Parish Precept 2026-27

At its meeting on 21 January 2026, the Parish Council approved the 2026-27 budget and set a Precept of £92,141 from April 2026 to address rising costs and loss of income. This results in a 4.1% rise, increasing the annual Band D property charge from £69.12 to £71.98. The full budget is available on the website's Finance page.

A Parish Precept, funded by Council Tax, allows parishes to support essential local services. Each parish estimates its needs for the year, dividing the required sum among Band D properties as determined by the Local Borough Authority.

Precept is collected by Dartford Borough Council for parish councils and forms a major part of their funding, as they receive no direct Central Government support.

After the 2018 Boundary Commission Review removed the Fleet Estate Ward (and its precept income) from Darenth Parish, council finances were significantly affected.

Precept funds enable Darenth Parish Council to maintain facilities and provide services such as grounds maintenance, repairs, street lighting, and play areas. The Council also acts as a liaison with local authorities and consults on planning applications, representing the community’s interests.