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Your council

Accounts and audit

Each year the council adds up its money and an outside auditor checks it. For a few weeks each summer you have the right to look at the books yourself. This page shows every step and every date.

Financial year

2025–26

We raised £412,500, mostly from the precept — the town's share of council tax. We spent £387,900. The biggest costs were the parks, the Town Hall and staff.

Money in
£412,500
Money out
£387,900
Kept in reserve
£196,000
Money kept back for a rainy day or a big job.

£24,600 more came in than went out.

The audit, step by step

  1. Step 1: The council approves the annual return

    Done

    Councillors check the year’s figures at a public meeting and sign them off.

    Approved on Tue, 9 Jun 2026

  2. Step 2: You can inspect the accounts

    Done

    For 30 working days anyone can look at the books. The dates must include the first ten working days of July.

    Mon, 15 Jun 2026 to Fri, 24 Jul 2026

    Notice put up on Fri, 12 Jun 2026

  3. Step 3: The auditor finishes

    Done

    The outside auditor sends a report. The council must publish it, with a notice that the audit is over.

    Published on Sun, 30 Aug 2026

Open the 2025–26 page

Precept
The town’s share of your council tax. It is most of the council’s income.
Annual return
The yearly form where the council adds up its money and says how it is run. Its full name is the Annual Governance and Accountability Return.
Public rights
Your right to look at the accounts and the papers behind them, and to ask the auditor questions, for 30 working days each summer.
Reserves
Money kept back — for a rainy day, or saved up for a big job.