Cornwall Council

Cornwall Council
Name	Cornwall Council
Caption	Council logo
House type	Unitary authority
Foundation	1 April 2009
Preceded by	Cornwall County Council and six district councils
Jurisdiction	Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Meeting place	Lys Kernow, Truro
Leader1 type	Chair
Leader1	Cllr Pauline Giles
Leader2 type	Leader
Leader2	Cllr Linda Taylor
Leader3 type	Chief Executive
Leader3	Kate Kennally
Members	87 councillors
Political groups	• Conservative (46) , • Liberal Democrat (14) , • Independent (13) , • Labour (5) , • Mebyon Kernow (4) , • Green Party (1) , • Vacant (4)
Last election1	6 May 2021
Next election1	2025
Website	www.cornwall.gov.uk

Cornwall Council is the unitary authority which governs the ceremonial county of Cornwall in South West England, including the Isles of Scilly. Established in 2009, it replaced the former Cornwall County Council and six district councils, consolidating local governance. The council administers a wide range of public services for over half a million residents from its headquarters, Lys Kernow, in the city of Truro.

History

The creation of Cornwall Council followed the 2009 structural changes to local government in England, which abolished the two-tier system of county council and district councils. This reform merged the services and responsibilities of Caradon District Council, Carrick District Council, Kerrier District Council, North Cornwall District Council, Penwith District Council, Restormel Borough Council, and Cornwall County Council into a single entity. The move was controversial, with groups like Mebyon Kernow advocating for a devolved Cornish Assembly instead. The council's formation was influenced by the earlier Banham Review and subsequent local government white papers from Westminster.

Governance and structure

The council operates under a leader and cabinet model, with the political leader selected from the majority party or coalition. Full council meetings are held at Lys Kernow, with decisions scrutinised by various committees. The authority is divided into 87 electoral wards, each represented by a single councillor elected for a four-year term. For administrative purposes, the area is also segmented into community network panels, which include representatives from town and parish councils. The Isles of Scilly retain a separate Council of the Isles of Scilly but are within the council's strategic remit for certain services.

Responsibilities and services

As a unitary authority, the council is responsible for all major local government functions within its area. This includes education provision through schools like Truro and Penwith College, adult social care, highway maintenance on routes such as the A30 road, public transport coordination, waste management, and strategic planning. It also oversees libraries, including the Royal Cornwall Museum library, and regulates activities within Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty like the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The council works with partners like the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership and Devon and Cornwall Police.

Political composition

Following the 2021 Cornwall Council election, the Conservative Party gained a majority, with Linda Taylor becoming leader. Other significant groups include the Liberal Democrats, a bloc of Independents, the Labour Party, the Cornish nationalist Mebyon Kernow, and the Green Party. Political control has shifted since the council's inception, with the Conservatives taking control from a prior coalition of Liberal Democrats and Independents. The Chair of Cornwall Council is a ceremonial role, currently held by Pauline Giles.

Finances and budget

The council's funding derives from a combination of Revenue Support Grant from the UK Government, council tax, and business rates collected locally. Its annual budget, typically over one billion pounds, is set to fund services amid significant pressures from areas like adult social care and children's services. Major capital projects, such as the Truro and Penwith College redevelopment or improvements to the A30 road, require separate funding agreements, often involving the Department for Transport or the European Regional Development Fund. Financial challenges are frequently scrutinised by the council's Audit Committee.

Controversies and challenges

The council has faced criticism over several issues, including the handling of the Cornwall Stadium project and debates surrounding a devolution deal for Cornwall. Financial management, particularly regarding the now-defunct joint venture with BT Group known as BT Cornwall, has been contentious. Other ongoing challenges include addressing rural deprivation, providing affordable housing in areas like St Ives, managing tourism impacts on sites like Land's End, and responding to the climate emergency declared in 2019. The council's relationship with the Cornish language revival and recognition of Cornish nationalism also periodically generates debate.

Category:Local government in Cornwall Category:Unitary authority councils of England Category:Cornwall Council