(A pdf version of this document with supporting assets is available for download here)
Introduction
St Stephen in Brannel Parish Council constantly strives to work on behalf of parishioners on the issues that matter to each of the villages.
Members are always keen to receive ideas and suggestions from parishioners on particular areas of interest or concern and where it is felt the Parish Council may assist.
This three-year strategy replaces the action plan and is a statement of the Parish Council’s vision for, and commitment to the Parish. The first version began in November 2019, in line with the budget setting process. The second version commenced at the start of the 2022 municipal year.
Its aim is to give the residents of St Stephen in Brannel Parish an understanding of what the Parish Council is trying to achieve and how it intends to deliver over the next three years.
It is a “live” document so will be reviewed and updated on an annual basis with progress being regularly monitored.
Background
St Stephen in Brannel (Eglosstefan yn Branel) is a civil parish in Cornwall.
The Parish is on the southern edge of Cornwall’s china clay district and includes the villages of Coombe, Foxhole, High Street, Lanjeth, Nanpean, St Stephen, Treviscoe and Whitemoor as well as the associated hamlets.
The Parish Council consists of fifteen Councillors and employs twelve members of staff. Five of the Parish Councillors were elected in May 2021 and serve for a term of four years. The other Parish Councillors were co-opted and will serve until May 2025.
The Parish is split into two divisional wards for election purposes and is home to over 7,240 residents[1] with 5,608 of those people being registered to have the right to vote in an election as follows –
| Divisional Ward | Electors |
| St Stephen
(Covering Coombe, Foxhole, High Street, Lanjeth, Nanpean, St Stephen and Treviscoe) |
5173 |
| Roche & Bugle
(Covering Whitemoor) |
435 |
Finances
Income
The total income for the Parish Council is budgeted at £455,685 for 2023/24. The majority of the income goes from the precept issued to Cornwall Council as the local authority. The precept for 2023/24 is £360,472. Other sources of income include:
- Burial fees;
- Rent;
- Room hire (Brannel Room);
- Service agreements with Cornwall Council;
- Grant funding; and
- Community Infrastructure Levy.
Expenditure
The total expenditure for the Parish Council is budgeted at £454,523 for 2023/24. A breakdown of expenditure can be found on the Parish Council website https://ststepheninbrannel-pc.gov.uk/council/council-finances/
The budget is completely allocated except for a contingency amount which ensures the general reserve is of an adequate level.
General Reserve
The Parish Council needs to hold an amount in reserves to meet unexpected expenditure, otherwise it could run out of money before the end of the financial year. In line with proper practices it was budgeted that the general reserve be maintained at approximately 4 months net revenue expenditure with a figure of £122,387 at the beginning of 2022/23 and a predicted figure of £133,901 for the start of 2023/24. The actual figure at the start of 2023/24 was £152,548.
Earmarked Reserves
Earmarked reserves are funds that are held for specific projects, where money is allocated for a specific purpose but may not be spent in that financial year. A breakdown of earmarked reserves can be found on the Parish Council website. The total amount held in earmarked reserves at the beginning of 2023/24 was £134,454. The majority of this amount was monies allocated to community benefit funding and community infrastructure levy funding.
Assets
Assets are defined as land, buildings, machines, equipment, furniture, fixtures and vehicles of significant value that are owned by the Parish Council. A copy of the asset register can be obtained from the parish council office. At the beginning of 2023/24, the Parish Council had assets to the value of £943,990.
Community Engagement
The Parish Council understands the importance of engagement with residents and local organisations. In 2023, the community engagement policy was updated and readopted. It details how the parish council try to building positive relationship through communication. This policy can be found on the parish council website. If you have suggestions for alternative methods, please contact the parish council office.
In addition, several parish councillors have joined a steering group and are working together with volunteer residents in the creation of a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP). The NDP is a way of helping local communities to influence the planning of the area in which they live and work. It can be used to:
- Develop a shared vision for your neighbourhood.
- Choose where new homes, shops, offices and other development should be built.
- Identify and protect important local green spaces.
- Influence what new buildings should look like.
