PITSTONE PARISH COUNCIL

9 Warwick Road, Pitstone, Beds, LU7 9FE
Telephone: 01296 660791 email: parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk
Facebook: Pitstone Parish Council   Twitter: @pitstone_pc
Web site: www.pitstone.co.uk
VAT registration number: 944 4611 21

Standing Orders

1	Rules of debate

a	Motions on the agenda shall be considered in the order that they appear unless the order is changed at the discretion of the Chairman of the meeting. 

b	A motion (including an amendment) shall not be progressed unless it has been moved and seconded.

c	A motion that is not moved by its proposer may be treated by the chairman of the meeting as withdrawn. 

d	If a motion (including an amendment) has been seconded, it may be withdrawn by the proposer only with the consent of the seconder and the meeting.

e	An amendment is a proposal to remove or add words to a motion.  It shall not negate the motion.

f	If an amendment to the original motion is carried, the original motion becomes the substantive motion upon which further amendment(s) may be moved.

g	An amendment shall not be considered unless early verbal notice of it is given at the meeting and, if requested by the chairman of the meeting, is expressed in writing to the chairman.  

h	A councillor may move an amendment to his own motion if agreed by the meeting.  If a motion has already been seconded, the amendment shall be with the consent of the seconder and the meeting.

i	If there is more than one amendment to an original or substantive motion, the amendments shall be moved in the order directed by the chairman.

j	Subject to Standing Order 1(k) below, only one amendment shall be moved and debated at a time, the order of which shall be directed by the chairman of the meeting.

k	One or more amendments may be discussed together if the chairman of the meeting considers this expedient but each amendment shall be voted upon separately.

l	A councillor may not move more than one amendment to an original or substantive motion.

m	The mover of an amendment has no right of reply at the end of debate on it.

n	Where a series of amendments to an original motion are carried, the mover of the original motion shall have a right of reply either at the end of debate of the first amendment or at the very end of debate on the final substantive motion immediately before it is put to the vote.

o	Unless permitted by the chairman of the meeting, a councillor may speak once in the debate on a motion except:

i.	To speak on an amendment moved by another councillor
ii.	To move to speak on another amendment if the motion has been amended since he last spoke
iii.	To make a point of order
iv.	To give a personal explanation or
v.	In exercise of a right to reply

p	During the debate of a motion, a councillor may interrupt only on a point of order or a personal explanation and the councillor who was interrupted shall stop speaking.   A Councillor raising a point of order shall identify the standing order which he considers has been breached or specify the other irregularity in the proceedings of the meeting he is concerned by. 

q	A point of order shall be decided by the chairman of the meeting and his decision shall be final. 

r	When a motion is under debate, no other motion shall be moved except: 

i.	to amend the motion;
ii.	to proceed to the next business;
iii.	to adjourn the debate;
iv.	to put the motion to a vote;
v.	to ask a person to be no longer heard or for him to leave the meeting;
vi.	to refer a motion to a committee or sub-committee for consideration; 
vii.	to exclude the public and press;
viii.	to adjourn the meeting; or
ix.	to suspend any standing order(s), except those which reflect mandatory statutory requirements.

s	Before an original or substantive motion is put to the vote, the chairman of the meeting shall be satisfied that the motion has been sufficiently debated and that the mover of the motion under debate has exercised or waived his right of reply.

t	Excluding motions moved under standing order 1( r) above, the contributions or speeches by a councillor shall relate only to the motion under discussion and shall not exceed 5 minutes without the consent of the chairman of the meeting. 

2	Disorderly conduct at meetings

a	No person shall obstruct the transaction of business at a meeting or behave offensively or improperly.    If this standing order is ignored, the chairman of the meeting shall request such person(s) to moderate or improve their conduct.

b	If person(s) disregard the request of the chairman of the meeting to moderate or improve their conduct, any councillor or the chairman of the meeting may move that the person be no longer heard or excluded from the meeting.  The motion, if seconded, shall be put to the vote without discussion.

c	If a resolution made under standing order 2(b) above is ignored, the chairman of the meeting may take further reasonable steps to restore order or to progress the meeting.  This may include temporarily suspending or closing the meeting.

