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EAST BERGHOLT PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE STRATEGY, POLICY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING

20 April 2023

Present – Parish Councillors
Councillor R Elmer
Councillor M Hockley
Councillor J Miller
Councillor G Woodcock

In Attendance
Mr G White, Parish Clerk
No members of the public were present.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
The Committee noted the apologies for absence received from Councillors Roberts.

2. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
None.

3. MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of 26 January 2023 were approved as a correct record.

4. MATTERS ARISING/UPDATES
With reference to the Congregational Church, Councillor Miller reported that the Church had been
requested to assemble the relevant information with regard to its charitable status to enable the
Council to make appropriate preparations for acquisition.

5. BUDGET MONITOR 2022/23
The Clerk presented the spreadsheets showing the financial situation for the financial year 2022/23.
Overall the Council had spent 77% of its budget. The Clerk reported on each committee and explained
overspends and underspends which had occurred and the reasons for them. On the face of it reserves
totalled £313,449.64 but after the deduction of the ring-fenced CIL balance the true balance was
£292,867.96. The Committee noted the report and requested that in 2023/24 the CIL balance be
shown specifically in each quarterly report.

6. POLICY REVIEW – CIL POLICY
Consideration was given to the Assistant Clerk’s report upon the review of the CIL policy conducted by
the Vice-Chairman of the Council and the Assistant Clerk. The CIL Statement and the policies of 2021
and 2022 had been combined into a single new policy. The Committee sought the re-wording of the
fifth bullet point of ‘The Committee’s role’ and the deletion of the seventh bullet point of the guidelines
which the Council will observe. Subject to those amendments the policy was recommended to Council
for approval.

7. CERTIFICATE IN LOCAL COUNCIL ADMI NISTRATION (CiLCA)
The Clerk presented his report which stated that on 10 March 2022 the Council resolved to provide
financial support to the Clerk in undertaking the CiLCA qualification. The course had been successfully
completed and the qualification achieved. A schedule of the Clerk’s own time spent in undertaking the
course was submitted which showed a total of 101 hours. At the relevant hourly rate of £15.30 this
amounted to a sum of £1545.30. It was proposed by Councillor Elmer, seconded by Councillor
Hockley and RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Clerk be congratulated on his achievement and paid
£1545.30 for the work conducted on the course in his own time.

The Chairman proposed that In recognition of the achievement and having regard to the expectation of
the duties arising from the adoption of the general power of competence, the additional staff
responsibilities and the increased workload, with effect from 1 April 2023 the Clerk’s grade be

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advanced from LC 2 (18-23) below substantive benchmark range to LC2 (24-28) substantive
benchmark range commencing at point 24. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Miller and
RESOLVED (unanimously).

8. URGENT COMMUNICATIONS
None.

Chairman…………………………………………………………………………………….Date………………………………………..