Committees
Great Boughton Parish Council > Committees

Committees

Great Boughton Parish Council has established four Committees to drive forward actions and manage the council resources legally and efficiently.

  • Governance Committee
  • Resources Committee (formerly known as Service Support)
  • Service Delivery Committee
  • Staffing Committee

The Committees will have delegated powers and are managed in the same way as the full Parish Council Meetings – the agenda and minutes will be public and residents are invited to attend.

The Clerk sets the agenda and dates of the Committees and, if necessary and after consultation with committee members, may cancel or postpone a meeting or may call an extra meeting face to face.

The structure has been established in line with the EVR Sustainable Management Model of Environment, Resources and Values. The E-V-R Congruence Concept

Expectation of Councillors

  1. It is hoped that Parish Councillors will sit on one Committee and make every effort to attend meetings where possible. Apologies and reasons should be sent to the Clerk at least one day in advance of the meeting date.
  • Councillors are expected to take responsibility for their actions and act upon them in the agreed timescale.
  • Councillors attending the meetings asked to respect confidentiality rules where these apply.
  • The Committee will operate in an open and respectful environment where everyone has an opportunity to contribute.
  • The Chair of each group will meet as an emergency Executive if the need ever arises eg. Covid shutdowns, fire, flood

Conduct of Meetings

  • All meetings of the Committees shall be public meetings, convened in accordance with the Parish Council’s standing orders.
  • Meetings will be minuted by the Clerk to the Council, another member of staff or a member of the Committee
  • Only elected or co-opted Parish Council members of each sub-group can vote in the Committee however, the council can invite local residents to join as non voting members.
  • All Committees will have delegated decision making powers and delegated spending limits of £1,000

Review arrangements

The Committee’s responsibilities and their operation should be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure their effective operation. Appointments to the Committees will be considered at the Annual Council Meeting who may decide to alter or dissolve the Committees as required.

Each Committee will have delegated powers to spend up to £1000 at any one time from their allocated budgets and will meet 3 monthly, with the full parish council acting as the Scrutiny Board and meeting monthly.

 

Terms of Reference:

 

Service Delivery

Purpose: To plan, oversee and administer the services offered to and in support of our Community

Key responsibilities

  • To ensure long term financial sustainability for Vicars Cross Community Centre and to support the Vicars Cross Community Centre Manager in running the Centre through activities, meetings and general improvements
  • Provide hands on support for the running and maintenance of Vicars Cross Community Centre
  • Provide a reporting and monitoring function to the parish council members of the Caldy Valley Joint Management Committee (the JMC)
  • To develop and lobby to enhance the existing walking and cycling infrastructure in the area and promote safer routes to school and improvements to public travel.
  • Establish and run Parish wide events and promote other relevant events occurring within the parish or events that may be of interest that are outside the area.
  • Monitor and review all forms of communications by the Parish Council, including website, social media, newsletters, and press releases.

Membership

Membership will consist of Councillors from Great Boughton Parish Council. The Committee also may co-opt members of the community to add expertise to the group.

For reporting purposes, The committee will include at least one members of the parish council who sit on the JMC.

The Vicars Cross Community Centre manager will attend the Committee meetings and the Caldy Valley Neighbourhood Centre manager will also be invited.

Frequency of meetings

Meetings will be as per attached schedule with actions progressed /delivered between meetings.

Correspondence between meetings to update on progress of actions may occur via email as well as task and finish groups on particular actions, however NO decisions can be made via email.

 

Resources Committee 

(Formerly known as Service Support Committee and latterly Strategic Resources Committee)

Purpose: To oversee and administer the Councils resources

Key responsibilities

  • To ensure robust budget monitoring and financial planning in order to ensure that audit, financial regulations and legal requirements are met.
  • To ensure that all planning applications are considered and councillors comments collated and reported if relevant to the scheme.
  • To consider outside body consultations eg CWaC, Cheshire Police and compile responses on behalf of the parish council
  • To monitor the condition of parish council owned buildings, open spaces and resources and ensure that they are fit for purpose, maintained appropriately and inspected in line with legal requirements and maximise environmental sustainability
  • To oversee a training programme for councillors, ensuring that all have the opportunity to take part.
  • To ensure that the communication and promotion of the council complies with the Council’s Communication Policy.

Membership

Membership will consist of Councillors from Great Boughton Parish Council. The Committee also may co-opt members of the community to add expertise to the group.

Frequency of meetings

Meetings will be held as per attached schedule with actions progressed /delivered between meetings.

Correspondence between meetings to update on progress of actions may occur via email as well as task and finish groups on particular actions, however, NO decisions can be made via email.

 

 

Governance Committee

Purpose: To ensure the Council manages services, staff and volunteers in accordance with the law.

Key responsibilities

  • To ensure that the council operates in accordance with its Standing Orders and that all polices and procedures meet the legal requirements
  • To plan the annual budget and present options to the full council for the level of annual precept
  • To ensure that all councillors abide by the Code of Conduct and that the council understands and operates to the highest standards
  • To ensure that all necessary risk assessments, leases and partnership agreements are updated and maintained
  • To oversee, recruit and support the staff employed by the council
  • To oversee and ensure that volunteers are supported, trained and valued within the council.
  • To maintain health and safety on all council sites and in all council activities
  • To ensure equality and diversity within the council and all its operations

Membership

Membership will consist of Councillors from Great Boughton Parish Council. The Committee also may co-opt members of the community to add expertise to the group.

Frequency of meetings

Meetings will be held as per attached schedule with actions progressed /delivered between meetings.

Correspondence between meetings to update on progress of actions may occur via email as well as task and finish groups on particular actions, however NO decisions can be made via email.

 

 

 

Staffing Committee

Purpose: To ensure the Council manages staff in accordance with the law.

Key responsibilities

  • All aspects of the recruitment, retention, remuneration, training and health and safety aspects of the Council’s staff in accordance with the Council’s Recruitment Policy. Elected Members will be responsible for recruitment of the Clerk and may be involved in the recruitment and succession planning for other members of staff, at the discretion of the Clerk. 
  • Carry out an annual review of the Council’s staffing provision. 
  • Be responsible on an annual basis for the review of salaries. 
  • To review and monitor the training and development needs of staff, including monitoring and supporting staff who are undertaking training and development. 
  • To ensure that annual appraisals for all staff are carried out, agree and monitor any associated actions and outcomes. 
  • Reporting back to Council the outcome of the Clerk’s annual appraisal undertaken as per the Council’s staff appraisal policy. 
  • To deal with all matters relating to staff conduct, disciplinary matters, grievances and appeals. 
  • Consider and implement any changes which are required to comply with Employment Law, Health & Safety Law and Terms and Conditions of Service. 
  • To consider and implement any changes which are required to comply with legislation and Terms and Conditions of Service as laid down by the National Joint Council (Green Book), the National agreement on pay and conditions of service for local Government Services, in accordance and recommended by the National Association of Local Councils and Society of Local Council Clerks. 

Membership

Membership will consist of maximum of 5 Councillors from Great Boughton Parish Council.

Frequency of meetings

Meetings will be held at least once per year and called whenever necessary for Staffing issues.

Correspondence between meetings to update on progress of actions may occur via email as well as task and finish groups on particular actions, however NO decisions can be made via email.

 

 

Annual Committee Meeting Dates

All Committee Meetings take place on the first Tuesday of the month, are held in the Thackeray Room, Vicars Cross Community Centre and commence at 6.30pm.

Governance: January, May, September (if required)

Service Delivery: February, June, October

Resources: March July, November

Staffing: July, at least once per annum

There are no Committee meetings currently scheduled in April or December.