A parish council is permitted by law to request a sum of money called the precept from each household in its area. The precept is added on to the amount on the council tax bill which is sent out by Warrington Borough Council. In the financial year from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 each household in Stockton Heath paid an average of £56.57 per year (less for Band A, B and C properties and more for Bands above D). This money is used to provide a range of additional services provided directly by the parish council. These services include maintenance of Ackers Pit and Mill Lane Jubilee Field; providing a daily cleaning service by a Parish Ranger; planting of spring and summer flowers in the planters through the shopping streets and benches and litter bins across the parish.
The council starts thinking about how much money it needs in October, reviewing the annual action plan and thinking about services and projects for the next year. Research on possible costs is then undertaken and the amounts needed to carry out the plans are forecast and presented to the full council for consideration and approval by December or January.
The budget proposal for Finacial Year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 was presented to the full council in December 2023:
Budget Proposal Narrative 2024/25
The request for the precept amount (for 2024/25 this is £56.57) is then sent to the borough council who send out the council tax bill to households in March. The money collected by the borough council is usually received into the parish council’s bank by mid-April.
Public money needs to be accounted for and the parish council submits to scrutiny each year, firstly by appointing an auditor to review the accounts (internal audit) and then by completing the necessary procedures for scrutiny by a government appointed body (external audit). The links below will allow you to see a summary of the council’s financial reports. Monthly expenditure is published as part of the minutes of the Planning, Finance and General Purposes Committee (click the Minutes tab above).
If you have any questions about the financial aspects of the council, use the contact tab at the top.
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