Eynsham Parish Council has now signed off on our Budget for the coming Financial Year (FY), which starts on 1 April 2026. When we started our discussions, we were conscious of the need to balance the financial challenges residents face with remaining committed to maintaining the facilities and services we provide within the community. We wanted to keep an increase of our part of your Council Tax (precept) to below 10%.
Why is the cost to residents rising - again?
A cost rise was inevitable due to general rising costs and the reduction in external funding/grants for councils. Unfortunately, our intentions to keep our increase to below 10% has been scuppered as reviews of our income/expenditure revealed that we may face a change in our VAT position from the next FY.
Over the past year, we have increased our expenditure, for example, by taking on the management of the Village Hall and spending considerable sums on the refurbishment of key areas within the hall, which does have VAT implication. For this we are currently seeking expert advice.
Councillors prudently agreed to increase the precept for 2026/27 by 14.73% to ensure we have the funds set aside to support any changes in our VAT position. For those living in a Band D property, the Parish Council's part of the council tax (precept) will increase from £145.26 to £166.65 for the year. This works out as an additional 41p per week.
What are residents paying for?
The precept enables the Parish Council to manage and maintain the Village Hall and Sports Pavilion, hireable spaces that are used by many residents and local organisations for regular meetings, classes or events.
We also own and maintain three play area and several open spaces/footpaths, all of which require regular maintenance and repair. We cut the grass verges, play area and sports pitches from March until November. We employ a small team to handle all these tasks, plus Council administration and communications, financial management and meeting organisation/attendance/documentation (we have more than 50 meetings per year!).
Best practice recommends holding six months of running costs in reserves, as well as contingency for things such as emergency repairs, meeting new maintenance standards as national requirements change, or responding to changing community needs.
In addition to ‘keeping the lights on’ costs and the rainy-day fund, we have also budgeted for projects including the Neighbourhood Plan and minor play area improvements.
We still have to raise more money, though
The precept is supplemented by income we get from hiring the Village Hall, bank interest and other sources of funding. For example, new housing developments are required to provide funds for the community, which we invest in Eynsham, such as the Eynsham Art Trail. We also seek grants wherever we can and have been actively promoting our venues for hire further afield to try and increase usage and income.
We’ve reviewed where we can be more efficient with our resources and also made some difficult decisions. For example, the District Council has decided to stop maintaining the Back Lane public toilet and invited us to take on this additional cost. We simply can’t afford it, so the village will sadly lose this facility.
These are the numbers:
Total income for 2026/27 is projected at £429,887
Precept: £373,000
Village Hall rent: £48,000
Interest and other sources: £8,887
Total expenditure is budgeted at £396,983
Staffing Costs £209,958
Open Spaces £60,590
Village Hall £28,400
Others Costs £26,864 (including pavilion and general running costs)
Play Areas £25,250
Loans £21,481
IT & Communications £10,940
Insurance £7,000
Grants £6,500
Surplus: £32,904 (crucial for VAT contingency)
Any questions? Email epc.comms@eynsham-pc.gov.uk. If you’d like to help, why not join us as a Councillor? There’s plenty of challenges but a lot of fun to be had too, and the fulfilment that comes from serving your community.