Overview

Parish councils manage public funds through structured budgeting, financial oversight, and statutory reporting to ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with legal requirements.

Parish councils are responsible for managing public money effectively, including precept income collected from local taxpayers and other sources of funding. Councillors, alongside the Clerk  / Responsible Financial Officer (RFO), play a key role in setting budgets, monitoring expenditure, and ensuring compliance with legislation and governance standards. Councils must maintain a sound system of financial control to prevent fraud, manage risk, and facilitate the delivery of local services

Budgeting and Precept

Each year, councils prepare detailed estimates of receipts and payments, including the use of reserves and funding sources. These estimates form the annual budget, which councillors review and approve before setting the precept—the portion of local taxes allocated to the council.

Financial Oversight and Reporting

The Clerk / RFO administers the council’s financial affairs, maintaining accounting records and control systems in accordance with proper practices. Councillors regularly receive statements comparing actual expenditure to budgeted amounts, enabling them to monitor financial performance throughout the year. Councils must also conduct an annual review of internal controls and prepare the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) for audit purposes.

Transparency and Public Accountability

Parish councils are required to publish financial documents, including budgets, accounts, and audit reports, to allow local electors to inspect them and submit questions or objections. This ensures public scrutiny and accountability for the use of council funds. Councils must comply with the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 and the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 when preparing and auditing accounts.

Whilst Financial documents have been published under their financial year for the year 2025/26 onwards, the information from past audits / accounts is available on request from the Parish Clerk.