At the recent Finance and Establishment meeting of Saffron Walden Town Council members noted the increased revenue streams since 2015, including:

• Golden Acre Community Centre: Income has doubled since 2015, from just over £15k to over £30k.
• Town Hall: Income has increased from £20k in 2015 to £65k in 2023 – a 300% increase.
• TIC shop sales: An increase from £40k in 2016/17 to over £75k in 2023/24
• Market income: An increase from £75k to just under £90k
• The total income from all activity has increased from just under £40k in 2015/16 to almost £120k in 2023/24 – an overall 300% increase.
The increase in lettings not only helps to improve the Council’s cash flow but also to reduce our reliance on the precept (council tax). SWTC has been prudent in capitalising on opportunities across the Council to increase revenue streams and to ensure individual projects (events for example), are delivered on a cost-neutral basis to SWTC. This has largely been achieved in a number of successful grant applications and sponsorship bids.

Our grants/sponsorship income for 2023/24 was a further £109k, with grant applications which support the core priorities, objectives and business delivery of Council. Additionally, SWTC has generated interest of over £22k in diverting monies held in the account to higher rate deposit schemes and intend to build upon this in the coming years.
New initiatives for 2024/25 include income from the lease of the former Natwest Bank for retail and residential and SWTC is due to refurbish the house at Jubilee Gardens (facing onto Hill Street) with an intent to let this on an Air BnB basis.