St Stephen in Brannel Parish Council Protects Local Services and Invests in the Community Despite Rising Costs
St Stephen in Brannel Parish St Stephen in Brannel Parish Council Protects Local Services and Invests in the Community Despite Rising Costs
St Stephen in Brannel Parish Council has agreed its budget for 2026/27, determined to support residents through challenging times and to keep vital local services running, despite the pressures of rising costs and inflation.
The Council continues to deliver a wide range of valued services, including air quality monitoring, allotments, bus shelters, CCTV, free car parks, cemetery services and churchyard maintenance, defibrillators, and the management of important community assets such as the public toilets, Brannel Room, St Stephen Churchtown Craft Workshops, and the building now known as Phoenix Stores in Nanpean. The Council also looks after footpaths and highway verges through agreements with Cornwall Council, provides grit/salt bins, street lighting, installs mobile speed indication devices, street furniture which includes seating, litter bins, and highway signage. It supports local groups through grant funding and hosts new community events such as the Remembrance Day Parade.
This year, the Council will continue to strengthen its links with the younger generation through its work with the five schools and increase its community engagement with all residents. It will also be taking on new assets from Cornwall Council, including the Creakavose play area and several small parcels of land used for off-street parking, to ensure these remain available for everyone. Work will also begin on an exciting new project to replace the aged Brannel Room with a brand-new community hub as well as continuing with the project to secure additional land for St Stephen Churchtown cemetery.
Cllr Julie Broad, Chairman of the Parish Council, said: “We know that many families are feeling the pinch as prices rise. The Council has worked hard to set a budget that is fair and sustainable, so we can keep providing the services people rely on. We were determined not to cut any of our services, even though our own costs have gone up due to inflation. Our focus is on supporting our community and investing in its future.”
Cllr Dave Coles, Chairman of the Finance & Policy Committee, added: “We’ve looked very carefully at every penny to make sure we’re delivering value for money. The precept for 2026/27 is set at £517,190. For a Band B property, this means an increase of £25.24 a year which is about £2.10 a month or 49 pence a week for the Parish Council’s share. This slight increase will help us protect and improve the services that matter most to our residents.”
For more information, please visit Adopted 2026/27 budget or contact the Clerk on 01726 823003 or clerk@ststepheninbrannel-pc.gov.uk