Precept 2023/24

Published: 11 January 2023

Westbourne Parish Council agreed to set its Precept for financial year 2023/24 at £126,509 at its full council meeting on Thursday 12 January. This sees a rise of 8.7% for a Council Tax Band D property which is an increase of £10.55. The Precept in 2022/23 was £115,437.

Cllr Richard Hitchcock, Chairman of the Parish Council, said: "We have carefully considered our budget for the next financial year to incorporate the inflationary increases we are experiencing across our services and to continue to deliver projects and facilities for the Parish. This is alongside the need to keep the Precept as low as possible given the cost of living pressures many of our residents are experiencing. We are pleased that through our careful planning, we have been able to keep the increase at 8.7%, which is under the current rate of inflation."

A full breakdown of the budget and Precept requirement can be found here. In brief, the Parish Council's Precept will be used in 2023/24 to support the following:

Donations to local organisations to help them deliver vital services to the community
Running of Westbourne Cemetery on Cemetery Lane and the closed churchyard at St John's Church in Westbourne
Maintenance of two recreation grounds and play areas and defibrillators
Maintenance of 30 street lights and electricity
Highways improvements in Westbourne
Westbourne's contribution to the Bourne Heritage Trail and Bourne Community Bus
Communications with residents
Administration costs