STRATEGY POLICY AND FINANCIAL ANNUAL REP ORT

BUDGET 2024/25
1. The Parish Councils budget for 2024/25 was £206,048.50 which is an
increase of £30,130 on the budget of 2023/24.
The determination of the precept in accordance with the statutory formula
provides a sum of £148,000 as the Council Tax requirement in 2024/25.
Whilst this is the, same sum as the previous year, it amounts to a decrease of
1.32% in the council tax requirement due to an increase in the council tax
base for Band D payers the sum required is £127.62, a saving of £1.71.
2.SPF (General)

There have been some significant variances in the individual budget heads of
this committee in 2024/25. Bank Interest anticipated to be £2,000 has turned
out to be £12,350 which when offset against expenditure provided a windfall
of £10,350. However, Contingencies with a budget of £5,000 has resulted in
expenditure of £22,096 due to a number of unforeseen/unbudgeted
eventualities, including part payment of the sit-on mower (for the balance
beyond the insurance settlement), insurances costing more as a result of the
claim, valuation of the Red Lion estate, legal fees relating to the car park
dispute and the acquisition of the Congregation Church and the Media
consultancy.
Despite these variances, the total spend of the SPF Committee amounted to
£63,696, an overspend of £1,596 which had it not been for all the
contingencies would have been a comfortable, though not excessive
underspend.
2. SPF (Grants)
Throughout this financial year the grants budget has been impeded due to a
large award made at the end of the previous financial year but not paid until
the current year, which has distorted this year’s budget. Awards against the
budget of £15,000 have remained generally consistent with those in previous
years but the impediment of the above payment has resulted in an overall
overspend of £675.

3. CIL Awards

£20832 to the Parish Council Cricket club Project – 25% of the fixed contract price.

Up to £25000 to the Parish Council Project in support of the East Bergholt Tennis
Club.

£12000 made to Playing Fields to discharge the cost of the survey of the playing field
pitches against future flooding.

4. Grant Aid

£6146 from reserves earmarked for the estimated cost of cladding materials in
connection with the Parish Council project in support of the East Bergholt Bowls
Club.

£250 to the River Stour Trust to buy materials to deal with a second breach.

£750 East Bergholt Christmas Parade and Market.

5. The lease for the Parish Office expired 31 December 2024. A new three year lease
was proposed

6. Unallocated reserves to amount to 50% of the precept (£74000). The remaining
unallocated reserves £159548 to be earmarked against the published parish Council
priorities 2024/25.