The funding for the Parish Council is allocated by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and is taken from the council tax- this is called the Annual Precept.
The income and expenditure for the next financial year are calculated in the form of estimates and this is added to the local council tax and paid to the parish in two instalments.
Parish Councils are also eligible to seek UK grants and funding and EU money as is appropriate.
The money is to fund the spending on the Parish Council on local amenities and activities without having to seek permission from any other authority.
All our Councillors are volunteers and receive no remuneration for their time or service.
By law any person interested has the right to inspect a parish councils accounts. If you are entitled and registered to vote in local council elections then you also have the right to ask the appointed auditor questions about the council’s accounts or object to an item of account within them.
The auditor does not have to answer questions about the council’s policies, finances, procedures or anything else not related to the accounts. Your question must be about the accounts for the financial year just ended. The auditor does not have to say whether they think something the council has done, or an item in its accounts, is lawful or reasonable.
Annual Return Information
Each year the Council’s annual return is audited by an external auditor appointed by the Audit Commission. Any local elector in the area of Checkley Parish has the opportunity to inspect and make copies of the Annual Return and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts etc. relating to them.
Annual Return for the year end 31st March 2023
Bank Reconciliation at 31st March 2023
Explanation of Variances 31st March 2023
Policies and Governance
Parish Councils were established as the first tier of local government in 1894 to take over local oversight of civic duties in rural towns and villages. The rules governing the behaviour of Parish Councillors are set out in the Code of Conduct produced by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) and adopted by the Parish Council. Parish Councillors work to rules on how business is conducted, as set out in the Standing Orders and the Financial Regulations.
Annual Christmas Lights Switch on Risk Assessment – Reviewed June 2021
Cemetery Risk Assessment – Reviewed February 2023
Climate Change Response – Reviewed February 2023
Code of Conduct – Reviewed Nationally
Death of a Senior National Figure Protocol – National protocol adopted by CPC March 2021 – Reviewed Nationally
General Finances and Process Risk Assessment – Reviewed December 2022
Grant Policy – Adopted September 2020 & Reviewed February 2023
Financial Regulations – (Based on NALC Model) Adopted by the Council 18th April 2017 – Reviewed February 2023
Freedom of Information Policy – Adopted September 2020 & Reviewed February 2023
Health and Safety Policy – Adopted September 2020 & Reviewed February 2023
Media Policy – Adopted 9th July 2019 & Reviewed February 2023
Memorial Bench Policy – Adopted by the Council 18th June 2019 & Reviewed February 2023
Privacy Policy – Reviewed February 2023
Recording of Meetings Policy – Adopted by the Council 9th July 2019 and Reviewed February 2023
Recreation Ground, Play Areas, Football Pitch and Green Space Risk Assessment – Adopted September 2020 & Reviewed February 2023
Retention of Documents Policy – Adopted September 2020 & Reviewed February 2023
Social Media Policy – Adopted by the Council 16th April 2019
Standing Orders – Reviewed December 2022
Website Accessibility Statement – Adopted by the Council 21st July 2020
Wentlows Changing Rooms Policy – Adopted by the Council 15th September 2020, Reviewed February 2023