Budget and Precept

Selborne Parish Council decided on 17 January 2018 to increase its precept (the Parish Council’s share of the Council Tax) by £18,098 for the financial year beginning 1 April 2018.
 It will mean that a Band D household will pay approximately £1.49 per week to finance the Parish Council.

The Parish Council is responsible for providing a range of services and facilities in the Parish. During the period of austerity, it has been prudent with public money using some of its reserves rather than ask for an increase in the precept. Now that the Community Support Grant has been withdrawn and both the District Council and the County Council are putting some of their responsibilities on the shoulders of Parish Councils, there is no option but to increase the precept to cover these costs.

The Parish Council is urgently pursuing the agreed solution for traffic calming in the village, safeguarding the area around the School and the village centre in particular especially given the potential increase in volumes due to major developments in the towns to the north, south and east of the Parish.

The Parish Council is obliged to have regular tree surveys to keep the public safe, and any recommendations have to be carried out; this year’s survey and work cost £3,790.

New legislation is coming along in respect of Data Protection and Transparency Codes with which the Parish Council must comply and which will require all councillors to have extra training.

The Parish Council has responsibility for two recreation grounds. It also provides grants for a number of projects in the Parish: it is anticipated that Oakhanger Village Hall may need an extension and the tennis court in Selborne needs resurfacing.

The Parish Council’s computer, its hardware, software, accounts package and mobile phone need replacing and a mobile PA system is under consideration to enable everyone better to hear what is said at meetings.