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CHEPPING WYCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
Finance and General Purposes Committee
Report of the meeting held on Thursday 27 February 2025 at 7.30pm at the Council Office, Cock Lane,
Tylers Green, High Wycombe Bucks HP10 8DS
The meeting was open to members of the public and press
Present: Cllr A Barron – Chairman Cllr J Herschel
Cllr I Forbes – Vice-chairman Cllr R Wilks
Cllr L Willis Cllr C Dodds Cllr H Darch Cllr K Wood
Cllr L Webb Cllr D Johncock (ex-officio)
Also present: Cllr L Johncock
FGP/24/038 Apologies for absence
Late apologies were received and approved from Cllr K Griffiths (work commitment)
FGP/24/039 Declarations of members’ interests in agenda items
There were none.
FGP/24/040 Delegated Action
Members were asked to note that since the last meeting in December the following delegated action had been taken by the Chairman and Clerk.
Replacement Back Office/Account Computer £1,265.00
FGP/24/041 Staff Matters -Absence Report
Members were asked to receive a verbal report from the clerk on the sickness absence of staff since the last committee meeting in December. The clerk advised that one grounds team member had been absent for 5 days due to a chest infection and was now back at work. Another member of the team had been off for two days following eye treatment.
FGP/24/042 Health & Safety Report of any incidents
Members were asked to note that there had been no incidents since the last committee meeting in December. The last notified incident was on 12 November 2024, therefore being incident free for sixty-eight working days as at the date of the agenda being sent out.
FGP/24/043 Investing – CCLA Update
Members were asked to note that transfers had been made into our new account. At the time of agenda circulation £100k had been invested. Regular updates on our investments would be made available.
It was noted that a further £50k had been transferred. The clerk advised that she would be withdrawing a small amount at the beginning of March to check that the system for withdrawing worked.
Members were asked to note the statement from CCLA on Net Zero Asset Managers.
It was noted that Cllr Wood advised that she had joined the CCLA quarterly webinar and would send out the slide deck when it was available.
FGP/24/044 Policies and Procedures
1 Risk Register
Members were asked to note that the Risk Register was currently under substantial revision following receipt of a Risk Register template from our insurers. The insurers model has more formalised grouping and items that the insurance company would expect to find in the case of an incident/claim.
A working party was set up comprising of Cllr Barron, Cllr Darch, Cllr Herschel, Cllr Wood and Cllr Forbes to progress the amalgamation of the two registers. Progress to be brought back to committee in October.
2 Resilience Plan
Members were asked to note the report from the last Resilience Plan meeting. Cllr D Johncock gave an overview on the rationale and starting point of the Plan, which was – what are the risks to our parish? It was highlighted that the Plan was still in draft, so members were encouraged to make suggestions and send any amendments/additions to Cllr D Johncock.
Members were then asked to consider the draft Resilience Plan with a view to recommending to full Council for approval. It was noted that the Plan once approved would be reviewed on an annual basis.
It was RESOLVED that;
The Resilience Plan with revisions be taken to the next full Council for approval.
FGP/24/045 Grants
Members were asked to note that the budget for the current financial year had been fully committed and that no further applications had been received to date
Members were asked to note that £20,000 had been allocated for Grants in the new financial year 2025/26.
FGP/24/046 Recruitment
Members were asked to note that an advertisement had been placed with the Bucks Free Press at the beginning of January. However, we had not received any formal applications. The clerk was exploring other options to find a replacement for the Deputy Clerk ad would keep the committee appraised.
FGP/24/047 Publicity
Members were asked to note that to date only six articles had been received hence the delay in
circulation.
It was noted that Cllr Johncock offered to produce an article on Resilience once the Plan had been approved. Cllr Forbes offered an article on Rights of Way and Cllr Wood would write an article on the Penn & Tylers Green Expo. It was agreed that the publication would not go out until May.
FGP/24/048 Re-Appointment of Internal Auditor
Council was asked to consider recommending the re-appointment of Mr E Newhouse as Internal Auditor for the financial year 2024/25, being a competent and independent person.
It was RESOLVED that;
Mr E Newhouse be re-appointed as Internal Auditor for the financial year 2024/25.
FGP/24/049 Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG)
Members were asked to note that the most recent meeting was held on 25 February 2025 at the
Tylers Green Village Hall. Cllr D Johncock advised that our area TVP cover was now officially coming
from Taplow.
FGP/24/050 Budget
1 Committee Finances (Period 10) January
Members were asked to note the summary of income and expenditure by committee. It was noted
that the interest received to date was higher than anticipated.
2 Council Finances (Period 10) January
Members were asked to note the summary of the Council’s financial position.
It was noted that for ease of understanding the Earmarked Reserves would be omitted from this report in future.
3 Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
Members were asked to note that the budget line for CIL currently stands at £53,854.78. These
funds are to be used for community benefit and need to be spent within a timeframe as below:
£14,112.23 2025/26
£31,767.33 2026/27
£7,975.22 2027/28
FGP/24/051 Questions from council members and the public
There were no questions.
FGP/24/052 Accounts for Payment
Accounts for payment were circulated at the meeting for consideration by councillors.
It was RESOLVED that;
the accounts for payment be approved and cheques numbered 11422 to 11425 be signed and that direct debits to Barclays, Barclaycard, Clear Business, Castle Water, HMRC, NEST, Peninsula Business Services and SSE along with Bank Transfers to Core Geotechnics Ltd, A Ellis Tree Surgery, Health Assured, Newco Electrical, Origin Amenity Solutions, Rhino Play (SW) Ltd and SparkX Ltd also be approved for payment.
The chairman thanked members for their attendance and closed the meeting at 8.22pm
Date and time of next meeting: Thursday 17 April 2025 @7.30pm
Signed: Dated: 13 March 2025