Editing Openai/68c0109a-3744-8002-80a6-138182f7ddda (section)

=== Assistant: Thanks, Ed. ===
Thanks, Ed. That’s a very important detail: Mr Gareth Hughes became RFO only in Autumn 2024, meaning he had no direct responsibility for the 2023–24 AGAR, the May 2024 AGM, or the financial oversight before his appointment.

Let’s break this down clearly and logically:

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Shalfleet Parish Council apparently tried to pass off an April 2024 meeting as the Annual Parish Council Meeting (AGM).

This is not legally allowed.

===== Under Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12, Paragraph 7, the rules for Annual Meetings are: =====
* In a non-election year, the Annual Meeting must be held in May (between 1st–31st May).
* If held before May, it is not a valid AGM.
* Only at this AGM can councillors: - Elect the Chair - Appoint committees - Approve statutory items like the AGAR (if not deferred)

==== ### ====

If the AGM didn’t occur lawfully in May 2024:
* Decisions made at the April meeting are invalid, including: - Election of the Chair - Approval of financial documents like the AGAR for 2023–24 - Committee decisions or delegations

This means the AGAR for 2023–24 might not have been lawfully approved before submission (if it was submitted at all).

===== The failure to properly hold and minute an AGM in May raises serious red flags, especially when: =====

====== You’ve seen no evidence it: ======
* Was approved by full council
* Was submitted to auditors
* Had a published public rights notice in Summer 2024

====== The change of RFO in Autumn 2024: ======
* May have left records incomplete or not transferred properly
* Could lead to lost accountability
* Prevents the current RFO from verifying 2023–24 finances with full confidence

====== Jane Timbrell signed the 2025 notice – but if she was not validly elected Chair in May 2024 (due to no AGM), then: ======
* Her authority to sign official documents may be in doubt
* This could be challenged as procedural illegality

===== A deliberate or careless attempt to disguise the April meeting as an AGM could signal: =====
* Attempts to avoid scrutiny
* A cover for missing or irregular spending
* An attempt to "backdate" legitimacy of decisions like financial approvals

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Ask formally when and how it was approved and published (template available if needed).

===== Write to the Monitoring Officer at Isle of Wight Council, noting the failure to hold a lawful May AGM, and request an investigation. =====

===== Ask them to: =====
* Confirm whether a 2023–24 AGAR was submitted
* Investigate the lack of AGM and suspicious approval process
* Consider issuing a Public Interest Report

If you’d like, I can:
* Draft a letter to the auditor or Monitoring Officer
* Help create a public statement or petition
* Guide you through submitting a formal objection under Section 27 of the Audit and Accountability Act 2014

Would you like help drafting any of those now?