Parish Precept

Understanding the Parish Precept

What is the Parish Precept

The precept is the parish council’s share of the Council Tax. Every household in the parish contributes a small amount each year, and this money is used to fund the council’s work on behalf of the community.

Unlike other parts of the Council Tax, the precept is set directly by the parish council. and is not subject to a threshold. It is collected by the billing authority (usually the district council) and passed on to us in full.

The precept allows the parish council to:

  • Maintain local assets (benches, noticeboards, green spaces)
  • Support community projects and events
  • Fund repairs, improvements, and safety measures
  • Provide grants to local groups
  • Cover essential running costs (insurance, audits, administration)

It is the parish council’s main source of income.

How the Parish Council is funded

Parish councils do not receive funding from central government.
We rely on:

  • The precept (our primary income)
  • Occasional grants for specific projects
  • Donations or fundraising from community groups
  • CIL or Section 106 funds (only when development occurs)

This means the precept must be set at a level that allows the council to meet its responsibilities while remaining fair and proportionate to residents.

How We Decide the Precept Each Year

The precept is reviewed annually, usually between November and January, as part of the council’s budgeting process. The council must:

  • Assess expected costs for the coming year
  • Review ongoing commitments
  • Consider planned projects or improvements
  • Maintain adequate reserves
  • Ensure the budget is responsible and sustainable

Once the budget is agreed, the council sets the precept and submits it to the billing authority.

Legal requirements

When setting the precept, it must fulfil these rules:

  • The precept must set a balanced budget, we cannot budget for a deficit.
  • The precept must be set at a council meeting and recorded in the minutes.
  • The council must demonstrate that the amount requested is necessary and justified.
  • There is no cap on parish precept increases, but councils are expected to act reasonably and transparently.

Why the Precept May Change

The precept may increase or decrease depending on:

  • Rising costs (insurance, energy, maintenance)
  • New responsibilities or assets
  • Planned improvements or community projects
  • Changes in the tax base (number of households)
  • The need to maintain adequate reserves

The council aims to keep the precept stable and predictable, while ensuring we can deliver the services residents expect.

Publishing the precept

How we communicate precept decisions

We publish:

  • The draft budget
  • The final approved budget
  • The precept request
  • Meeting minutes showing the decision
  • Explanatory notes on this website

We want residents to understand how their money is used and to feel confident that the council is acting responsibly.

Historical Precept Decisions

Below is a summary of recent precept change decisions.

  • 2026: 178%
  • 2025: 5%
  • 2024: 0%
  • 2023: 4.78%
  • 2022: 0%

Questions or comments

Residents are always welcome to contact the parish council with questions about the precept or the budgeting process.

The best place to follow finance decisions and discuss with us is to come see us at one of our full council meetings. They are held by-weekly on Tuesday evening and open to the public.

Our next meeting

Full Council Meeting
Tuesday 28 April 2026 — 19:00 - 21:00
View all meetings

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