Setting the budget for 2026/27

The Parish Council has started the process to set the parish precept, the part of your Council Tax that funds the Council’s activities for the community.

At the meeting on Tuesday 25 November, the Council reviewed the costs from this year and discussed what’s likely to be required in the coming year.

Councillors are still working to stabilise the parish’s financial situation after years of under-investment. For more information, read our recent report that shows how the Burlescombe precept has been consistently below average for the last decade.

The Council’s approach to financial responsibility has been effective this year, with our budget proving close to actual spend, while starting to build some reserves (although this is still a fraction of what’s considered best practice).

Key topics and costs the Council must consider in setting the precept are:

• maintaining the old railway line (ORL) permissive footpath.
• looking after Westleigh playpark.
• grasscutting.
• local government reorganisation, which could see assets such as Burlescombe playpark become BPC’s responsibility.
• ensuring the Council continues to build reserves to protect from bankruptcy and plan for the future.

Devon County Council and Mid Devon District Council are advising all Parish and Town Councils to raise their precepts to be able to cope with taking on assets as a result of Local Government Reorganisation.

Our initial assessment is that a small rise in the precept would be required to effectively manage our responsibilities, maintain the parish facilities and exercise financial responsibility. In real terms, this might mean, on average, up to £2 extra per month for a household.

We understand that any rise is unlikely to be welcomed by residents. However, all our discussions with residents over the year – as well as the results of our recent survey – show that people do want to keep our local facilities open and useable, and this isn’t possible without financial investment in their upkeep.

We’ll continue to work to keep costs down. We’ve already secured grants to maintain public rights of way, reduced the cost of the website significantly, obtained support from the quarry for local projects and claimed back previously unclaimed VAT. Councillors also save the community hundreds of pounds a year by undertaking tasks previously done by paid clerks or companies, including website maintenance, and putting up agendas and minutes in noticeboards free of charge. Councillors have also not claimed for any expenses e.g. travel and printing costs.

In the coming year, we’ll look to work with volunteers, to apply for more grants and to collaborate with local businesses, in an effort to minimise spending. Any monies not used in a year help contribute to building our reserves and moving the Parish Council onto a more secure financial footing.

The budget and precept for 2026/27 will be finalised at the BPC meeting on 5 January.

Ahead of that meeting, we’re holding a drop-in session for residents to come and talk to us and ask any questions they may have, about the precept or anything else. Just pop by Burlescombe & Westleigh Community Hall from 7–8pm on Thursday 4 December.

As always, you can also email clerk@burlescombeparishcouncil.gov.uk if you have questions, concerns or topics to raise with us. You can also find the latest minutes, reports and news here on our website.