02/09/2026
KGV Playing Fields – An Explanation of Hire Fees and Running Costs
Hawkhurst Parish Council (HPC) understands that residents may have questions about the recent changes to charges for the use of KGV Playing Fields. We would therefore like to explain why these changes have been necessary and provide some context around the costs of operating the site.
Why has the way KGV Playing Fields is funded changed?
KGV Playing Fields is a charity and must operate as a separate financial entity from Hawkhurst Parish Council.
Following advice from our internal auditor, the Council was required to ensure that both KGV Playing Fields and Hawkhurst Community Trust (Copt Hall) were removed from the Council's accounting system and operated separately by April 2026. Hawkhurst Parish Council is the managing trustee of both charities. This means the Council can support the charities through grants where appropriate, but they can no longer simply be funded through the Council's accounts in the same way they have been in previous years.
Until April 2026, the running costs of KGV Playing Fields, including the buildings on the site, were effectively being met by HPC through the precept paid by residents. The separation of the charity's finances means there now needs to be much greater focus on ensuring that the income generated by the site contributes appropriately towards its running costs.
What does KGV Playing Fields actually cost?
Since 2020, KGV Playing Fields has cost £143,345.92 to operate.
This includes costs such as:
• utilities and other bills;
• repairs and maintenance;
• grass cutting and grounds maintenance; and
• other costs associated with maintaining the site and its buildings.
During the same period, the site generated £35,862.70 in income. This represents a shortfall of approximately £107,483 between the site's income and expenditure.
Historically, that shortfall has largely had to be met through the precept paid by Hawkhurst residents, other than where grants or Section 106 funding have been available.
In addition, before the charity was separated from the HPC budget, approximately £5,000 of historic bad debt had to be written off because invoices issued to previous hirers had not been paid. This financial position is simply not sustainable for the charity in the long term.
What is the position regarding Hawkhurst United Football Club?
Hawkhurst United Football Club (HUFC) does not own or maintain KGV Playing Fields. HUFC hires facilities at the site and, like every other organisation or individual using the facilities, is subject to the relevant terms and conditions of hire. The Council recognises the important role that HUFC plays within the community and has sought to ensure that the charges offered to the club remain significantly below the equivalent standard hire charges.
There have also been historical inconsistencies in invoicing. During the Covid 19 pandemic, HUFC did not pay fees for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons. Due to administrative issues predating the current council staff team, the club was subsequently invoiced in 2023 but was not invoiced again until 2025.
Since 2020, HUFC has paid £2,253 in fees to the charity.
What is HUFC currently being charged?
HUFC uses the pitch and associated facilities approximately 86 dates during the year.
The charges calculated for the current period are:
44 training sessions at £26.50: £1,166.00
42 matches at £56.50: £2,373.00
Standard charge: £3,539.00
Less 20% discount:£2,831.20
Importantly, there are several additional facilities and services available to HUFC for which the charity is not currently making a separate charge. These include the use of changing rooms, garage storage and a football tournament. If another hirer were charged the standard rates for the equivalent overall use of the site and facilities, the total cost would be approximately £8852.00 per season.
The Finance Committee's proposed charge of £2,831.20 therefore represents an overall reduction of approximately 68% against the equivalent full hire value. HUFC has indicated that it is willing to pay £1,400. At that level, the reduction against the equivalent full hire value would be approximately 84%.
Why can't the facilities simply be provided free of charge?
We fully appreciate that some residents may feel that community facilities should be available free of charge, particularly to organisations providing activities for local people. Unfortunately, operating and maintaining facilities such as KGV Playing Fields comes at a considerable cost. Grass still needs to be cut, buildings need to be maintained, repairs need to be undertaken, and utility bills need to be paid. Those costs continue to increase regardless of who is using the facilities. The charity therefore has to strike a balance between keeping facilities affordable for community organisations and ensuring that the site remains financially sustainable for future generations.
HPC, as managing trustee, remains committed to supporting community use of KGV Playing Fields. This is reflected in the substantial discounts being offered. The purpose of the revised charging arrangements is not to make a profit from community organisations. It is to move towards a fairer and more sustainable position where those using the facilities make a reasonable contribution towards the costs of providing them, rather than those costs falling disproportionately on Hawkhurst residents through the precept.
Our priority is to protect KGV Playing Fields as an important community asset and ensure that it can continue to be enjoyed by residents, clubs and community organisations for many years to come.
