The Town Council is open and transparent about the way it manages its finances. This page contains information on the way the Council protects its finances and what it has spent money on.

The council’s finances are monitored on a day to day basis by the Responsible Financial Officer (Town Clerk) and the Finance Committee takes an oversight role for the council budgets whilst each committee also monitors its own income and expenditure.

The Finance Committee also appoints an internal audit working group which assess the internal controls of the Council once a quarter; this covers things such as ensuring payments made have been signed off properly. The council appoints an independent internal auditor who assesses the council’s compliance with relevant legislation and a further audit is carried out by an external auditor appointed independently of the council.

PAYMENTS 2024 Q1
ANNUAL AUDIT REPORTS

THE BUDGET & PRECEPT

The Town Council budget process starts in August each year when the Town Clerk begins preparing draft budgets for each committee. These are then reviewed with the committee chairman and in September/October committees agree a draft budget. The budget is passed to the Finance Committee which in November reviews the amalgamated budget and agrees the draft reserve levels. The committee agrees a recommended budget which is presented to the January Town Council meeting where the budget is agreed and precept is set.

The Town Council receives the majority of its income through the precept; an annual sum of money collected with the Council Tax by Cheshire East Council. The precept is set by the council in January each year and for 2025/26 is £816,860 which amounts to a Band D rate of £132.95 per year (£11.08 per month). The rest of the Council’s income is from rental income, cemetery fees, grants, event income, bank interest and sponsorship.

How the precept is calculated

Projected Bank Balance 31/03/2025 – 429,111 (a)

Budget Income 2025/26 – 219,431 (b)

Budget Expenditure 2025/26 – 1,026,265 (c)

2025/26 Reserves – 439,137  (d)

Precept Required – 816,860 (a+b) – (c+d)

VIEW THE 2025/26 TOWN COUNCIL BUDGET (PDF)

ANNUAL AUDIT REPORTS

The council prepares an annual accounting statement which is externally audited. This summarises the council’s income and expenditure for the year and includes statements from the council’s internal auditor.