1 What is the ‘PRECEPT’?
Each year, at this time, the Parish Council needs to set the amount of money/revenue that needs to be raised to help meet outgoings/running costs for the forthcoming year across the Parish and so the council will issue a request for a contribution, which is known as the local ‘Precept.’
2 How is the ‘PRECEPT’ arrived at?
The Parish Council together with the Finance Officer (Parish Manager) work out the income/funds required for the forthcoming year in the form of a Budget. The budget is based on previous year’s expenditure, anticipated costs [including inflation], extra increased costs for products and services, changes in legislation, etc.
This is then converted into an amount per Council Tax Band that is added onto the general Council Tax demand. In Leicestershire, this is set on the average of Band D properties within the Parish and added to the overall Council Tax bill. It should be noted that the number of Band D equivalent properties varies each year as a result of new homes being built, old ones being demolished, properties becoming empty or second homes, boundary changes. (Note – see also below Who Pays section).
Please note that the Budget Forecast for April 2026 – March 2027 is available upon written request to the Parish Manager or on council’s website https://www.oakthorpedonisthorpeandacresfordpc.gov.uk/Finance_47779.aspx under this year’s budget.
Who needs to pay the ‘PRECEPT’?
All Residential owners/households need to contribute to the overall running costs of facilities and services provided by your Council. i.e. all dwellings that fall within the Parish area.
However, the number who pays is also affected by the level of people eligible for discounts and council tax reduction.
3 How is the ‘PRECEPT’ raised?
The ‘Precept’ is collected by Northwest Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) within the Council Tax levy and can be paid by a variety of methods, usually with instalment payments spread across the year to your own Council Tax Account. The local authority (NWLDC) then disperse – in two payments in April and September to the local Parish Council to spend as required and appropriate.
How much ‘PRECEPT’ are we going to pay this year 2025/2026? Will it be more or less than the last financial year?
The Council is requesting a 26% increase [from 2025-2026] of £26,731 for the 2026-2027 Precept. Whilst this is an increase on last year, it is very necessary for the Council to meet its fiscal obligations in the forthcoming year to remain financially viable.
What will this mean for householders/property owners? The increase has been kept to a minimum, to be proportionate and to be affordable.
The increase of £26,731 divided by the number of Band D properties [based on 2025/2026 figures provided by NWLDC] calculates to an increase of
£27.93 per annum or £2.63 per month or £0.54p per week
[If the number of Band D properties goes up then the amount due from households will do down.]
ACTUAL EXTRA TO BE PAID IN 2025/26
| 2026/2027 | | £136.94 | |
| 2025/2026 | | £112.30 | |
| |
| increase Per Ann | £24.64 |
£136.94 - £112.30 = £24.64 increase
£136.94 / 12 = £2.06 increase per month
| £136.94 | £2.64 | per week |
| 52 |
6 Reasons why there is a ‘Precept’ increase
• Unlike the larger District and County Councils the Parish Council receives no funding from Central Government of Business Rates, so the net cost of its services is funded entirely from rate payers. This year’s Council tax increase equates to a Council tax Band D amount of £27.93 which represents an increase of 26% from the current year figure.
• Soaking up extra costs on unexpected incidents which could not be foreseen.
• Increase to Insurance cover to protect the parish assets.
• Maintenance, repairs, and replacements have been included to ensure Parish assets are kept in good condition and fit for purpose.
• Inflation normally fluctuates throughout the year, so it is quite acceptable and realistic to build in/anticipate price increases across the vast range of services, personnel, and products that the Council must access in order to maintain a decent standard of service for the benefit of the community. Due to the rise in National Insurance and continuing economic uncertainty, anticipated increase in costs have needed to be accounted for.
• It should be noted that Parish councils do not have a cap placed on their requests for funds/Precept and this enables ODAPC to make this – decision in order to keep our finances healthy to provide a sensible level of services to the Parishioners.
• Audit expectations – increase to council reserves. Council is expected to action the recommendations of the external audit.
• Predicting the unknown future – with devolution council is expecting to take on work from NWLDC when devolution happens in 2027/28 but at present all stakeholders do not know what this will look like.
• Council is aware of the need to be open and transparent to the ratepayers of this parish in making this request for an increase to the ‘Precept,’ in order that they will see that Council is stating quite clearly the amount of funds required to execute a budget that is realistic and fair in today’s economic climate. The Council appreciates it is not alone in this plight.
