Finance

The Finance Committee monitors all Council income and expenditure and recommends a budget annually to Council. The Council raises the funds required to meet its budgeted costs through the precept (a mandatory demand) issued on North Somerset Council (NSC). Requested under council tax legislation, the precept covers the Council’s needs for the following financial year which, by law, runs from 1 April to the following 31 March. NSC collects the amount precepted as part of the council tax levied on tax payers in the parish.

At the Council meeting held 17 January 2024 it was agreed to request a precept of £131,976 for 2024/25. This is equivalent to £103.76 for a Band D property.  It should be noted that the remainder and majority of the council tax charge is levied by NSC and the Police and Fire authorities.

The Finance Committee also monitors internal and external auditing and related matters. Financial Regulations govern the conduct of the financial transactions of the Council. The Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) is the Clerk to the Council, who is responsible for the administration of the Council’s financial affairs.

End of Year Report & Audit

The Council must complete an Annual Return summarising its activities at the end of the financial year.  The Annual Return incorporates Accounting statements, an Annual Governance statement, an Internal Audit report and, when completed, an External Auditor’s certificate.

The Annual Return for the financial year ended 31 March 2024 – the period for the excise of public rights to inspect the accounts ended on
8 August.  The Return and those for previous years are available below (in PDF format).  The audited accounts are available for inspection in the office.

Grants

The Council is able to offer limited grant funding to organisations working for the benefit of the community within the parish of Wrington.  Grants are provided from council tax payments and, therefore, the Council has a responsibility to ensure that any funding offered will benefit the local community.  If you would like to apply for a grant please download the grant application form.  If you would like any further information on grants and how to apply please contact us.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge developers must pay the local planning authority (North Somerset Council).  This money is to pay for improving local infrastructure to help the community manage the changes brought about by that development.  The Council receives a 15% share of CIL monies collected by NSC for development within our parish.

CIL Regulations state that a Parish Council must use CIL to support the development of the local council’s area, or any part of that area, by funding: the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure; or anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on an area.  More detailed information on CIL can be found on North Somerset Council’s website.

Town and Parish Councils are required under Regulation 62A of the Community Infrastructure Regulations to report on the income and expenditure of CIL received in each financial year: