To be completed by smaller authorities where the higher of gross income or gross expenditure did not exceed £25,000 in the year of account ended 31 March 2024, and that wish to certify  themselves as exempt from a limited assurance review under Section 9 of the Local Audit  (Smaller Authorities) Regulations 2015

There is no requirement to have a limited assurance review or to submit an Annual Governance and Accountability Return to the external auditor, provided that the authority has certified itself as exempt at a meeting of the  authority after 31 March 2024 and a completed Certificate of Exemption is submitted no later than 30 June 2024 notifying the external auditor.

Gittisham Parish Council

certifies that during the financial year 2023/24, the higher of the authority’s total gross income for the year or total gross annual expenditure, for the year did not exceed £25,000

Total annual gross income for the authority 2023/24: £10,426

Total annual gross expenditure for the authority 2023/24: £14,872

There are certain circumstances in which an authority will be unable to certify itself as exempt, so that a limited  assurance review will still be required. If an authority is unable to confirm the statements below then it  cannot certify itself as exempt and it must submit the completed Annual Governance and Accountability Return Part 3 to the external auditor to undertake a limited assurance review for which a fee of £200 +VAT will be payable.

By signing this Certificate of Exemption you are confirming that:

• The authority was in existence on 1st April 2020
• In relation to the preceding financial year (2022/23), the external auditor has not:
• issued a public interest report in respect of the authority or any entity connected with it
• made a statutory recommendation to the authority, relating to the authority or any entity connected with it
• issued an advisory notice under paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 8 to the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (“the Act”), and has not withdrawn the notice
• commenced judicial review proceedings under section 31(1) of the Act
• made an application under section 28(1) of the Act for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful, and the application has not been withdrawn nor has the court refused to make the declaration
• The court has not declared an item of account unlawful after a person made an appeal under section 28(3) of the Act.

If you are able to confirm that the above statements apply and that the authority neither received gross income, nor incurred gross expenditure, exceeding £25,000, then the Certificate of Exemption can be signed and a copy submitted to the external auditor either by email or by post (not both).

The Annual Internal Audit Report, Annual Governance Statement, Accounting Statements, an analysis of  variances and the bank reconciliation plus the information required by Regulation 15 (2), Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 including the period for the exercise of public rights still need to be fully completed and,  along with a copy of this certificate, published on the authority website/webpage* before 1 July 2024.  By signing this certificate you are also confirming that you are aware of this requirement.

*https://gittisham.org.uk

ONLY this Certificate of Exemption should be returned EITHER by email OR by post (not both) as soon as possible after certification to your external auditor, but no later than 30 June 2024. Reminder letters incur a charge of £40 +VAT

Annual Internal Audit Report 2023/24

Signed by the Responsible Financial Officer

Date 06/06/2024

Signed by Chairman

Date 06/06/2024

I confirm that this Certificate of Exemption was approved by this authority on this date: 06/06/2024

as recorded in minute reference: 35/24

Generic email address of Authority:

Telephone Number 07899 932620

Published Web address www.gittisham.org.uk

Gittisham Parish Council

www.gittisham.org.uk

During the financial year ended 31 March 2024, this authority’s internal auditor acting independently and on the basis of an assessment of risk, carried out a selective assessment of compliance with the relevant procedures and controls in operation and obtained appropriate evidence from the authority.

The internal audit for 2023/24 has been carried out in accordance with this authority’s needs and planned coverage. On the basis of the findings in the areas examined, the internal audit conclusions are summarised in this table. Set out below are the objectives of internal control and alongside are the internal audit conclusions on whether, in all significant respects, the control objectives were being achieved throughout the financial year to a standard adequate to meet the needs of this authority.

