Report on Rippingale Parish Council Finances for Year 2025/26
This report provides an overview of the Parish Council’s income and expenditure for the 2025/26 financial year, comparing the original budget with the actual figures for the year. It also explains the main variances and highlights areas where expenditure has been lower or higher than anticipated.
Income
Description Budget Actual Variance
Precept £21,450 £21,450 —
Feast £2,000 £2,694 +£694
Grounds Maintenance £1,626 £469 -£1,157
Community Cleaner £1,000 £927 -£73
Allotment Rent £800 £1,691 +£891
Hospital Car Scheme £25 £0 -£25
Grant £0 £277 +£277
Administration — £8 +£8
Total £26,901 £27,516 +£615
Overall, actual income was very close to the budgeted figure, with the Parish Council receiving £615 more than anticipated.
The reduction in Grounds Maintenance income was largely due to less grass cutting being undertaken during the year as a result of the heatwave. This reduction was more than offset by increased income from the Feast and additional allotment rents following the successful promotion and letting of plots, with assistance from the RGAG.
The allotment income forecast had deliberately been set on a prudent basis. Overall, income for the year was marginally higher than budgeted.
Expenditure
Description Budget Actual Variance
Grounds Maintenance £15,063 £7,997 -£7,066
Administration £10,748 £9,231 -£1,517
Jubilee Playing Fields £9,155 £3,797 -£5,358
Village £2,642 £941 -£1,701
Feast £2,000 £2,813 +£813
Newsletter £1,208 £674 -£534
Neighbourhood Plan £1,000 £0 -£1,000
Hospital Car Scheme £158 £69 -£89
Total £41,974 £25,522 -£16,452
There was a significant overall variance in expenditure. However, this needs to be considered in the context of projects that had originally been expected to be funded from the Council’s contingency rather than from the year’s normal income.
Approximately £12,000 of the variance relates to the change in direction of the Allotment Water Project (£8,000) and the Jubilee Playing Fields Project (£4,000). Taking this into account, the underlying variance is closer to £4,500, which also includes elements of planned sinking funds.
Grounds Maintenance
Grounds Maintenance covers grass cutting, including the cemetery, hedge cutting and general maintenance, including the Row Garden allotments.
The Parish Council achieved a positive result in this area, particularly following the proposal accepted from the RGAG for the water-harvesting project. The Council’s contribution towards Phase 2 of the project, together with the RGAG’s ongoing maintenance of the allotment field, has reduced the need to employ external contractors.
The Parish Council also had to meet the cost of remedial work to the culvert at the main entrance following its collapse.
Phase 3 of the water-harvesting project has been provisioned for in the current year’s budget. When setting the budget for the following year, the Council will undertake an analysis of the costs associated with the allotments to determine whether any adjustment to plot rents is appropriate.
Additional hedge cutting was required during 2025, including the Pinfold and the hedge alongside the Playing Fields bordering Pinfold Close. These additional costs have been factored into the current year’s budget.
Administration
Administration primarily covers the Clerk’s salary, required subscriptions and memberships, and meeting costs for the Village Hall.
Training expenditure was lower than budgeted, partly due to the limited number of Councillors during the year. Savings were also achieved on subscriptions and audit costs.
With a number of new Councillors now serving on the Parish Council, additional training has been included within the current year’s budget.
There is also an element of sinking fund provision within this budget for future costs, including replacement of the Parish Council laptop.
Jubilee Playing Fields
This area covers the general maintenance of the playground, tennis courts and buildings, including electricity and water standing charges.
A key focus during the year was consideration of replacing the existing structure with a more robust and cost-effective solution. The Council had allocated £4,000 towards replacing the structure with a steel container, which would have been funded from contingency.
The Parish Council continues to experience difficulties in releasing funds held within the Jubilee Playing Fields account. The intention is now to utilise these funds towards the planned improvements.
Grants were successfully obtained to repair the vandalised tennis court net and posts, as well as to erect the goalposts which had been procured several years previously. The tennis courts remain popular with residents of all ages, and the goalposts have been a positive addition for children in the village.
The Council will continue to explore opportunities to provide additional equipment through fundraising and grant funding and is keen to consider the priorities identified through the Youth Engagement Team Initiative.
A sinking fund is also included for future repairs and replacement of equipment at the Jubilee Playing Fields.
A significant saving was achieved on dog-waste bin collection due to volunteers undertaking this task on behalf of the community. The Parish Council would like to extend its thanks to those volunteers for carrying out this important and often unpleasant task.
Village
Village expenditure includes the war memorial, defibrillators, tree work and flooding-related matters.
The apparent saving in this area is partly due to the Council allocating £1,000 annually to a sinking fund for future maintenance of the war memorial, which could otherwise represent a significant expenditure.
The diligent monitoring and clearing undertaken by the emergency group helped to avoid flooding issues over the winter period. There were also no major tree works required during the year.
Feast
The Feast was organised, planned and delivered within a very short period and without any prior fundraising.
Although the event was successful and well supported by the community, it made a small loss during its first year. This is still considered a very positive achievement given the circumstances.
The Parish Council would like to thank the Feast Committee and all the volunteers who gave their time to make the event possible. It is hoped that the Feast will continue to develop and generate increased funds for the benefit of the community.
Newsletter
Savings were achieved on the printing and distribution costs of the Parish newsletter.
The Parish Council would like to express its thanks to the Editor and the volunteers who give their time to produce and distribute the newsletter. Maintaining regular communication with residents is considered valuable to the community and represents relatively low expenditure.
Neighbourhood Plan
There has been considerable planning activity affecting the village during the year, with a number of planning applications being submitted.
The Parish Council remains concerned that Rippingale is being considered for further development despite the limited availability of public transport and local services.
Revisiting and updating the Neighbourhood Plan would represent a significant cost. A £1,000 annual sinking fund has therefore been established to build towards this work when the Council considers the time is appropriate.
Hospital Car Scheme
Expenditure on the Hospital Car Scheme was lower than budgeted due to the relatively low level of take-up, despite reminders to residents that the service is available.
The Parish Council would like to thank the volunteer drivers who continue to make themselves available to assist members of the community with transport to hospital appointments.
Conclusion
Overall, the Parish Council ended the 2025/26 financial year with income slightly above budget and expenditure significantly below the original budget.
The lower expenditure should not be viewed solely as an underspend, as a significant proportion relates to projects which changed direction or were deferred, together with planned sinking fund provisions. The Council has continued to take a prudent approach to expenditure while maintaining essential services and investing in community facilities.
The Parish Council will continue to monitor its finances carefully, maintain appropriate reserves and sinking funds, and ensure that future expenditure is planned sustainably for the benefit of the village.