Finance

Budget

Every financial year the Council creates a budget for that year’s spending. The budget is split into the following categories:

CategoryDescription
OfficeClerk’s Salary & Pension
Office Services (Electricity, Water, Phone, Alarm etc)
Maintenance & Equipment
AdministrationPostage & Stationary
Reference Books & Training
Meeting Room Hire
Website
Insurance
SubscriptionsSubscriptions to bodies that assist Parish Councils
CommunityGrants
Remembrance Day Wreath
Grit Bins
Library Grant
EnvironmentStreet Lighting
Waste/Litter/Dog Bin Collections
Street Furniture
Hedge & Grass Cutting & Maintenance
Play Area Inspections & Maintenance
Wildlife Allotment Garden
Ash Dieback Fund
Neighbourhood Development PlanFunding the creation of the NDP document
ContingencyAn allowance for unforeseen spending

The current allowances for each budget category are as follows:

2022/2023Budget AllocationChange from 2021/2022
Office£24,661+11.3%
Administration£4,720-1.6%
Subscriptions£1,348+0.4%
Community£4,350+1.2%
Environment£20,540.36+15.3%
Neighbourhood Development Plan£5,0000%
Contingency£2,000+10.6%
Contribution to Reserves£3,661.16+14.4%
£66,280.52+9.7%

Explanation of budget changes – 2022/2023

Cost CentreExplanation
OfficeIncreases in staff costs
Budget allocated to replace office computer
Increased electricity costs
AdministrationSavings in postage and stationary costs due to increased use of technology
Subscriptions
CommunitySlight increase due to cost of Parish Christmas Tree
EnvironmentIncreased street lighting costs
Funding replacement dog bins
Increased grass cutting costs
Significant funding increase for improvements in the Wildlife Allotment Garden
Creation of an Ash Dieback Fund for CAPC owned trees
Neighbourhood Development Plan
ContingencyIncreased uncertainty in costs due to rising inflation
Contribution to ReservesCouncil decided it required a higher amount of reserves to fund future unexpected spending

Funding

Funding for the budget comes from:

  • Income from Council Charges
  • Council Tax Parish Precept
  • Unspent monies from the previous year’s budget

For 2022/2023 the Cold Ash Parish Council Precept is £51,000

Annual Return

Every year the Council’s finances are audited by our internal auditor and by a Government appointed external auditor. The Council’s annual returns are published here every year.

Internal Auditor’s Reports

Notice confirming the dates when Parishioners can exercise their rights to examine the accounts.

Community Infrastructure Levy

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a levy charged on most new development within an authority area. The money is used to pay for new infrastructure supporting the development of an area by funding the provision, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure.

While most of the levy is allocated to West Berkshire Council a percentage is allocated to the Parish Council to spend in the Parish.

The Parish Council has to publish on its website how it spends this money and this information can be found below.