Purpose

Cabinet is asked to charge Parish Councils for
their election and by-election costs with effect from 1 April 2026
and to approve the methodology for calculating the charges as set
out in the report.

Decision

To introduce recharges to Town and Parish
Councils for all their election and by-election costs with effect
from 1 April 2026.

Reasons for the decision

The cost of Parish and
Town Council elections and by-elections will be
met through the parish
precept by the local residents of the
area where
there is an
election.
 
Without a recharge
policy in place, all Bath and North East
Somerset
Council taxpayers
would continue to bear the burden of the cost of
Parish and Town
Council elections, regardless of whether they reside
in one of the areas
where there is a contested election or whether they
have a Parish or Town
Council.

Alternative options considered

To continue to organise Town and Parish
Council elections at no cost to the Town and Parish
Councils.  This option would have an
adverse impact on the Council budget for the local government
elections in May 2027.