Council Funding

The Council Tax paid by Launceston households includes the spending requirements of Cornwall Council, Devon and Cornwall Police and Launceston Town Council.

Many people do not realise that the Town Council does not receive any revenue support from central government, unlike Cornwall Council, neither does it receive any funding from local businesses and retailers via their payment of the non-domestic rate.

Each year the Town Council calculates the money it needs to raise to provide its services. Then we deduct the income which we expect to receive from fees and charges such as the hire of sports facilities, lettings of the various halls, etc, to leave the amount we require to spend on the services and any capital projects which are planned for the year ahead. This sum, called the precept, is the amount we levy on Cornwall Council and which is collected by them as a proportion of the total council tax paid by Launceston households.  In the current financial year commencing 1st April 2011, our precept totalled £320,316.  The Town Council also funds services through income from the car park, allotment rentals, burial receipts and income from room hire at the Town Hall.

The Town Council has many financial committments: the Town Hall has undergone extensive modernisation so that it can be better used by the community, Lawrence House is a fine old property which has recently required repair work, the car park requires ongoing maintenance. The Council also has to continue to maintain the cemetery in Moorland Road, as well as the closed cemetery in Dockacre Road.  The Roundhouse at Newport is part of the council's portfolio, as is the Southgate Arch and the War Memorial.  Many of the parks, open spaces and streets in the town centre are maintained by our staff.  Management responsibility for the Town Square has now passed to the Council as a result of the advent of One Cornwall, as has the Parade Ground below St Mary's Church.

The Council seeks to continually improve the assets it owns for the benefit of the town and the people who live in it. In 2008/09 the Town Hall roofs were completely overhauled and are now watertight. The exterior of the building was painted and the historic clock restored.  Throughout 2010 the interior of the Town Hall underwent a major refurbishment and as a result has become a popular venue for all types of uses by local people.  The Priory ruins have been excavated and conserved, with new paths and interpretation.  Work was carried out on Lawrence House during 2008 and 2009, and Council staff continue to help with the garden and house maintenance on an ongoing basis.  The car park toilets were completely renewed in 2011.