South Gloucestershire Council Cabinet has decided on a new policy that opens the way for Town and Parish Councils across the district to manage and in some cases own more local assets, including parks, open spaces and public toilets.
While most local councils already run many such services, something called Special Expenses has historically been applied to cover the costs in parished areas where South Gloucestershire Council has continued to manage some discretionary local services.
The charges typically cover things like parks and public open spaces, other green spaces, play areas, public conveniences and allotments. Exactly what is paid for in this way varies from area to area.
South Gloucestershire has reviewed the approach with the aim of improve fairness, financial sustainability and to promote local choice; putting more control of local assets in local hands.
The decision follows an engagement process over the past few months with all town and parish councils in the area, which has helped to shape and refine the policy approach.
The decision will now lead to a three-year, phased implementation period. During this time, local councils in consultation with local people will decide what level of services they want, when they are ready to take on management of those services, and how they want to manage them going forward.
Currently, council tax bills are typically split into four parts. The largest proportion is what is due to South Gloucestershire to pay for things like social care, road maintenance and collection of rubbish and recycling. There is then a charge for police and fire services, and a precept for town and parish councils, which is used to pay for local services. Finally, in most cases, there is a line called Special Expenses.
The exact implications will vary from area to area, but as each local council chooses what to take on, the Special Expenses line in tax bills will be reduced, and in some cases removed entirely, with costs being more transparently transferred to Town and Parish Council precepts. Those councils will be able to engage locally to determine residents’ priorities and what they want to choose to pay for.
This local funding model should also help protect local services. While local people place enormous value on things like public toilets and keeping play areas, parks and open spaces well maintained, there is no legal requirement to provide them. As South Gloucestershire Council’s budget continues to be strained by increases in cost and responsibilities for services it must provide, this puts increased pressure on the budgets for discretionary services like these.
As each Town and Parish Council is unique, with a wide range of existing services, responsibilities and capacities, over the coming months and years, we will work with each of them individually to help aid the transition.
South Gloucestershire Council Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources, councillor Adam Monk, said: “Town and Parish Councils are at the heart of their communities and Special Expenses typically fund things like smaller play parks and playing fields and allotments that are used and enjoyed by very local people.
“We believe, in the interests of local choice, transparency and accountability, those assets and services could work better in local hands. Special Expenses is a fairly blunt instrument, whereas devolving control to Town and Parish Council will allow local people to guide those services for their communities’ benefit.
“The cost to taxpayers of any changes will be minimal, as while local council precepts will likely rise, the special expenses charges will fall.
“Town and Parish Councils have more flexibility to meet local needs for many of these services and we are committed to working with them to help them build the capacity to deliver for their residents.”
South Gloucestershire Council Cabinet Member Planning, Regeneration and Infrastructure, councillor Chris Willmore, said: “This is the first step in a radical change, which will give local people real power over the local facilities that matter so much to them, like parks, play areas and open spaces.
“It means the people best placed to know what their community wants get to decide what happens, with the support of South Gloucestershire Council.”
The Local Choices policy was adopted at the meeting of South Gloucestershire Council Cabinet on Monday 13 July 2026 (see item 12): https://council.southglos.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=134&MId=17315
