How the funding works

The council has been granted powers by Parliament including the important authority to raise money through taxation (the precept) and a range of powers to spend public money.

Part of your council tax goes to your local parish or town council. The parish council must prepare a budget each year which will cover all necessary expenditure and then the parish council set their precept, which is the total amount they raise through council tax to meet their budget needs. Information on your council tax can be found on the Council Tax information page.

Additional funding

Local councils may also apply for a range of grants from various sources such as lottery funding for a number of specific purposes. Grants can be a useful addition to council income, or can enable projects that may not otherwise be possible. These could range from a grant towards a new playground or the village hall, to a large Heritage Lottery Fund application to purchase and restore a significant community asset.

Parish and town councils represent the community, deliver some services to meet local needs and improving quality of life and community well-being. By providing and maintaining a variety of local services including allotments, car parks, events and festivals, leisure and sports facilities, tourist activities, youth projects and community centres / halls to name a few may also raise additional income and many parish and town councils raise income derived from rents and leases of property they may own. Raising income is a financial responsibility of parishes to reduce the burden on the tax payer and placing it directly on end users.