Internal control objective	Yes	No*	Not covered**
A.  Appropriate accounting records have been properly kept throughout the financial year.	Y
B.  This authority complied with its financial regulations, payments were supported by invoices, all expenditure was approved and VAT was appropriately accounted for.	Y
C.  This authority assessed the significant risks to achieving its objectives and reviewed the adequacy of arrangements to manage these.	Y
D.  The precept or rates requirement resulted from an adequate budgetary process; progress against the budget was regularly monitored; and reserves were appropriate.	Y
E.  Expected income was fully received, based on correct prices, properly recorded, and promptly banked; and VAT was appropriately accounted for.	Y
F.  Petty cash payments were properly supported by receipts, all petty cash expenditure was approved and VAT appropriately accounted for.			Not applicable
G. Salaries to employees and allowances to members were paid in accordance with this authority’s approvals, and PAYE and NI requirements were properly applied.	Y
H. Asset and investments registers were complete and accurate and properly maintained.	Y
I. Periodic bank account reconciliations were properly carried out during the year.	Y
J. Accounting statements prepared during the year were prepared on the correct accounting basis (receipts and payments or income and expenditure), agreed to the cash book, supported by an adequate audit trail from underlying records and where appropriate debtors and creditors were properly recorded.	Y
K. If the authority certified itself as exempt from a limited assurance review in 2022/23, it met the exemption criteria and correctly declared itself exempt. (If the authority had a limited assurance review of its 2021/22 AGAR tick “not covered”)	Y
L. The authority publishes information on a website/webpage, up to date at the time of the internal audit, in accordance with the Transparency code for smaller authorities.	Y
M. The authority, during the previous year (2022-23) correctly provided for the period for the  exercise of public rights as required by the Accounts and Audit Regulations (evidenced by the notice published on the website and/or authority approved minutes confirming the dates set).	Y
N. The authority has complied with the publication requirements for 2022/23 AGAR  (see AGAR Page 1 Guidance Notes).	Y
	O. (For local councils only)   Trust funds (including charitable) – The council met its responsibilities as a trustee.			Not applicable

For any other risk areas identified by this authority adequate controls existed (list any other risk areas on separate sheets if needed).

Date(s) internal audit undertaken                              Name of person who carried out the internal audit

04/06/2024 – 06/06/2024

Trudie Jenkins Avery

Signature of person who carried out the internal audit  

                        

Date

06/06/2024

*If the response is ‘no’ please state the implications and action being taken to address any weakness in control identified (add separate sheets if needed). **Note: If the response is ‘not covered’ please state when the most recent internal audit work was done in this area and when it is next planned; or, if coverage is not required, the annual internal audit report must explain why not (add separate sheets if needed).

Section 1 – Annual Governance Statement 2023/24

We acknowledge as the members of:

Gittisham Parish Council

our responsibility for ensuring that there is a sound system of internal control, including arrangements for the preparation of the Accounting Statements. We confirm, to the best of our knowledge and belief, with respect to the Accounting Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024, that:

Agreed
	Yes	No	‘Yes’ means that this authority:
1. We have put in place arrangements for effective financial management during the year, and for the preparation of the accounting statements.	Y		prepared its accounting statements in accordance   with the Accounts and Audit Regulations.
2. We maintained an adequate system of internal control including measures designed to prevent and detect fraud and corruption and reviewed its effectiveness.	Y		made proper arrangements and accepted responsibility  for safeguarding the public money and resources in  its charge.
3. We took all reasonable steps to assure ourselves      that there are no matters of actual or potential              non-compliance with laws, regulations and Proper       Practices that could have a significant financial effect              on the ability of this authority to conduct its        business or manage its finances.	Y		has only done what it has the legal power to do and has complied with Proper Practices in doing so.
4. We provided proper opportunity during the year for  the exercise of electors’ rights in accordance with the requirements of the Accounts and Audit Regulations.	Y		during the year gave all persons interested the opportunity to inspect and ask questions about this authority’s accounts.
5. We carried out an assessment of the risks facing this authority and took appropriate steps to manage those risks, including the introduction of internal controls and/or external insurance cover where required.	Y		considered and documented the financial and other risks it faces and dealt with them properly.
6. We maintained throughout the year an adequate and  effective system of internal audit of the accounting  records and control systems.	Y		arranged for a competent person, independent of the financial controls and procedures, to give an objective view on whether internal controls meet the needs of this smaller authority.
7. We took appropriate action on all matters raised  in reports from internal and external audit.	Y		responded to matters brought to its attention by internal and external audit.
8. We considered whether any litigation, liabilities or  commitments, events or transactions, occurring either during or after the year-end, have a financial impact on this authority and, where appropriate, have included them in the accounting statements.	Y		disclosed everything it should have about its business activity during the year including events taking place after the year end if relevant.
9. (For local councils only) Trust funds including  charitable. In our capacity as the sole managing  trustee we discharged our accountability  responsibilities for the fund(s)/assets, including  financial reporting and, if required, independent  examination or audit.			N/A	has met all of its responsibilities where as a body corporate it is a sole managing trustee of a local trust or trusts.

