Saltford Parish Council acts according to its ‘Financial Regulations’ to ensure that it is managing its income and spend according to set procedures at all times. SPC’s Financial Regulations are reviewed annually. Saltford Parish Council continues to strive to provide the best value for money for all of the Saltford community.
Parish councils primarily raise money from people in the parish by levying a parish precept which is collected as part of your property rates (B&NES council tax).
For information about how Saltford Parish Council spends its precept, proposed and agreed spend is included under ‘financial matters’ in SPC’s agendas and minutes. The schedule of expenditure and monthly financial report are published alongside the agenda, to be approved at the meeting. Published minutes include copies of monthly financial report and schedules of expenditure.
Precept
Saltford Parish Council spends its precept to provide services which it judges to be necessary or of importance to the community, as well as running costs and costs associated with its assets and responsibilities.
Parish Councils have set minimum level of reserves, which need to be maintained on the advice of the auditor. Due to increase in costs in 2022/23 alongside an unexpected significant spend required on the churchyard walls, Saltford Parish Council required use of its reserves during 2022/23. Due to the churchyard wall works required, this included the Council resolving to go below its minimum recommended levels on the grounds of Health and Safety (and to avoid incurring possible further costs should the walls have deteriorated further if no action had been taken).
Following a draft budget meeting in December 2022, at its January 2023 meeting SPC formally agreed its budget for the 2023/24 financial year. It was resolved that SPC would increase its precept by 20.8% in 2023/24, from £41,005 in 2022/23 to £49,534 in 2023/24. This decision reflected SPC’s position as a fiscally responsible Council, with the change to the precept allowing the Council to meet its costs and to build SPC’s reserves back to recommended minimum levels over three years.
Following receipt of Saltford’s tax base from B&NES Council, an average Band D property (Band D is used as the national comparison) in Saltford will pay £27.08 p.a. e.g. £2.26 per calendar month in 2023/24. This is a £4.55 per year increase for an average Band D property, or an increase of c.38p per calendar month. Although SPC has agreed an increase of its precept of 20.8%, as the Tax Base for Saltford has increased for 2023/24, please note on the Council Tax letter to be received by residents it will translate to an increase of 20.2% for each household.
Saltford Parish Council consistently levies one of the lowest precepts in the B&NES Council area and this position remains the same after the increase in precept for 2023/24. In Bath and North East Somerset there are 44 parish councils, 3 town councils, 3 parish meetings and one village council. Saltford has the seventh largest population out of all the parished areas (according to 2011 census). In 2023/24, as in the previous year, SPC levied the fourth lowest precept for an average Band D property when compared to the c.50 precepted areas in B&NES. The average parish precept for a Band D property in the B&NES Council area for 2023/24 is £49.04, compared to Saltford’s at £27.08. From a national perspective, the average Band D precept charged by Town and Parish Councils for 2023/24 is £78.79.
SPC shares information about its precept on its social media pages (Facebook and Twitter), SPC’s e-newsletter and SCAN page, as well as on its noticeboard. Spend throughout the year is resolved at meetings, which members of the public are welcome to attend and speak on any agenda item. SPC is transparent with all its spend, and follows its ‘Financial Regulations’ to ensure that it is managing its income and spend according to set procedures at all times. For information about how SPC spends its income including the precept, financial matters are recorded in SPC’s full council minutes. Monthly financial reports and schedules of expenditure are publicised at least three clear days before a full council meeting on SPC’s website and noticeboard. Full council minutes subsequently include monthly financial reports and schedules of expenditure (to view these please scroll to the end of each set of minutes).
Saltford Parish Council’s annual accounting statements and audit information can be found below under ‘Audit’.
As a Parish Council, SPC’s accounts must be published, audited and open to public inspection. Each spring an internal audit takes place (carried out by an external company) and the Internal Audit Certificate is signed off for the year’s AGAR (Annual Governance and Accountability Return) known as the external audit. Saltford Parish Council’s annual accounting statements and audit information can be found below.
Annual accounting statements and audit information
2022/23
2021/2022
2020/2021
2019/2020
2018/2019
2017/2018
2016/2017
2015/2016
2014/2015
2013/2014
2012/2013
2011/2012
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a planning charge, payable on new developments, such as housing, supermarkets and hotels. The charge is administered by B&NES Council, and Saltford Parish Council receives a set proportion.
CIL receipts received by Saltford Parish Council are used to serve residents. SPC Councillors resolved to spend income from CIL for ‘enhancing Saltford’s community facilities, amenities, and infrastructure’.
To see how CIL receipts have been spent please view the Annual Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) reports below.
Annual Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Report 2022/23
Annual Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Report 2021/22
Annual Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Report 2020/21
Annual Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Report 2019/20
The Parish Council sets aside a small amount of money each year for financial assistance grants that local groups can apply for to support an initiative or development that would benefit the residents of Saltford. In 2023/24, the entire amount in Saltford PC’s grants budget for all applications received is £1000 (please also see CIL funds, above). SPC receives several grant applications each year.
Please read our Grant Application Guide and Policy to find out more about criteria, conditions and the application process.
If eligible, please complete a Grant Application Form and send it to the Parish Clerk along with the supporting documentation mentioned in the guide and policy.
Receipt of your application form will be acknowledged, and you will be informed of the date of the meeting that it is likely to be discussed at. SPC welcome applicants to meetings to speak in support of their application, and to answer any questions Councillors may have.