Sold out event
NALC's sold-out event explores new funding sources for parish and town councils
On 24 September 2025, we hosted our sold-out online event Beyond The Precept: Exploring Alternative Income Sources. The event brought together expert speakers to explore how parish and town councils can strengthen their financial resilience by looking beyond the council tax precept to secure sustainable funding.
Opening the event, our policy manager, Chris Borg, set the context by outlining the importance of uncovering alternative and long-term income streams. He highlighted that while the precept remains a cornerstone of parish and town council finance, it should also be used as leverage to unlock additional external resources.
Sarah Foote, clerk at Lowestoft Town Council, shared her council’s experience of inheriting a £12 million portfolio of assets when it was established in 2017, many of which generated no income. Using the restoration of Lowestoft’s historic town hall as a case study, she explained the crucial role of feasibility studies, external expertise, and community consultation in winning support from funders.
Linda Larter, chief executive of Sevenoaks Town Council, followed with practical insights into generating revenue through investments, sponsorship, crowdfunding and grant applications. She emphasised both the opportunities and the resource demands of external funding. Reflecting on a recent campaign to save local heritage woodland, she said, "It was a real community project... even a letter from the King thanked us for saving these woods."
From a principal authority perspective, Cllr Nick Hookway, portfolio holder for culture, leisure, sport and tourism at East Devon District Council, championed the role of cultural strategies in attracting funding and building local pride "Networking is key", he told delegates, stressing the importance of identifying and supporting cultural groups across both urban and rural communities.
The session concluded with a wide-ranging Q&A, covering how to value volunteer time, the hidden costs of applications, and the need for long-term partnerships. Speakers agreed that while the precept provides a foundation, councils that leverage it effectively can unlock far greater sums to invest in their communities.
The overarching message from this event was clear: parish and town councils must be innovative, collaborative, and ambitious in diversifying their income if they are to continue delivering vital local services.
