Parish Precept to Rise From April

The village precept, which forms part of the yearly Council Tax Bill and which is set by the Parish Council, is due to rise from April.

At the December meeting of the Parish Council an increased budget for 2026 was set, meaning a rise of approximately £1.63 per month for a Band D Property. In 2025, the precept rose by £2.11 per annum based on the same Band D property, the first increase for three years.

The precept helps cover the cost of parish council administration, maintenance around the village, including grass cutting, and projects such as the Christmas lights, speed calming and signage. Additionally, this coming year, the precept will provide funding for the preparation of the village's Neighbourhood Plan, the go ahead for which was also given by parish councillors at their December meeting.

A questionnaire was made available to villagers after a well attended open meeting in November to discuss the formulation of a Neighbourhood Plan, which, from those returned, indicated that a majority voted in favour. At that meeting it was projected that a sum of between £10-£15k would be required to draw up the Plan and that it was unlikely that there would be any funding available from either local or central government, which is also the case with the precept generally.

Currently, there is no cap on the amount that a Parish Council can raise via its precept, which is essentially a local tax levied by parish and town councils to cover its operational costs and fund services it provides to residents. It is a crucial factor in determining the level of services and amenities that can be offered.

To find out more about exactly what a Neighbourhood Plan is and what its preparation will entail and to read the report on the meeting, please click here.

More information about the Plan can also be found on the Parish Council's own website, please click here.