FINANCIAL MATTERS

The parish council is able to raise money directly from the public in order to carry out its functions. Its powers to do this are found in Section 150 of the Local Government Act 1972.

This money is raised through the rates and is known as the Precept. It currently represents only about 2% of a householder’s total rates bill. The splits for a band E property are about:

Kent County Council 70 % an increase of 4.9% over 2006

Police Authority 9 % an increase of 5.0% over 2006

Fire Authority 5 % an increase of 3.8% over 2006

Maidstone Borough Council 15 % an increase of 3.0% over 2006

Detling Parish Council 2 % an increase of 1.4% over 2006

Our precept also equates to £36.26 per house or £18.29 per electorate or about 5p per person per day. This coming year we voted to increase our precept to £11,305, this is an increase of £305 over the previous year, in line with inflation as the Councillors are keen to keep the precept as low as possible whilst raising money outside of the Parish for all our projects and schemes.

This precept is only 63% of the parish’s annual income. The other money comes from specific grants and payments from the Borough to undertake named services on its behalf i.e. street sweeping.

Our other main source of income comes from the Borough Council’s Concurrent Functions Fund, this is a fund awarded to the more rural parishes of the Borough to use for a number of local activities and projects. We are able to do many things from this source but are aware that this fund may not be secure for many more years to come.

The councillors have also agreed not to draw general attendance expenses for their work on the parish council and give their time free.

Supporting Notes to Accounts Year Ended 31^st March 2006

Assets - Value over £1,000 only.

Village Hall; insured for £320,250

Bus Shelter; insured for £2,000

Borrowings.

As at the close of business on 31^st March 2006 there were no loans to the Council outstanding.

Leases.

Detling Village Hall is leased to the Detling Village Hall Committee from 1975 until 2025. Rent is one pound per annum.

Car parking spaces at the Village Hall are rented to Kent County Council for ten pounds per annum.

Seeboard Wayleave. £8.19 payable every four years.

Debtors.

VAT £886.43

Creditors

Audit Fees £307

Horish Wood £49,856

Outstanding Cheques.

Amount to £144.24

Tenancies.

None.

Service Expenditure

Concurrent Functions Grant of £5,612.25 received from Maidstone Borough Council.

Advertising and Publicity.

Monthly Newsletter.

Pensions.

The Council made no pension contributions during the year.

Earmarked reserves.

National Savings Account recognised as an earmarked reserve for a recreation field for the Village. This fund was previously been known as the Playing Field Fund.

Concurrent Functions Grant for 2006/2007

Publicity £ 3,316.00

Bus Shelter & Grass Cutting £ 600.00

Administration £ 210.00

Environmental £1,362.00

BALANCE £5,788.00

To balance, this must equal the amount available from Concurrent Functions. It is this money that is NOT guaranteed beyond 2007. (IF NOT SPENT GOES BACK TO SOURCE)