The Local Government Transparency Code 2015 (the Code) came into effect on 1 April 2015. The code is issued by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in exercise of powers under section 2 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. The Code replaces any previous codes issued in relation to authorities in England under those powers.

The Code does not replace or supersede the existing framework for access to and re-use of public sector information provided by the:

• Freedom of Information Act 2000 (as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012)
• Environmental Information Regulations 2004
• Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005
• Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community Regulations 2009
• Sections 25 and 26 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 which provides rights for persons to inspect a local authority’s accounting records and supporting documentation, and to make copies of them.

Brenchley and Matfield Parish Council (BMPC) does not currently meet the definition of a local authority covered by the requirements of the Code, as it is defined as ‘a parish council which has gross annual income or expenditure (whichever is higher) exceeding £200,000’.  However BMPC is publishing this information voluntarily.

The Code requires local authorities in England to publish the following information quarterly:

Expenditure Exceeding £500, including details of the supplier and transaction, (previous quarters available on request):

Payments April to June 2026 exceeding £500

KALC       Annual Subscription Fee 2026/27     £1,703.93

KCC         Cinderhill     £7,835.00

Earth Anchors    Oak Notice Board, Brenchley      £2,116.80

Farm Signs     Fingerpost Sign HWLT      £712.80

Churchill Group     Mar 26 Toilet Cleaning services       £927.65

Silva Woodland Mgt      Allotment Tree and Hedge Trimming     £720.00

PWCAC    Annual Grant    £2,000.00

BMH      Annual Car Park Grant      £1,500.00

Brenchley Archive Group    Annual Grant    £1,000.00

Cooper Burnett Solicitors    Money on Account (Pond Drain Project) £1,850.00

Churchill Group     Apr 26 Toilet Cleaning services     £913.46

Castle Hill Cricket Club    Donation of £500 for defib     £500.00

Piggotts     Flag Pole Maintenance x2 (MP, JV)    £1,006.46

GMT Property Maintenance     Bus shelter improvements   £1,105.18

Cooper Burnett   Money on Account Pond drain project  £2,580.00

Churchill Group    May 26 Toilet Cleaning services    £913.46

Payments January to March 2026 exceeding £500

Capel Groundcare          Playground Repairs at Porters Wood   £798.06

Churchill Group Jan 26   Toilet Cleaning services     £927.65

Capel Groundcare          Brenchley Playground repairs     £607.50

Churchill Group Feb 26  Toilet Cleaning services     £927.65

Forvis Mazars                  2025 External Audit Fee       £504.00

Landscape Services        Mowing Oct 25     £1,379.78

KCC      Cinderhill Management Fee    £7,835.00

Earth Anchors   Oak Notice Board, Brenchley   £2,116.80

Farm Signs      Fingerpost Sign HWLT     £712.80

Churchill Group Mar 26 Toilet Cleaning services  £927.65

Payments October to December 2025 exceeding £500:

523 Underdown Landscapes Porters Wood Entrance repairs £3,467.75
616 Provender Nursery Plants for Jack Verrall Memorial Garden £2,422.86
616 Provender Nursery Plants for Jack Verrall Memorial Garden £1,677.49
313 FirstCom/TecWork Computer Support 10 hours £960.00
513 Churchill Group Toilet Cleaning Services Dec 25 £927.65
517 Living Forest Ash Die Back Cinderhill £4,248.00
301 Clear Councils Annual Insurance Premium £2,342.25
507 Commercial Services Mowing Contract Jul-Sep 2/2 £3,363.56
513 Churchill Group Toilet Cleaning Services Nov 25 £927.65
519 Capel Groundcare Allotment Hedge (Roadside) £1,918.15
505 ILG Pond Maintenance 3/4 £600.00
505 ILG Pond Maintenance 4/4 £600.00
519 The Garden Barber IBC Installation Whitehorn Allotments £850.00
513 GMT Property Maintenance Matfield Toilets Exterior £660.00
526 GMT Property Maintenance Bus Shelter Improvements £1,325.36
513/504/518 Everflow Water Charges £407.41
513 Churchill Group Toilet Cleaning Services Oct 25 £927.65
508 Elm Fencing Scout Hut Fencing £3,018.00
703 Brenchley Archive ANNUAL GRANT £1,000.00
504/513 B and K Electrical Electrical Testing in Pavilion and Toilets £930.00
508 Brenchley Scouts DONATION Scout Hut Fencing £1,460.42
516 Burslem War Memorial Maintenance £2,634.00
616 Benjamins Trees Tree Work Jack Verrall Garden £936.00

Payments July to September 2025 exceeding £500

Capel Groundcare                        Table tennis table installation £1,301.71

ILG Business Limited                    Matfield Pond Maintenance Mar-May 25 £600.00

Future Form Benches                   2 round picnic benches for JVMG £687.60

Kedel Limited                                Fence Posts for Matfield Green £7,290.07

Wealden Benches                         2 Teak benches with fittings for JVMG £1,100.00

SO Churchill Group                       June 25 Toilet Cleaning services £927.65

Breakthrough Communications GDPR Toolkit £594.00

Grovehurst Plumbing                   MP Water Heater replacement £618.00

Landscape Services                      Quarterly Mowing charges Apr-Jun 25 £5,216.06

Churchill Group                            July 25 Toilet Cleaning services £927.65

Everflow                                        Water Charges 22/8 – 21/9 £528.90

Silva Woodland Mgt                     Tree Surgery Matfield Green £2,130.00

GMT Property Maintenance       Pavilion Refurbishment (Doors, gutters, painting)£1,052.64

GS Products Limited                     Galvanised steel chain for Matfield Green £1,388.39

George Drewett                            Matfield Green Posts – labour costs £6,720.00

Churchill Group                        Aug 25 Toilet Cleaning service £927.65

Government Procurement Card transactions:
The Government requires that local authorities must publish details of every transaction on a Government Procurement Card.  Brenchley and Matfield Parish Council does not use a Government Procurement Card and therefore has no information to publish.

Procurement information
The code requires that local authorities must publish details of every invitation to tender for contracts to provide goods and/or services with a value that exceeds £5,000.
The code also requires that local authorities must also publish details of any contract, commissioned activity, purchase order, framework agreement and any other legally enforceable agreement with a value that exceeds £5,000.

Where Brenchley and Matfield Parish Council has contracts that meet these criteria, details are contained within its Contracts Schedule which is available on request from the Clerk or RFO.

Additionally, local authorities are required to publish the following information annually

Local Authority Land
Grants to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations
Organisational Chart
Parking account
Parking spaces
Constitution 
Pay multiple
Fraud
Trade union facility time – BMPC has no members of staff representing Unions
Social Housing Assets – BMPC does not have any Social Housing Assets
Senior salaries – BMPC has no posts where remuneration exceeds £50,000

Brenchley and Matfield Parish Council complies with the requirements of the Code by publishing this information on its website. Full details of the Code can be found here: Local Government Transparency Code