Parish Precept

5. To answer any questions from the general public.

b: In view of the rosy financial picture depicted in the Accounting Statements for 23/24, why did the Parish Council see the need to increase the precept at all this year—let alone by 12%, when both Elmbridge and Surrey increased their council taxes by just 3%? Total Cash, for example, rose from £60k in the previous financial year to £131k in 23/24. Total non-precept Receipts rose from £4.5k to £78k. Cllr Holt explained that the Precept had been unchanged for eight years before the increase was put in place, making money extremely tight indeed for core services, especially following the high levels of inflation we have recently experienced.

(extract from Parish Council meeting, 7th November 2024, item 5)

PARISH LEVY RISES AFTER EIGHT YEARS AT SAME LEVEL

The amount residents pay to Claygate Parish Council has remained unchanged for eight years but this is now eroding its ability to continue providing benefits to the community. The Parish Precept – an annual levy raised on all council tax payers based on the value of their property and their means – is therefore to rise by 12 per cent.

It might sound a large increase, but the numbers are relatively small. For a Band D equivalent property, the Parish Council Precept rate will be £15.85 a year from April 2024. And all money collected for the Parish Precept is spent in Claygate, by Claygate residents, for Claygate residents.

How will this money be spent? For 2024/25 the Parish Council budget of £65,404 (funded via the Precept and a £5,412 release from reserves) has been allocated as follows:

• £31,409 to run the Parish Council, including the Parish Clerk’s salary, training, and insurance.
• £11,282 to run Parish Council Elections in May 2024.
• £9,377 to Environment, Highways and Transport. This covers additional maintenance of six prime Village Highway Garden Sites above the sum Surrey County Council provides – including The Green and the Foley Road Triangle, as well as summer and winter hanging baskets and trough displays.
• £5,334 on Grants and Public Projects.
• £6,000 on communications, which includes the Courier newsletter publications and website.
• £2,000 to Planning, allowing councillors to access consultants (if required) to support protection of the Green Belt and advise on potential 5G mast installation.

source: Claygate Courier, March 2024 issue, page 6