Finance

Harrogate Town Council is predominantly funded by income from a ‘precept’.

This is a portion of the council tax, collected by North Yorkshire Council, and then paid to Harrogate Town Council.

We receive other sources of income including rents for allotments or grants and donations for projects.

Through our systems and processes we ensure that public money is safeguarded, properly accounted for and used economically, efficiently and effectively. These include three stages of checks – robust internal safeguards, an auditor carrying out a detailed review and the compulsory procedures required by law.

Each financial year runs from 1st April – 31st March.

The Council reviews and sets a budget and agrees the level of precept for the following financial year. Progress against the budget is monitored during the financial year.

For the 2025/26 period our precept was £362,000 which equates to £12.73 per year for a Band D property.

The council routinely approves all payments at each monthly meeting. The list of payments made each month is usually considered at the routine Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting and is included in the minutes.

At the end of the financial year the council’s accounts are prepared and approved. They can be found in two formats – one narrative and one in statutory format (the Annual Governance and Accountability Return known as the AGAR).

Further detail on any aspect of the accounts can be obtained by contacting the Town Clerk who is also the Council’s Responsible Financial Officer.