Explanation for ResidentsLogo

Backwell Parish Council (BPC) has approved its Budget and Precept – the portion of Council Tax that funds parish-level services and facilities – for the 2026–27 financial year. 

For 2026–27, BPC has set a total budgeted expenditure of £329,968. After allowing for other forecast income and a planned use of reserves, the Precept request is £269,266.86.

This represents an increase compared with last year. BPC recognises that this will be of concern to residents, but believes the increase is necessary and unavoidable due to the following factors:

  • Rising costs across nearly all areas, including staffing, contracts, utilities, insurance and maintenance
  • A significant increase in planning workload and associated professional costs, arising from major housing developments in and around Backwell and with further development pressures linked to the North Somerset Council Local Plan; while much of this work is carried out by unpaid parish councillors to limit costs, the scale and technical complexity of some proposals mean that specialist planning advice is required to properly address issues such as layout, levels, drainage and impacts on neighbouring properties
  • Severe financial pressure at North Somerset Council, meaning that more responsibilities and service expectations are increasingly falling to parish councils
  • New housing developments are expanding the size of the village, increasing the area that requires routine services such as rubbish collection and village cleaning
  • The Parish Council has chosen not to rely on general reserves to fund day-to-day services. Reserves are held to manage risk and financial stability and using them to suppress the precept would not be sustainable.

For a Band D property, the Parish Council element of Council Tax for 2026–27 will be £131.65, compared with £84.28 in 2025–26.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the parish precept?

The precept is the part of Council Tax that funds services provided by parish councils, such as staffing, planning, village maintenance and grants to local organisations.

What is the parish precept for Backwell Parish Council for 2026–27?

The approved Precept request is £269,266.86.

How much will this cost me?

For a Band D property, the parish charge for 2026–27 will be £131.65, an increase of £47.37 compared with last year.

Why has the precept increased so much this year?

The increase reflects a combination of:

  • Rising costs across all services
  • Increased planning and professional workload caused by large housing developments already underway or approved 
  • Further development pressures linked to the North Somerset Council Local Plan
  • More local service burdens falling to parish councils as North Somerset Council (NSC) finances deteriorate.

Can’t the Parish Council just use its General Reserves instead?

General Reserves are held to manage financial risk, emergencies and cashflow. Using them to fund everyday services would be unsustainable and could leave BPC unable to respond to unexpected problems.

What about Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money?

CIL funding can only be used for specific infrastructure projects under strict criteria. It generally cannot be used to cover routine running costs like staffing, cleaning or regular service contracts. Where possible, BPC will consider eligible projects and seek advice from NSC regarding which projects can be funded under the current CIL criteria, thereby helping the wider Budget go further.

Does the Parish Council challenge every planning decision?

No. The Parish Council considers planning matters on a case-by-case basis. Councillors carry out as much work as possible themselves to limit costs, with provision in the budget for professional planning advice and support only where the Council considers it justified. This approach ensures that public funds are used responsibly and that expenditure is proportionate and justified.

Is the Parish Council paying for services that should be provided by North Somerset Council?

NSC is under severe financial pressure, and parish councils are increasingly expected to help maintain local standards and services. While responsibilities may not formally transfer, the expectation that parish councils will step in has increased significantly.

Do Parish Councillors get paid?

No. Parish Councillors are unpaid volunteers who give significant time across all areas of the Council’s work. Wherever possible, Councillors carry out work themselves to limit costs. As workloads and complexity increase, some professional support is required to ensure informed and effective decision-making.

How does new housing affect parish costs?

New housing increases:

  • The size of the village
  • New paths and public areas
  • Demand for village cleaning, litter management etc
  • Planning and community engagement workload

All of these lead to higher ongoing costs for BPC.

Where can I see the full budget?

The full Budget and Precept for 2026–27 is published on the Parish Council here and shows how the Precept has been calculated.