Wheatley Hill Parish Council approved its budget for 2025-2026 in the sum of £142,384 at a meeting of the Parish Council held on 9 December 2024.
The introduction by Central Government of a Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS) grant which replaced the Council Tax Benefit Scheme significantly changed the calculation of the tax-base upon which Council Tax is calculated. The Parish Council is not financially independent and relies upon Central Government grant support to compensate for the loss of tax-base. The grant support is paid to Durham County Council who then redistribute the grant to parishes.
Durham County Council have advised that they will be reducing the LCTRS grant payment to the Parish Council by 50%, phased in over three financial years, starting in 2024/2025.
The budget requirement of £142,384 is made up of a precept of £136,415 and a LCTRS grant of £5,969.
This is an increase of 13% to the precept which provides the Parish Council with an additional £14,920 to spend.
The Parish Council appreciates an increase of 13% appears high. The figures below demonstrate what a household would have paid in 2024/25 compared to what they will be paying in 2025/26.
Band | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H |
2024/25 | 102.07 | 119.09 | 136.10 | 153.11 | 187.13 | 221.16 | 255.18 | 306.22 |
2025/26 | 115.56 | 134.82 | 154.08 | 173.34 | 211.86 | 250.38 | 288.90 | 346.68 |
Increase | 13.49 | 15.73 | 17.98 | 20.23 | 24.73 | 29.22 | 33.72 | 40.46 |
If you require any further information in relation to the councils budget or precept then please Contact Us