Finance

This section covers the administration of the:

Precept:

This is the Annual Parish Property Tax.  The term Precept describes the amount of money that the Parish Council requires to carry out its business in representing the interests of the residents of Little Bardfield, Oxen End and Hawkspur Green.
The Parish Council Precept is included in the Annual Council Tax Bill that we all pay to Uttlesford District Council and is remitted to the Parish Council in two instalments to our Treasurer's Account.
There are 118 properties with varying levels of occupation, tax band and the occupier’s personal circumstances, all of which are used to calculate that particular property’s Council Tax.
As an example, a link is provided to a table which shows the history of the Precept for a Band F property over a number of years.
It is an itemised breakdown to show the Parish, Uttlesford District Council, Essex County Council, Police, and Fire elements of the total Annual Council Tax Bill.

Annual Return:

This is an Audit under the Annual Governance Accountability Return standards.  An Independent Auditor checks that the Parish Council is operating according to defined guidelines and that its financial transactions are in good order.

End of Year:

This shows records of the statements for the Treasurer's Account, the Community Fund Account and the Register of Assets for a number of past years.

Community Fund:

During our representations with the project management of the Planning Application for a Solar Farm in Hawkspur Green, we secured a contractual undertaking for an annual compensatory payment, known as a Community Benefit, for the whole Parish related to the actual electricity power generated each year for 20 years.  This money is applied to assist with projects of value to the residents of the Parish.
It cannot be used by the Parish Council to supplement its Precept funding or to offset any resident’s local Council tax.
The Parish Council is obliged to annually advise the Solar Farm operators how the money is being spent.
Regrettably, a similar arrangement was not secured with the earlier Solar Farm, also within the Parish, which is situated south of the Bardfield Road near Markswood farmhouse between Little Bardfield and Oxen End.
Details of how to apply for a grant and what grants have been awarded are shown.