Camborne Town Council's Budget 2024-2025
At this time of the year, Camborne’s resident taxpayers are finding out how much Council Tax they will be paying to fund local services. Council tax bills consist of three parts known as precepts, which are voted on by elected members to set the level of funding for local services, based on budgeting expectations for the year ahead. In Cornwall, the largest precept is Cornwall County Council, followed by Devon and Cornwall Police, followed by Town and Parish Councils.
In recognition of the cost of living crisis and with the aim of avoiding imposing further costs on struggling households, Camborne Town Council froze our precept last year, whilst at the same time ensuring the scope and quality of services delivered remain the same. However, the sharp increase in inflation and deep cuts to central government funding since 2010 have plunged many councils across the country into crisis. If we also add the context of services and assets devolved from Cornwall Council and the management and delivery of huge ‘Town Deal’ projects for Camborne, our councillors reluctantly took the decision to increase our precept this year, which equates to an additional £25 per year for Band D properties or 48p per week, to reduce the gap between our funding and our costs.
Mayor Fox added …
“This year we’re asking for an 11% increase in the precept, that’s our take of the council tax bill, which in itself is only 10% of the bill that falls on to your doormat. This is much less than some councils are asking. Some councils asked for 25% and more. What has to be remembered is that there have been massive funding cuts from central government. Local government has faced cuts after cuts. So we’re having to find more of the money locally, but we’re also bringing money into the town. The Town Deal money which is going to pay for some really exciting new projects, also funding towards events, national lottery funding and the safer streets funding, which has been paying for the street wardens, that’s not coming from local funds, so I hope you’ll appreciate that we’ve done our best for you and that this is a very good budget.”