carry out the role of a Councillor.

 

The Parish introduced a new code of conduct for Councillors amending our standing orders to ensure we are responsive to modern local government requirements.

 

This year has proved to be a very busy and exciting year for the Parish Council. Working in partnership with Coxhoe Together, Quarrington Hill Village Partnership, Durham City and Durham County Council.

 

Alongside our legal obligations a sizable amount of time and energy has gone into the delivery of the Parish Plan which is now some 4 years old.

 

The priorities highlighted in your Parish Plan have remained the focus of the Parish Council and whilst at times frustratingly slow to come to fruition significant progress has been made.

 

Traffic management works have been carried out in both Coxhoe and Quarrington Hill, further substantial works to the Avenue and West Parade subject to a positive public consultation will soon have schemes in a place that will be of great benefit to the area.  Further works will be carried out in Quarrington Hill during the course of 2008. The total joint investment by the Parish and County Councils on road safety in the parish will reach £123,000, much higher than any other parish in the County! We are also investigating vehicle activated speed flashing signs, to make cars etc travelling through the villages aware of the speed limit.  In addition, there has been considerable investment on the limestone links project.

 

Throughout the year we have striven to communicate our progress with monthly updates in the Coxhoe Chronicle and Quarrington Hill Partnership Newsletter, The Parish Newsletter, The Parish Website and Notice Boards. My thanks to all those who give their time in the production of these items.

 

The Parish Council continues to work closely with the Police on matters of Community Safety and Crime.

 

A number of village major improvements are planned, particularly around the Front Street in Coxhoe, and recently were displayed in the Village Hall for your consideration/ comment thanks for all those who attended and passed comment. The results are currently being compiled.

 

Financially this has been a difficult year for the Parish Council in terms of simply balancing the books. Appreciating the limited funds available we had planned to borrow monies in order to fund some of the schemes which had been highlighted in the Parish Plan. However due to the sterling efforts of our partners already mentioned in my report, the Parish Council have been able to access funding the need to borrow money has been avoided.

 

I feel sure you will agree that the floral display in the villages has again been excellent. The public rights of way for which we are responsible have been well maintained and improved. The Churchyard grass cutting has further improved. Our new contractor has provided an excellent service for which we thank him.

 

Village Entrance Stones have been provided for Quarrington Hill.  Signs for Coxhoe are soon to arrive. An application for funding was made by Coxhoe Together and secured.

 

The Parish Council will continue to serve you well in the future as we progress toward “Quality Parish Council Status”. Quality status is designed to provide benchmark standards and enable Councils to better represent the community they serve. One of the benefits of gaining this status will be that, in proportion to size and skills, the Parish Council would be able to undertake services previously undertaken by the principle Authorities, thereby making services more responsive to local needs.

 

With the introduction of the New Unitary Authority in Durham County next year, it is highly probable that the extra powers will be passed down to Parish Councils. Securing Quality Status will ensure we are in a position to be able to take advantage of these opportunities.

           

The setting of the Budget for 2008/09 was an extremely difficult process as we continue to try and carry out projects determined by the Parish Plan

.

We all appreciate that this recent rise in precept whilst in percentage terms appears significant; in real terms for a Band A property this represents a rise of 5p per week, ie about the cost of on pint of beer per year!. On average across the Parish Councils in Durham City the average rise was 10.75%.

 

Believe me the Council gave this matter a lot of consideration prior to setting the Budget. The villages’ appetite for improvement must be funded from somewhere.

 

The Parish continue to support local organisations with donations and contributions. Citizen Advice Bureau outreach service is funded by the Parish and has been well attended by both villages.

 

Parish meetings are at 6:45pm every second Tuesday of every month. Members of the public are welcome to attend any of these meetings and ask questions of their local Councillors on issues that are on the agenda. It is disappointing that few members of the public choose to attend.

 

I personally would like to thank Councillor Stuart Dunn who has deputised for me on a number of occasions due to my work commitments; Fellow Councillors for all their hard work and valuable contributions each month; Neil King, our Clerk, who has worked hard to bring the Parish Council up to date and to put in place the procedures to move forward.

 

I have purposefully throughout my report emphasised the need for Partnership working. To put this into perspective between Coxhoe and Quarrington Hill there is in excess of £550,000.00 of investment and improvements, which would not have been realised but for our partners.

 

I would encourage people to participate in these organisations in order to assist the people who work selflessly for the community both in voluntary groups and individually. Coxhoe Together meets in the Lansdowne Community Room on the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm. Quarrington Hill Village Partnership meets on the last Wednesday of the month at 7:15pm in the Resource Centre at Quarrington Hill.

 

 

Paul Dodsworth

Chairman of Coxhoe Parish Council

 

 

 These are draft accounts prepared at the 31st March 2008 and will be subject to Audit both internally and externally.

2006/07 Actual

Activity

Receipts and Payments 2007/08

£

 

£

Calculation of Income

 

27200.00

Precept

28000.00

106.58

Interest on Investments

312.64

422.69

Allotment Rents

386.29

0.00

Planters Refund

1399.43

200.00

Amount Received in Error

0.00

140.00

Bank fees refunded

0.00

810.00

Home Front Recall

0.00

6614.05

Grants & Contributions

1573.00

2300.00

Cemeteries

2300.00

5865.37

VAT Reclaimed

1846.91

43658.69

 

35818.27

 

 

 

Calculation of Expenditure

 

9770.18

General Admin

8118.58

5159.00

Misc

0.00

0.00

Public Buildings Inc. Grants

2215.40

1300.00

Home Front Recall

0.00

1390.00

CAB - Service Charge

906.00

14173.00

Cemeteries

3060.00

968.70

Allotments/Gardens

1881.00

10824.40

Highways Inc. Floral  Decorations

5758.00

380.10

Open spaces

0.00

1510.00

Newsletter/Printing

933.00

2629.00

S 137 Exp

350.50

3799.48

VAT Recoverable

1619.56

51903.86

 

24842.04

 

CUMULATIVE FUND

 

 

£

BALANCE B/FWD 1st APRIL 2007

 

15075.08

 

 

 

 

ADD TOTAL INCOME

 

 

35818.27

 

 

 

50893.35

LESS TOTAL EXPENDITURE

 

24842.04

 

 

 

 

BALANCE C/FWD 31st MARCH 2008

 

26051.31

 

Whilst the balance on the accounts looks healthy, the majority of these funds are already committed to schemes already agreed for traffic management works.  Unfortunately, whilst unforeseen delays have meant that the works could not be carried out last year they are expected to be completed very soon.  These works were fully accounted for in the budget prepared for 2008/09.  A small reserve is set aside for any unforeseen expenditure.  Further details on the accounts will be available at the time of audit.