Social Value Ideas for Exmoor National Park Authority

8.2% Grant Reduction Pressure

Defra's in-year reduction to revenue grant created a significant financial pressure, forcing a revised budget and medium-term financial plan. Officers said the cut, around £260,000, pushes the authori…

“Um the main reason for this is on the 2nd of April we received a letter of intent from DERA which notified us of a reduction in our revenue elements o…”

Treasury and cash management

The authority’s treasury management remained low risk and compliant, with no borrowing, average cash balances of £3.87 million and investment income of around £160,000 at a 4.15% return. Cash is manag…

“So key figures really for you. So during 2526 our average cash balances were approximately 3.87 million. Year end our cash balances were 3.57 million.…”

Medium-term budget approved

Members considered and approved the Authority’s medium-term financial plan for 2025/26 to 2029/30, including the revenue budget for 2025/26, core capital and programmes budgets, contributions to reser…

“so the purpose of the report before you is to consider and approve the medium-term financial plan for the period 2526 through to 20 2930 it's also to …”

Core grant flatlining

The authority reported that its core national park grant is being flatlined over the next two years, with 3% staff pay growth alone costing around £100,000 per year. This is a financial pressure that …

“The authority continues to face uncertainty around future national park grant settlements. We've got a a three-year continuity here. We've got indicat…”

Statement of accounts and audit cycle

The authority noted its 2024/25 statement of accounts, including a net asset position of just over £24 million, and confirmed that external audit by Grant Thornton was about to begin. The accounts are…

“So really um I mean this paper being brought to you next the state of accounts would normally have been brought to your July July meeting um alongside…”

Income generation strategy adopted

The authority considered and moved to adopt a draft income generation strategy to reduce dependence on the national park grant and build a more resilient mix of income sources. The strategy sets a tar…

“Well, good morning members. Thank you for this opportunity. We you've got within your papers obviously a copy of our draft income generation strategy …”

2025/26 unaudited accounts published

The authority’s unaudited statement of accounts for 2025/26 was certified and published on time and has now gone to external audit. This is not a new spending approval, but it confirms the financial r…

“This is a short report uh presenting the authorities's unodudited statement of accounts for the 2025 26 financial year. Um so the purpose today is not…”

Grant and cost pressure

The Authority faces significant financial pressure from uncertain National Park grant allocations, flatlining core grant income, 3% assumed pay growth, and an estimated £80,000 impact from National In…

“um de has shared an addictive overall 25 26 settlement with us with all the 10 par prorities um of 44.8 million resources and 50 million in capital ba…”

Updated Audit Valuation Method

The external auditor explained that new code guidance allows councils to use indexation in intervening years instead of revaluing land and buildings every year or every three years. The finance team i…

“There is one change to the code this year um around valuation. So, it gives organizations the opportunity going forward to not have to go through a va…”

Reduced grant and budget strain

The Authority is under sustained financial pressure from an 8.2% reduction in national park grant, alongside worsening medium-term projections. Officers said core funding is still diminishing and that…

“back in May you'll recall that I came to you with a a reduction funding an inear reduction funding that GAP applied to us of 8.2% just over quarter of…”

Member allowances paid

The authority noted annual member allowances and reimbursements totalled just over £91k, rising in line with the 2.5% national council allowance uplift. The report was presented for transparency and p…

“It just states how much has been paid in allowances to members indicates some of the the meetings they've attended. So just just headline figure just …”

Single legal entity model

The scheme will be delivered through a private company limited by guarantee acting as the single legal entity, with the Authority becoming one participant and one of around six directors. This is a si…

“"The governance of the scheme is a is a really significant element of this. So Zephra has required that um each landscape recovery scheme has a um one…”

Substitute notice cut to 3 days

The authority agreed to amend standing orders so planning committee business substitutes can be nominated within 3 working days rather than 10 days. This is an internal governance change, not a procur…

“Um so you as a shared report with um with our monitoring officer Andrew um this report seeks to formalize in the revisions to standing orders the the …”

Major capital programme delivered

The finance report said the authority delivered over £1.45 million of capital investment in 2025/26, with around £1.4 million funded by DERA capital grant and the remainder from internal resources. Sp…

“So despite those pressures, our relatively careful budget management, strong external income, we've had very good interest earnings over the last coup…”

Indicative capital grant funding

Members asked about reliance on the capital departmental expenditure limit and were told indicative figures had already been provided for 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29 at the same level as the current …

“Yes. Thank you, Ben. I've considered and noted the report. Um, and I don't want to ask any detailed questions about that. Thank you. But I do see that…”

Capital Programme Reprofiled

Members were asked to approve a revised capital programme after Defra asked for a list of projects. Officers said the authority had identified almost £2.5m of projects, refined to £1.9m in the paper, …

“Now the the capital allocation which we've been advised of so far bear in mind we don't have formal confirmation of either the revenue or capital yet …”