Full Council Meeting

St Columb Major Town Council

NOTICE OF AGENDA – FULL COUNCIL MEETING

Tuesday 20^th January 2026 at 7.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, St Columb Major

Dear Councillor,

You are summoned to attend the aforementioned Meeting of the Full Council.

AGENDA

1. Mayor’s Welcome:
2. i) Housekeeping – The Mayor to give advice on emergency procedures, exits, local hazards and locations of WCs,
3. ii) Diary Report from the Town Mayor
4. 2. To Receive the Cornwall Councillor’s Divisional Report (for information only)
5. Public Forum
6. Report from Police, if available
7. To Record Apologies for Absence
8. To Note Members’ Declarations of Interests:

 

1. Declarations of interests, in accordance with the Agenda

 

1. Declarations of gifts

 

7. To confirm Minutes of the last Full Council Meeting, which was held on 16^th December 2025 (copy enclosed)

 

 

8. Payment of Accounts: Members to approve payment of accounts to 19^th December 2025
9. To Consider a Revised Budget: Town Clerk
10. To Appoint the Independent Auditor: Town Clerk
11. To Discuss Renewed Interest in a Neighbourhood Development Plan: Town Mayor & Town Clerk
12. To Discuss St Columb-in-Bloom 2026 & Consider Grant Applications: Town Mayor & Town Clerk
13.          Members’ Queries
14. Date of Next Full Council Meeting of the Council: 3^rd February 2026 at 7pm
15. To consider the following resolution: that the Press and Public be excluded from the Meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 (as extended by Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972)
16. To Discuss St Columb Major Association Football Club Lease Arrangements
17. To Discuss Car Parking Contractual Matters
18. To Discuss Accountancy Contractual Matters
19. To Discuss Administrative Staffing

 

 

Signed:

J A Stuart, Town Clerk                                                 Dated: 15^th January 2026

ST COLUMB MAJOR TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of a Full Council Meeting of St Columb Major Town Council, held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, St Columb Major, on Tuesday 20^th January 2026 at 7.00pm.

 

Present:                    Cllrs Scot Taylor (Mayor), Mrs T McLeod (Deputy Mayor), S Allen, S Anthony, C Bonner, A Dickens, Mrs F Fuery & R Jury.

 

In attendance:         Mr J A Stuart (Town Clerk)

 

 

206/25            Mayor’s Welcome

The Mayor, Cllr Taylor, welcomed everyone to the Meeting.

i)             Housekeeping

The Mayor addressed Councillors, gave advice on emergency procedures, and asked that all mobile telephones be switched off or silenced.

 

ii)            Diary Report from the Mayor

 

Cllr Taylor presented his report:

 

“I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

 

I would like to report that we have been successful with our bid for funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner for upgrades to our CCTV system. We have also been told that there will be no increase to the speed limit down at Bridge, which is great news.

 

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the Clerk, who has been working non-stop over the Christmas period to complete his CiLCA, on top of his usual responsibilities. He has kept me updated throughout, and I think it’s important to note just how much work he has put in over the past few months. His progress has been outstanding, and it reflects the level of professionalism and commitment he brings to this council.”

 

207/25            County Councillor’s Report

 

Councillor O’Connor had submitted his report to the Clerk. The Mayor read the report to members. It highlighted:

 

• The impact and response to Storm Goretti, other severe weather & flooding
• Drainage & Highways
• Ongoing monitoring & reporting
• Casework, including flooding, drainage, and highway condition concerns following the severe weather; planning-related enquiries; general requests for support and signposting to council

 

208/25            Public Forum

 

There were no members of the public present.

 

209/25            Police Report

 

There was no police presence, but PC Dan Carthew had reported the following crime figures, for the period of 30 days to 15th December, via email:

 

Violence x 7

Damage x 2

Sexual Offences x 3 Fraud x 1

Theft x4

Road Traffic Offences x 2 Wildlife offences x 1

 

 

210/25            Apologies for Absence

 

1. Cllr S Whetter, who had a family

 

Cllr Taylor proposed, seconded by Cllr Mrs McLeod, and it was resolved unanimously to accept Cllr Whetter’s apology, and to approve the reason for it.

 

1. Cllr Rowland O’Connor (Cornwall Councillor), who had a Cornwall Council

 

 

211/25            Members’ Declaration of Interests

 

1. Declarations of Interest, in accordance with the Agenda:

 

1. Cllr Dickens declared an interest in Item 8: two of the payments to be approved had been paid to his He would withdraw from the Chamber during discussion of, and voting on, the item.