3	Meetings generally
Mandatory for full Council meetings		● and bold type
Mandatory for committee meetings 		● and bold type
Mandatory for sub-committee meetings 		● and bold type

●	a	Meetings shall not take place in premises, which at the time of the meeting, are used for the supply of alcohol unless no other premises are available free of charge or at a reasonable cost. 	

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●	b	The minimum 3 clear day’s for notice of a meeting does not include the day on which notice was issued, the day of the meeting, a Sunday, a day of the Christmas break, a day of the Easter break or of a bank holiday or a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.

The minimum 3 clear day’s public notice for a committee meeting does not include the day on which notice was issued or the day of the meeting unless the meeting is convened at shorter notice.
	
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●	c	Meetings shall be open to the public unless their presence is prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted or for other special reasons. The public’s exclusion from part or all of a meeting shall be by a resolution which shall give reasons for the public’s exclusion.
	
	d	Members of the public may make representations, answer questions and give evidence at a meeting which they are entitled to attend in respect of the business on the agenda.
	
	e	The period of time designated for public participation at a meeting in accordance with standing order 3(d) above shall not exceed 10 minutes unless directed by the chairman of the meeting.
	
	f	Subject to standing order 3(e) above, a member of the public shall not speak for more than 5 minutes.
	
	g	In accordance with standing order 3(d) above, a question shall not require a response at the meeting nor start a debate on the question.  The chairman of the meeting may direct that a written or oral response be given.
	
	h	A person shall raise his hand when requesting to speak and stand when speaking (except when a person has a disability or is likely to suffer discomfort).  The chairman of the meeting may at any time permit a person to be seated when speaking.

i	Any person speaking at a meeting shall address his comments to the chairman of the meeting.

j	Only one person is permitted to speak at a time. If more than one person wants to speak, the chairman of the meeting shall direct the order of speaking.
	
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●	k	Photographing, recording, broadcasting or transmitting the proceedings of a meeting by any means is permissible so long as this does not cause a disturbance to the meeting (see separate policy).	

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●	l	In accordance with standing order 3(k) above, the press shall be provided reasonable facilities for the taking of their report of all or part of a meeting at which they are entitled to be present.  	
	
●	m	Subject to standing orders which indicate otherwise, anything authorised or required to be done by, to or before the Chairman of the Council may in his absence be done by, to or before the Vice-Chairman.
	
●	n	The Chairman, if present, shall preside at a meeting. If the Chairman is absent from a meeting, the Vice-Chairman, if present, shall preside. If both the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman are absent from a meeting, a Councillor as chosen by the Councillors present at the meeting shall preside at the meeting.
	
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●	o	Subject to a meeting being quorate, all questions at a meeting shall be decided by a majority of the councillors or councillors with voting rights present and voting.		
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●	p	The chairman of a meeting may give an original vote on any matter put to the vote, and in the case of an equality of votes may exercise his casting vote whether or not he gave an original vote. 
	
●	q	Unless standing orders provide otherwise, voting on any question shall be by a show of hands. At the request of a councillor, the voting on any question shall be recorded so as to show whether each councillor present and voting gave his vote for or against that question. Such a request shall be made before moving on to the next item of business on the agenda.

	r	The minutes of a meeting shall include an accurate record of the following:

i       the time and place of the meeting
ii      the names of the councillors present and absent, and the parts of the meeting for which 
        they were present
iii     the interests that have been declared by councillors and non-councillors with voting rights
iv     whether a councillor or non-councillor with voting rights left the meeting when matters that 
        they held interests in were being considered
v      if there was a public participation session and
vi     the resolutions made
	
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●	s	A councillor or a non-councillor with voting rights who has a disclosable pecuniary interest or another interest as set out in the council’s code of conduct in a matter being considered at a meeting is subject to statutory limitations or restrictions under the code on his right to participate and vote on that matter.
  	
●	t	No business may be transacted at a meeting unless at least one third of the whole number of members of the council are present and in no case shall the quorum of a meeting be less than 4.
	
