Helston Town Council are to increase their budget by more than £100,000 in the next financial year – but has provided a list of projects they plan to spend the money on.

At the council’s last full meeting of the year on Thursday, members agreed to a 2024/25 financial year budget of £883,010. This is a rise of £106,820 on the previous year.

However, the council said the rise is necessary to continue its maintenance of many assets, including The Guildhall, public toilets, five play areas, eight open spaces, more than 86,000 square metres of verges, six planted roundabouts, eight bus shelters, numerous benches, and litter bins.

Falmouth Packet: The council said the rise is necessary to continue its maintenance of many assets including play areas in Helston The council said the rise is necessary to continue its maintenance of many assets including play areas in Helston (Image: Google Maps)The council also provides a monitored CCTV system, a network of public access defibrillators, detached youth workers, and provides grants to several local organisations and community groups including the Museum of Cornish Life and the Furry Youth Café.

The approved budget will also include an increase in the council's grants fund and the introduction of a new community environmental grants fund to help organisations within the town continue to carry out their activities and take action against climate change for the benefit of people living in Helston.

Helston Town Council also awards grants upon application to local causes and provides funds towards Helston Christmas Lights which are installed by volunteers.

An additional grant of £11,000 is included for the Furry Youth Café. Also included is £10,000 of funding to cover annual events, including a new permanent event to mark St Piran’s Day and an annual community lunch said to be for the ‘enjoyment of all.'

Falmouth Packet: An additional grant of £11,000 is included for the Furry Youth Café based in the old Warren's building An additional grant of £11,000 is included for the Furry Youth Café based in the old Warren's building (Image: Google Maps)It also anticipates that it will receive an income of £41,490 which is received from the hiring of the Guildhall for events and agreements for carrying out work on behalf of other organisations such as Cormac. The remaining sum is what forms the precept part of the council tax bill.

These figures are usually represented by the cost of a band D property which equates to a charge of £277.15pa, an increase of £24.18 per year, or 47p a week. In Helston, more than 74 per cent of residences are in band A-C, which pay a lower charge. This would mean that a Band A property pays an additional 31p a week.

Band B will have an increase of 36p a week and a Band C property will pay 41p a week more.

The council said it has ‘endeavoured to keep any increase to a minimum’ due to the financial challenges people are facing at this time. The council themselves have also faced a significant increase in the costs of delivering services.

However, the council has also said it is ‘disappointed’ following the increase in vandalism in public toilets in the town, which has incurred additional repair costs to keep them operational.

Helston town mayor Miles Kenchington said: “The town clerk has defined the breadth of services we provide and many of the increased financial impacts we have, which continues to place significant stress on the council budget which has driven the need to make the overall increase in 202425.

“Having to make the increase was a difficult decision with the ongoing financial position of the country and our community.

“The increase has been kept as small as possible, less than 42p a week for nearly every household in Helston, whilst maintaining the important services and activities within the town the council provides.”