While council tax bills flopping onto door mats is never a welcome sight, it could be worse! People in Perranporth and the surrounding parish of Perranzabuloe have been told to pay 193 percent more.

Already hard pressed residents of the parish will have to dig deep to pay an extra £72, after the council decided to increase its part of the bill for maintenance costs for street lighting and taking on more responsibility from Cornwall Council.

Perranzabuloe Parish Council has defended the decision, saying the parish is confronting a "significant reduction" in its funding from Cornwall Council in the form of operational grants for delegated services, and in council tax support grants.

Adding: "Meanwhile the parish is facing increased costs due to rising overheads and having to take on additional responsibilities.

The council said: "In the past 3 years, the parish council has passed small, incremental increases in the precept and sought to increase its revenue from other sources. However, in the past 12 months, outgoings have exceeded income. This is a result of unforeseen expenditure on exceptional items such as legal costs, insurance claims, and repairs to built structures. Additionally, the council has suffered from interrupted revenue from its property portfolio during the recession due to tenant insolvencies."

What is the money actually spent on?
- Grass cutting and maintenance at Droskyn Headland, Ponsmere Valley, Goonhavern Park,
Bolenna Park, Iubilee Triangle and the Inner Green.
- Play equipment at Bolenna & Ponsmere Parks
- Grass cutting and maintenance ofdesignated public footpaths around the parish
- Street cleaning, waste and dog bin emptying around the parish
- Public conveniences at Goonhavern, Droskyn Headland, and with a contribution towards the
Promenade facility.
- Maintenance and management of Perranporth Beach (village end) and sand dunes
- Out of season Lifeguard cover on Perranporth Beach [village end)
- Street Lighting (maintenance, electricity)
- Maintenance of concrete bus shelters around the Parish
- Grass cutting and protection of Perran Round
- Maintenance of Parish Rooms and car park at Ponsmere Valley
- Maintenance and management of Tye Square and Droskyn car parks
- Contribution to Callestick cemetary
- Administration, legal and insurance costs
- Grant funding to local clubs and community organisations
- Cligga Headland conservation, including maintenance of mine shaft safety fences