THE town council in Newquay has approved plans to increase its element of the council tax by 16 per cent.

The hike results in a 93 pence per week rise on an average Band D property, which would see households pay £48.36 extra during the 2026/27 financial year. This equates to an increase from £300.98 to £349.10 per annum on a Band D property.

The town council has approved a total expenditure budget of £3,948,460.18, supported by a council tax precept of £3,387,796.

The authority states the budget increase reflects a combination of rising costs, changes in income and the growing number of services now being managed locally.

The 2026/27 budget includes investment to protect, maintain and regenerate key community facilities and spaces, including the Marcus Hill site, Mount Wise Gardens and play area, the youth centre, Godolphin football grounds and Mount Wise garages.

Funding is also allocated for the ongoing maintenance of public conveniences, council- managed car parks at the Gannel and South Fistral, parks, open spaces, footpaths and flowerbeds across the town.

A town council spokesperson said: “Despite this increase, Newquay’s Band D charge remains lower than that of many other comparable Cornish towns, including some smaller authorities.

“Staffing costs have increased due to national living wage and National Insurance changes, alongside continued rises in energy and general operating costs.

“The budget has also been affected by changes in second homes council tax income.

“While the introduction of double council tax on second homes was intended to support local services, Newquay has seen a 14 per cent reduction in second homes.

“This has reduced the number of properties contributing to the second homes premium and, in turn, reduced income available to the town council.

“Newquay council is also in the process of taking on additional responsibilities to safeguard vital services and assets from cuts at county level.

“The budget continues to support town-wide community events, the Council’s multi-award-winning CCTV service, community grants for local organisations and volunteer-led projects, and services already devolved from Cornwall Council, including the library, Killacourt open space, South Fistral play park and car park, and the council offices.

“Newquay Town Council remains committed to improving environmental sustainability through investment in greener technologies and energy-saving measures, biodiversity initiatives across parks and open spaces, and partnership working to improve Newquay’s green and blue spaces.

“The council continues to apply double council tax on second homes to help subsidise the cost of delivering services for people who live in Newquay year-round. While this policy has contributed to changes in second home ownership locally, it remains an important measure to support fairness for residents and for residents and has been factored into the council’s financial planning.

“The 2026/27 budget reflects long-term planning to ensure readiness for potential future changes in service responsibilities. Investment and reserves are being managed prudently to protect key services, respond to emerging pressures and maintain overall financial resilience.

“This budget reflects Newquay Town Council’s commitment to balancing rising costs, changes in income and community priorities, while continuing to protect local services and invest in Newquay’s future.”

Mayor, Cllr Drew Creek said “It is right for us to recognise the continued pressures on our budgets from national decisions around wages and, of course, the ever-present inflationary pressures. That said, we worked hard to not increase our precept last year, recognising these pressures face all our community.

“It should be recognised that we have some second homeowners here in Newquay that have chosen to exploit loopholes to reduce their contributions to our community, which reduced by 14 per cent and goes to highlight the problem second homeowners continue to place on our town.

“Whilst other town and parish councils, and indeed Cornwall Council, are having to raise precepts and scale back services in response to ongoing financial pressures, Newquay Town Council is taking a different approach.

“Our increase is in line with other large towns in Cornwall, but we are bucking the trend by continuing to invest and deliver more services year on year.

“That includes our brand-new play park, larger community events such as our Christmas celebrations which residents consistently tell us they want more of, increased local grant funding, and this year bringing the youth centre fully on stream.

“We are also significantly expanding provision there to better support families and young people, from early years through into working age. This represents a real step change after more than 15 years of austerity that has steadily eroded local services.”