In the 2025/26 budget the PC was required to respond to the external auditor’s criticism that the council’s general reserves were very low. This was caused by unexpected expenditure in previous years on professional reports in response to the Woodcote planning applications and the PC has been working to bolster the general reserves to a more acceptable figure in 2025/26. This will continue into 2026/27.
The PC is also required to consider the possibility of issues requiring professional advice and/or services in the future and in 2025/26 assigned a budget for professional services. This was prescient, as the speculative proposal from Caddick is likely to require robust and thorough interrogation if and when an official planning application is submitted. The Preferred Options stage of the South Warwickshire Local Plan is also due later in 2026, which may also require professional advice.
The Parish Council is committed to act, where it can, in the best interests of the whole community.
The PC’s new role as the Sole Corporate Trustee of the recreation ground increases the workload and the PC has therefore budgeted for additional funds to support that work, rather than solely using its charitable funds. Following the addition of the specific items above and the expected increase of costs in the coming year, the 2026/27 Budget was approved and adopted and the precept will be £60,134.