The most expensive places to live for council tax

YOU’VE opened your bills, had to have a sit down and a calming mug of tea – or something stronger – and worked out where you’ll have to make savings in order to pay this year’s council tax bill.

It’s fair to say some parts of Cornwall have been hit harder than others at a time when all councils face expenditure increases during the cost-of-living crisis.

Two parish councils have increased their precept for an average Band D property by more than 100% – more than double – while seven local councils are now charging in excess of £300 a year for the same band. The average town and parish council charge has increased by 11.62% for 2024-25.

Those figures are on top of an increase in Cornwall Council’s element of 2.99%, plus an extra 2% levy to be spent solely on adult social care – an overall increase of 4.99% on its part of the bill, equivalent to a Band D charge of £1,892.75.

The Devon and Cornwall police and crime commissioner increased her share of council tax by 4.95%.

THE 20 MOST EXPENSIVE PLACES TO LIVE IN CORNWALL FOR COUNCIL TAX ON A BAND D HOME IN 2024-25 – THE PARISH AND TOWN COUNCIL PORTION:

» Falmouth – £431.24 (an increase of 1.93% from £423.06 last year)

» Truro – £401.97 (an increase of 25.47% from £320.38)

» Bodmin – £352.25 (an increase of 7.45% from £327.81)

» Launceston – £324.37 (an increase of 18.34% from £274.09)

» Penzance – £321.70 (an increase of 7.12% from £299.86)

» Camelford – £312.72 (an increase of 8.60% from £287.95)

» Newquay : £300.98 (an increase of 26.96% from £237.07)

» Bude-Stratton – £299.19 (an increase of 20.51% from £248.28)

» Hayle – £292.74 (an increase of 21.85% from £240.24)

» Wadebridge – £271.02 increase of 7.89% from £251.21)

» Callington – £268.51 (an increase of 9.28% from £245.70)

» Redruth – £259.63 (an increase of 11.43% from £233)

» St Ives – £258.11 (an increase of 22.94% from £209.94)

» Saltash – £248.58 (an increase of 4.82% from £237.16)

» Camborne – £235.37 (an increase of 11.86% from £210.41)

» Lostwithiel – £231.39 (an increase of 6.74% from £216.77)

» Helston – £227.15 (an increase of 11.92% from £202.96)

» Looe – £215.90 (an increase of 4% from £207.60)

» Torpoint – £195.44 (an increase of 10.74% from £176.49)

» St Columb Major – £189.57 (an increase of 3.97% from £182.33)

Falmouth is the town charging the highest council tax precept. Councillor Jude Robinson, the chair of the town council’s finance and general (an purposes committee, said: “This year the council, in addition to its usual provision of services, has made much progress with projects that the people of Falmouth have asked for – those that have proved difficult and time-consuming to bring to fruition.

“Over this year costs have continued to rise and challenge the budget, but we are pleased to have kept our precept increase down to 1.93%, less than half the inflation rate.”

Expenditure has included the continuing stewardship of the Princess Pavilion venue, work on a longawaited skatepark at Dracaena Playing Fields and events such as the shanty and oyster festivals, Falmouth Week and Armed Forces Day. It has also been working on the devolution of Pendennis Headland, bringing it into local ownership and protecting it from development.

Cornwall’s capital city is the second most expensive place to live when it comes to your council tax bill. Truro’s town clerk David Rodda said: “As part of the annual budgetsetting process Truro City Council has to consider how we can balance income and expenditure for the year ahead so that we can continue to operate.

“Like everybody, we have experienced cost inflation in materials, energy and labour, and therefore we faced the hard decisions relating to cutting service provision or increasing income. Therefore, at its meeting on January 29 Truro City Council considered a number of options and the decision was taken to increase the precept by 25.5% in 2024-25 and then 5.6% in 2025-26 and 4.4% in 2026-27.

“This decision was not taken lightly, but in the face of our financial position the increase in the precept was the only viable option.”

Currently employing 56 members of staff, as well as seasonal workers, the city council is responsible for providing cemeteries, parks, play areas, open spaces, gardens and woodland and many other public spaces and buildings, as well as Truro’s CCTV.

It also part-funds the city’s antisocial behaviour officer, who maintains public safety and enforces regulations.

We have approached Bodmin Town Council, which oversees one of the poorest towns in Cornwall, to ask why its precept is also high, at more than £350 a year for a Band D dwelling.

A political row broke out a few months ago when Newquay Town Council voted to agree a 26.96% rise in its council tax element.

THE BIGGEST PERCENTAGE INCREASES (OVER 50%) ON THE COUNCIL TAX PRECEPT FOR A BAND D PROPERTY IN 2024-25:

» Sancreed – 122.14% (from £26.69 last year to £59.29 this year) » Perranarworthal – 115.16 % (from £44.65 last year to £96.07)

» St Mellion – 80.66% (from £32.05 last year to £57.90)

» Warbstow – 73.98% (from £9.34 last year to £16.25)

» Duloe – 65.99% (from £33.20 last year to £55.11)

» Mawnan – 52.27% (from £55.63 last year to £84.71)

» St Tudy: 50.33% (from £66.03 last year to £99.26)

We have approached both Sancreed and Perranarworthal parish councils to ask why their council tax precept has jumped by over 100% this year.

6Falmouth is the most expensive area to live in Cornwall in terms of council tax. The town council is charging £431.24 this year. Truro, below, is the most second most expensive at £401.97