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●	u	If a meeting is or becomes inquorate no business shall be transacted and the meeting shall be closed.  The business on the agenda for the meeting shall be adjourned to another meeting. 
	
	v	Meetings shall not exceed a period of 3 hours.	

4	Committees and sub-committees

a	Unless the council determines otherwise, a committee may appoint a sub-committee whose terms of reference and members shall be determined by the committee.

b	The members of a committee may include non-councillors unless it is a committee which regulates and controls the finances of the council.

c	Unless the council determines otherwise, all the members of an advisory committee and a sub-committee of the advisory committee may be non-councillors.

d	The council may appoint standing committees or other committees as may be necessary, and:

i.	shall determine their terms of reference;
ii.	shall determine the number and time of the ordinary meetings of a standing committee up until the date of the next annual meeting of full council;
iii.	shall permit a committee, other than in respect of the ordinary meetings of a committee, to determine the number and time of its meetings;
iv.	shall, subject to standing orders 4(b) and 4(c) above, appoint and determine the terms of office of members of such a committee;
v.	may, subject to standing orders 4(b) and 4(c) above, appoint and determine the terms of office of the substitute members to a committee whose role is to replace the ordinary members at a meeting of a committee if the ordinary members of the committee confirm to the Proper Officer 5 days before the meeting that they are unable to attend;
vi.	shall, after it has appointed the members of a standing committee, appoint the chairman of the standing committee;
vii.	shall permit a committee, other than a standing committee, to appoint its own chairman at the first meeting of the committee;
viii.	shall determine the place, notice requirements and quorum for a meeting of a committee and sub-committee which shall be no less than three;
ix.	shall determine if the public may participate at a meeting of a committee;
x.	shall determine if the press and public are permitted to attend the meetings of a sub-committee and also the advance public notice requirements, if any, required for the meetings of a sub-committee;
xi.	shall determine if the public may participate at a meeting of a sub-committee that they are permitted to attend; and
xii.	may dissolve a committee.

5	Ordinary council meetings  

a	In an election year, the annual meeting of the council shall be held on or within 14 days following the day on which the new councillors elected take office.

b	In a year which is not an election year, the annual meeting of a council shall be held on such day in May as the council may direct.

c	If no other time is fixed, the annual meeting of the Council shall take place at 7.30pm.  

d	In addition to the annual meeting of the council, at least three other ordinary meetings shall be held in each year on such dates and times as the council may direct.  For Pitstone Parish Council, full council meetings (including the Annual Meeting) are usually held on the last Thursday of each month and commence at 7.30pm unless otherwise directed.

e	The first business conducted at the annual meeting of the council shall be the election of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Council.

f	The Chairman of the Council, unless he has resigned or becomes disqualified, shall continue in office and preside at the annual meeting until his successor is elected at the next annual meeting of the Council. 

g	The Vice-Chairman of the Council, if any, unless he resigns or becomes disqualified, shall hold office until immediately after the election of the Chairman of the Council at the next annual meeting of the Council.

h	In an election year, if the current Chairman of the Council has not been re-elected as a member of the Council, he shall preside at the meeting until a successor Chairman of the Council has been elected. The current Chairman of the Council shall not have an original vote in respect of the election of the new Chairman of the Council but must give a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes.

i	In an election year, if the current Chairman of the Council has been re-elected as a member of the Council, he shall preside at the meeting until a new Chairman of the Council has been elected. He may exercise an original vote in respect of the election of the new Chairman of the Council and must give a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes.

