Finance & Transparency

Here you will find information on the Council’s finances required under the Transparency Code and other regulations.

The Council publishes:

Annual Governance and Accountability Statement (AGAR)
Annual Report with summary of income and expenditure
Annual budget and Precept
Assets Register (includes land and property owned by the Council)
Annual Grants awarded and Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
Budget Comparison reports are published with the Finance meeting papers
CIL reports
Finance Committee meeting papers and minutes include most current financial year reports for:
- Income and Expenditure Accounts Summary.
- Financial Summary Cashbook.
- Payments of £500.
- Procurement card monthly statements.
- Account transfers.
Governance – Risk Assessments
Internal Auditor reports
Investments Policy – provides the framework for managing the Council’s financial investments.
Organisational chart for the Town Council structure; Edenbridge Town Council staff structure
Constitution documents: Standing Orders, Financial Regulations, Terms of Reference and other governance documents are all published under Council Policies

Transparency Code

The Local Government Transparency Code 2015 has been ‘issued to meet the Government’s desire to place more power into citizens’ hands to increase democratic accountability and make it easier for local people to contribute to the local decision making process and help shape public services.’ The Code ensures local people can now access data covering:

How money is spent.
Use of assets.
Decision making – how decisions are taken and who is taking them.
Issues important to local people.

The Code does not replace or supersede the existing legal framework for access to and re-use of public sector information provided by the Council.

Local transparency will be implemented in a way that complies with the Data Protection Act legislation including matters of sensitivity and confidentiality.

The government has advised local councils with an annual turnover of above £200k to publish the following information online:

Expenditure exceeding £500.
Government Procurement Card transactions.
Procurement information.
Local authority land.
Social housing assets.
Grants.
Organisation chart.
Trade union facility time.
Parking account.
Senior salaries.
Constitution.
Pay multiple.
Fraud.

Note: Edenbridge Town Council does not hold any Social Housing assets, or charge for car parking.

Policies and Procedures – internal controls to ensure good governance

A framework of policies, procedures, and financial risk assessments supports robust governance. Council also commissions an independent internal audit twice annually – these reports are published.

The Council has an Investments Policy, which provides the framework for managing the Council’s financial investments.

The Council’s Finance and Governance Committee meets at least five times a year to review the authority’s finances. These meetings align with quarterly reviews and include a dedicated session to scrutinise and prepare the draft budget. The draft budget and Precept recommendations are presented to the December Council meeting for consideration and are approved at its January meeting.

Data Protection

Assertion 10 of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) requires the Council to confirm that it has “complied with the requirements of data protection legislation.” In 2026, the Council has undertaken a comprehensive review of its information governance framework. As a result, the Council has reviewed and adopted policies to ensure compliance. These can be found under our Privacy Policy page or Data Protection page.

The Council recognises and upholds the eight individual rights under UK GDPR and has procedures in place to manage data breaches, including reporting to the Information Commissioner’s Office where required.

The Council has also adopted updated Digital IT and Cyber Security and Digital Communications and Social Media policies (March 2025).

Smaller Authorities Proper Practices Panel (SAPPP) Practitioners’ Guide (1.47-1.54)

The Council confirms it complies, with details on our Privacy Policy page.

Salaries

The Council currently employs 14 people. 8 full-time, 6 part-time. FTE 10.7

Local Authorities are already required to publish, under the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, details on employees whose remuneration in that year was at least £50,000. Currently, one employee’s remuneration (excluding pension contributions) is more than £50,000.

Pay multiple

The ratio between the highest salary and the median average salary of the whole of the Council’s workforce is 1:1.9

Councillors’ Allowances

Town councillors are entitled to claim certain allowances and expenses when carrying out their official duties, in line with national legislation. These may include:

Travel and Subsistence – Mileage at 45p per mile.
Childcare Allowance – To cover costs of childcare while undertaking council duties.
Dependent Carer’s Allowance – To cover care for dependents, up to £16 per hour.

Many Edenbridge Town Councillors choose not to claim their allowances.

Under the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003, councils may decide whether to provide allowances to the Chair alone, or to all councillors. They must also take account of recommendations from an independent panel at district or county level.

In 2023, Edenbridge Town Council agreed not to adopt an Allowances Scheme, meaning councillors do not receive a basic allowance, but can still claim for eligible expenses.