Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
Parish councils
Wonder if some of you experts can help me out?
I have started monitoring the spending habits of my parish council.
I think they tend to be a bit free and easy with handing out cash, grants and stuff.
Not that I have a problem with supporting good community stuff that promotes community.
Anyway, the council publish an accounts page in my local posting display box outside the local shops.
I see an entry for over £ 2000 tools, but no explanation of what exactly?
I attended a council meeting and was told it was for cutting equipment for trees trimming?? a bit much for that, I thought.??
So I,,E/ Mailed the clerk for an itemised list of the equipment and copies of the bills of sales.
This was over 4 months ago now, and nothing ..not even given me answers to my other questions I sent them.
I did receive an Acknowledgement of them getting my letter.
Is there a higher appeal body? whats the rules on spending?
it looks a bit strange that a council can just blow over 2K and just say Tools? if I did this to my accountant he would just send it back to me.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
If that had been our Town Council they would have referred you to a PR firm.
Guest 745 likes this
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
bit of a monster parish councils think we could save some cash if we slimed them down a bit
Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,070
Keith,
This link might be helpful:-
https://www.cpalc.org.uk/freedom-of-information-act-and-town-or-parish-councils
I personally have always taken the view that whilst it is nobodies business what I do with my own money IF as a councillor I am spending OTHER PEOPLE'S money, total transparency is required.
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
is it legal to say 2k tools ???
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Great line in that link about Town and Parish clerks being responsible in implementing Council decisions NOT making them.
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,070
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transparency-code-for-smaller-authorities
Quote
'Smaller authorities should publish the details of each individual item of expenditure above £100. Publishing a complete list of expenditure transactions will also meet this requirement. Expenditure information should be published for each individual spending transaction above £100 rather than each item bought'. "We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
I think its over 18 months when they squandered the cash, so probably why they haven't responded to my enquiry.
and they will not tell me how much they have in the bank??? Could be a bit worrying, could be seeing a rate rise?
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
looking at this bob.
if they spend over £100, in one shop on one transaction, they can get away with just saying tools without a full inventory list ?? hardly transparent
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,070
In my experience, and at all levels right up to Parliament, THEY (our elected representatives) will get away with whatever YOU (the electorate) allow them to.
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,875
Captain Haddock wrote:In my experience, and at all levels right up to Parliament, THEY (our elected representatives) will get away with whatever YOU (the electorate) allow them to.
The problems usually only come to light
after they are elected, then we are stuck with them. There is also the problem the there are far to many sheep who keep electing the same people simply because of the party they represent.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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