The Council is mainly funded through the precept, which is a small portion of Council Tax collected by Cornwall Council and passed to the Town Council to fund its services and projects.
The Town Council is the first tier of local government and represents the interests of the community. It manages local services and facilities such as parks, community centres, and public events, and acts as a consultee on planning applications and other local matters.
Town Councillors are elected representatives who volunteer their time to serve the local community. Councillors are elected every four years and work together to make decisions in the best interests of residents and the town.
The Council provides grants to local groups and organisations that benefit the community. Application forms and eligibility criteria are available on the Council’s website. All applications are considered by the Community Services Committee.
Residents can attend meetings, volunteer for community projects, or stand for election as a Councillor. Details of upcoming elections and vacancies are published on the Council website and noticeboards.
Yes. All Council and Committee meetings are open to the public unless confidential business is being discussed. There is also an opportunity for members of the public to speak during the public representation period at the start of each meeting.
You can contact the Town Clerk or your local Councillor directly. Formal matters may also be raised in writing or during the public representation session at a Council meeting.
Council and Committee meetings are usually held the Shire House Suite or Courtroom 2 in Shire Hall, and usually begin at 18:30 (unless there's a presentation, in which case 18:00) and always end at or before 22:00 by law. Meeting dates, agendas, and minutes are published on the Council’s website and noticeboards at least 3 working days before the meeting date.
You can comment directly via Cornwall Council’s online Planning Portal. The Town Council also welcomes written comments before its Planning Committee meetings, which are considered when forming its consultation response.
The Town Council is a statutory consultee in the planning process. It reviews applications affecting the town and submits comments and recommendations to Cornwall Council, which is the Local Planning Authority and makes the final decision.