*For any statement to which the response is ‘no’, an explanation must be published

This Annual Governance Statement was approved at a meeting of the authority on:

06/06/2024

Signed by the Chairman and Clerk of the meeting where approval was given:

Chairman

       Clerk

and recorded as minute reference: 33/24

Other information required by the Transparency Code (not part of the Annual Governance Statement)
The authority website/webpage is up to date and the information required by the Transparency Code has  been published.	Yes

www.gittisham.org.uk

Section 2 – Accounting Statements 2023/24 for

Gittisham Parish Council

	Year ending
			Notes and guidance
	31 March 2023 £	31 March 2024 £	Please round all figures to nearest £1. Do not leave any boxes blank and report £0 or Nil balances. All figures must agree to underlying financial records.
1. Balances brought  forward	21,943	21,935		Total balances and reserves at the beginning of the year  as recorded in the financial records. Value must agree to Box 7 of previous year.
2. (+) Precept or Rates and Levies	8,323	9,307		Total amount of precept (or for IDBs rates and levies) received or receivable in the year. Exclude any grants received.
3. (+) Total other receipts	3,145	1,119		Total income or receipts as recorded in the cashbook less the precept or rates/levies received (line 2). Include any grants received.
4. (-) Staff costs	3,062	3,590		Total expenditure or payments made to and on behalf  of all employees. Include gross salaries and wages,  employers NI contributions, employers pension  contributions, gratuities and severance payments.
5. (-) Loan interest/capital repayments	0	0		Total expenditure or payments of capital and interest made during the year on the authority’s borrowings (if any).
6.  (-) All other payments	8,414	11,282		Total expenditure or payments as recorded in the cashbook less staff costs (line 4) and loan interest/capital repayments (line 5).
7. (=) Balances carried forward	21,935	17,489		Total balances and reserves at the end of the year. Must equal (1+2+3) – (4+5+6).
8. Total value of cash and short term investments	21,935	17,489		The sum of all current and deposit bank accounts, cash holdings and short term investments held as at 31 March – To agree with bank reconciliation.
9. Total fixed assets plus long term investments  and assets	30,308	33,844		The value of all the property the authority owns – it is made up of all its fixed assets and long term investments as at  31 March.
10. Total borrowings	0	0		The outstanding capital balance as at 31 March of all loans from third parties (including PWLB).
11. (For Local Councils Only) Disclosure note re Trust funds (including charitable)	N/A	N/A	N/A	The Council as a body corporate acts as sole trustee for and is responsible for managing Trust funds or assets.
	N		N.B. The figures in the accounting statements above do not include any Trust transactions.

I certify that for the year ended 31 March 2024 the Accounting Statements in this Annual Governance and Accountability Return have been prepared on either a receipts and  payments or income and expenditure basis following the guidance in Governance and Accountability for Smaller  Authorities – a Practitioners’ Guide to Proper Practices  and present fairly the financial position of this authority.

Signed by Responsible Financial Officer before being  presented to the authority for approval:

Date 06/06/2024

I confirm that these Accounting Statements were approved by this authority on this date:

06/06/2024

as recorded in minute reference: 34/24

Signed by Chairman of the meeting where the  Accounting Statements were approved

Notice of Parish Council Vacancy

• Do you want to serve your community?
• Do you have time or expertise which could benefit your community?
• Do you want to make a difference to those around you?
• Are you passionate about your local area?
• Do you want to represent the views of local people?

