January is the time when local parish councils are asked to consider what Precept to request from the Borough Council (Fylde BC), which is then added to the Council Tax bills for residents. The Parish Precept is the only source of funding available for Parish Councils and it is therefore important to get it right.
Much discussion took place at Singleton Parish Council’s meeting held on 24 January, especially on what the Parish Council now provides from this Precept. Up to 31 December 2018 the Parish Council had spent over £19,000 with more committed before the end of March 2019. The main expenditure was as follows:-
Maintenance agreement with Fylde BC for maintaining the Children’s Play Area ….. £3082
Grasscutting Contract ….. £5778
Litter-picking Contract ….. £1800
Clerk’s Salary and Expenses ….. £3145
New equipment for playground ….. £7196
Repayment of loan (taken out for car park) ….. £1775
Flowering tubs (planted twice yearly) ….. £ 714
Insurance ….. £ 697
Mounting of Speed Indicator Device ….. £ 450
Rent of Hall for meetings ….. £ 238
Information received from Fylde BC showed that there would be no Government Grant available for Parish Councils this year and there would be an overall drop in revenue to the Parish Council of £956. In addition to this, the maintenance agreement with Fylde BC for maintaining the Children’s Play Area would increase to £3460 for 2019/20.
After further discussion it was agreed that the Parish Council request a rise in the annual Precept of 5% which would ensure that the Precept payment for 2019/20 would be at a similar level to that granted in 2018/19. This rise has been accepted by Fylde BC.