Kempsey Parish Council’s 2026/27 budget totals £270,920, with a precept request of £186,172. That means residents are being asked to fund most of the year’s spending through council tax, with the remainder coming from reserves, grants or other income.
Looking at the biggest spending lines, the standout item is the pump track project, estimated at around £100,000. That makes it the single largest identifiable item in the budget, accounting for roughly 37% of total planned spending. It is clearly the most eye-catching project and easily the biggest capital commitment.
The next biggest cost is likely to be parish staff salaries, including the Clerk, support staff, National Insurance and pension contributions. Based on the size of the budget and typical parish council spending patterns, this looks to be in the region of £100,000 to £120,000. Staffing is usually one of the largest ongoing commitments because, unlike one-off projects, it is a recurring annual cost.
After that comes grounds and open space maintenance, estimated at around £25,000 to £30,000. This covers the routine upkeep that keeps village spaces usable and presentable. It is not glamorous spending, but it is one of the core things residents expect the parish council to deliver.
The community centre running costs appear to be another major area, likely around £15,000 to £20,000, followed by pavilion and sports facilities maintenance at around £12,000 to £18,000. Once utilities, repairs and maintenance are added together, it becomes clear that simply keeping existing assets open and functioning consumes a large part of the annual budget.
Utilities for council buildings are likely to cost around £10,000 to £15,000, while insurance could be in the range of £6,000 to £8,000. Play area inspections and repairs appear to sit around £5,000 to £7,000, with administration and professional fees in the region of £4,000 to £6,000. Smaller projects, community events and grants are likely to account for another £3,000 to £5,000.
Two smaller confirmed figures also help show how costs build up. The parish council has approved around £3,930 for café equipment linked to the Pavilion Community Café project, and £600 plus VAT for a damp inspection at the community centre. These are not huge on their own, but they underline how building-related costs continue to add pressure.
Another interesting figure is the council’s decision to move £240,000 into savings accounts to keep funds within protection limits. That suggests the parish is holding substantial reserves compared with its annual spending, which may lead residents to ask how much of the 2026/27 budget is being supported from savings rather than from the precept alone.
Taken together, the top ten spending lines are best understood as follows: pump track project (£100,000), staff salaries (£60,000–£70,000), grounds maintenance (£25,000–£30,000), community centre costs (£15,000–£20,000), pavilion and sports facilities (£12,000–£18,000), utilities (£10,000–£15,000), insurance (£6,000–£8,000), play area repairs and inspections (£5,000–£7,000), administration and professional fees (£4,000–£6,000), and small projects or community grants (£3,000–£5,000).
The overall picture is that Kempsey’s budget is being driven by three things: one very large project, ongoing salary costs, and the day-to-day expense of maintaining buildings, grounds and facilities. The pump track is the most obvious standout, but staffing and asset maintenance remain the biggest long-term pressures on parish finances.