j	Following the election of the Chairman of the Council and Vice-Chairman of the Council at the annual meeting of the Council, the business of the annual meeting shall include:

i.	In an election year, delivery by the Chairman of the Council and councillors of their acceptance of office forms unless the council resolves for this to be done at a later date.  In a year which is not an election year, delivery by the Chairman of the Council of his acceptance of office form unless the council resolves for this to be done at a later date;
ii.	Confirmation of the accuracy of the minutes of the last meeting of the council;
iii.	Receipt of the minutes of the last meeting of a committee;
iv.	Consideration of the recommendations made by a committee;
v.	Review of delegation arrangements to committees, sub-committees, staff and other local authorities;
vi.	Review of the terms of references for committees;
vii.	Appointment of members to existing committees;
viii.	Appointment of any new committees in accordance with standing order number 4 above;
ix.	Review and adoption of appropriate standing orders and financial regulations;
x.	Review of arrangements, including any charters and agency agreements, with other local authorities and review of contributions made to expenditure incurred by other local authorities;
xi.	Review of representation on or work with external bodies and arrangements for reporting back;
xii.	In an election year, if a Council’s period of eligibility to exercise the power of well being expired the day before the annual meeting, to review and make arrangements to reaffirm eligibility;
xiii.	Review of inventory of land and assets including buildings and office equipment (unless recently completed);
xiv.	Confirmation of arrangements for insurance cover in respect of all insured risks (if not scheduled for alternative renewal date);
xv.	Review of the Council’s and/or staff subscriptions to other bodies (unless reviewing at appropriate renewal point in year for each body);
xvi.	Reviewing the Council’s complaints procedure (unless completed within last 12m);
xvii.	Reviewing the Council’s procedures for handling requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 1998 (unless completed within last 12m);
xviii.	Review of the Council’s policy for dealing with the press/media (unless completed in last 12m); and
xix.	Determining the time and place of ordinary meetings of the full council up to and including the next annual meeting of full council (unless reviewing by calendar year)

6	Extraordinary meetings of the council and committees and sub-committees

a	The Chairman of the Council may convene an extraordinary meeting of the council at any time. 

b	If the Chairman of the Council does not or refuses to call an extraordinary meeting of the council within 7 days of having been requested in writing to do so by two councillors, those two councillors may convene an extraordinary meeting of the council. The public notice giving the time, place and agenda for such a meeting must be signed by the two councillors.

c	The Chairman of a committee (or a sub-committee) may convene an extraordinary meeting of the committee or sub-committee at any time. 

d	If the chairman of a committee (or a sub-committee) does not or refuses to call an extraordinary meeting within 7 days of having been requested by to do so by two members of the committee (or sub-committee), any 2 members of the committee (or sub-committee) may convene an extraordinary meeting of a committee (or sub-committee).

7	Previous resolutions

a	A resolution shall not be reversed within 6 months except either by a special motion, which requires written notice by at least 3 councillors to be given to the Proper Officer in accordance with standing order 9 below, or by a motion moved in pursuance of the recommendation of a committee or sub-committee.

b	When a motion moved pursuant to standing order 7(a) above has been disposed of, no similar motion may be moved within a further 6 months.

8	Voting on appointments

a	Where more than 2 persons have been nominated for a position to be filled by the council and none of those persons has received an absolute majority of votes in their favour, the name of the person having the least number of votes shall be struck off the list and a fresh vote taken. This process shall continue until a majority of votes is given in favour of one person. Any tie in votes may be settled by the casting vote exercisable by the chairman of the meeting.

9	Motions for a meeting that require written notice to be given to the Proper Officer

a	A motion shall relate to the responsibilities of the meeting which it is tabled for and in any event shall relate to the performance of the council’s statutory functions, powers and obligations or an issue with specifically affects the council’s area or its residents.

b	No motion may be moved at a meeting unless it is on the agenda and the mover has given written notice of its wording to the Proper Officer at least 10 clear days before the meeting.  Clear days do not include the day of the notice or the day of the meeting.

c	The Proper Officer may, before including a motion on the agenda received in accordance with standing order 9(b) above, correct obvious grammatical or typographical errors in the wording of the motion. 

d	If the Proper Officer considers the wording of a motion received in accordance with standing order 9(b) above is not clear in meaning, the motion shall be rejected until the mover of the motion resubmits it in writing to the Proper Officer so that it can be understood at least 7 clear days before the meeting. 

e	If the wording or subject of a proposed motion is considered improper, the Proper Officer shall consult with the Chairman of the forthcoming meeting or, as the case may be, the councillors who have convened the meeting, to consider whether the motion shall be included in the agenda or rejected.

f	Subject to standing order 9(e) above, the decision of the Proper Officer as to whether or not to include the motion on the agenda shall be final. 

g	Motions received shall be recorded in a book for that purpose and numbered in the order that they are received.

h	Motions rejected shall be recorded in a book for that purpose with an explanation by the Proper Officer for their rejection.

10	Motions at a meeting that do not require written notice

a	The following motions may be moved without written notice to the Proper Officer;

i.	To correct an inaccuracy in the draft minutes of a meeting;
ii.	To move to a vote;
iii.	To defer consideration of a motion;
iv.	To refer a motion to a particular committee or sub-committee
v.	To appoint a person to preside at a meeting.
vi.	To change the order of business on the agenda;
vii.	To proceed to the next business on the agenda;
viii.	To require a written report;
ix.	To appoint a committee or sub-committee and their members; 
x.	To extend time limits for speaking;
xi.	To exclude the press and public from a meeting in respect of confidential or sensitive information which is prejudicial to the public interest;
xii.	To not hear further from a councillor or a member of the public;
xiii.	To exclude a councillor or member of the public for disorderly conduct;
xiv.	To temporarily suspend the meeting;
xv.	To suspend a particular standing order (unless it reflects mandatory statutory requirements);
xvi.	To adjourn the meeting; or
xvii.	To close a meeting.

11	Handling confidential or sensitive information 

a	The agenda, papers that support the agenda and the minutes of the meeting shall not disclose or otherwise undermine confidential or sensitive information which for special reasons would not be in the public interest.

b	Councillors and staff shall not disclose confidential or sensitive information which for special reasons would not be in the public interest.  

12	Draft minutes 

a	If the draft minutes of a preceding meeting have been served on councillors prior to or with the agenda to attend the meeting at which they are due to be approved for accuracy, they shall be taken as read.

b	There shall be no discussion about the draft minutes of a preceding meeting except in relation to their accuracy. A motion to correct an inaccuracy in the draft minutes shall be moved in accordance with standing order 10(a)(i) above.

c	The accuracy of draft minutes, including any amendment(s) made to them, shall be confirmed by resolution and shall be signed by the chairman of the meeting and stand as an accurate record of the meeting to which the minutes relate. 

d	If the chairman of the meeting does not consider the minutes to be an accurate record of the meeting to which they relate, he shall sign the minutes and include a paragraph in the following terms or to the same effect:
“The chairman of this meeting does not believe that the minutes of the meeting of the (    ) held on [date] in respect of (      ) were a correct record but his view was not upheld by the meeting and the minutes are confirmed as an accurate record of the proceedings.”

e	Upon a resolution which confirms the accuracy of the minutes of a meeting, the draft minutes or recordings of the meeting for which approved minutes exist shall be destroyed.

13	Code of conduct and dispensations 

a	All councillors and non-councillors with voting rights shall observe the code of conduct adopted by the Council.

b	Unless he has been granted a dispensation, a councillor or non-councillor with voting rights, shall withdraw from a meeting when it is considering a matter in which he has a disclosable pecuniary interest.  He may return to the meeting after it has considered the matter in which he had the interest.

c	Unless he has been granted a dispensation, a councillor or non-councillor with voting rights, shall withdraw from a meeting when it is considering a matter in which he has another interest if so required by the council’s code of conduct.  He may return to the meeting after it has considered the matter in which he had the interest.

d	Dispensation requests shall be in writing and submitted to the Proper Officer as soon as possible before the meeting, or failing that, at the start of the meeting for which the dispensation is required.

e	A decision as to whether to grant a dispensation shall be made by a meeting of the council, or committee or sub-committee for which the dispensation is required and that decision is final.

f	A dispensation request shall confirm:
i.	The description and the nature of the disclosable pecuniary interest or other interest to which the request for dispensation relates;
ii.	Whether the dispensation is required to participate at a meeting in a discussion only or a discussion and a vote;
iii.	The date of the meeting or period (not exceeding four years) for which the dispensation is sought; and
iv.	An explanation as to why the dispensation is sought.

g	Subject to standing orders 13(d) and (f) above, dispensations requests shall be considered at the beginning of the meeting of the council, or committee or a sub-committee for which the dispensation is required.

h	A dispensation may be granted in accordance with standing order 13(e) above if having regard to all the relevant circumstances the following applies:

i.	Without the dispensation the number of persons prohibited from participating in the particular business would be so great a proportion of the meeting transacting the business as to impede the transaction of the business or
ii.	Granting the dispensation is in the interests of the persons living in the council’s area or
iii.	It is otherwise appropriate to grant a dispensation.

