2020/21 Financial Year
Before the start of the 2020/21 financial year, Charlwood Parish Council (CPC) set a budget for the 12 months of £91,450 based on an estimated income of that amount. The biggest share of that income is made up of the Parish precept (£73,090 for 2020/21) which is collected by Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) on behalf of the Parish Council through the Council Tax.
In addition MVDC provided grants in the year totalling £12,586. The Concurrent Grant, which is a contribution towards paying for services that the district council used to provide, paid £10,614 and there was a £1,972 share of a government grant provided in relation to the localisation of Council Tax Support (previously managed by central government) that became effective a few years ago.
The expense of maintaining the Pavilion, the Recreation Ground and the Millennium Field in Charlwood as well as The Withey in Hookwood and the playgrounds in both villages, takes up a large portion of the Parish Council’s income. Five part-time staff are employed and wages and pension commitments account for roughly a third of all expenditure.
Additional income is earned through hiring out the facilities at the Recreation Ground, the football pitch and cricket ground and the community room in the Pavilion. However the cost of maintaining the football pitch is considerable as is the cost of maintaining the trees, hedges and fences in all the open spaces.
Major projects planned for the future include combating the traffic problems that plague both villages on a daily basis and to provide a much-needed car park in Charlwood.
Because Parish Councils spend public money, their finances are scrutinised closely by both an Internal and External Auditor. The process for this year has now been completed. Section 1 and 2 of the 2020/21 Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) were approved by Councillors at their 21st June meeting and signed off. The Internal Auditor also approved them at around the same time and the documents then went forward to the External Auditor who gave their approval on 15th September.
The External Auditor's Report and Certificate (AGAR Section 3) can be viewed below along with the Internal Auditor's Report and Certificate and Sections 1 and 2 of the AGAR. The AGAR is available for inspection by any local government elector in the area of Charlwood Parish Council - for details of how to apply, click on the Notice of Conclusion of Audit below.