Church Minshull Parish Council

Heathfield

Whitchurch Road

Bunbury Heath

Nr Tarporley

CW6 9SX

Tel: 07778 451886

Email: .

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DRAFT

Your Ref: MBT/EP/2015/B1/CHUR16

Contacts: Louise Caplen/Emma Prince

20 May 2015

Mrs E Prince

Senior Manager

BDO

Arcadia House

Maritime Walk

Ocean Village

Southampton

SO14 3TL

Dear Mrs Prince

CHURCH MINSHULL PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL AUDIT

YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2015

Further to your notice letter of 18th March 2015, may I firstly draw your attention to Appendix 2 “change of clerk” and note the new clerk details as of February 2015.

Bank Reconciliation

Total cash and investments at 31.03.15 £12,877

Current Account £ 8,515

Deposit Account £ 4,361

Explanation of Quantified Significant Variances

Box 2 Annual Precept 2013/14 2014/15

Annual Precept £ 2,314 £ 4,638

Contd.

The significant variance in annual precept (Box 2) is as a result of expenditure exceeding income and the Council having to draw on reserves to cover more activities in the Parish. The precept was benchmarked against similar sized Parishes in the area and an increase to £4638pa was applied for based on the benchmark data and the number of Parishioners in the village.

Box 3 Other Receipts

2013/14 2014/15

Parish Compact £ 1,150.00 £ 1,150.00

Bank Interest £ 3.05 £ 2.30

Borough Council Support Grant £ 186.00 £ 162.00

VAT Refund £ 316.65 £ 299.24

Specific Grants

The variance in Bank Interest is due to a reduction in capital reserves over the year.

Box 6 Other Payments

2013/14 2014/15

All Other Payments £ 3,427 £ 3,528

The significant increase in other payments was attributed to the following:-

Mini Bus Hire £ 130.00

Church Minshull Parish Council were nominated and subsequently awarded the Cheshire Pride Competition 2014 – Community Spirit Winner. The £130.00 expenditure was expenses for mini bus hire to transport the nominees and supporting councillors to the Awards Ceremony.

Relevant Information - Earmarked Reserves

As at 31st March 2015 the Council continued to hold earmarked reserves for environmental work in the area and to support local organisations in the village. In year 2014/15 donations were made to Church Minshull Village Hall and also to the funds required to repair the St Bartholomew’s Church roof. The reserves will support capital issues in the village in future such as SUMBA and the Bluebell Walk.

Contd.

Annual Business

The Council has carried out the following on an annual basis:-

Appointment of RFO

Risk Assessment

Review of Effectiveness of Internal Audit

Review of Standing Orders

Appointment of Internal Auditor

Review of Balances

The Council has no fixed assets. No register is therefore required.

The Council has considered the level of fidelity cover taking into consideration the level of funds held and is of the view that the level held is appropriate given the Council’s control of expenditure.

I hope the above completes the information required for External Audit.

Yours sincerely

Sandie McBennett

Clerk to Church Minshull Parish Council

Enclosed

Annual Return 2014/15

Appendix 2 – Change of Clerk

Bank Reconciliation

Appendix 4 Checklist

Copy of Issues Raised by BDO 2013/14 Audit

Minutes of Meeting Dealing with Non-Compliance

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Church Minshull Parish Council: Sandie McBennett - Clerk

Cllr. Dave Wallis – Chairman, Cllr. Larry Bannon Vice – Chairman, Cllr. Jeanne Stockdale,

Cllr. Brian Charlesworth, Cllr. Kerry Bannon, Cllr. Chris Challoner, Cllr. Meikle Carss