It is hoped that the NDP will be adopted towards the end of 2023. The draft plan can be viewed here – https://ststepheninbrannelparishfuture.co.uk/
Action Plan
| Activity | Responsibility | Timescale | Comment |
| Annual Parish Meeting | Chairman & Council
Finances: None |
2022-25 | Opportunity for residents to receive an update on the work of the Parish Council, listen to speakers on matters of local interest and ask questions. |
| Planning applications | Planning & Licencing committee
Finances: None |
2022-25 | To actively comment on all planning applications that have an impact on the Parish and/or residents |
| Resurfacing of St Stephen Short Stay car-park | Property & Services committee
Finances: Budget allocation |
2023 | To maintain the standard of the car park surface to fulfil health and safety requirements for those using the facility. |
| St Stephen Churchtown cemetery extension | Property & Services committee
Finances: Budget allocation |
2022-25 | To ensure and secure adequate appropriate burial space for future years |
| Devolution of land | Property & Services committee
Finances: Earmarked reserves |
2022-25 | Transfer of land from Cornwall Council (currently used as allotments) |
| Devolution of property | Property & Services committee
Finances: Earmarked reserves |
2022-25 | Transfer of leasehold from Cornwall Council – Nanpean public toilets |
| Devolution of property | Property & Services committee
Finances: Earmarked reserves |
2022-2025 | Transfer of asset known as the pumping station in Central Treviscoe from Cornwall Council |
| Devolution of property | Property & Services committee
Finances: Earmarked reserves |
2022-2025 | Transfer of asset known as Creakavose Play Area, St Stephen from Cornwall Council |
| Devolution of property | Property & Services committee
Finances: Earmarked reserves |
2022-2025 | Transfer of land at Creakavose, St Stephen from Cornwall Council |
| Devolution of property | Property & Services committee
Finances: Earmarked reserves |
2022-2025 | Transfer of land adjacent to 19 Gilbert Close, St Stephen from Cornwall Council |
| Creation of a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) | Council & NDP steering group
Finances: Earmarked reserves |
Completion during 2023 | Helping the community influence future development of the Parish. |
| Speeding – Speed Indication Devices (SIDs) | Property & Services committee
Finances: Community Benefit Fund |
2022-2025 | To maintain the devices, manage the data and call for action from the relevant authorities. |
| Speeding and traffic flow | Planning committee | 2022-2025 | To listen to resident’s concerns and, when relevant, bring locations to the attention of the China Clay Network Panel Highways Scheme |
| Maintenance of grass verges | Property & Services committee
Finances: Budget allocation |
2022-25 | To continue with and expand the maintenance of the grass verges within the Parish installing a sense of pride for the area. |
| Weed spraying | Property & Services committee
Finances: Budget allocation |
2022-25 | To continue with the weed spraying of the Parish highways and look at more environmentally friendly methods. |
| Climate Change | Full Council
Finances: Budget allocation |
2022-25 | To consider requests for the Council to declare a climate emergency and, in deemed necessary, put a supportive plan in place. |
| Air Quality Monitoring | Property & Services committee
Finances: Budget allocation |
2022-25 | To continue to monitor the air quality of the Parish to safeguard resident’s well-being. |
| Relaunch of Youth Parish Council | Full Council
Finances: Earmarked reserves |
2022-25 | To give the younger generation of the Parish a voice. |
| Relaunch of Democracy Days | Full Council
Finances: Budget allocation |
2022-25 | To create a relationship with the primary schools, support their councils, to promote democracy. |
| Elections | Council & Clerk
Finances: Budget allocation |
May 2025 | To ensure all seats are filled following the 2025 elections to safeguard democracy and the use of the General Power of Competence. |
| Events | Full Council
Finances: Budget allocation |
2022-25 | To hold annual events in the parish to allow the community to come together. |
| Defibrillators | Property & Services committee
Finances: Budget allocation |
2022-25 | To have a Council owned defibrillator installed in each village. |
| Local Council Award Scheme – Gold | Full Council
Finances: Budget allocation |
Reactivate after 2025 elections | To achieve the criteria for the Gold level award. |
| Grant funding | Finance & Policy committee
Finances: Budget allocation |
2022-25 | Provide grant funding to local organisations to support community activity whilst donating to local/national charities that provide assistance to residents. |
| Training | Human Resources Committee & Clerk
Finances: Budget allocation |
2022-25 | Encourage Members and Staff to attend recognised training opportunities to ensure residents receive a professional, lawful service. |
| Promote the profile of the Council | Full Council
Finances: Budget allocation |
2022-25 | To ensure residents know the services the Council offers and who to contact for assistance. |
| CCTV | Property & Services committee
Finances: Budget allocation |
2022-25 | To protect Council assets from anti social behaviour |
| Parish Welcome Signs | Property & Services committee
Finances: Budget allocation |
2023 | To install a new sign and replace existing signs with Council branding |
| Community Hub | Full Council & Clerk
Finances: Grant Funding & Earmarked Reserves |
2022-25 | To replace the Brannel Room with a bespoke community hub that incorporates a new parish council office
|
| Nanpean to Foxhole Footpath | Full Council
Finances: Community Infrastructure Levy |
2023 | To work with Cornwall Council & Imerys to create a footpath linking Nanpean to Foxhole |
| Councillor Surgeries | Full Council
Finances: Budget allocation |
2022-25 | To create greater communication links with residents and promote the profile of the Council |
| Grant Funding | Clerk
Finances: NA |
2022-25 | To seek out grant funding for future projects to keep the precept at an acceptable level. |
Contact
St Stephen in Brannel Parish Council
Office 2, Brannel Room, 22 Fore Street
St Stephen
St Austell
Cornwall
PL26 7NN
Tel: 01726 823003
Website: https://ststepheninbrannel-pc.gov.uk/
Email:
Linda Ranger PSLCC, FdA (Comm Gov)
Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer
clerk@ststepheninbrannel-pc.gov.uk
Ruth Mills
Assistant Clerk
office@ststepheninbrannel-pc.gov.uk
Mel Killeen
Office Admin Assistant
enquiries@ststepheninbrannel-pc.gov.uk
[1] Adopted by Full Council at the meeting held on Wednesday 5th July 2023 under minute reference FPC190/23. Due for review in September 2024.