Finance

The Council’s Finances

Parish Councils vary in size. Some represent a few hundred people; others represent communities of over 50,000 people. Budget and staffing levels are proportionate to the size of the community and number of residential properties being served.

​Prestbury Parish Council can only spend, raise, or use money if it has a statutory power to do so. It has a wide range of powers under different Acts of Parliament, most of which are discretionary. The exercise of these powers may depend on other bodies, for example, the owner of land or another public body such as the Highways Authority.

Prestbury Parish Council raises money primarily through the precept which is a tax levied on the Prestbury household abd which is facilitated by Cheshire East Council. The precept required is collected by Cheshire East Council as part of the Council Tax.

Prestbury Parish Council has to prepare a budget by mid January each year for the ensuing financial year which runs from 1 April to 31 March. The budget is used to determine the precept.

Payments and receipts are listed in every set of Full Council minutes.  Council accounts are available for scrutiny by any resident by appointment with the Clerk of the Council.