Budget & Precept 2022/2023

In January the Town Council set the budget for financial year 2022/2023 as follows:

Council Tax Base – The notional number of Band D equivalent properties has risen from 4037.3 to 4133.3 an increase of 96 properties.

Council Tax Figure – for financial year 2022/2023 – the band D equivalent will increase from the current £118.95 to £121.21 (an increase of 1.9% = £2.26).

TC/107/21-22 It was RESOLVED that a precept be issued, requiring Telford & Wrekin Council to pay Newport Town Council £501,000.00 to meet its expenditure for the financial year 2022/23.

Members identified and demonstrated the commitment within the budget setting process of allocating more than £87,000 towards environmental projects.

It is important to understand that this is the Newport Town Council element of the overall council tax bill that residents will have received from Telford & Wrekin Council in early March.  That will comprise additional elements such as Telford & Wrekin Council’s tax bill along with those of the Police and Fire authorities.

The Town Council’s services include the running of the cemetery, allotments, much of the footway lighting, grounds maintenance of St Nicholas Church, Close Circuit Television, Christmas lights and the provision of a Citizen’s Advice Bureau outreach worker.  High Street floral planting and watering of the hanging baskets is largely funded by Newport Town Council.  Significant levels of grant funding have also been made available to local organizations.  Maintaining the Guildhall is a significant cost to the Council as is the provision of the administrative resources that permit the Council to function. Newport Town Council will continue to provide funding to keep the library open and pay for additional police.

Income is generated generally through burials, allotment and room hire (civil ceremonies mostly) fees and offsets a small amount of the overall expenditure.   Fees for Newport residents (e.g., allotments, funerals etc.) have been increased broadly in line with inflation. It should be noted that residents of Newport receive significant concessions on many of the fees charged.

Members noted the RFO’s comments and provided justification of the significant increase for the standard fees for out of area purchase of Exclusive Right of Burial.  There is currently a consultation being undertaken by DEFRA to mitigate ground water contamination in burial grounds and if the recommendations are upheld, the capacity for burial and grave space will be reduced momentously, having a significant impact on all burial authorities. The fees are to be implemented to protect the cemetery and maintain adequate space for the long-term provision of the electorate of Newport – the taxpayers. 

The Town Council holds a significant amount of funds in reserve.  Much of that is earmarked for large ticket items including, on-going maintenance, Cemetery Development, additional parking, Community Building, as well as additional allotment land development.

There were several projects for 2021/22 with an estimated underspend which the Council agreed to be carried forward (which are to be accounted for from general reserves):

Each Committee and the full Town Council had the opportunity through the budget process to recommend budget proposals for consideration which included the following RESOLUTIONS.

Funds carried forward: £30,992

N/L 4352 Canal Maintenance (NTC owned) C/F underspend £2868

N/L 4355 Canal Enhancements C/F underspend £ 12,924

N/L 4358 Environmental Projects C/F underspend (bins) £6000

N/L 4380 Xmas switch on C/F any underspend circa £2000

N/L 4383 Xmas trees C/F any underspend £1100

N/L 4386 Heritage open day – C/F £600

N/L 4387 Floral comp – C/F £500

N/L 4515 Newport Carnival Grant C/F £4000

N/L 4218 Smart Water – C/F £1000

New budget lines £15,000

New budget line Sustainable Newport Grants (Enable Climate mitigation micro grants) £5000

New budget line for HAU Collaboration £5000 – Hydroponics – Allotment Yield survey

New budget line for The Queens Jubilee 2022 of £5000

Budget to EMR transfers at the end of FY 21-22 £54k

N/L 4071 Election Expenses EMR £4k at the end of FY 21/22 for up-and-coming elections in 2023

N/L 4183 Town Council Pathways EMR £50k (previously budgeted) at the end of FY 21/22

EMR Recommendations £65k

Earmark £25k from reserves for Renewable energy projects (e.g. opportunities to catch power via sun to be more sustainable with electricity in the future in particular Public Toilets & Chapel)

Earmark £25k from reserves for Bore hole in Meadow View Road Allotments.

Vire £15k from General Reserves to Ear marked Reserves to explore the possibility of replacing the current lights on Victoria Park.

Current EMR & Managed Funds as at 21/12/2021 = £144,896.06

Proposed new added EMR & Managed Funds = £119,000

2022/ 2023 Budget

Estimates are on the cautious side due to the uncertainty on FY 21-22 and COVID pandemic