Council Policies
- Chairmanship
- CIL Guidance and Procedures
- CIL Pro-forma
- Complaints Procedure
- Co-option Policy
- Community Engagement
- Data Protection Policy
- Data Retention and Disposal Policy
- Employee Handbook
- Environment & Leisure Policy Statement
- Equality & Diversity Policy
- Finance & Management Risk Assessment
- Flag Flying
- Freedom of Information Act Publication Scheme
- Freedom of Information Publication Scheme – Costs
- Gifts & Hospitality
- Grant Funding procedure
- Grant Funding application form
- Habitual & Vexatious Complaints Policy
- Internal Audit Review Checklist
- IT Policy
- Mayoral Allowance & Expenses Policy
- Media Policy
community infastructure levy (cil)
Parish/Town Councils receive 15% of the CIL charge on each development in their area, however, because Highworth Town Council has an adopted Neighbourhood Plan it receives 25% of the CIL charge. The CIL income is paid to Parish Councils to be spent by the Parish Councils on offsetting the impacts of development in the area. The report showing CIL payments spent within the year are shown below. If you wish to apply for CIL funds you must make your application using the CIL Pro-forma. For further information please contact the Town Clerk.
what is cil?
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge that local councils in England and Wales place on new developments, like housing or commercial buildings. The money collected from this charge is used to fund local infrastructure, such as schools, roads, parks, and other facilities that benefit the community.
In simple terms, when a new building is constructed, the developer has to pay a fee to the council. This fee helps ensure that the area has the necessary services and amenities to support the new growth. The goal is to make sure that as the community grows, so does the infrastructure that everyone relies on.
As the planning authority, Swindon Borough Council collects this money and passes 25% on to Highworth Town Council to allocate in their area.
Town and Parish Councils have to adhere to the CIL Regulations 2010 (as amended) when it comes to spending CIL monies that they receive.
Monies received by the Town/Parish Council under Payment A can be spent on the following:
- The provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure;
- Anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on an area.
Monies received by the Town//Parish Council under Payment B can be spent on the following:
- The provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure only.
apply for cil funding
Who can bid?
Bids can be submitted by the Town Council Councillors, community groups and infrastructure providers.
How to bid
View Highworth Town Council’s CIL Guidance and Procedures, this should be read before completing an application. Applicants should complete the CIL pro-forma.
For further advice on the bidding process, or to discuss a possible scheme for consideration, contact the Town Clerk on 01793 762377 or email clerk@highworthtowncouncil.gov.uk
how will the town council consider bids for cil funding?
After the closing date (Friday 12th December 2025 to be considered in January 2026 and Friday 19th June 2026 to be considered in July 2026), bids will be considered in accordance with the CIL Funding Guidance and Procedures. Applications will be considered by Full Council.
Representation(s) will be received from the company/person/body submitting the bid and will be expected to present their bid to Full Council. See Meeting Procedures and Speaking Protocol (Appendix B of CIL Procedures).
This is a meeting held in public and members of the public may attend to observe.
reporting on cil funds
Town and Parish Councils are required to report on the amount of CIL receipts received and its spending of CIL, for each financial year. It also needs to report on the amount of CIL that has been retained at the end of the financial year and also the amount that has been allocated to particular projects. This information is submitted as an annual return to Swindon Borough Council (the CIL collecting authority).
audit documents
The Council is subject to an internal audit twice a year. The Annual Accounting Statement is audited externally annually, the statement summarises the income and expenditure for the year and includes the internal audit reports. This is a statutory provision of Section 6 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.
- Assertation 10
- Notice of Public Rights and Publication of unaudited AGAR 31st March 2026
- Notice of Public Rights and Publication of unaudited AGAR 31 March 2025
- Notice of Public Rights and Publication of unaudited AGAR 31 March 2024
- Notice of Public Rights and Publication of unaudited AGAR 31 March 2023
- Notice of the audit and right to inspect the AGAR 31 March 2022
- Notice of Public Rights and Publication of unaudited AGAR 31 March 2022
- Notice of Public Rights and Publication of unaudited AGAR 31 March 2021
- Notice of Public Rights and Publication of unaudited AGAR 31 March 2020
- Notice of Conclusion of Audit 2025
- Notice of Conclusion of Audit 2024
- Notice of Conclusion of Audit 2023
- Notice of Conclusion of Audit 2022
- Limited Assurance Review 2022
- Notice of Conclusion of Audit 2021
- Notice of Conclusion of Audit 2020
- Notice of Conclusion of Audit 2019 & AGAR
- Notice of Conclusion of Audit 2018
- Annual Governance Statement 2019/2020
- Annual Governance statement 2018/2019
council precept
Budgets AND PRECEPT
The preparation of an annual budget is one of the key statutory tasks undertaken by the Council and requires the draft budgets for the forthcoming financial year to be prepared and put before the General Purpose & Finance Meeting.
The budget results in the Council setting the Precept for the year, it allows for review of the current years budget and spending, it assess levels of anticipated income and provides for contingencies and the need for reserves
Highworth Town Council – Precept Information for 2025/2026
Highworth Town Council – Budget Information for 2024/2025
Highworth Town Council – Precept Information for 2023/2024
Highworth Town Council – Budget Information 2023/2024
Highworth Town Council – Precept Information for 2022/2023
Highworth Town Council – Budget Information 2022/2023
Highworth Town Council – Precept Information for 2021/2022
The Precept is the local council tax requirement required from local electors to meet the Council’s budget. Every local Council has the power to levy a Precept each financial year as a “Local Precepting Authority”.
The council tax requirement is the difference between the Council’s estimated income and estimated expenditure for the year. See the breakdown shown below….
Precept breakdown 2025 / 2026
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Projected expenditure | £840,200.00 |
| Projected Income | £118,700.00 |
| Precept required | £721,500.00 |
In terms of what this means to Highworth Residents is shown below:
| Council Tax Banding 2025/2026 | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| BAND A | £152.34 | £12.69 |
| BAND B | £177.72 | £14.81 |
| BAND C | £203.11 | £16.93 |
| BAND D | £228.50 | £19.04 |
| BAND E | £279.28 | £23.27 |
| BAND F | £330.06 | £27.51 |
| BAND G | £380.84 | £31.74 |
| BAND H | £457.01 | £38.08 |