May’s Contribution to Outreach
ELECTIONS ON THE HORIZON
No, I have not got a crystal ball and am not privy to the thinking of the Government on when the General Election will be called BUT, as Outreach goes out, the election to decide who will be the next Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) will be upon us – 2nd May. Unlike previous PCC elections, the election will run under the First Past the Post system, just like the way we choose M.Ps and Councillors. The other change, since we last went to the polls, is that if you vote at a polling station (as opposed to a postal vote) you need to take Photo ID. For most people that will be very easy, a Drivers Licence, Passport, a Blue Badge or an Older Persons Bus Pass, even if out of date, as long as you are recognisable in the photo. However, those that have none of these will have to obtain a Voter Authority Certificate, from Cornwall Council, but by the time you are reading this, it will be too late to apply for May. If that is the case, get yourself organised to get one ready for the General Election, whenever that is called.
May 20th is St Just Town Council’s Annual Town Meeting and AGM. A time to reflect back on the last 12 months and for Town Councillors to decide upon the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. We are entering the last 12 months of this administration as in May 2025 there will be Cornwall Council and Town and Parish elections. You can stand to be a St Just Town Councillor as long as you live or work within the Parish; all registered voters can then choose the 12 people to form the new Council. However, if 12 or fewer people are willing to put themselves forward, the candidates will form the Council without an election, so do give standing some serious consideration.
Those with children under 16 might be interested to know that St Just Town Council are funding them being able to swim for free at Penzance Jubilee Pool this summer. The Town Council website gives full details on how your children can take advantage of this.
There has been a little bit of a reaction to folk getting their Council tax bills and seeing that there is a 26% increase on the Town Council element. First, the % does sound a lot but, in reality it will be £36.40 per year for a Council Tax Band D property. The increase reflects the fact we have taken over the car parks and toilets now from Cornwall Council and, as the Town Council’s responsibilities have grown, more staff are needed to run things. When I became a Town Councillor in 2007, St Just Town Council did not even own the building it operated from! We were responsible for benches around the Parish and the very small area at Boscaswell Corner and possibly the war memorial. Since then the Town Council has become responsible for Pendeen Playpark, Plain-An-Gwarry in St Just, St Just Library (and the building now accommodates the Town Council staff), the whole area of St Just car parks and toilets, including the bus station, and the car park and toilets in Pendeen. All those assets have to be looked after and money put aside for any major repairs or refurbishments that might be needed in future years. Rubbish and recycling has also become a thing…wrongly or rightly, back in 2007 we put any rubbish out with household waste whereas now, not only do we pay for our rubbish and recycling to be collected from the Town Council and Library operation but we also have to pay to have bins in and around the car parks emptied.
Do remember that we welcome residents to come to sit in on our meetings and, if you have a question or something to tell the Town Council about, just let the Town Clerk know in advance and she will arrange for you to speak at our next meeting.