Budget And Expenditure 2026/27

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 & Contingency 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. You can also view the Powers and Duties document for further information.