Annual Precept
The precept is a tax that Town and Parish Councils charge local electors to help meet their spending requirements.
Town and Parish Councils do not receive any direct funding from central government and rely on the precept plus any other income they generate from services or facilities they provide. The precept is part of the council tax and is collected from local electors through their Council Tax payments.
Each year, Alsager Town Council requests this funding from its local “billing authority”, Cheshire East Borough Council.
Alsager Town Council’s Precept for 2026/27 is £687,904
The tax base is 5,821.53.
This equates to a Band D Property paying £119.16
Annual Budget
The Council is required in law to agree a budget before it can set its precept. The precept requirement is the difference between the Council’s estimated income and its anticipated spending requirements for the financial year (its budget). The Finance & Governance Committee has the responsibility to calculate a budget for consideration by Full Council who must agree the budget and the precept required to fund it.
- Town Council Approved Budget 2026-27 and MTFP (Pdf version)
- Town Council Approved Budget 2026-27 and MTFP (Word version)
- Town Council Approved Budget 2025-26 and MTFP (Pdf version)
- Town Council Approved Budget 2025-26 and MTFP (Word version)
- Town Council Approved Budget 2024-25 (Pdf version)
- Town Council Approved Budget 2024-25 (Word version)
- Town Council Approved Budget 2023-24 (pdf version)
- Town Council Approved Budget 2023-24 (Word version)
- Town Council Approved Budget 2022-23
2026-27 Budget Statement
At its meeting on 6 January 2026, the Council approved the 2026/27 Budget Minute reference TC25/134. The Council receives revenue of £687.904 through the precept, collected as part of Council Tax by Cheshire East . The remaining £206.627 of the Council’s income comes from the Civic Centre , £4,014 from the Allotments and bank interest is transferred into capital reserves . Total Income including precept is £898,545. (rounding difference of £1).
Budget Summary
- Total Budget: £729,316.00
- Precept: £687,904.00
- Annual Cost per Household: £119.16
- Increase (Band D Property): Nil
For questions or feedback about the 2026/27 budget, please email: clerk@alsagertowncouncil.gov.uk
Annual Governance and Accountability Returns
The Local Audit & Accountability Act 2014 and the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 set out the responsibilities of all local councils in respect of their accounting and auditing procedures.
Internal Audit: Each year, the Council’s financial accounts and statements must be examined by an independent internal auditor appointed by the Town Council. The Council’s current Internal Auditor is JDH Services Ltd.
External Audit: The Council is also required to complete an Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR). This includes the findings of the internal auditor, together with Governance and Financial Statements. The AGAR is submitted to the independent External Auditor which is appointed by the Audit Commission on a national basis. The current external auditor is PKF Littlejohn.
If you have a question about any of the information below, please contact the Council’s Responsible Finance Officer Clerk@alsagertowncouncil.gov.uk
Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2025-26
Section 1 – Annual Governance Statement 2025-26Section 2 – Accounting Statement 2025-26
Making provision for the exercise of public rights 2025-2026
Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2024-25
Annual Governance Statement 2024-25Accounting Statements 2024-25
Making Provision for the exercise of Public Rights 2024-25
External (AGAR) and Internal Audit Reports 2024-25
Notice of conclusion of Audit
Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2023-24
Annual Governance Statement 2023-24Accounting Statements 2023-24
External (AGAR) and Internal Audit Reports 2023-24
Notice of Conclusion of Audit 2024
Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2022-23
Annual Governance Statement 2022-23Accounting Statements 2022-23
External (AGAR) and Internal Audit Reports 2022-23
Conclusion of Audit 2023
Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2021-22
Annual Governance Statement 2021-22Accounting Statements 2021-22
External (AGAR) and Internal Audit Reports 2021-22
Conclusion of Audit 2022
Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2020-21
Annual Governance Statement 2020-21Accounting Statements 2020-21
External (AGAR) and Internal Audit Reports 2020-21
Conclusion of Audit 2021
Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2019-20
Annual Governance Statement 2019-20Accounting Statement 2019-20
External (AGAR) and Internal Audit Reports 2019-20
Notice of Conclusion of Audit 2020
Key documents
Fixed Asset Register
A summary of the Assets that the Town Council holds.
Risk Assessment
The Town Council assesses all levels of risk that could impact on the operations of the Town Council.
Insurance
Local Government Transparency Code 2015
Alsager Town Council publishes the information below in accordance with the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. https://www.alsagertowncouncil.gov.uk/local-government-transparency/
Who should you contact?
For more detailed guidance on electors’ rights and the special powers of auditors, copies of the publication Council Accounts – a guide to your rights are available by calling the National Audit Office on 020 7798 7000 or downloading from the website.
If you wish to contact your Council’s appointed external auditor please write to:
PKF Littlejohn, Small Body Assurance (SBA) Team, 15 Westferry Circus, London E14 4HD
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a planning charge. It was introduced by the Planning Act 2008 as a tool for local authorities in England and Wales to help deliver infrastructure that supports development in their area. Local authorities have to decide how the infrastructure needs of the development proposed will be met and how these will be paid for, and report on how it uses this money.
The Levy was introduced in Cheshire East Council from 1 March 2019 following the approval of the borough council’s CIL charging policy. There are developments in Alsager that fall within the CIL charging zone 4 which attracts a levy of £71 per square metre. Cheshire East Council must pay 25% of the CIL collected in Alsager to the Town Council. The Town Council has discretion on what it can spend CIL funds on, namely:
- The provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure; or
- Anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on an area
If the council does not spend its levy share within 5 years of receipt, or does not spend it on initiatives that support the development of the area, Cheshire East Council may require it to repay some or all of those funds.
CIL Monitoring Report – 2024/25
CIL Monitoring Report – 2023/24
CIL Monitoring Report – 2022/23
CIL Monitoring Report – 2021/22