14	Code of conduct complaints

a	On notification by the District Council or County Council that it is dealing with a complaint that a councillor or non-councillor with voting rights has breached the council’s code of conduct, the Proper Officer shall, subject to standing order 11 above, report this to the council.  

b	Where the notification in standing order 14(a) above relates to a complaint made by the Proper Officer, the Proper Officer shall notify the Chairman of the Council of this fact, and the Chairman shall nominate another staff member to assume the duties of the Proper Officer in relation to the complaint until it has been determined and the council has agreed what action, if any, to take in accordance with standing order 14(d) below. 

c	The council may:
i.	Provide information or evidence where such disclosure is necessary to progress an investigation of the complaint or is required by law;
ii.	seek information relevant to the complaint from the person or body with statutory responsibility for investigation of the matter.

g	Upon notification by the District Council that a councillor or non-councillor with voting rights has breached the council’s code of conduct, the council shall consider what, if any, action to take against him.  Such action excludes disqualification or suspension from office.  

15	Proper Officer

a	The Proper Officer shall be either (i) the clerk or (ii) other staff member(s) nominated by the council to undertake the work of the Proper Officer when the Proper Officer is absent.

b	The Proper Officer shall:

i.	At least three clear days before a meeting of the council, a committee and a sub-committee serve on councillors a signed summons, by email and delivery to their residences (unless the councillor has opted out of hard copy delivery), confirming the time, place and the agenda.   Any email notification must contain the electronic signature and title of the Proper Officer.
ii.	Give public notice of the time, place and agenda at least 3 clear days before a meeting of the council or a meeting of a committee or a sub- committee (provided that the public notice with agenda of an extraordinary meeting of the council convened by councillors is signed by them).
iii.	Subject to standing order 9 above, include on the agenda all motions in the order received unless a councillor has given written notice at least 7 days before the meeting  confirming his withdrawal of it.
iv.	Convene a meeting of full council for the election of a new Chairman of the Council, occasioned by a casual vacancy in his office.
v.	Facilitate inspection of the minute book by local government electors.
vi.	Receive and retain copies of byelaws made by other local authorities.
vii.	Retain acceptance of office forms from councillors.
viii.	Retain a copy of every councillor’s register of interests.
ix.	Assist with responding to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Data Protection Act 1998, in accordance with and subject to the council’s policies and procedures relating to the same.
x.	Receive and send general correspondence and notices on behalf of the council except where there is a resolution to the contrary.
xi.	Manage the organisation, storage of, access to and destruction of information held by the council in paper and electronic form.
xii.	Arrange for legal deeds to be executed.
xiii.	Arrange or manage the prompt authorisation, approval, and instruction regarding any payments to be made by the council in accordance with the council’s financial regulations.
xiv.	Record every planning application notified to the council and the council’s response to the local planning authority in a book for such purpose;
xv.	Refer a planning application received by the council to the Chairman or in his absence the Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee within 2 working days of receipt to facilitate an extraordinary meeting if the nature of a planning application requires consideration before the next ordinary meeting of the Council. 
xvi.	Manage access to information about the council via the publication scheme, and
xvii.	Retain custody of the seal of the council (if any) which shall not be used without a resolution to that effect.

16	Responsible Financial Officer

a	A council shall appoint appropriate staff member(s) to undertake the work of the Responsible Financial Officer when the Responsible Financial Officer is absent.

