Monthly Archives: September 2018

Job Vacancy: Monxton Parish Council Clerk

by Monxton Matters

Monxton Parish Council Clerk/RFO (Responsible Financial Officer)

From 1st November 2018, there is a vacancy for a Clerk and RFO to Monxton Parish Council.  This is a part-time job and the applicant should be local to Monxton, with the hours and salary being negotiable.  Applicants should have experience as a parish clerk and financial officer with a CILCA- Certificate in local council administration.

Applications to be made in writing to Cllr Mike Cleugh, Chairman, Monxton Parish Council – mikecleugh@hotmail.com

Job Description – Clerk

  1. Attend quarterly meetings of the Council, including the AGM.
  2. Issue notices and prepare agendas and minutes for the AGM and other meetings of the parish.
  3. Be responsible for the preparation and circulation of relevant working papers for meetings and the publication of draft minutes for approval by the Council.
  4. Receive and manage correspondence and documents on behalf of the Council, bringing such items to the attention of the Council and to issue correspondence in accordance with legislation.
  5. Prepare, in consultation with a designated Council Member, press releases relating to the activities and decisions of the Council.
  6. To ensure that statutory and other provisions affecting the running of the Council are observed.
  7. Ensure that there are adequate procedures for the archiving, storage and retrieval of documents for statutory purposes and public inspection.
  8. Obtaining quotes for insurance and other services and relevant grant details that are available to the parish.
  9. To ensure that the Council’s obligations for risk assessment and management are met.
  10. Keep Notice Board up to date with details of notices including Elections and By-elections

Job Description – RFO (Responsible Financial Officer)

The overall responsibilities are for the maintenance of the proper financial records of the Council and for the prudent management and administration of its funds and finances.

  1. To maintain an adequate system of bookkeeping so as to define the current income and expenditure of the Council, and the Council’s assets and liabilities.
  2. To reconcile the balances held by the Council, shown by the books of account and by bank statements
  3. To maintain cover and records for the payment of staff remuneration, including administration of Income Tax and National Insurance, and preparation of all year-end returns and statements required by HMRC.
  4. To maintain appropriate records relating to VAT, and to make proper Returns to and/or reclaims of VAT from Customs and Excise.
  5. To prepare annual accounts for approval by the Council.
  6. To meet the Council’s statutory obligations for annual internal and external audit of the Council’s accounts.
  7. To prepare draft annual Budget and Precept proposals for consideration and approval by the Council and to facilitate the adoption of agreed Budgets and Precepts by 31st January in each year.
  8. To maintain records for future movements of funds in relation to the setting by the Council of future Budgets and Precepts.
  9. To receive and report on invoices for goods and services to be paid for by the Council and to ensure such accounts are paid.
  10. To issue invoices on behalf of the Council for goods and services provided by the Council, and to ensure that payment is received.

 

Monxton & Amport Village Hall Survey: Your community needs your opinion…….

by Monxton Matters

This is the final call for the Monxton & Amport Village Hall survey which has been open since the start of July 2018. It will officially close in just over 3 weeks on Tuesday 16th October (over 3 1/2 months of consultation using the Parish News, Facebook, village websites, stand at the Amport & Monxton Village Fete in July, Hall consultations…)

We have had nearly 170 responses and the results so far have been summarised in the link here – Monxton Amport Village Hall Survey results – so far…

If you have not already done so, please spare 5 minutes of your time to complete the survey

Thank you for your opinion.

The Village Hall Committee

Click here to see the Monxton Amport Village Hall Survey results – so far…

Playground Refurbishment Project on Amport Green

by Monxton Matters

For some time now, there has been growing interest from across our community to see the refurbishment of the playground on Amport Green. It is not only looking tired, but some of the equipment is no longer fit for purpose and ultimately there is a strong feeling that the existing equipment is not adequate for an increase of younger families and children within our villages. As such a small committee has been established, working in conjunction with Amport Parish Council, to carefully consider and seek funding for a more appropriate collection of equipment within the playground.

In consultation with Fawns, one of the UK’s leading playground equipment providers, the committee has consciously considered the overall look & feel and spread of equipment within our playground in order to provide adequate and appropriate equipment for toddlers; Key Stage 1 (4-7 years) & Key Stage 2 (8-13 yrs) children. Importantly they have looked to retain any key pieces of useable equipment, replacing older items with more updated designs as well as adding a few new pieces of equipment. The new additions include three picnic tables, the jungle trail (developing agility and coordination amongst children) and small wooden shelter. The small shelter is an open, circular, wooden structure which offers villagers a place to meet in company on the green, protected from rain or providing shade and on occasion it would also be used by Amport School as a place for outdoor learning.

Amport Parish Council & the Playground Refurbishment Committee are incredibly excited about the new plans. We have already sourced funding from a combination of local sources and grants, so this project can finally be realised. We hope you are also pleased with the layout and choice of equipment. It is important to note (and as the plan illustrates) all the equipment will sit within the existing tree-lined area on Amport Green, it will not encroach on the Green any further, allowing us all to enjoy its full use and potential as we already do.

Should you have any questions, please get in touch before Monday 8th October.

Ian Long (Chair of Amport Parish Council): ijkmlong@gmail.com
Jonny Kitson: (Amport Parish Council / Playground Refurbishment Committee)
Gemma Pearce (Playground Refurbishment Committee):  gemmapearce@me.com

Scamnesty

by djamescdr

Monxton Neighbourhood Watch
David James
01264 710049 djamescdr@gmail.com

19 September 2018

As nobody else seems to want to take on the job of Neighbourhood Watch coordinator, and as I now have some time, I thought I would try and take up where I left off.

This has also been prompted by the increase in fraudulent activity being visited on our community, a number of instances of which have been reported to me. For this reason I hope that the latest Police initiative will interest you.

From now until Christmas, the Office of the Police Crime Commissioner is running a Fraud Scamnesty campaign. Targeting the older and vulnerable members of our communities in particular, it encourages people to report scams, provides advice on how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud, and aims to raise awareness of the financial and emotional impact that fraud can have on victims.

In partnership with Hampshire Constabulary colleagues and Neighbourhood Watch, members of the team will be at a number of Fraud Roadshow events across the Hampshire policing area and will support those working with older and vulnerable people in spotting the signs and providing the right help and advice. Scamnesty boxes have also been placed in libraries and Citizens Advice Bureaus to allow people to post details of scams that they have received, anonymously if they so wish, which will then be used for further analysis.

A full list of participating libraries and CABs as well as a list of roadshow events can be found on the PCC website: http://www.hampshire-pcc.gov.uk/scamnesty
For those unable to access the link to the website the Friday Fraud Roadshow will be at Tesco in Andover on 26th October from 09.30 to 15.30.

I am available if anyone needs advice, please note change of email address.

David James

Manor Farm, Abbotts Ann Update – 13 September

by Monxton Matters

COME ALONG AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR FINDING A SOLUTION TO STOPPING LORRIES IN OUR VILLAGES

PUBLIC EXHIBITION 13th Sep 2018

7:30pm – 8:30pm

Venue: Abbotts Ann War Memorial Hall

Held by the owners of Manor Farm to give local residents the opportunity to discuss and share views on the potential change of use to residential housing at the Manor Farm site, in view of addressing the transport problems.

Another opportunity to give us feedback following the presentation held in Monxton in April.

We welcome everyone to come along and discuss this with us and give us your feedback and support.

Click here to see the Manor Farm Brochure

We look forward to seeing you!