WHAT IS A PARISH PRECEPT? A parish council gets its funding by receiving a small amount of the local Council Tax. This is referred to as the Parish Precept. The Clerk to the Council as the Responsible Financial Officer prepares a budget proposal for the coming financial year to help councillors decide the precept for the following year. This typically happens around November or December. This budget outlines planned expenditure for services like grass cutting, insurance, and staffing, and also includes anticipated income from sources such as rental fees or grants. A budget monitoring document is presented to the councillors at least quarterly throughout the accounting year so that they can assess progress against the planned budget. On 11th November 2025, parish councillors considered a budget sheet showing the Parish Council’s agreed budget for the current financial year; how and where money had been spent over the past year; and whether spending was higher or lower than anticipated. Durham County Council had indicated that the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS) grant payments to local town and parish councils (discounts to those on low incomes) would be withdrawn from 2026/27. In Evenwood and Barony parish, this was £1,142 in the financial year 2025/2026. The Parish Council has set aside a sum of money to donate to good causes in the parish as either a donation (up to £200) or a grant (over £200). The sum allocated is £2,000, available for distribution from 1st April 2026. Members considered a request from the Randolph Social Welfare Centre charity for a grant in the sum of £9,000 by way of a contingency fund to ensure the Welfare Ground is well maintained. It was unanimously agreed to award the sum of £9,000 to the Randolph Social Welfare Centre charity. Members considered a request from the Randolph Community Centre Foundation Trust for a parish grant in the sum of £35,000, supported by the account sheet; auditor's report; and two funding sheets. It was unanimously agreed to award the sum of £5,000 to the Randolph Community Centre Foundation Trust, subject to receiving further satisfactory evidence, specifically bank statements for the last 12 months. The annual budget.was approved and it was agreed that the official precept request for 2026/27 shall be REDUCED by 5% from £65,500 to £62,225.
Published: 14/11/2025 Published by: Evenwood & Barony Parish Council
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