2026/27 Budget and Precept Update for Residents
Explanation of the 2026/27 budget and precept increase
Seale & Sands Parish Council has set its budget for 2026/27. The net budget requirement for the year is £90,690, meaning the precept (money collected from residents through their Council Tax and paid to the council to fund its services and activities for the year) required is £90,690 (compared with £25,375 in 2025/26).
The increase is primarily driven by a small number of significant items included in the 2026/27 budget, including:
Legal costs: A provision of £20,000 has been included for legal fees. This is to cover potential costs associated with a Judicial Review.
Staffing (Clerk/RFO costs): The budget for the Parish Clerk has increased to £13,500 (from £7,000). This reflects the Council budgeting more accurately for staffing costs.
Neighbourhood Plan: A provision of £10,000 has been included to progress and implement the Neighbourhood Plan.
Drainage works (Seale Recreation Ground): A provision of £10,000 has been included for necessary drainage works to help ensure the ground remains usable.
Playground repairs: A provision of £5,000 has been included for playground equipment repairs.
Parish election costs: A provision of £4,400 has been included to begin building an elections budget for the next series of elections. This figure represents approximately half of the estimated cost provided by Guildford Borough Council.
Wood Lane Field: A provision of £2,100 has been included for Wood Lane Field-related costs.
In addition, the budget assumes a reduction in income from recreation ground hire and usage, with income forecast at £3,500 (down from £7,995).
The Council has also increased its budget for maintenance to £12,000 (from £10,080) and increased the training provision to £500 (from £100) to support effective delivery of Council services.
The Council will continue to monitor expenditure through the year and will report progress through its usual financial reporting arrangements.
A copy of the Council’s 2026/27 Budget can be downloaded here: SSPC Budget 2026/27