St Stephen in Brannel Parish Council Three Year Strategic Plan 2022-2025

(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 commences 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.

Eleven of the Parish Councillors were elected in 2021 and serve for a  term of four years. Four of the Parish Councillors were co-opted in 2021 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[2011 Census] with 5,639 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)		 5201
Whitemoor
(Covering Whitemoor)		 438

Finances

Income

The total income for the Parish Council is budgeted at £423,310 for 2022/23. The majority of the income goes from the precept issued to Cornwall Council as the local authority. The precept for 2022/23 is £331,023. Other sources of income include

  • Burial fees;
  • Rent;
  • Room hire (Brannel Room);
  • Service agreements with Cornwall Council;
  • Grant funding; and
  • Council tax support.

Expenditure

The total expenditure for the Parish Council is budgeted at £399,925 for 2022/23. A breakdown of expenditure can be found on the Parish Council website www.ststepheninbrannel-pc.org.uk 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 £121,247 at the beginning of 2021/22 and a predicted figure of £92,385 for the start of 2022/23.

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 2021/22 was £134,149. The majority of this amount was monies allocated to community benefit 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 2021/22, the Parish Council had assets to the value of £899,553.

Community Engagement

The Parish Council understands the importance of engagement with residents and local organisations. In 2018, a community engagement policy was adopted that 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.

Membership to the steering group is open to anyone living or working in the parish. If you wish to join, please contact nhplan@ststepheninbrannel-pc.gov.uk in the first instance.

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 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		 Finance & General Purposes
committee
Finances: Budget allocation		 2022-25 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		 Finance & General Purposes
committee
Finances: Budget allocation		 2022-25 To ensure and secure adequate appropriate burial space for
future years
Devolution of land Finance & General Purposes
committee
Finances: Earmarked reserves		 2022-25 Transfer of land from Cornwall Council (currently used as
allotments)
Devolution of
property		 Finance & General Purposes
committee
Finances: Earmarked reserves		 2022-25 Transfer of leasehold from Cornwall Council – Nanpean public
toiletsc
Devolution of
property		 Finance & General Purposes
committee
Finances: Earmarked reserves		 2022-2025 Transfer of asset known as the pumping station in Central
Treviscoe from Cornwall Council
Devolution of
property		 Finance & General Purposes
committee
Finances: Earmarked reserves		 2022-2025 Transfer of asset known as Creakavose Play Area, St Stephen from Cornwall Council
Devolution of
property		 Finance & General Purposes
committee
Finances: Earmarked reserves		 2022-2025 Transfer of land at Creakavose, St Stephen from Cornwall
Council
Devolution of
property		 Finance & General Purposes
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
by
September
2022		 Helping the community influence future development of the
Parish.
Speeding –
Speed Indication
Devices (SIDs)		 Planning committee Completion
by June
2022		 To address resident’s concerns on speeding by installing mobile SIDs across the parish.
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		 Council
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 Development & Environment
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 Development & Environment
committee
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		 Development & Environment
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		 Development & Environment
Committee
Finances: Earmarked reserves		 Completion
by
September
2022		 To give the younger generation of the Parish a voice.
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 Development & Environment
Committee
Finances: Budget allocation		 April 2023 To hold annual events in the parish to allow the community to come together
Defibrillators Finance & General Purposes
committee
Finances: Budget allocation		 Completion
by 2025		 To have a Council owned defibrillator installed in each village.
Local Council
Award Scheme –
Gold		 Development & Environment
committee and Clerk
Finances: Budget allocation		 Completion
by May
2023		 To achieve the criteria for the Gold level award.
Grant funding Community Benefit Fund
committee and Finance &
General Purposes 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 Council & Clerk
Finances: Budget allocation		 2022-25 Encourage Members and Staff to attend recognised training opportunities to ensure residents receive a professional, lawful service.

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, Cert HE
Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer
clerk@ststepheninbrannel-pc.gov.uk

Ruth Mills
Assistant Clerk
office@ststepheninbrannel-pc.gov.uk

Helen Lowe
Administrator
enquiries@ststepheninbrannel-pc.gov.uk

[Adopted by Full Council at the meeting held on Wednesday 3rd March 2022 under minute reference FPC23/22. Due for review in December 2022]