When you receive your Council Tax bill each Spring you will notice a section entitled ‘Stanton Lacy Parish Council’. It will indicate the amount of money requested and allocated to run the Council for that year (the Parish Precept) along with the percentage increase from the previous year. Last year Stanton Lacy Parish Council did not increase the Parish Precept in recognition of the difficult financial circumstances being experienced by so many people. However, due to the increase in inflation and the tasks being undertaken by the Council, it has been found necessary to increase the Precept for 2023-24. As a result, the Council Tax bill you will receive in Spring 2024 will show a percentage increase in the region of 11.6%. This means an increase of approximately 30p per month for a band D property.

It is important for all parishioners to know and understand how this money is spent and how active Stanton Lacy Parish Council are on their behalf. To give an idea of this, here are some of the actions taken by the Council over the last few years.

• The maintenance of 3 defibrillators including the replacement of batteries and pads and repairs to the telephone box in which one is housed.
• The purchase of SmartWater kits for households in the Parish to protect their items in the case of theft.
• The employment of an Environmental Maintenance Officer, tasked to clear drains and cut verges on the side roads.
• The maintenance of a website (a legal requirement) and now a Whatapp Group, so parishioners know what is happening regarding the Parish Council.

This is not an exhaustive list, as Stanton Lacy Parish Council also reviews planning applications, is in the process of producing an Emergency Plan and is considering setting up a Footpath Group. It holds a small reserve to cover the repairs and replacement of notice boards and defibrillator batteries etc. and fees for elections and audits. The Council holds at least six meetings per year which members of the public are welcome to attend. All the councillors are volunteers and are supported by just one paid member of staff, the Clerk, who is responsible for ensuring the Parish Council follows its legal and financial obligations.