FULL details of how much parish and town councils —including almost 50 in the Post area — are set to ask residents to pay in council tax have been revealed — with some charges going up more than 50%,

writes Richard Whitehouse.

Council tax bills are made up of three elements — one charge for Cornwall Council, one for Devon and Cornwall Police and one for town or parish councils.

Cornwall Council vote on whether to approve its planned 3.99% increase on Tuesday, February 26 and the police force has confirmed plans to raise its share by 12.75%.

A full list of all the charges set by parish and town councils in Cornwall has been published with some big differences between the different parts of the county.

At the top end of the table, Saltash Town Council is set to raise its rates by 56.05% with a Band D property set to see a jump from £137.83 to £215.08.

Altarnun Parish Council has also set a big increase of 53.69% but its share is smaller in monetary terms, going up from £21.94 for a Band D property to £33.72.

A spokesperson from Altarnun Parish Council said: “This was primarily because of our recent venture in replacing the public toilet near the tourist hot spot of St Nonna’s Church.

“The cost will include the maintaince of cleaning, electric and general upkeep.

“This has been a major investment from the council.”

The spokesperson also explained that they had purchased two old telephone boxes. They said: “One will be fitted with a defibrillator and the other will include a mobile library.

“Although this percentage has been increased, over the last 10 years our precept has been minimal and the figure is only a small increase.”

But while many town and parish councils are increasing their bills some are frozen and some even fall.

Newquay Town Council has decided to freeze its council tax rates with a Band D property continuing to pay £215.49.

The biggest drop is for residents of Michaelstow near Camelford where the parish council has chosen to reduce its precept by 33.56% which means a Band D property will pay £49.96 in April after being charged £77.53 this year.

If Cornwall Council agreed to set its council tax rate at 3.99% on Tuesday, then the lowest council tax bill for a Band D property in Cornwall in 2019/20 will be £1,739.37.

And the highest will be in Bodmin which is one of just two areas in Cornwall, with Falmouth, where a Band D property will pay more than £2,000 for council tax in 2019/20

See below for the list of changes in council tax that might be approved on Tuesday, February 26 for town and parish councils in the Post area:

Altarnun — 2018/19 Band D Council Tax (£): 21.94; 2019/20 Band D (£): 33.72; % change: 53.69%

Blisland — 100.36; 96.89; -3.46%

Boyton — 34.56; 31.72; 8.22%

Bude-Stratton — 229.14; 236.32; 3.13%

Callington — 192.95; 200.65; 3.99%

Camelford — 221.00; 228.52; 3.40%

Davidstow — 4.68; 4.60; -1.72%

Egloskerry — 24.24; 24.12; -0.48%

Jacobstow — 20.86; 26.08; 25.01%

Kilkhampton — 45.30; 44.85; 0.99%

Laneast — 20.79; 20.97; 0.86%

Lanteglos — 71.98; 73.88; 2.64%

Launcells — 27.99; 29.65; 5.92%

Launceston — 196.93; 222.02; 12.74%

Lawhitton — 23.23; 23.44; 0.89%

Lewannick — 66.87; 57.00; -14.76%

Lezant — 27.25; 27.69; 1.60%

Linkinhorne — 40.42; 41.90; 3.66%

Marhamchurch — 49.44; 56.11; 13.49%

Michaelstow — 77.53; 49.96%; -35.56%

Morwenstow — 40.96; 41.12; 0.40%

North Hill — 40.00; 40.53; 1.33%

North Petherwin — 29.52; 29.20; -1.09%

North Tamerton — 29.59; 28.70; -3.02%

Otterham — 32.47; 31.94; -1.63%

Poundstock — 78.50; 77.82; -0.86%

South Petherwin — 24.64; 24.56; -0.33%

St Breward — 47.13; 46.87; -0.56%

St Clether — 7.76; 8.14; 4.94%