Although deadlines are approaching at the moment we do not know a lot more than we did last time about the specifics of the proposed local government re-organisation in the county as they will affect parish councils, although the government appointed commissioners currently overseeing finance and governance at the county council are making themselves available at drop in sessions for members of the public including one at Kettering Council Offices on March 7th between 10.00am and 12.30pm - check the borough council website for latest information about how to be involved.

It does still seem likely that, particularly in Kettering due to the current split of responsibilities, some activities carried out by the borough will come the way of the parish councils in the future. At the moment, however, there is no indication of what those might be or when. The problem we have as a parish council is that we have to budget and set a precept (raising of funds through council tax) a year ahead, and we have just undertaken that process for the year 2019/20. We do not know whether costs will be incurred during the year either as a direct part of the change process or as a result of the early migration of services in our direction, or both. We have taken the view that the prudent approach is to raise a sum, £1500, to be held on one side solely to meet unanticipated costs arising during the year as a direct result of local government re-organisation. Any amount which is not spent in the year will be carried forward until it is required. A similar approach is being adopted elsewhere although not necessarily in all parishes.