17	Accounts and accounting statements

a	Proper practices in standing orders refer to the most recent version of Governance and Accountability for Local Councils – a Practitioners’ Guide.

b	All payments by the council shall be authorised, approved and paid in accordance with the law, proper practices and the council’s financial regulations.

c	The Responsible Financial Officer shall supply to each councillor as soon as practicable after each monthly bank statement a report to summarise:

i.	the council’s receipts and payments for the period;
ii.	the council’s aggregate receipts and payments for the year to date;
iii.	the balances held at the end of the period being reported
iv.	and which includes a comparison with the budget for the financial year and highlights any actual or potential overspends.

d	As soon as possible after the financial year end at 31 March, the Responsible Financial Officer shall provide:

i.	Each councillor with a statement summarising the council’s receipts and payments for the last quarter and the year to date for information; and
ii.	To the full council the accounting statements for the year in the form of Section 1 of the annual return, as required by proper practices, for consideration and approval.

e	The year end accounting statements shall be prepared in accordance with proper practices and applying the form of accounts determined by the council (receipts and payments, or income and expenditure) for a year to 31 March.  A completed draft annual return shall be presented to each councillor before the end of the following month of May.  The annual return of the council, which is subject to external audit, including the annual governance statement, shall be presented to council for consideration and formal approval before 30 June.

18	Financial controls and procurement

a	The Council shall consider and approve financial regulations drawn up by the Responsible Financial Officer, which shall include detailed arrangements in respect of the following:

i.	the keeping of accounting records and systems of internal control;
ii.	the assessment and management of financial risks faced by the council;
iii.	the work of the independent internal auditor in accordance with proper practices and the receipt of regular reports from the internal auditor, which shall be required at least annually;
iv.	the inspection and copying by councillors and local electors of the council’s accounts and/or orders of payments; and
v.	procurement policies (subject to standing order 18(c) below), with the procurement and award of contracts covered by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 with an estimated value of £25k or more satisfying the conditions of the Regulations.

b	Financial regulations shall be reviewed regularly and at least annually for the fitness of purpose.

c	Financial regulations shall confirm that a proposed contract for the supply of goods, materials, services and the execution of works with an estimated value in excess of £25,000 shall be procured on the basis of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 which include the use of the Contracts Finder website.

d	Subject to additional requirements in the financial regulations of the council, the tender process for contracts for the supply of goods, materials, services or the execution of work shall include, as a minimum, the following steps:

i.	a specification of the goods, materials, services or the execution of works shall be drawn up;
ii.	an invitation to tender shall be drawn up to confirm (i) the council’s specification (ii) the time, date and address for submission of tenders (iii) the date of the council’s written response to the tender and (iv) the prohibition on prospective contracts contacting councillors or staff to encourage or support their tender outside the prescribed process;
iii.	the invitation to tender shall be advertised in a local newspaper and in any other manner that is appropriate;
iv.	Where the estimated value of the contract exceeds £25k an advert for the contract opportunity must be placed on the Contract Finder website, within 24 hours of it being advertised elsewhere
v.	tenders are to be submitted in writing in a sealed marked envelope addressed to the Proper Officer; 
vi.	tenders shall be opened by the Proper Officer in the presence of at least one councillor after the deadline for submission of tenders has passed;
vii.	tenders are to be reported to and considered by the appropriate meeting of the council or a committee or sub-committee with delegated responsibility.

e	Neither the council, nor any committee or sub-committee with delegated responsibility for considering tenders, is bound to accept the lowest value tender.
f	When the contract is awarded, details of the contractor and contract must be entered onto the Contracts Finder website.
g	Where the value of a contract is likely to exceed £172,514 (or other threshold specified by the Office of Government Commerce from time to time) the council must comply with the more complex requirements for the upper band within the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

19	Handling of staff matters

a	A matter personal to a member of staff that is being considered by a meeting of the council or the staffing committee is subject to standing order 11 above.

b	Subject to the council’s policy regarding absences from work, the Clerk shall notify the chairman of the staffing committee or if he is not available, the Vice-Chairman, of any absence occasioned by illness or other reason and that person shall report such absence to council or staffing committee at its next meeting.