If you would like to make a difference, and be involved in shaping the future of your local community, you could apply to become a Gittisham Parish Councillor

Gittisham Parish Council is looking for a new Parish Councillor for the Vale ward.  If you are interested, please contact the Clerk, Fiona Clampin, on

You will need to fill in a short application form and be prepared to submit a short paragraph on your suitability for the role

The closing date for completed applications to be with the Clerk is

23.59 on Sunday 3rd December 2023

To qualify to become a Parish Councillor a person must *be a British subject over 18 years old *be listed on the current electoral roll *live in Gittisham, or occupy as owner/tenant any land/premises therein or have a principal place of work within the Parish *must not be disqualified from holding office as a Councillor.

Written by Sara Trumper

GCK FIRST YEAR

The Gittisham Community Kitchen served up its first meal on 21 st July 2022 to an eager and
curious 35 members of the community. It has now been running for just over a year and
save for three occasions when the hall has been booked out we have provided a free meal
to all comers every single Thursday evening. In the first year 1,490 people have come to the
meals, an average of nearly 30 per week. There have also been hundreds of ‘take-aways’
provided to people who couldn’t attend or who fancied some leftovers for the next day.
Having the Community Kitchen running in the Village Hall has benefitted the Hall Committee
coffers by just under £1,500 in direct cash payments and by way of grants from EDDC.
And with the help of further grants from EDDC, the Beaumont Charity and the Parish
Council, GCK is still holding funds which will enable us to keep going well into our second
year.
Here’s a very simple breakdown of the accounts over the year:
 Donations from diners £1,849.16
 Grants and other gifts £1,845.94
Total £3,695.10

Less
 Cost of Hall Hire (paid direct) £ 435.00
 Equipment £ 68.23
 Cost of food £2,392.21
Total £2,895.44

We couldn’t do it without the donations of food that we are able to call on week after week.
The wonderful fresh veg from The Pig courtesy of Peter the kitchen gardener and plentiful
supplies of bread which would otherwise go to waste from The Ottery Larder. Also we’ve
been really lucky to be given loads of pheasant from local shoots, delicious seasonal
puddings that have been donated by the ‘pudding fairies’ and others, and numerous other
wonderful offerings in response to urgent cries for help on the day!
Feedback shows that the benefits of GCK have been numerous and varied. Alongside
providing hot nutritious meals every week for an average of only £1.61 per meal, people
have really benefitted from the chance to meet up and socialise with their neighbours on a
regular basis. Anyone who was able to listen to Fiona Clampin’s brilliant radio piece on
Farming Today in January will have recognised some familiar voices and, hopefully, agreed
with the sentiments expressed.
My thanks go in particular to those who have gone out of their way to help make it all a
success: Kate, Mike, Alex, Julia, Neil, Stella, David & Sue, Claire, Bill, Amanda, Maggie, Molly,
Pierre, Betty and everyone else who has stepped into the breach.

Please contact me by text on 07939 148762 or by email to if you
would like to contribute to the kitchen either with food or financially.
And……we are always looking for helpers to take over the cooking or to give the regulars a
break from the washing up and clearing up at the end of the evening.

Notice of Parish Council Vacancy

• Do you want to serve your community?
• Do you have time or expertise which could benefit your community?
• Do you want to make a difference to those around you?
• Are you passionate about your local area?
• Do you want to represent the views of local people?

If you would like to make a difference, and be involved in shaping the future of your local community, you could apply to become a Gittisham Parish Councillor

Gittisham Parish Council is looking for a new Parish Councillor for the Vale ward.  If you are interested, please contact the Clerk, Fiona Clampin, on

You will need to fill in a short application form and be prepared to submit a short paragraph on your suitability for the role

The closing date for completed applications to be with the Clerk is

23.59 on Sunday 22nd October 2023

To qualify to become a Parish Councillor a person must *be a British subject over 18 years old *be listed on the current electoral roll *live in Gittisham, or occupy as owner/tenant any land/premises therein or have a principal place of work within the Parish *must not be disqualified from holding office as a Councillor.

