04 November 2026
Improvements are under way at the Bothal Gateway feature on the A197 Morpeth Road, one of the main routes into Ashington. While the work is still in progress, people travelling along Morpeth Road may already have spotted some changes.
A new boundary wall has been built by a local contractor, Stuart Howard, funded by ward councillors Scott Amery, Lynne Grimshaw and Bob Walkinshaw through the ward environmental enhancement budget.
The Town Council created the ward environmental enhancement budget in 2023/24, with funding allocated to each ward in that year and again in 2024/25. Wards with funding remaining have carried their balances forward. The Bothal Gateway is a piece of land the Town Council already maintains, so the scheme was a straightforward way to make a visible difference. Where ward councillors want to create new spaces or take on new areas of responsibility, those proposals come to Council for approval.
Since then, Ashington Town Council’s Neighbourhood Services Officer, Ryan, has prepared the ground ready for planting in the spring, added some new stone features and returned suitable plants to the site.
There’s still more to do, and the gateway will really come into its own once it is fully planted up next year. In the meantime, keep an eye out for the bulbs, which will add a welcome splash of colour until then.
Ashington Town Council's budget is primarily funded by the council tax precept paid by the town's residents, along with additional income from allotments, VAT reclaims, grants, and any balances carried over from the previous year. The council follows a structured process for setting its budget, beginning in November with a draft proposal presented at a budget meeting in January, where the final budget and precept demand are agreed upon.
The precept demand is the amount collected by Northumberland County Council from Ashington's council taxpayers on behalf of the Town Council, which is then transferred to the Town Council in two installments over the financial year. In addition to budgeted spending, the Town Council maintains a General Reserves & Contigency fund to address unforeseen circumstances and aims to increase its Earmarked Reserves Fund to ensure proper maintenance and development of its assets in the future.
While local councils have few statutory duties, they possess specific powers granted by legislation, allowing them to choose the discretionary services they wish to provide. Ashington Town Council exercises these powers to fund various activities outlined in the government's "Powers and Duties" list, even though many of these activities are not statutory duties (except for the provision of allotments).
The council's expenditure must be supported by a statutory power of expenditure, and a monthly payment schedule detailing the relevant power is presented to the Finance and General Services Committee. These payment schedules, along with the updated Budget & Expenditure, are available for public viewing.
If you have any questions regarding the council's financial governance, budget, or specific spending throughout the year, please feel free to contact us.
Click on the link below to view the updated Budget & Expenditure, and also the schedule of accounts paid and to be paid each month.
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Schedule of Accounts
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04 November 2026
Improvements are under way at the Bothal Gateway feature on the A197 Morpeth Road, one of the main routes into Ashington. While the work is still in progress, people travelling along Morpeth Road may already have spotted some changes.
A new boundary wall has been built by a local contractor, Stuart Howard, funded by ward councillors Scott Amery, Lynne Grimshaw and Bob Walkinshaw through the ward environmental enhancement budget.
The Town Council created the ward environmental enhancement budget in 2023/24, with funding allocated to each ward in that year and again in 2024/25. Wards with funding remaining have carried their balances forward. The Bothal Gateway is a piece of land the Town Council already maintains, so the scheme was a straightforward way to make a visible difference. Where ward councillors want to create new spaces or take on new areas of responsibility, those proposals come to Council for approval.
Since then, Ashington Town Council’s Neighbourhood Services Officer, Ryan, has prepared the ground ready for planting in the spring, added some new stone features and returned suitable plants to the site.
There’s still more to do, and the gateway will really come into its own once it is fully planted up next year. In the meantime, keep an eye out for the bulbs, which will add a welcome splash of colour until then.
