Finance

Town Council operations and services are primarily funded through the Council Tax paid by residents of Swaffham.  Additional income is generated by the Town Council through the hire of venues and facilities, allotment and market rents, and provision of cemetery services.

Each year a budget setting process is undertaken over a period of several months, during which time the anticipated income and expenditure for the following year is calculated and reviewed by standing committees.  The final budget is approved by Council each January and the figure required to be collected as part of the Council Tax – known as the Precept – is set by the Council.

The Council Tax paid by the residents of Swaffham is collected by Breckland District Council.  The amount received by the Town Council is calculated each year by way of a budget setting process. This process considers the statutory commitments the Town Council has to its residents as well as upcoming projects and arrives at a figure known as the precept.

At its meeting on 24 January 2023, Council set a precept of £494,500 for financial year 2023-24.  The budget agreed by Council will allow continued investment into facilities such as parks and play areas, provision of a wide range of services, support for local charity and not for profit organisations providing direct benefits to residents.

Information regarding Council Tax and the fund distribution to Breckland District Council, the Police Authority and the Fire and Rescue Authority can be found on your individual Council Tax bill or by visiting the Breckland District Council’s website.

From 1 January 2011, public bodies were requested to publish on their websites details of every payment made by them over £500.
View our over £500 expenditure reports.

Swaffham Town Council’s annual return needs to be reviewed by an external auditor appointed by the Public Sector Appointments Limited. Any person interested has the right to inspect the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates.