Parish accounts published ahead of meeting

Mr Leale said this was significant as the pandemic meant that last year's meeting had to be postponed and emergency powers approved by the States delegated decision making to the Douzaine.

"Members were obviously happy to do that in the circumstances," said Mr Leale, "but there is a strong feeling in the douzaine that the work it does and the finances for which it is responsible should be subject to proper democratic oversight by parishioners and we didn't want a second year to pass without an open meeting."

For that reason, the ability to have a "proper" parish meeting was welcome, meaning Vale residents will have the opportunity to discuss and question the parish accounts (available here) and raise issues under any other business.

Accounts
An agenda for the meeting will be published shortly and main part of the meeting will be the accounts and budget, which includes the accounts of the Cemetery Committee and the Churchwardens' Accounts.

The Constables' financial statements for 2020, audited by Collenette Jones Ltd, show that the parish spent just under £588,000 last year running the parish, some £15,861 less than the previous year. The bulk of this is refuse collection and disposal (£350,000), parish administration (£118,872) and street lighting and maintenance (£20,636). Balances in hand carried forward are a little under £725,000.  

The Churchwardens' Accounts are being audited and will be published shortly. The Cemetery Committee accounts indicate it cost £83,363 to run the parochial cemetery last year while receipts, including a ratepayers' contribution of £57,000, totalled £70,721. The shortfall was made up by drawing from reserves, which stood at £31,117 at year end.