Dodleston Parish Council
Finances 2019 - 2026
1. Cash reserves grew dramatically
- Year-end balances increased from £5,625 (2019) to a peak of £356,415 (2025).
- This represents an increase of £350,790 (over 6,200%) in six years.
In 2026 reserves reduced by around £105,952, although they remain high compared with earlier years.
2. Other receipts became the main source of income
- Between 2022 and 2025, "Other Receipts" consistently exceeded £120,000 per year.
- These receipts were substantially larger than the annual precept and were the principal driver behind reserve growth.
3. Precept has steadily increased
- 2019: £19,944
- 2026: £51,730
- Increase of 159% over the period.
4. Staff costs remain relatively low
- Staff costs increased gradually from £2,719 to £7,846.
- They represent only a small proportion of overall expenditure.
5. Significant increase in spending during 2026
- Other payments rose to £174,915, the highest in the period.
- Combined with much lower other receipts (£32,692), this explains the reduction in reserves during 2025/26.
6. Borrowing continues to reduce
Outstanding borrowing has fallen steadily:
- 2019: £83,333
- 2026: £36,666
This indicates continuing repayment of long-term loans.
7. Asset values continue to increase
- Fixed assets increased from £426,902 to £700,561.
This reflects investment in parish infrastructure and capital assets.
Overall picture
The accounts show three distinct phases:
- 2019–2021: relatively modest reserves and stable finances.
- 2022–2025: a period of exceptionally large cash accumulation driven primarily by substantial other receipts.
- 2025–2026: reserves reduced by around 30%, suggesting that accumulated funds began to be spent on projects or capital works.
Financial Analysis - key findings
The most notable feature is the rapid growth in reserves from £5,625 to £356,415, followed by a reduction to £250,463, while Dodleston Parish Council also increased its precept and continued reducing outstanding borrowing.
The increase in the Parish Council's income largely reflects the continued growth of Kings Moat.
As additional homes have been occupied, more properties have become liable for the parish precept, increasing the Parish Council's annual income.
Data sourced from Dodleston Parish Council AGAR returns,
published accounts and Cheshire West & Chester Infrastructure Statements