Finance
Details about the parish precept, financial regulations and risk assessment, and financial audits
Annual Precept, 2025-26
Keeping Our Parish Thriving: Why we have Increased the Precept
As we plan for the future of our vibrant community, the Parish Council has set its precept (our portion of the Council Tax) at £632,716 for the 2025/26 financial year. For a Band D property, this means an increase of £22.27 per year - less than 50p per week.
This increase ensures we can continue to support the many services and facilities you value, while also preparing for the uncertainties brought by the local government reorganisation in Hampshire. Here’s how your contribution will make a difference:
✅ Investing in the Future:
We’ve developed a financial strategy to secure play provision, ensuring our parks and leisure facilities remain engaging and safe for children and families.
✅ Sustainable Solutions:
Funding will go towards projects like solar PV and battery storage at community buildings, as well as important refurbishments—such as the library roof, Knowle Park pond and bridge, and pathway improvements at New Century Park.
✅ Proactive Planning:
We’ve created a local government reorganisation budget (£32,000) to safeguard community assets in case of urgent transfers of land or assets from Eastleigh Borough Council. This ensures the Parish Council can protect our village open spaces and other assets from new ownership and ensure services remain within local control.
🌳 Protecting What Matters Most 🌳
By making this adjustment to the precept, we’re safeguarding the future of our community—preserving the spaces and services we all cherish, while adapting to an ever-changing local government landscape.
Thank you for your continued support in helping us keep our parish a wonderful place to live, work, and play. Together, we’re building a stronger future!
Payments Over £500
The Local Government Transparency Code (May 2016) recommended that each Town and Parish Council publish information relating to items of expenditure exceeding £500 quarterly.
- Latest report listing items of expenditure exceeding £500 (1 January - 31 March 2025).
Financial Regulations
Financial Regulations set out the framework within which the Parish Council ensures responsible and sustainable management of the Council's finances.
These regulations are reviewed annually by the Finance Committee. Any amendments or variations to the Regulations can only be resolved by the Full Council.
- View Current Parish Council Financial Regulations 2025 and Statement of Internal Controls (to be reviewed in July 2026).
Financial Management Risk Assessment
This document has been produced to enable the Parish Council to assess the risks it faces and satisfy itself that it has taken adequate steps to minimise and mitigate them.
Based on this recorded assessment, the Parish Council will take all practical and necessary steps to reduce or eliminate the risks, insofar as is practicably possible.
These regulations are reviewed annually by the Finance Committee. Any amendments or variations to the Regulations can only be resolved by the Full Council.
- View Parish Council Financial Management Risk Assessment 2025/26 (to be reviewed in July 2025).
All signatures have been redacted from the Annual Governance and Accountability Return in accordance with the Parish Council GDPR Policy. If you want to view the unredacted document you may do so as detailed in our current Publication Scheme (to be reviewed in September 2025)
Financial Audit:
Audit Period 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025
Annual Return
Each year the Parish Council is required to complete and submit an Annual Governance and Accountability Return to its External Auditor. The public have a right to view the Unaudited Submission of the Annual Accounts as well as the Completed Audited Accounts. Please see below for relevant links to 'Notice of public rights and publication of unaudited Annual Governance and Accountability Return' and the 'Notice of Conclusion of Audit below for the access dates.
Internal Audit Report
- Internal Audit Report 2024/2025 (pdf, opens in a new tab)
Full Accounts Report
- Final Accounts Report (pdf, opens in a new tab) and Asset Register for 2024/25 (pdf, opens in a new tab)
Audit Timetable
- Audit Timetable for 2024/245 (pdf, opens in a new tab)
Notice of public rights and publication of unaudited Annual Governance and Accountability Return
- Notice of Public Rights (pdf, opens in new tab)
- Unaudited Annual Governance & Accountability Return 2024/25 (pdf, opens in new tab)
Notice of Conclusion of External Audit
- Conclusion of External Audit (pdf, opens in new tab)
- Public Notice 2023/24 (pdf, opens in new tab)
Previous Financial Audits
Please refer to our Past Reports Page to view records for financial year 1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024 and the previous 5 years.