7 What does the ‘PRECEPT’ get used for/spent on?
The funds collected are divided out to cover a variety of costs, e.g.
| General Costs | Parish Assets | Miscellaneous |
| • Administration/ • Office • IT Support • Subscriptions • Insurance • Grants • Training • Salaries & associated costs – • NI/Pensions • Audit fees • Repairs & • Maintenance • Servicing costs | • Maintenance costs of;- - The Parish Leisure Centre (now run by private company). - Orchard - Open green spaces - Cemetery (shared with Ashby Woulds Town Council) - Benches - Memorial Gardens - Planters | • Defibrillators -acquiring and maintaining • Motor Vehicle Activated Sign (MVAS) -acquiring and maintaining • School Awards • Community Awards • Lamp post poppies • Maintaining Silhouette Soldiers • Donation to Royal British Legion • Memorial Gardens Ongoing projects • Legal Fees • Saving for new playground equipment, election costs, IT equipment, the future. |
| Extra-ordinary/ unexpected costs/ incidents | • Tree removal (ongoing) • Fence replacement • Surveys – Land & trees • Path re-surfacing – accessible (Orchard completed) |
| Contingency | • The council seeks to be economically viable in order to build reserves for the protection of council funds and the call that may be made upon them. • The Council is advised to keep at least 6 months running costs in reserve throughout the year. • Council started building reserve funds in 2021. They have not yet reached the recommended level. The annual full audit flagged this as an issue in the last audit 2025 report. |
The Parish Council continues to maintain several open space areas including, Donisthorpe Playing Field, The Parish Memorial Gardens, The Parish Orchard, Oakthorpe Children’s fenced play area, Acresford Green & Memorial Grounds.
The council is taking over responsibility from NWLDC in 2026/27 for maintenance of the two play areas in Donisthorpe.
Financing of Projects - proposals to enhance the Parish Environment for the benefit of the residents, will be through any Grant Funding which may be applied for from various sources [although this is not guaranteed] and from Reserves where possible.
The Parish Council’s income is generated through its land hire and building rental. During recent years, the income steams were impacted leading to the leisure centre closing.
Oakthorpe Leisure Centre is now being run privately (February 2022) although the council owns the building and grounds.
If council were still running the centre, then the precept would have needed to increase significantly due to the increase in running costs.
Due to devolution ODAPC is expecting services to be devolved from LCC & NWLDC especially in the areas of foot paths and roadside highway maintenance, but exactly what extra services council will need to provide is yet unknown.
Council and Committee meetings are open to the public and you are invited to contact the Manager, Mrs Kelly Grove, or a Member of Council for more insight into the role of Councillor. There is one vacancies on the Parish Council, which will be filled before the end of 2025/26 financial year. there will be elections in May 2027 for a 4-year term with 8 councillor spaces available. The elected councillors will represent the parish as a whole. You may make an expression of interest to the Manager, Kelly Grove, who will be happy to provide you with more details of the role.
Agenda and Minutes may also be viewed via the following link:
https://www.oakthorpedonisthorpeandacresford-
pc.gov.uk/Full_Council_47993.aspx
For further information please contact the Parish Manager Office between 9am-12 Noon Monday-Wednesday. 01530 610 357
There is an answer phone – please leave a message and your call will be returned. Or email
manager@oakthorpedonisthorpeandacresford-pc.gov.uk
| Draft Budget 2026-2027 |
| | | Budget 2025-26 | Budget 2026-27 |
| Income | Precept | £104,317 | £131,048 |
| | Other | £1230 | £1430 |
| | Total | £105,547 | £132,478 |
| |
| Administration | £52,150 | 57,228 |
| | | | |
| Community Initiatives | £5147 | £5,400 |
| | | | |
| Land & Property | £21,950 | £27,050 |
| | | | |
| Election Costs | £2000 | £1500 |
| | | |
| Section 137 | £800 | £1000 |
| Allows local authorities, including parish and town councils, to spend money on projects that benefit their communities when no other specific statutory power exists. | | |
| | | | |
| Donisthorpe Cemetery | £7,000 | £6,300 |
| | | | |
| Reserve Pots/ Asset Protection Funds | | |
| | PC reserves | £3,000 | £10,000 |
| | Building Asset funds | £3,000 | £10,000 |
| | IT Equipment | £600 | £1000 |
| | Memorial Grounds Project | £2,000 | £2,000 |
| | MVAS | £1500 | £5,000 |
| | Bench – service memorial | £2,400 | £1000 |
| | Playground Equipment | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| | Legal | £0 | £1,000 |
| | Grounds | £3,000 | £3,000 |
| | | | |
| Total Expenditure | £105,547 | £132,478 |