Financial Report for the year 2024/2025
Income
The Precept for 2024/2025 was set at a Band D property of £46.06, which equates to a Precept of £12,076
The other source of income for Hickling Parish Council is the Cemetery which this year saw an increase in activity and generated an income of £4124.50.
Reserves
Historically the Parish Council had monies in the reserve account, the balance of which was £5303.20 at year-end. This is ring-fenced for signage at Lengthmen’s Hut, replacement of defibrillators expected in 2027 and Walker’s Green.
Expenditure
The Parish Council has items of expenditure that are paid annually, these include the insurance (£463.42), financial audit (£50), Information Commissioner’s Office (£35) – (which is the data protection fee), membership to National Association of Local Councils (£148.80) and the Society for local Council Clerks (£120) website hosting (£390) and the inspection report for the play equipment on Walkers’ Green (£93.60). Training sessions for the clerk totalled £45 this year, lower than last year as NALC have been providing free lunch and learn sessions that the Clerk has made use of this year. The cost for hiring the village hall for meetings was £110 this year.
Grants have been given to various village organisations: the Hickling Standard (£500)
Hickling History Group (£300). Donations were also to the village hall committee to help fund the village Christmas party (£600) and to purchase some new Christmas lights for the village tree (£120).
New electrode pads for defibrillators this year totalled £49.95 defibrillators are checked each month by the Clerk. A new grit bin to aid ice clearing at the North end of the village was purchased this year (£155) and placed near the Old Wharf building.
To celebrate the King’s coronation and the 70th anniversary of the Hickling WI two tree plaques were purchased (£250). A grant for the coronation plaque was received from RBC in the last financial year. A new laptop for the Clerk was bought this year funded by grants received from NCC and RBC (£200 from each). New lamp post poppies and a remembrance wreath were purchased from RBL this year at a total cost of £102.40. The PC also marked the 80th anniversary of D-day with the flying of a D-day flag costing £24.
Quarterly expenditure is paid for the maintenance of Walkers’ Green and the Cemetery. The Cemetery and Walkers’ Green is maintained by a contractor on a three-year contract (to be renewed in 2026) with an annual cost of approximately £3000. The Clerk’s wages are paid monthly, together with the expenses.
For small parish councils VAT is recoverable at the end of the financial year, which for Hickling Parish Council will be approximately £800.
All financial information is available on the website.