2026-27 precept setting and budget approval
At the the Community Council meetings on 14 and 26 January 2026, Councillors discussed the 2026-27 precept requirement and 2026-27 budget in great depth and this included taking account of the specific and general reserve levels that the Community Council currently had and what levels were projected to be at 31 March 2026, which the Clerk had provided.
Five budget options had been prepared by the Clerk calculating the Band D precept and the increase from the previous financial year. These were very detailed, line by line, precept and budget options to assist the Councillors in their decision making process. Councillors spent some time considering if a precept rise could be avoided. The Clerk explained that the Community Council had borne the cost of price rises and employer National Insurance increases for five years and general reserves had been used but long term this could not continue as general reserve levels were decreasing.
Precept Option 3 was discussed, which had budgeted expenditure of £100,583 and a precept of £87,983 which would be levied. The remaining income needed would be met from bank interest, a VAT refund and an estimated £10,000 from general reserves. The precept of £87,983 was a precept Band D charge of £34.12 (£31.68 in 2025-26) for 2026-27. The percentage precept increase being 8.91%. Based on a Band D property this was 7.70% increase from 2025-26 or £2.44 a year or £0.0469 a week. Councillors voted in favour of this precept and budget for 2026-27, however both Councillor McGuill and Councillor Hadfield-Jones abstained from the vote.
The 2026-27 budget approved is attached below.
BMR Budget 26-27
Financial assistance requests
Argoed Community Council will be asking any village group or charity that seek financial support to complete an application form, which will be available on request to the Clerk between 1 and 30 September. The submission date for completed forms is 30 September 2025.
We are asking all groups to make an application in the same way, even if they may not have done in the past. Applications will then be considered at a Grants meeting and presented to the October or November Community Council meeting.
Email clerk@argoedcommunitycouncil.gov.uk
Annual accounts
This page contains the end of year accounts for the community council. This will be updated on an annual basis as and when required by the council.