Draft Budget for 2015/2016.

Following a meeting of the Parish Council Finance Working Party, a draft budget for 2015-2016 was presented to the full Council for approval.
Whilst overall the projected expenditure of £41,630 is higher than that of the current budget of £37,575 the Council Tax figure will not be known until CWaC provide details of the local area tax base early next month.

The major categories of expenditure are:

• Administration – £22,050. This includes the salary and expenses of the two members of staff, office and printing costs, audit fees, and insurance. This also includes a potential amount of £2,335 for the cost of holding the Parish Council Election in May 2015 – should more than 11 people put their names forward. This cost was previously carried by CW&C
• Grants/Donations and Fees – £5,135. This includes subscriptions to professional bodies, and grants to local organisations of £2,800
• Grounds Maintenance – £800 of which the mowing contract is the largest component
• King George V Playing Field – £6,295. This includes mowing and hedge cutting. The Parish Council also puts away a sum of £2,000 annually for the eventual replacement of play equipment and pays the sum of £1,500 for formal inspection and Maintenance of the play equipment to meet Health and Safety standards.
• General Maintenance – £7,350. This includes the cost of maintaining certain street lights. Included in this category is the Special Projects budget of £2,000 and the Parish Council holds £3,000 in reserve as a contingency fund.

The draft budget does not contain the amount due to the Parish Council from the New Homes Bonus, grant from central government to CW&C for the completion of new houses. 20% of that money is paid to the parishes in which the development takes place. Last year Tarvin received £3,518 and is due to receive £5,705 in the next financial year. It is the policy of the Parish Council to keep this money for special projects and improvements. (See separate article).