FINANCES

Finances

The town council spends public money through a ‘precept’, the local tax collected on our behalf by Torfaen County Borough Council as part of the council tax bill.
On average, £49.03 per year (Band D property) of Blaenavon residents’ Council Tax - 94p per week - contributes to the town council precept. The budgeted expenditure for the council in 2018/19 is £93,744.

Our main spending is on general council administration and staff salary, office rent and service charges, along with the following during the current financial year:

Blaenavon Townscape Heritage Fund £10,000

World Heritage Day £10,000

Christmas lights £15,000

Carol service £2,500

Christmas Cracker event £3,000

Grant aid £2,000

Purchase of defibrillators £3,250

Individual donations to local organisations £1,000

Flowers/hanging baskets £1,000

Workmen’s Hall improvements £7,500

Busy Bees Nursery £5,000

Total spending: £60,250

Councillors are unpaid but can claim an allowance for their duties, which in 2017/18 was £150 each. The Mayor also has support to meet any expenses involved in fulfilling the Mayoral duties. The agreed amount for 2018/19 is £1,500, with the Deputy Mayor allowed £500.

The council is also subject to an annual internal and external audit and has a duty to appoint an Internal Auditor in accordance with the Accounts and Audit (Wales) Regulations 2014. Quarterly inspections are also conducted by two appointed councillors for added resilience and scrutiny.