The principle income of the Parish Council is the "precept". Parish Councils may raise a ‘precept’ on the council tax bills produced by their local billing authority (in this case North Yorkshire Council). This is essentially a demand for a sum to be collected through the council tax system. Council tax-payers cannot refuse to pay it, and the billing authority (North Yorkshire Council) cannot refuse to levy it. It is the only source of tax revenue available to parish councils. It is used to help pay for the upkeep of the village and other projects the Parish Council wishes to undertake for the benefit of the community (subject to it have in the legal power to do so). For example the grass cutting on the village greens in the village.

This section of the website contains financial information about Burton Leonard Parish Council. 

The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 abolished the Audit Commission and repealed section 1 of the Audit Commission Act 1998. It established new arrangements for the audit and accountability of local public bodies, such as Parish Councils. The intention of the Act was to open Parish Council affairs to public scrutiny whilst removing the costly burden of full annual audits.

Therefore smaller authorities (including parish councils) are exempt from a full annual (external) audit (i.e. by the Audit Commission). Instead, smaller authorities are subject to the Transparency Code for smaller authorities, issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government.  This code requires that “relevant information about the authorities’ accounts and governance” is made available to local electors and ratepayers. It (the Transparency Code) can be found at :-https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7ef9cae5274a2e87db311f/Transparency_Code_for_Smaller_Authorities.pdf

On the sub-pages with the relevant years is historic information regarding the financial affairs of Burton Leonard Parish Council. Please click on the document link to view the information.

• 2016-17 Accounts and Audit
• 2017-18 Accounts and Audit
• 2018-19 Accounts and Audit
• 2019-20 Accounts and Audit
• 2020-21 Accounts and Audit
• 2021-22 Accounts and Audit
• 2022-23 Accounts and Audit