PUBLIC MEETING 23 JULY 2026 - Q & A

Thanks to all who attended the Open Village meeting (we counted 73 villagers). It was a very warm evening so we were delighted to see so many people there and the show of hands at the end was a very strong endorsement of the proposed precept increase.

We did receive a number of questions and hence plan to post both questions and answers to better inform all in the Parish.

We start today with a couple of questions and clarifications:

Question: What is a Public Works Loan?

Answer: A Public Works Loan is a low-cost, government-backed loan issued to local authorities (such as town,

parish, or county councils) to fund capital projects, these loans are provided by the

Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) and issued by [HM Treasury] via the UK Debt Management Office.

The loans are offered over terms of 1 to 50 years, with a fixed interest rate, depending

upon the term – the longer term, the higher interest rate.

Loans are applied through National Association of Local Councils NALC and approved

by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Question: I live in a band D house, will the £65.27 precept increase to cover the public work loan repayments increase over the next few years?

Answer: No, the £65.27 is a fixed payment for the 35 year period of the loan