There was unanimous support for a budget that will see a rise to taxpayers in Helston in order for the town to continue having essential services.

Helston Town Council agreed a 12 per cent rise on its precept, the portion of council tax the town receives from Cornwall Council, after raising it by £34,040 to a total of £303,690 for the 2015/2016 financial year.

The effect will be a 17p a week extra for residents of a Band D property, or an £8.74 increase for the whole year. 

As reported last week, it will mean Helston's three public toilets can continue to stay open, the town can go into partnership with seven other areas to provide a digital CCTV system with monitoring, and carrying out weed spraying outside of the town centre to maintain the overall look of Helston. 

Of the budget, £10,000 is being set aside in anticipation of more services or assets having to be taken over from Cornwall Council, which is facing stringent cuts across the board.

A one-off sum of £6,400 is included to buy on-street electrical sockets, which can be used for street markets and also on Flora Day when residents complain about fumes from van generators, and an estimate of £500 is also added to maintain land at the bottom of Trengrouse Way that includes the new First World War memorial garden up to the grass opposite the car park entrance.