2026/2027 Precept
Click here to open a PDF version of the statement below.
Precept Setting
The budget process sets out expected income and expenditure for the next financial year. This determines the sum the council is required to raise from resident contributions (precept), which is calculated by deducting the expected income from the expected expenditure. It does not set a % increase.
For the FY26/27 budget that figure is £43,056. This is less than 14% of the council’s total income as it has other significant income streams.
A change to the boundaries for parishes in the borough agreed in January 2026 following consultation resulted in a decrease of households in the parish. The effect is that fewer households are contributing to the parish precept so each must pay a slightly higher amount and is showing as a 10.7% increase to the precept on your council tax bill (with the previous boundary it would have been 4.54%), in actual terms this is an additional precept ranging from £1.40 per year for a Band A property to £4.19 per year for a Band H property.
For comparison Swallowfield has the 3rd lowest precept in the borough (those households moving to Arborfield will pay 140% more than if they’d stayed with Swallowfield but will see it as a 0% increase on their bills). Our Band D precept is £37.44, the lowest in the borough is £31.00 and the highest is £117.09
Summary
Expenditure £311,373
less Income from other sources £258,617
Difference between income and expenditure £52,756
less Money set aside in earmarked reserves £9,700
(for specific projects)
FY26/27 precept for Swallowfield Parish Council £43,056
This figure is then apportioned across all households in the parish according to the council tax band their property sits in. The rates set can be found on the Wokingham Borough Council website at 2026/2027 Council Tax Bands for Wokingham Borough
Civility & Respect
IN COLLABORATION WITH SLCC, NALC, OVW, COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS
Swallowfield Parish Council has signed up to the Civility & Respect Pledge
Transparency
A list of all payments can be found in the minutes of the meetings which can be found here.
Governance and Policies
There are strict rules which govern how the Council is managed. Statutory documents relating to these rules are available below.
Freedom of Information Act
Publication Scheme under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
The purpose of this publication scheme is to be a means by which the Council can make a significant amount of information available routinely. The scheme will ensure that the council will publish more information proactively, and help it to develop a greater culture of openness and transparency.
This authority’s key responsibilities are to represent the electorate of its area, to take action within the legal framework and to provide a leadership focus for the community.
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 received Royal Assent on 30th November 2000. It gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, sets out exemptions from that right and places a number of obligations on public authorities. A ‘public authority’ is defined in the Act, and includes but is not restricted to central and local government, non-departmental public bodies, the police, the National Health Service, and schools, college and universities. Any person who makes a request to a public authority for information must be informed whether the public authority holds that information and, subject to exemptions, supplied with that information.
Individuals already have the right of access to information about themselves under the Data Protection Act 1998. As far as public authorities are concerned, the Freedom of Information Act will extend this right to allow public access to all types of information held. New legislation came into force in 2008 requiring that Town/Parish Councils adopt a mandatory publication scheme to be operational from 1st January 2009. Further details are available from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) website.
Powers and Duties
The Parish Council does not have major powers to carry out policies but it is able to advise and put pressure on the larger authorities in respect of the future development and condition of the Civil Parish area. The Council is also able to organise, within the confines of its budget, schemes to improve the social life of the Parish. The document below details the legislation under which a Parish Council can act.
Download Powers & Duties of a Parish Council (PDF, 650kb)
The below documents can be printed for reference, but cannot be altered, and are published in accordance with Crown Copyright regulations.
Policies
- Download 1.1 Standing Orders (PDF, 369kb)
- Download 1.2 Financial Regulations (PDF, 414kb)
- Download 1.3 Risk Management Policy & Risk Assessment (PDF, 265kb)
- Download 1.4 Grants, Donations & Financial Support (PDF, 127kb)
- Download 1.5 Sale of Land (PDF, 61kb)
- Download 1.6 Tree Management (PDF, 103kb)
- Download 1.7 Code of Conduct for Councillors (PDF, 175kb)
- Download 1.8 Social Media (PDF, 136kb)
- Download 1.9 Investment Strategy (PDF, 152kb)
- Download 1.10 CCTV Policy (PDF, 146kb)
- Download 1.11 Filming Recording Reporting of Council Meetings (PDF, 125kb)
- Download 3.1 Model Publication Scheme (PDF, 300kb)
- Download 3.2 Publication Scheme (PDF, 187kb)
- Download 3.3 Communications Policy (PDF, 163kb)
- Download 3.4 IT Policy (PDF, 214kb)
- Download 3.5 Accessibility Statement (PDF, 199kb)
- Download 4.1 Public Participation at Meetings (PDF, 119kb)
- Download 4.2 Complaints Procedure (PDF, 63kb)
- Download 4.3 Councillor Co-Option (PDF, 181kb)
Climate Change
Annual Return 2024/2025
- Download 2024/25 Annual Governance and Accounting Statements (PDF, 2.4mb)
- Download 2024/25 Exercise of Rights with Summary of Rights (PDF, 3.9mb)
- Download 2024/25 External Auditor Report and Certificate (PDF, 163kb)
- Download 2024/25 Notice of Conclusion of Audit (PDF, 528kb)
Previous Annual Returns
CIL Returns
- Download 2024/2025 CIL Returns (PDF, 136kb)
- Download 2023/2024 CIL Returns (PDF, 118kb)
- Download 2022/2023 CIL Returns (PDF, 113kb)
- Download 2021/2022 CIL Returns (PDF, 107kb)
- Download 2020/2021 CIL Returns (PDF, 111kb)
- Download 2019/2020 CIL Returns (PDF, 110kb)
- Download 2018/2019 CIL Returns (PDF, 112kb)
- Download 2017/2018 CIL Returns (PDF, 111kb)
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
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