Annual Parish Report 21 April 2026
The Town Mayor’s Report to the Annual Parish Meeting 2026
Good evening, everyone.
Thank you for coming along tonight. It’s a real privilege to be here as Mayor of St Columb Major and reflect on what has been a busy, productive, and, at times, challenging year for our Town Council.
Over the past year, a great deal of work has taken place—much of it behind the scenes, but all of it vital in keeping our town safe, functional, and moving forward.
One of the most visible achievements has been Phase One of the Play Area improvements. I’m pleased to say this has been completed to full Health & Safety standards and is fully compliant with RoSPA guidance—something we can all take confidence in, especially for the families who use it regularly.
Health & Safety more broadly has been a major focus for the Council this year. We have carried out comprehensive risk assessments across all sites and activities, ensured water testing and compliance is in place, and completed PAT testing and electrical checks where required. Alongside this, all staff have received appropriate Health & Safety training, as well as first aid training—because preparation matters.
We’ve also invested in improving our community facilities. At the Youth Club, we’ve completed essential works to the roof and guttering, upgraded fire doors, and addressed electrical systems. At the Football Club, improvements include new tiling in the shower areas, plumbing work, updated electrics, and new emergency lighting. The Bowling Club has also benefited from repairs, administrative support, and electrical upgrades.
We’ve continued to support and celebrate community spirit through initiatives like St Columb-in-Bloom, which adds so much to the character of our town.
And of course, Remembrance this year was particularly special. We were honoured to welcome dignitaries including the Deputy Lieutenant, our Member of Parliament, and our Cornwall Councillor, Rowland O’Connor, as well as the Mayor of Bodmin and representatives of neighbouring parishes. It was a well-attended and deeply respectful event that reflected the strength and unity of our community.
Turning to the functioning of the Council itself—
We’ve launched a new Council website, making it easier for residents to access up-to-date policies, find information, and report issues directly through a new “report something” feature. Our social media presence has also grown, helping us to communicate more openly and regularly with the community.
The Library has continued to thrive as a community hub, hosting more workshops and events, as well as providing space for services such as inoculation clinics.
Day-to-day, the Council has remained active in responding to residents—reporting potholes, tackling fly tipping, addressing traffic management concerns, and helping with signage issues. These may not always make headlines, but they make a real difference to daily life in the town.
This year has also seen some changes within the Council itself. We welcomed two newly elected councillors, Sarah Anthony and Chris Bonner. Tizzy McLeod returned and was elected Deputy Mayor, and we were pleased to co-opt Ruth Jury to the Council. And somewhere along the way… I seem to have become Mayor.
I want to take a moment to thank all councillors for their time and commitment, and especially to thank our staff. Their hard work often goes unseen, but it is absolutely essential.
In particular, our Clerk deserves proper recognition. He has overseen and implemented much of what I’ve just outlined, while also achieving his CiLCA qualification in a remarkably short time, earning an “exemplary” grading in roles and law, and finance. That level of professionalism sets the standard for the Council as a whole.
Looking ahead to the coming year—
We have clear priorities.
We will be pushing forward a councillor co-option drive, as we look to strengthen and broaden representation on the Council.
We aim to further improve how we communicate, with greater engagement through social media and more articles in the parish magazine.
Phase Two of the Play Area improvements is on the horizon, building on the progress already made.
We will also be progressing work on a Neighbourhood Plan, giving the community a stronger voice in shaping the future of St Columb Major.
And, of course, we will continue with St Columb-in-Bloom, which brings colour and pride to our town.
In closing, this past year has been about putting strong foundations in place—improving safety, maintaining facilities, and strengthening how the Council operates.
The year ahead is about building on that—continuing to improve, continuing to listen, and continuing to serve the people of St Columb Major as best we can.
Thank you.
Cllr Scot Taylor