The Council has just determined it's Budget for 2010/2011 and this is an opportune time to let you know what it includes and what it is going to cost you.

It was expected, when the Budget for the current year was framed, that the Council would end the year [in March next) with a Working Balance of about £45,000. However, because of a number of factors beyond our control, there was a significant amount of underspending during the year.

For example, we had hoped to make a start on the new Pavilion for the King George's Field in Copthorne, and some £100,000 was provided in the Budget for that purpose. Unfortunately things did not proceed as quickly as we had hoped. However, with any luck we shall be able to begin with the project sooner rather than later, and certainly in the coming year.

It is said, though, that there is always a silver lining, and the delay in proceeding with the Pavilion scheme has enabled the Council to bring forward the replacement of major equipment in the two main Children's Play Areas at Copthorne and Crawley Down. This has cost some £60,000 and the Council was helped greatly with this work by the Mid Sussex District Council which made a grant of some £26,000 towards the cost.

Much of this sort of money comes via the District Council, of course, from the contributions made by Developers to local facilities when they build locally, and it is hoped that substantial sums from this source will also help to fund the Pavilion project. Many other sources will also be investigated in attempts to raise funds for a facility which is likely to cost in the region of £700,000 and cannot be funded by the Parish alone. More of this in coming months.

All in all, then, at the end of 2009/2010 the Council should have a Balance of about £112,000 to start the next year.This has enabled the Council to provide in the next year's Budget for a start on the Pavilion project. The Budget also includes for the provision of new vehicles to replace the Council's ageing vans should it be necessary and also includes a sum if it is decided that more car parking is needed locally and the Council can produce a scheme to provide it. Total expenditure in the next year will be around £206,000 if everything provided in the Budget goes ahead.

This amount of expenditure does mean, of course, that it was not possible for the Council to maintain the same level of precept for next year, and this is probably what concerns you most. The precept has been increased by just over 7% to £133,000. To keep this in perspective it should be realised that the increase is about 75p per head of population for the whole year which is much less than 2p a week.

Anyone wanting full details of the Council's Budget for 2010/2011 has only to ask the Clerk of the Council.