Council Finances
What is the Parish Precept?
The Parish Precept is the portion of Council Tax collected specifically for the Parish Council. It is our main source of income and is collected on our behalf by the local authority.
What is the Precept Used For?
The precept pays for local services and responsibilities, including:
- Maintenance of parish buildings, land, and assets
- Grounds maintenance and environmental work
- Community projects and local initiatives
- Insurance, utilities, and professional fees
- Meeting legal and statutory obligations
These services directly benefit the local community.
Why Has the Precept Increased This Year?
Over the past couple of years, the Parish Council has used financial reserves to keep increases to a minimum. Reserves are limited, one-off funds and cannot be relied upon to fund ongoing annual costs.
Those reserves have now reached a level where they must be protected to ensure:
- Financial stability
- Emergency and unforeseen repairs
- Delivery of planned future projects
As a result, the precept has been set to reflect the true cost of providing parish services in a sustainable way.
How Much Will The Precept Increase from April 2026?
The Band D Parish Council charge has increased from £94.80 to £119.92, which is an increase of 26%.
What Does This Mean for My Household?
The approximate weekly cost by Council Tax band is:
- Band A: £1.55 per week
- Band B: £1.80 per week
- Band C: £2.05 per week
- Band D: £2.31 per week
- Band E: £2.81 per week
- Band F: £3.32 per week
- Band G: £3.85 per week
- Band H: £4.61 per week
Could the Council Have Avoided This Increase?
The Parish Council has carefully reviewed all spending and continues to seek value for money. However, continuing to rely on reserves would not be financially responsible and would risk the Council’s ability to respond to future needs or emergencies.
Will the Precept Continue to Rise?
The Parish Council reviews the precept annually. Any future changes will depend on service costs, inflation, and community needs. The Council remains committed to keeping increases as low as possible while maintaining essential services.
Where Can I Find More Information?
Further details, including budgets and meeting minutes, are available on the Parish Council website or by contacting the Parish Clerk.
2026/2027
2024/2025
2023/2024
2022/2023
2021/2022
2020/2021
2019/2020
Requests for Financial Support
Over the years, the Parish Council has provided financial support to various village organisations on an ad hoc basis. In order to demonstrate transparency and to ensure that any available funds are directed to the most deserving local organisations/initiatives, it has been decided to introduce a new process for the allocation of grants.
Organisations/groups seeking support will be required to complete a grant application form, specifying the amount requested and setting out the case for funding, together with supporting documentation.
Here is a link to a pdf copy of the Grant Application Form.
Alternatively, a docx version of the form can be supplied by emailing the Parish Clerk at clerk@cowfold-pc.gov.uk.
The form includes a set of terms and conditions that describes the approval process.
Please click on the links below to view information in accordance with the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015