Finance
Budget & Precept
The town council considers and approves a budget annually during December/January. This budget outlines what the council plans to spend money on in the next financial year.
Based on this budget, the council then sets a precept. This is collected for us by Central Bedfordshire Council. This is the council's main source of income. Other sources of income include sports fees, burial fees, event fees, bank and investment income and sponsorship.
Information on service charges for Central Bedfordshire Council, the Police Authority, and the Fire and Rescue Authority can be found on your individual council tax bill or by visiting www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Houghton Regis Town Council Budget Infographic
2026/27
Annual Return
By law, Local Councils in England with an annual turnover of £6.5 million or less are required to complete an Annual Return.
The Annual Return and statement of accounts for the current financial year are considered and approved at the Town Council meeting at the end of June. They are then submitted for an external audit.
2025/26
- Notice of Electors Rights
- Annual Governance & Accountability Return 2025/26 Form 3 – subject to audit
- Notice of Conclusion of Audit
- Supporting Statements
- Internal Audit 2025/26
- AGAR Completion Letter
2024/25
- Notice of Electors Rights
- Annual Governance & Accountability Return 2024/25 Form 3 – audited
- Notice of Conclusion of Audit
- Supporting Statements
- Internal Audit 2024/25
- AGAR Completion Letter
- Notice of Failure to Publish Audit
2023/24
- Notice of Electors Rights
- Annual Governance & Accountability Return 2023/24 Form 3 – audited
- Notice of Conclusion of Audit
- Supporting Statements
- Internal Audit 2023/24
- AGAR Completion Letter
2022/23
- Notice of Electors Rights
- Annual Governance & Accountability Return 2022/23 Form 3 – audited
- Supporting Statements
- Internal Audit 2022/23
- Notice of Conclusion of Audit
- AGAR Completion Letter
2021/22
- Notice of Electors Rights
- Annual Governance & Accountability Return 2021/22 Form 3 – Audited
- Supporting Statements
- Internal Audit 2021/22
- Notice of Conclusion of Audit
- AGAR Completion Letter
Accessibility Regulations HRTC and the External Auditors are aware that the Accounts and Audit Regulations requirement for a physical ‘wet ink’ signature on the original AGAR does not allow parish councils to fully comply with the Accessibility Regulations. The National Audit Office is aware that the two pieces of legislation are incompatible, as the Audited AGAR is a scan and is not fully compliant with the Accessibility Regulations.
2020/21
- Annual Governance & Accountability Return 2020/21 Form 3 – Audited
- Supporting Statements
- Internal Audit Report 2020/21
- Notice of Conclusion of Audit
- AGAR Completion Letter
Accessibility Regulations HRTC and the External Auditors are aware that the Accounts and Audit Regulations requirement for a physical ‘wet ink’ signature on the original AGAR does not allow parish councils to fully comply with the Accessibility Regulations. The National Audit Office is aware that the two pieces of legislation are incompatible, as the Audited AGAR is a scan and is not fully compliant with the Accessibility Regulations.
Expenditure
The Town Council incurs expenditures to run its services and cover operational costs. These include:
- Corporate management
- Democratic representation and management
- Central services
- Personnel costs
- The Village Green and pavilion
- Parkside Recreation Ground and Pavilion
- Tithe Farm Recreation Ground and Pavilion
- Orchard Close Recreation Ground and Pavilion
- Moore Crescent Recreation Ground and pavilion
- Moore Crescent Bowling Green
- Windsor Drive Recreation Ground
- Houghton Regis Cemetery
- All Saints Churchyard
- Dog Kennel Down
- Play areas x 5, multi-use games areas x 2 & a skate park
- Houghton Regis in Bloom
- Street furniture (public seats, some bus shelters, notice boards)
- Outside services
- Community events
- Childrens playschemes
- Community Services
- Town Centre public toilets
- Residents' newsletter (Town Crier)
- Town Council Website
- Community Grants scheme
- Community Safety
- Christmas Lights
The Town Council's finances are managed in accordance with the approved Standing Orders and Financial Regulations.
Income
The Council is primarily funded through its Precept, the amount of money the Town Council requests Central Bedfordshire Council collect from Houghton Regis residents.
Additional income sources include lettings, sports hire charges, bank interest, cemetery fees, event fees, outside services, and developer funding.
Fees & Charges
Please follow these links to view the fees and charges for hiring premises, hiring sports facilities, and providing services.
Miscellaneous Fees - Office 2026 - 2027
Expenditure over £100 - Model Publication Scheme for Parish Councils
Listed below are details of each individual item of expenditure that exceeds £100, consistent with the Model Publication Scheme for Parish Councils, issued by the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) (under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000). For data protection reasons, these exclude any payments made to individuals.
2026/2027
July 2026, June 2026, May 2026, April 2026,
2025/2026
March 2026, February 2026, January 2026, December 2025, November 2025. October 2025, September 2025, August 2025, July 2025. June 2025, May 2025, April 2025,
2024/2025
March 2025, February 2025, January 2025, December 2024, November 2024, October 2024, September 2024, August 2024, July 2024, June 2024, May 2024, April 2024
2023/2024
March 2024, February 2024, January 2024, December 2023, November 2023, October 2023, September 2023, August 2023, July 2023, June 2023, May 2023, April 2023
2022/2023
March 2023, February 2023, January 2023, December 2022, November 2022, October 2022, September 2022, August 2022, July 2022, JUNE 2022, MAY 2022, APRIL 2022