Sidmouth Town Council has set its budget for the next financial year, to support its commitment to maintaining high quality local services and preserving our most valued community assets while ensuring best value for money for local residents.
The 2026/7 Budget was approved by Town Councillors on Monday 19 January 2026. This included setting the level of Parish Tax for the next financial year. This is the amount that local residents pay for Town Council services in the Sid Valley and is included as part of residents’ annual Council Tax bill. Unlike tax paid to larger Local Authorities, all the local Parish Tax is spent entirely on services that directly benefit the residents, businesses and voluntary organisations of the Sid Valley.
The Town Council has agreed to a 5.1% increase in the Parish Tax this year. This means an increase of £5.44 per year for an average Band D property, or 10.5p a week for an average Band D property. The annual charge for a Band D property will be £111.35.
The budget will ensure that the Town Council can continue to deliver excellent and cost-effective services and support for the economy, environment and community groups. And importantly, the budget also provides for devolution of more services and assets to the Town Council as one of the possible outcomes of ongoing Local Government Reorganisation.
The Town Council will continue its stewardship of some of Sidmouth’s most valued parks and open spaces, including the Ham and the Knowle Parkland, as well as providing community facilities like public conveniences the Arches and Long Park, water fountains and the Tourist Information Centre. It supplements the work of the District and County Council, with targeted maintenance programmes focussed on improving the appearance of our town, ensuring that flower beds are flourishing and the highway verges it manages are kept clean and maintained.
The Town Council is building for the future by continuing its investment in promoting a vibrant and balanced economy, tourism and the Arts. This includes a variety of festivals and events that enrich our area. And it continues its discretionary support services and activities for young people, with support for youth provision at its highest level ever, and an ongoing commitment to ensuring the Sid Valley remains a great place to grow up.
In 2026/7 the Town Council will fund over 30 community organisations and voluntary groups through its three grant schemes. The initiatives supported are hugely varied, from improving the water quality in the River Sid and maintaining our local cemetery to advice sessions and combatting social isolation, from innovative public art projects and community music to surf lifesaving and junior football.
Cllr Hilary Nelson, Chair of Sidmouth Town Council, said “This budget will enable us to maintain and protect the services and assets that make Sidmouth unique, to help our residents to thrive and our community to flourish. The Town Council is in a unique position to be able to respond to the needs and wants of residents, and to tailor local services to best fit the needs of the Sid Valley. We will take every opportunity to make the Sid Valley even better and we are delighted to have been able to support many voluntary organisations which do so much to enhance and reinforce the strength of our community. We are committed to working together to keep Sidmouth special, now and in the future.”