Liskeard Town Council has set the precept, which is the local part of the Council Tax. It will increase by 2.8 per cent from last year’s amount, which, in turn, was a 2 per cent increase over that of the year before.

The rise equates to 74p a year for a Band D property.

Among the factors taken into account when making the increase were Cornwall Council’s cut in the Council Support Grant by 26 per cent, which means that over the course of the year the town will receive £11,925 less than it did last year.

Also taken into account was the fact that the business rates paid on the council’s own properties has gone up by £2,169 as a result of revaluations, and the costs for the May 2017 council elections have risen by 32 per cent on 2013’s.

A piece of land off Pengover Road, which was twice turned down for residential development by planners, has now been transferred to Liskeard Town Council for a fee of £1 with an Overage Agreement.

Taking into consideration comments from local residents who had objected strongly to development of the land at the junction of Eastern Avenue and Springfield Road, the council is to retain the area as a public open space.

It has budgeted £2,500 for costs in the first year of taking it over, and £500 per annum afterwards.

Other budget matters include £155,000 for the Public Hall refurbishment.

It is envisaged the cost will be split in three parts which are £77,500 in grants, £62,500 from council reserves and £15,000 from the precept.

Councillors are also looking at spending £10,000 on a CCTV upgrade next year from reserves, in order to gain a £10,000 grant from the Police and Crime Commissioners.