Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council Finances and Budget
How are SMPC Finances Audited?
Each year the finances of Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council (SMPC) are carefully reviewed to ensure accountability and transparency.
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First, an independent internal auditor checks our financial controls, governance, and compliance.
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Then, our accounts are reviewed by an external auditor.
All Parish Council accounts are published in the Financial Reports section of this website and are open to public inspection, giving residents confidence in how money is managed.
Local electors also have the legal right to inspect the books and raise questions or objections directly with the external auditor.
Payments Made by the Parish Council
SMPC publishes a list of all approved payments made by council officers. These payments cover the everyday costs of running the parish and delivering local services. Examples include:
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Grass and hedge cutting
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Office equipment and stationery
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Repairs and maintenance to council buildings
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Services such as Youth Club provision
This level of openness ensures residents can see exactly how public money is being spent.
What is the Parish Council Precept?
The Parish Precept is the share of your Council Tax bill collected by Uttlesford District Council on behalf of SMPC.
It is set each year to cover the cost of running the Parish Council and delivering local services. Parish Councillors vote on the precept at a Full Council meeting at the start of the financial year.
SMPC Precept for 2025/26
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Parish Council Budget: £499,900
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Increase: 4.49% compared with last year
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Impact on residents: equivalent to 12p per week increase, or £145.77 for a Band D property.
Why Has the Precept Increased in 2025/26?
The increase is due to several unavoidable cost pressures, including:
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Government rises in the minimum wage and employer National Insurance contributions.
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Provision for potential funding shortfalls from Uttlesford District Council for the Youth Club.
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Additional costs for IT systems.
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New gardening and grass-cutting contracts starting in April 2025.
Examples of SMPC Expenditure Funded by the Precept
This table shows how your parish precept is invested in local services each year.
Financial Years: 2023/4 2024/5 2025/6
Gardening £39,350 £39,700 £43,945
Grass & Hedge Cutting £20,395 £34,037 £41,018
Trees £5,000 £10,665 £11,000
Day Centre £11,233 £18,118 £16,000
Mountfitchet Exchange £18,490 £36,000 £34,600
PCSO / Special Constable £12,000 £12,600 £13,230
Youth Centre £11,000 £11,000 £15,000
The Link magazine £6,890 £7,500 £7,500
Community Grant £6,300 £7,500 £7,500
Lighting £23,500 £37,800 £27,800
Windmill £4,300 £4,500 £4,700
Play Areas £3,250 £10,750 £10,750
CCTV £2,600 £6,960 £3,500
Where to Find More Information
A full breakdown of SMPC’s income and expenditure for 2025/26 is available on this website.
Go to: Documents → Financial Reports → Budget → Approved Budget 2025/26
How Does Council Tax Work?
Uttlesford District Council collects your Council Tax and places it in a collection fund. This money is then distributed between different authorities and services.
For 2023/24, the average Band D property in Essex paid a total of £2,044.67, representing a 4.02% increase on the previous year.
Every £1 of Council Tax was split as follows:
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Essex County Council – 71p
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Policing & Community Safety – 12p
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Uttlesford District Council – 8p
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Fire & Rescue Authority – 4p
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Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council (Precept) – small but vital share funding local services