2025.06-Variations-explanations-final

Source page 1

23/24

AGAR Box 2

24/25

£ 230,000.00 £ 463,300.00

Difference

£

Reason

The main driver for increasing the expenditure budget, and thus the
precept, was the financial crises at Somerset Council and the related
liklihood of devolution of services to city, town and parish councils. At the
time of setting the precept, Somerset Council had not provided any firm
proposals for services to be devolved nor any figures / cost calculations,
so the Town Council believed it to be prudent to include reasonable
budget provision for work / services / asset transfers it may need or be
expected to provide in the event of Somerset Council failing or choosing
233,300.00 not to provide services.

Expenditure Item / Service

23/24
24/25
Budget
Budget
Estimate Estimate

Comments
additional £53,333 included in budget to
cover increased staffing levels if services
devolved
Increased provision for legal costs to
enable service level agreements or land
transfers if services devolved from
Somerset Council

Employees

62,208 153,762

Admin

15,650

23,050

Local Democracy

12,600

6,400

Cemetery

27,570

30,158

Allotments

1,305

1,655

Playing Fields & Open Spaces

20,140

24,640

Communal areas / street cleaning

50,200 147,267

Grants

36,000

26,000

reduced as not an election year so reduced
elction and training new councillor costs
increased maintenance regime of cmetery
chapesl ( listed buildings)
increased maintenance of boundary trees
and hedges
Increased to enable increased and
improved maintenance of play equipment
and improved play equipment inspection
regime
increased to include an amount for
devolved services, additional litter bins and
bus shelter cleaning.
reduced as limited demand in previous
years

library

23,876

27,860

Increased to allow for pay award for library
staff and increased rental of library facility

Source page 2

other services
Capital projects / contribution to EMR
Total

21,300
6,000

57,850
31,155

276,849

529,797

Increased youth service provision including
potential direct employment of a youth
leader. Change of Christmas decorations
from real trees to light motifs.

Source page 3

23/24
£ 210,356.31 £

AGAR Box 3

24/25
123,717.49

difference
£ 86,638.82

-£

24/25
100.00

Difference
£
100.00

Service / project
allotment deposits repaid

23/24

Bank Interest
Burial Fees

£
£

5,123.46 £
34,090.00 £

5,038.02
21,930.23

£
£

CIL

£ 151,514.39 £

36,637.93

£ 114,876.46

ERB advance purchase
Rent Fordgate former
allotment land
Income Bond

£

3,910.00 £

7,480.00

£

3,570.00

£
£

586.00 £
530.82 £

586.00
551.02

£
£

20.20

Library fees
Memorial fees

£
£

1,067.52 £
4,251.33 £

951.45
1,745.00

£
£

116.07
2,506.33

Misc Income
rent from Cricket & Bowls
clubs
Rent North Newton former
allotment land
Grants

£

6,509.24 £

1,930.37

£

4,578.87

£

1,916.08 £

1,916.08

£

-

£
£

£
2,000.00 £

1,500.00
2,000.00

£
£

1,500.00
-

Allotment Rents
Allotment deposits
Yield from Public Sector
Deposit Fund Investment
Vat Interest repayment
Wayleaves
Refunds
nppft repayment

£
£

3,448.25 £
1,000.00 £

3,094.58
350.00

£
£

353.67
650.00

£
£
£
£

201.44 £
2.26 £
388.40 £
678.10
£

17,107.40
3.03
25.28

£
£
£
£

16,905.96
0.77
363.12
678.10

£
Total £ 217,217.29 £

793.00
116,451.51

rlt

less prior year adjustments

£

21,996.62 £

Plus year end adjustments
£ 15,135.64 £
Grand total as on AGAR £ 210,356.31 £

12,912.12

15,135.64
£22901.62 year end
debtors, less 500.00
22,401.62 receipt in advance)
123,717.49

85.44
12,159.77

Source page 4

Explanation
no deposits repaid in2024/25
transferred money to PSDF for higher yield, so less money in
bank account
less interments
reduced amount of residential development started / completed
in 24/25
greater number of advaance purchases and increased fee

reduced interrest rate
reduced number of active library members and physical book
issues
reduced number of new memorials
23/24 included £6,000 donation towards the cost of wheeled
library shelves

new tenancy agreement implemented
less turnover of allotment holders in 24/25 (rents are not repaid
if a tenant leaves mid way through year)
reduced turnover of allotment holders
Monies transferred from bank accounts into PSDF in order to get
better yeild
wayleave income not received
refund on a planning application fee and water charges
repayment from NPPFCT not made in 23/24
RLT transfer from adjacent parish counci in a one-off agreement

Source page 5

AGAR Box 4

23/24
24/25
£ 63,975.05 £ 90,589.44

difference reason
£ 26,614.39 The Town Council employed an additionalmember of staff - an Admin
Assistant in April 2024 for 21 hours per week on SCP 8 £14,752 pa; the
additional pension & NI contributions for the new member of staff £5,600
The Town Clerk recived 1 increment on her salary wef 01.04.2024 taking the
salary from SCP 39 to 40 - a difference of £1,050. + additional NI & pension
costs
The Town Council implemented the 24/25 pay award salary cost £1,429 pa +
additional NI & pension costs
Total annual costs of above changes:
salaries £17,231
HMRC £3463
Pension £5929
Total: £26,623