Dated Tuesday 25 April 2023

Mark R. Williams
Returning Officer
Printed and published by the Returning Officer, Blackdown House, Border Road, Honiton, EX14 1EJ

NOTICE OF POLL
East Devon
Election of a District Councillor for
Feniton
Notice is hereby given that:

1. A poll for the election of a District Councillor for Feniton will be held on Thursday 4 May 2023, between the hours of 7:00 am and 10:00 pm.
2. The number of District Councillors to be elected is one.
3. The names, home addresses and descriptions of the Candidates remaining validly nominated for election and the names of all persons signing the Candidates nomination paper are as follows:

Name of Candidate	Home Address	Description (if any)	Names of Signatories
			Proposer	Seconder
BRUCE Alasdair S	(address in East Devon)	Conservative Party candidate	Suzanne M Wilkins	Christopher J Wilkins
COLLINS Jane	(address in East Devon)	Green Party candidate	Claire L Salt	Gary P Grove

4. The situation of the Polling Stations and the description of persons entitled to vote thereat are as follows:

Situation of Polling Station	Station Number	Ranges of electoral register numbers of persons entitled to vote thereat
Buckerell, Splatthayes Studio, Buckerell, Honiton	79	TK-1 to TK-233
Feniton Sports & Social Club, Acland Park, Feniton, Honiton	90	TU-1 to TU-1548
Gittisham Parish Hall, Gittisham, Honiton	92	TW-1 to TW-452/1

5. Where contested this poll is taken together with the election of Parish Councillors.

Dated Wednesday 5th April 2023 Mark R. Williams
Returning Officer
Printed and published by the Returning Officer, Blackdown House, Border Road, Honiton, EX14 1EJ

East Devon District Council
Election of Parish Councillors for Gittisham Vale

I, being the Returning Officer at the above election, report that the persons whose names appear below were duly elected Parish Councillors for Gittisham Vale.

Name of Candidate	Home Address	Description (if any)
ORCHARD, Peter A	30 Cypress Close, Honiton EX14 2YW
TWIST Janet	7 Hodges Close, Gittisham, Honiton EX14 3FN

I, being the Returning Officer at the above election, report that the persons whose names appear below were duly elected Parish Councillors for Gittisham Village.

Gittisham Village ward

Name of Candidate	Home Address	Description (if any)
HALL, Carol M	Part Drillers, Gittisham, Honiton EX14 3AJ
ROWE, Alex	(address in East Devon)
VALENTINE, David M	5 Town Farm Buildings, Gittisham, Honiton EX14 3AL
WALKER, Maggie	3 Church Mead, Gittisham, Honiton EX14 3AH

Dated Wednesday 5th April 2023 Mark R. Williams
Returning Officer
Printed and published by the Returning Officer, Blackdown House, Border Road, Honiton, EX14 1EJ

East Devon District Council
Election of a District Councillor

The following is a statement of the persons nominated for election as a District Councillor for the Feniton Ward

Name of Candidate	Home Address	Description (if any)	Name of Proposer	Name of Seconder
BRUCE, Alasdair	(address in East Devon)	Conservative Party Candidate	Wilkins Suzanne	Wilkins Christopher
COLLINS Jane	(address in East Devon)	Green Party Candidate	Salt Claire	Grove Gary

The persons above, where no entry is made in the last column, have been and stand validly nominated

Honiton St Michael’s ward

Name of Candidate	Home Address	Description (if any)	Name of proposer	Name of seconder
BONETTA, Violet B	(address in East Devon)	The Labour Party	Harvey-Ingram Luke	Harvey-Ingram JoAnne
BROWN Jenny	Burwood, Exeter Road, Honiton, EX14 1AL	Conservative Party Candidate	Sherwood Michael R	Case James
CARTER Paul R	O Jays Barn, Metcombe, Ottery St Mary, EX11 1RS	Conservative Party Candidate	Case Yvonne	Brown Albert C
COLLINS Roy F	Hale Farm, Honiton, EX14 9TQ	The Liberal Party	Tratt Samantha J	Borkowski Stefan
CORNELIUS Brice W J	4 St Leonards Road, Honiton, EX14 1YE	Conservative Party Candidate	Nicks Tracy	Nicks Stephen
FOTHERINGHAM Joanne S	(address in East Devon)	Independent	McCollum Anthony J	Cloke Katie
INGHAM Nicholas J	(address in East Devon)	Independent	McCollum Anthony J	Cloke Katie

The persons above, where no entry is made in the last column, have been and stand validly nominated