Newquay Town Council oversees and manages a diverse array of facilities and services, including public toilets, community events, CCTV, open spaces, the library, Concrete Waves and more.
Newquay Town Council’s 2025/26 budget reflects the challenges of navigating post-pandemic recovery, global conflicts, and economic uncertainty, which have driven fluctuating prices, supply shortages, and rising contractor costs. Despite these pressures, the Council has rigorously reviewed spending, identified savings, and maintained investment in key services, such as CCTV, to ensure safety and efficiency.
The budget aligns with the Council’s Corporate Plan and strategic aims, supporting projects and services for the next 2–3 years while preparing for potential service transfers from Cornwall Council. Although risks remain, including limited reserves and growing demands, the Council is committed to maintaining financial stability and delivering essential services for Newquay residents.
“As a Town Council, we have made our assets work harder for taxpayers and reduced wasteful or unnecessary spending. This is a budget we can all be proud of and have confidence that your Town Council is always working hard for Newquay.”
– Mayor of Newquay Drew Creek
Total Budget (Expenditure Budget): £3,231,614
Total Council Tax Income (Precept): £2,851,214
Council Tax for Band D Properties (Band D Precept): £300.98 per year
Band D Increase for 2025/26: £0
The 2025/26 budget delivers essential services and invests in community priorities without increasing Council Tax for Newquay households. It ensures continued support for key assets like the library, Newquay Youth Centre, and Mount Wise Gardens, while enhancing public conveniences and CCTV services.
The budget also promotes sustainability with plans for solar panel installations and energy efficiency measures, alongside maintaining popular events like the Christmas lights and Newquay Sessions. Strategic use of reserves safeguards against future uncertainties, and the budget aligns with the Council’s Corporate Plan to address residents’ needs while preparing for potential service transfers from Cornwall Council.
This balanced approach demonstrates the Council’s commitment to financial stability, community well-being, and long-term planning
Newquay Budget 2025/26 FAQs
Is my town council tax going up?
There will be no increase in the Town Council component of your total Council Tax bill. Cornwall Council and Devon & Cornwall Police set their own Council Tax requirements and release these details later than Town and Parish Councils.
Why is the amount spent on Governance and Administration' so much higher than everything else?
These are the head office costs that run across all committees, services, and areas of the Town Council. They include:
Unlike other organisations, we do not apportion these costs out to each service/activity. Undertaking this intensive data collation and examination exercise would use valuable resources which we prefer to use delivering front line services. Naturally, by grouping them into a large category, it makes the spend seem much higher than all other categories.
Do Town Councillors get paid?
Town Councillors do not get paid – they volunteer their time for free. The Mayor is given a “chairman’s allowance” which is designed to cover some of the growing costs of their civic office, from attending events, meetings and services (including significant birthdays and anniversaries by invitation), but also to engage in community initiations and donations to charitable causes, including the Mayor’s annually selected charities.
How do I pay my Newquay Town Council Tax?
You don’t need to pay us directly. You will receive your council tax bill from Cornwall Council which will include your fees for Cornwall Council, Newquay Town Council and Devon & Cornwall Police.
When will I find out my total Council tac bill for 2025/26
Cornwall Council and Devon & Cornwall Police release their council tax requirements a month or so after Newquay Town Council. Residents usually find out their total council tax amount (for Cornwall Council, Newquay Town Council and Devon & Cornwall Police) around March, when bills go out.
What to do if I'm struggling to pay my council tax bill?
You should Contact Cornwall Council as soon as possible and they will discuss options and support available to you, depending on your individual circumstances. The best contact details for the Council Tax department are as follows –
Phone: 0300 1234 171
Website: Council Tax – Cornwall Council
I don't agree with the budget decision of Newquay Town Council or some of the services or activities it is delivering at the moment. What should I do?
Newquay Town Council operates a committee structure. All of the main committees manage various services or activities and are fully open to the public. We invite any registered elector of Newquay to attend meetings or submit questions in writing. You can also watch most meetings online through the Town Council’s website.
Newquay Town Council is an authority led by elected volunteers who live or work in Newquay. Members (Town Councillors) make decisions on how the authority is run and what services/activities to deliver. Members are very well informed and networked locally. However, the authority very rarely sees members of the public engaging with meetings and giving feedback (positive or negative) to help shape what we do and where more focus should be placed in the future.
We undertake regular public consultation activity, mostly on the Town Council’s website (due to costs) but every survey or questionnaire is also made available during the consultation period, through the Library, Visit Newquay Tourist Information Centre and also can be accessed by contacting the Town Council’s office. The authority regularly has to try and understand the silent majority and so we always welcome more robust engagement and feedback and will continue to work hard to improve this.
We now have a part-time Communications Officer, who is working hard to boost public engagement and has already commissioned regular Radio Newquay updates and weekly press releases and social media posts to try and promote what we are doing and any local consultations/important matters. Please look out for any consultations or local news and please do engage with it. We can only improve or shape services that meet the needs of Newquay residents, if we fully understand all the various views and feeling on these matters.
