Financial Information

West Hoathly Parish Council raises and spends money for the benefit of the local community. Much of the income comes from the Precept which is the element of a resident's Council Tax that is paid to West Hoathly Parish Council.

Every year, the Parish Council draws up budgets and calculates how much money it needs for the next Financial Year. Budgets are usually finalised at the January Parish Council meeting and then the required precept amount submitted to Mid Sussex District Council.

Mid Sussex District Council co-ordinate the demands from the Parish Council, West Sussex County Council, Sussex Police and themselves and issue the Council Tax bills to be paid from 1st April each year.

Since householders must pay Council Tax the Parish Council needs to be be accountable for where its proportion of the money goes and for providing sound financial management.

The Local Government Transparency Code 2015 (the code) came into effect on 1 April 2015. The code is issued by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in exercise of powers under section 2 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, and replaces any previous codes issued in relation to authorities in England under those powers.

The code does not replace or supersede the existing framework for access to and re-use of public sector information provided by the:

• Freedom of Information Act 2000 (as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012)
• Environmental Information Regulations 2004
• Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005
• Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community regulations 2009
• Sections 25 and 26 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 which provides rights for persons to inspect a local authority's accounting records and supporting documentation, and to make copies of them.

Further details of the Parish Council's budgets for the year ending 31 March 2023 can be obtained from the Parish Clerk.

To ensure sound financial management, West Hoathly Parish Council has a set of financial policies and procedures that it follows.

Parish Councils do not value Assets using the notion of depreciation. The Asset Policy highlights how the Parish Council assets are valued.