6th May 2026 Annual Meeting of the Council
SCOTHERN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Scothern Parish Council,
held in Scothern Methodist Chapel, 6th May 2026 at 7.30pm
Present: Barnaby Patchett (Chair), Robert Creaser, Jackie Atkins, Sian Watt Jones
Not Present: Cllrs Jane Johnson, Derek Canton, Mark Unwin
In attendance: Lisa Brooks-Sleight (clerk), LCC Cllr Jane Smith & a resident
63/2026 To Elect a Chair and obtain signature of Declaration of Acceptance of Office. Cllr Jane Johnson was proposed &
seconded, approved. Resolved – Cllr Johnson to sign the declaration at the next meeting
64/2026 To Elect a Vice-Chair. Cllr B Patchett was proposed & seconded, approved. Resolved
65/2026 Apologies for Absence Apologies were received from Cllr Johnson, D Canton & M Unwin with reason accepted.
66/2026 Declarations of Interest - To record declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and
consider any requests for dispensation for any listed agenda items. None received
67/2026 To review & approve Financial Regulations approved unchanged, proposed & seconded. Resolved
68/2026 To review & approve Standing Orders approved unchanged, proposed & seconded. Resolved
69/2025 To review & approve Data Breach Policy approved unchanged, proposed & seconded. Resolved
70/2025 To review & approve Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures approved unchanged, proposed & seconded. Resolved
71/2025 To review & approve Data Protection Policy approved unchanged, proposed & seconded. Resolved
72/2026 To review & approve Equality and Diversity Policy approved unchanged, proposed & seconded. Resolved
73/2026 To review & approve Publication Scheme approved unchanged, proposed & seconded. Resolved
74/2026 To review & approve Councillor & Employee Protocol approved unchanged, proposed & seconded. Resolved
75/2026 To review & approve Safeguarding Policy approved unchanged, proposed & seconded. Resolved
76/2026 To review & update the Councillor allowances, travel and subsistence. Approved, proposed & seconded. Resolved
77/2026 To review & approve the Sexual and General Harassment Policy & Procedure approved unchanged, proposed &
seconded. Resolved
78/2026 To approve the 2025/26 CIL Report – proposed & seconded, Resolved
79/2026 To review & approve Subject Access Request Procedure approved unchanged, proposed & seconded. Resolved
80/2026 To review & approve Handling Complaints Policy approved unchanged, proposed & seconded. Resolved
81/2026 To review & approve Records Retention Policy approved unchanged, proposed & seconded. Resolved
82/2026 To review & approve Risk Assessment Policy 2027 – to be added to June meeting agenda
83/2026 To review & approve Social Media and Electronic Communications Policy approved unchanged, proposed &
seconded. Resolved
84/2026 To review & approve the Health & Safety Policy approved unchanged, proposed & seconded. Resolved
85/2026 To review & approve Training and Development Policy approved unchanged, proposed & seconded. Resolved
86/2026 To review & approve a Media/Press Policy approved unchanged, proposed & seconded. Resolved
87/2026 To review & approve the annual insurance arrangements and receive quotes. Quotes for 1 year and 3-year LTA
were reviewed & discussed, approved to accept 3-year LTA with Zurich. Proposed, seconded & approved, Resolved
88/2026 To receive and approve the End of Year 31st March 2026 Accounts & Bank Reconciliation – proposed, seconded &
approved. Resolved
89/2026 AGAR 2025/26
a. Section 1 – Annual Governance Statement 2025/26 – Completed & approved. Proposed & seconded & signed
b. Section 2 – Accounting Statements 2025/26 – proposed, seconded, approved & signed
c. To confirm the dates of the Notice of Public Rights and Publication of Unaudited Annual Governance & Accountability Return – Wednesday 3rd June 2026 -Tuesday 14th July 2025 – noted & confirmed
90/2026 Internal Auditors Report 2025/26
a. To receive and note any comments from the Internal auditor’s report and checklist – 29th April 2026 received & noted
b. To receive the AGAR Annual Internal Auditors Report 2025/26 for the External Auditors – received & noted
91/2026 To appoint the Internal Auditor for 2026/27 – 2-year agreement with LALC Internal Audit scheme approved
92/2026 To review & approve 4x Banking signatories. Reviewed with Cllr Johnson, Patchett, Creaser & Canton approved.
Proposed & seconded Resolved
93/2026 To approve the monthly direct debits – Lloyds monthly fee, Tesco monthly mobile & ico yearly Data Protection fee
approved. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
94/2026 To review & approve Scothern News printers and cost – Pelican Trust monthly printing fee increase approved,
Proposed & seconded, Resolved
95/2025 To confirm all members agree to receive their summons by email and have updated their Register of Interest
Forms if required – all members present confirmed
96/2025 To appoint council representatives for
Speed Watch – Cllrs Creaser & Canton,
HR Group – Cllrs Johnson, Canton & Patchett,
Grange Park group – Cllr Unwin,
Play Park Monthly Inspections – Cllr Atkins,
Scothern Recreation Centre – Cllr Johnson,
Police matters – Cllr Canton and
Village Maintenance – Cllrs Creaser & Watt Jones.
Proposed, seconded & approved. Resolved
The Chair closed the meeting at 7.55pm