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How does the Council manage money?

The Parish Council is responsible for managing public money carefully, openly and in the best interests of the community.

The Council sets a budget each year, decides how money will be spent and regularly reviews its finances throughout the year.

Where Does the Money Come From?

Most of the Council’s income comes from the parish precept.

The precept is the part of Council Tax collected to help fund the services and facilities provided by the Parish Council.

The Council may also receive money from:

  • Grants.
  • Donations.
  • Hire fees and charges.
  • Contributions from other organisations.
  • Income from Council assets and facilities.

Setting the Budget

Each year, councillors agree a budget for the following financial year.

When preparing the budget, the Council considers:

  • The cost of running services and facilities.
  • Planned projects and improvements.
  • Maintenance and repairs.
  • Legal responsibilities.
  • Future financial needs.

The budget helps ensure that money is available for both day-to-day services and longer-term projects.

The Precept

Once the budget has been agreed, the Council decides how much money needs to be raised through the parish precept.

The precept is collected by Cornwall Council as part of Council Tax and then passed to the Parish Council.

The amount paid by individual households depends on the Council’s budget and the Council Tax band of the property.

Spending Money

The Council can only spend money on activities that it is legally allowed to support.

Spending decisions are usually approved by councillors at public meetings.

Examples of expenditure may include:

  • Maintaining community facilities.
  • Grounds maintenance.
  • Repairs and improvements.
  • Community projects.
  • Professional services.
  • Insurance and administration costs.

Financial Controls

A number of checks help ensure that public money is managed properly.

These include:

  • Financial Regulations.
  • Budget monitoring throughout the year.
  • Approval of payments by councillors.
  • Independent internal audit.
  • Annual external review where required.
  • Published accounts and financial reports.

These arrangements help ensure that money is spent appropriately and that the Council remains accountable to residents.

Monitoring the Budget

The Council regularly reviews its income and expenditure throughout the year.

This allows councillors to monitor spending, identify any issues and make informed decisions about future priorities.

Transparency and Accountability

Information about the Council’s finances is published on this website.

Residents can view documents such as:

  • Budgets.
  • Financial reports.
  • Annual accounts.
  • Audit reports.
  • The Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR).

Publishing this information helps residents understand how public money is being managed.

Learn More

You may also wish to read:

  • Budget and Precept
  • Annual Accounts and AGAR
  • Audit Reports
  • Financial Regulations
  • Transparency and Information
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