c	The Chairman of the staffing committee or in his absence, the Vice-Chairman shall upon a resolution conduct a review of the performance and annual appraisal of the work of the employees. The reviews and appraisal shall be reported in writing and is subject to approval by the staffing committee or by the council. 

d	Subject to the council’s policy regarding the handling of grievance matters, the Council’s most senior employee (or other employees) shall contact the chairman of the staffing committee or in his absence, the vice-chairman, in respect of an informal or formal grievance matter, and this matter shall be reported back and progressed by resolution of staffing committee or full council.

e	Subject to the Council’s policy regarding the handling of grievance matters, if an informal or formal grievance matter raised by the employee relates to the chairman or vice-chairman of the staffing committee, this shall be communicated to another member of the staffing committee, which shall be reported back and progressed by resolution of the full council. 

f	Any persons responsible for all or part of the management of staff shall treat the written records of all meetings relating to their performance, capabilities, grievance or disciplinary matters as confidential and secure.  

g	The Council shall keep all written records relating to employees secure. All paper records shall be secured and locked and electronic records shall be password protected and encrypted. 

h	Only persons with line management responsibilities shall have access to staff records referred to in standing orders 19(f) and (g) above if so justified. 

i	Access and means of access by keys and/or computer passwords to records of employment referred to in standing orders 19(f) and (g) above shall be provided only to the clerk and/or the Chairman of the Council or staffing committee.

20	Requests for information

a	Requests for information held by the council shall be handled in accordance with the council’s policy in respect of handling requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 1998.

b	Correspondence from and notices served by, the Information Commissioner shall be referred by the Proper Officer to the chairman. The council shall have the power to do anything to facilitate compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

21	Relations with the press/media

a	Requests from the press or other media for an oral or written statement or comment from the council, its councillors or staff, shall be handled in accordance with the Council’s policy in respect of dealing with the press and/or other media.

22	Execution and sealing of legal deeds

a	A legal deed shall not be executed on behalf of the council unless authorised by a resolution.

b	Subject to standing order 22(a) above, any two councillors may sign, on behalf of the council, any deed required by law and the Proper Officer shall witness their signatures.

23	Communicating with District and County Councillors

a	An invitation to attend a meeting of the council shall be sent, together with the agenda, to the ward councillor(s) of the District and County Councils representing the area of the council. 

b	Unless the council determines otherwise, a copy of each letter sent to the District or County Council shall be sent to the ward councillor(s) representing the area of the council.

24	Restrictions on councillor activities

a	Unless authorised by a resolution, no councillor shall:

i.	inspect any land and/or premises which the council has a right or duty to inspect; or
ii.	issue orders, instructions or directions. 

25	Standing orders generally

a	All or part of a standing order, except one that incorporates mandatory statutory requirements, may be suspended by resolution in relation to the consideration of an item on the agenda for a meeting.

b	A motion to add to or vary or revoke one or more of the council’s standing orders, except one that incorporates mandatory statutory requirements, shall be proposed by a special motion, the written notice by at least 4 councillors to be given to the Proper Officer in accordance with standing order 9 above.

c	The Proper Officer shall provide a copy of the council’s standing orders to a councillor as soon as possible after he has delivered his acceptance of office form.

d	The decision of a chairman of a meeting as to the application of standing orders at meetings shall be final.

26	Power of General Competence

a	Before exercising the Power of General Competence, a meeting of the full Council shall have passed a resolution to confirm it has satisfied the prescribed statutory criteria required to qualify as an eligible parish council. 

b	The Council’s period of eligibility begins on the date that the resolution under standing order 26 (a) above was made and must be re-confirmed on the day of the annual meeting of the council that takes place in a year of ordinary elections.

c	After the expiry of its preceding period of eligibility, the council continues to be an eligible council solely for the purpose of completing any activity undertaken in the exercise of the Power of General Competence which was not completed before the expiry of the Council’s preceding period of eligibility referred to in standing order 26(b) above.

These standing orders were adopted by Pitstone Parish Council on …………………………………………
and will be reviewed again within 12 months.

Minute Reference …………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………
Signed on behalf of Pitstone Parish Council by the Chairman