Latest Information

Please note that ALL our latest news is posted on Crockenhill Parish Council's Facebook page. Please 'like' and 'follow' us to ensure that you are kept up-to-date with the latest news, as it happens.

Major news will also be added to the blog below. We publish at least two newsletters each year which are delivered to all houses in the village - a short Spring one and a much longer Autumn update. Click on the buttons below to access the newsletters. Please contact the clerk for a copy of the Autumn 2024 Newsletter as the file was too large to upload here.

The Annual Parish Meeting minutes are also a good source of information to find out more about what all our local groups and organisations have been doing.

Autumn 2025 Newsletter

Budget

For the 2024-25 year ahead, the Parish Council has requested a precept figure of £83,275 from Sevenoaks District Council. This is a 0% increase on a band D property.

We have been able to do this for a number of reasons:

A few years ago we finished converting all our streetlights to LEDs which represented a significant cost saving.

We review contracts periodically to ensure we are getting the best value and a few years ago moved streetlighting contractors which was another significant saving.

We derive a small income from sponsorship to support projects such as the Crockenhill in Flower group.

We seek out funding opportunities, which has allowed us to upgrade the playgrounds, buy new picnic benches and make other improvements.

The community payback project has really helped us too. Whilst it does require a considerable amount of organisation, it allows us to complete maintenance work done which we may otherwise have struggled to afford.

Grants and enhancements to community spaces

We really value our green spaces in Crockenhill and work hard to protect and enhance them. This includes ensuring that we make the most of funding opportunities which may arise. Last year we were awarded £10,500 towards the climbing frame on the Village Green (from the National Lottery and West Kent Housing).

The final new piece of equipment for the Village Green playground was installed earlier this year after the Parish Council received a grant from the UK shared prosperity fund via Sevenoaks District Council.

We are also pleased to report that the Parish Council was successful in its bid for extra CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) funding to carry out further playground works at Harvestfield. The new climbing web has been installed and work on the new multi-play space is due to be finished in June.

We have also recently been awarded £2500 from the West Kent Rural grant. This is for more benches and picnic tables at Harvestfield, as well as some interpretation boards to promote biodiversity and bird boxes.