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Accounts for 2025–26

Tue, 1 Apr 2025 to Tue, 31 Mar 2026

The year in plain words

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.

The figures

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.

See every payment in 2025–26

The figures the council sent to the auditor

Once a year the council fills in a form called the annual return. These are the eleven figures on it, with last year beside each one.

Published on Sat, 5 Sept 2026

Balances brought forward
£171,400
2024–25: £161,400

What the council had in hand on 1 April — last year's Box 7.

Precept or rates and levies
£350,000
2024–25: £335,000

The town's share of council tax, as demanded from the billing authority.

Total other receipts
£62,500
2024–25: £45,000
Other receipts rose because the Pavilion was let for a full season for the first time, and a £12,000 play-area grant landed in this year rather than the last.

Everything else that came in: hall hire, grants, interest, allotment rents.

Staff costs
£148,000
2024–25: £142,000

Pay, employer's National Insurance and pension, and any payroll service fee.

Loan interest and capital repayments
£0
2024–25: £0

Interest and capital paid on any loan the council holds.

All other payments
£239,900
2024–25: £228,000

Everything else that went out, including VAT paid on purchases.

Balances carried forward
£196,000
2024–25: £171,400

Box 1 + Box 2 + Box 3 − Box 4 − Box 5 − Box 6.

Total value of cash and short-term investments
£196,000
2024–25: £171,400

The bank and cash figure at 31 March, reconciled. For a receipts-and-payments council this equals Box 7.

Total fixed assets and long-term investments
£2,201,200
2024–25: £2,201,200

The asset register total — the same figure the land and assets page publishes.

Total borrowings
£0
2024–25: £0

What is still owed on loans at 31 March.

Trust funds held by the council
£0
2024–25: £0

Money the council holds as trustee for something else. Zero for most councils.

What the council said about how it is run

The council answers nine statements each year. Any “no” is explained underneath.

  • Yes — We keep our financial records properly and our statements are ready in time.

  • Yes — We have the controls we need to prevent fraud and error, and we reviewed them.

  • Yes — We followed the law, our standing orders and our financial regulations.

  • Yes — We gave people their chance to inspect the accounts and ask the auditor questions.

  • Yes — We looked at the risks we face and did something about them.

  • Yes — We had an internal audit, by someone independent and competent.

  • Yes — We acted on everything the auditors raised last year.

  • Yes — We told the public about anything since the year end that changes the picture.

  • Not covered — We met our responsibilities as trustee of any trust fund.

Internal audit
Hartley Audit Services · Mon, 18 May 2026
External audit
PKF Littlejohn LLP · Unqualified — nothing to report

The audit, step by step

The law sets three steps. Each one is ticked off here when it is done.

  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

See the audit notices

Papers for this year

2 papers