Decision details
Parish and Town Council Election and By-Elections Recharges (WL)
Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Resources
Decision status: Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Purpose:
Cabinet is asked to charge Parish Councils for
their election and by-election costs with effect from 1 April 2026
and to approve the methodology for calculating the charges as set
out in the report.
Decision:
To introduce recharges to Town and Parish Councils for all their election and by-election costs with effect from 1 April 2026.
Reasons for the decision:
The cost of Parish and Town Council elections and by-elections will be
met through the parish precept by the local residents of the area where
there is an election.
Without a recharge policy in place, all Bath and North East Somerset
Council taxpayers would continue to bear the burden of the cost of
Parish and Town Council elections, regardless of whether they reside
in one of the areas where there is a contested election or whether they
have a Parish or Town Council.
Alternative options considered:
To continue to organise Town and Parish Council elections at no cost to the Town and Parish Councils. This option would have an adverse impact on the Council budget for the local government elections in May 2027.
Publication date: 06/01/2026
Date of decision: 06/01/2026
Effective from: 14/01/2026
Accompanying Documents:
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