Accounts

Please use the links below to find out more about the Town Council’s finances. 

Expenditure

The Town Council is obliged to publish all expenditure over £500 and contracts over £5,000 and this is updated on a monthly basis.

• Purchases over £500 to February 2023
• Purchase contracts over £5,000 to August 2022

Annual Accounts

The links below will open the documents containing the Annual Accounts for the last five years, including a statement of the income and expenditure of the Town Council. Please note that the financial year runs from 1st April to 31st March.

• Annual Accounts 2021-2022 

• Annual Accounts 2020-2021

• Annual Accounts 2019-2020

• Annual Accounts 2018-2019

• Annual Accounts 2017-2018

Annual Governance and Accountability Return

Please click on the following links to access the information regarding the 2021-22 audited accounts of the Town Council in a format that is supplied to the external auditor:

2021-22

• Notice of Conclusion of Audit

• Annual Governance Statement Section 1 AGAR 21-22

• Annual Governance Statement Section 2 AGAR 21-22

• Section 3 – External Auditor Report and Certificate 21-22

• Post Closure Letter detailing the amendment to the External Auditor Report and Certificate

• Annual Accounts 21-22 

The Town Council’s Internal Auditor is: 

Darkin Miller Limited

24e Deverel Road

Charlton Down

Dorchester 

DT2 9UD

The Town Council’s External Auditor is: 

PKF Littlejohn LLP

15 Westferry Circus

Canary Wharf

Harlton Down

London E14 4HD

(Ref: SBA Team sba@pkf-l.com)

2020-21

• Notice of conclusion of audit 2021
• Annual Governance Statement Section 1 and 2 2020- 21
• Annual Governance Statement Section 3 2020- 21

2019-20

• Notice of conclusion of audit 2020
• Annual Governance Statement 2019 2020

Precept (council tax) and Budget Consultation

Blandford Forum Town Council’s budget for the financial year 2022–23 is £803,241, which is a total of £227.13 per band D property. Please click on the link to view the Budget 22-23 Summary. At the council meeting held on 19^th December 2022, the Town Council confirmed the precept for the 2023/24 financial year at £825,250. This is a 2.25% increase on the 2022/2023 budget, which amounts to an increase for a Band D property of £5.10 over the year from 1^st April 2023 to 31^st March 2024. 

Examples of expenditure from 2021 to present (ongoing running costs for office and grounds staff to carry out their work have not been listed however specific information can be provided on request):

• The Neighbourhood Plan Version 2 has been made and is now being referred to when deciding on Planning applications. A modification review is now taking place. 
• Continued engagement with the public through social media and newsletters.
• Arranging free parking in Dorset Council car parks on various days throughout the year to benefit the local community, shops and businesses.
• Organisation of Remembrance events for 2021, including the rededication of the war memorials.
• Lobby glazing in the Corn Exchange has been replaced.
• Town Hall façade lighting has been installed and is lighting up the Corn Exchange every evening.
• Free summer holiday events returned, the Skate Fest in Blandford Skate Park and Jamie Jigsaw in Woodhouse Gardens.
• Sale of the Old Bath House has been finalised.
• A table tennis table has been installed at Larksmead Recreation Ground.
• Expenditure has been approved for replacement play equipment at Larksmead play area.
• Expenditure has been approved for replacement equipment and ramp surfaces at the Blandford Skate Park.
• Rent relief extended to the sports clubs during the pandemic.
• Grants and SLAs totalling £29,000 paid to local organisations including Treads, Tourist Information and Blandford museums.
• The community fridge is now in operation, which will help to reduce food waste.
• Ongoing work with Persimmon Homes to complete transfer of Phase 3a and Phase 3b at Badbury Heights so that play areas can be installed and maintenance can be carried out by the town council.
• Application submitted for reaccreditation of the Quality Gold council award scheme.
• Working with Dorset Council to extend the lease to the skate park land so improvements can be made to the equipment.
• Consultants appointed to work on the realisation of the Town Hall/Corn Exchange project.

Residents are invited to discuss suggestions for the budget at any point throughout the year, but a full consultation takes place in September at the Community Expo in the Corn Exchange, which is fully advertised to all.

Please let us know what you think about the budget and if you have any suggestions.

If the information you are looking for does not appear on the reports published online, then please do not hesitate to contact us.