 

ii)            Declarations of gifts:

None.

212/25            To confirm the Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on 16th December 2025

The Minutes of the previous Full Council Meeting, which was held on 16th December 2025, were presented by the Mayor.

 

Cllr Taylor proposed, Cllr Allen seconded, and it was RESOLVED by a majority that the Minutes be accepted (Cllrs Bonner, Mrs Fuery, Mrs McLeod and Whetter had been absent from the meeting).

 

213/25            Payment of Accounts – Members to Approve the Payment of Accounts to 20th October 2025

 

Cllr Dickens withdrew from the Chamber.

Cllr Taylor presented the Accounts, paid up to 19th December 2025.

 

Cllr Bonner proposed, Cllr Anthony seconded, and it was RESOLVED unanimously that the payment of accounts, to 19th December 2025, as well as the list of spending powers, be approved.

 

Cllr Dickens returned to the Chamber.

 

214/25            To Consider a Revised Budget

 

The Clerk reported that there had been a spreadsheet calculation error in the Budget that Council had approved. He explained that the Revised Budget, which had been circulated to members, increased proposed expenditure to £391,625, with the consumption of £29,000 of reserve funds: the precept demand of £301,490 was thus unchanged.

Cllr Allen proposed, Cllr Anthony seconded, and it was resolved

unanimously to agree the Revised Budget for 2026-2027.

 

215/25            Appointment of the Internal Auditor

 

Cllr Dickens proposed, seconded by Cllr Jury, and it was resolved unanimously to re-appoint Mrs Linda Coles as Council’s competent, independent Internal Auditor.

 

The Clerk asked if any member had, or could have, an interest in the appointment, or in the discharge of Mrs Coles’ duties as Internal Auditor. No interests were declared.

 

216/25            Bank Account

 

The Clerk reported that Barclays had informed him of its intention to regard Council’s current account as a business account, and that it thus would be levying bank charges. The Clerk had raised a complaint, and would be seeking the assistance of Ben Maguire, MP, if Barclays failed to uphold the complaint.

 

217/25            Neighbourhood Development Plan

 

The Clerk reported that members of the public had expressed renewed interest in the development of a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP), which had been aborted during the Covid-19 pandemic. He had contacted the former Chairman of the NDP Working Group, who had agreed to participate in a new endeavour, if adequate administrative support could be found.

 

Cllr Taylor proposed, seconded by Cllr Bonner, and it was resolved unanimously that the Clerk arrange a public meeting, at which a new NDP could be discussed. The Clerk would also approach the residents who had contacted him about the matter.

 

218/25            St Columb-in-Bloom 2026

Cllr Mrs Fuery proposed, seconded by Cllr Allen, and it was resolved unanimously that the Clerk should apply for grants from the Denzell Down Wind Farm, and St Breock Windfarm Community Fund to support the project.

 

Cllr Allen proposed, seconded by Cllr Jury, and it was resolved unanimously to reduce the number of the hanging baskets usually installed: in particular, they would not be hung in Newquay Road.

 

 

219/25            Members’ Queries

 

1. Cllr Allen was concerned about the lack of police presence in the The Clerk agreed to liaise with Cllr O’Connor and to seek a meeting with the Newquay Police Inspector.
2. Cllr Dickens was dismayed by the unhelpful location of 20 mph road signage in The Clerk agreed to inspect the area with him.
3. Cllr Taylor noted the rise in complaints about dog Cllr Allen agreed to approach St Columb Major Academy about the possibility of appropriate posters being designed by pupils. Participating pupils might also be invited to visit the Chamber, where the Mayor could judge a poster competition. Dog Fouling would be an agenda item at the next meeting.

 

220/25            Closed Session

 

Cllr Allen proposed, seconded by Cllr Jury, and it was RESOLVED unanimously that the Press and Public be excluded from the Meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 (as Extended by Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972).

 

221/25            St Columb Major Association Football Club Lease Arrangements

 

Members agreed to invite representatives of the Football Club to an informal meeting in the Chamber on 4th or 5th February.

 

222/25            Car Parking Contractual Matters

 

Members were aware of recent social medial posts concerning PCN fine debt collection.

 

The Clerk reported recent problems.

223/25            Accountancy Matters

The Clerk was investigating the possibility of bringing payroll in house.

224/25            Grass Cutting

 

The Clerk was investigating the possibility of bringing some grass cutting in house.

 

 

The Meeting closed at 8.30pm. Next Full Council Meeting: 3/02/26 or 10/02/26 at 7pm. Dated:                   10th February 2026                                           Signed: