Cornwall Council Consultation on the proposed Cornwall Devolution Deal

/in /by

To submit your views, please fill out the consultation questionnaire below by midnight on 17 February 2023 at the latest.

The Government and Cornwall Council have negotiated a proposed Devolution Deal (we will also refer to it as ‘the Deal’). If it is accepted, Government would give additional powers and funding to Cornwall Council. The Deal would give Cornwall Council more funding to invest in Cornwall’s future, and more control over the decision-making that affects Cornwall’s residents and businesses.

The Government has set an important condition: if Cornwall Council is to receive more powers and funding, it needs to change the way the Council is governed, from the current system of a Council Leader, elected by the 87 Cornwall Councillors every year, to a Mayor directly elected by the people of Cornwall every four years.

Before the Deal can come into effect, Cornwall Council will need to decide whether to accept the Deal and agree to change its governance model from a Leader and Cabinet model to an elected Mayor and Cabinet model. Those two decisions are ‘two sides of the same coin’. The Government have made it clear that the Council will not be able to secure the proposed Deal if it doesn’t change its governance model.

What are we consulting on?

We are consulting on a new proposed Devolution Deal that Cornwall Council has negotiated with Government . The powers and funding that the Deal brings are intended to help deliver on the priorities set out in the Cornwall Plan 2050. We are also consulting on the proposed governance changes which are a requirement of the Deal.

The results of this consultation will be considered by Cornwall Council before any decisions are made to approve the Deal including making the required change to the Council’s governance. The results will also be shared with Government who will consider the outcome of the consultation to determine if the statutory tests are met to pass the additional powers and funding to the Council.

How do I find out more?

In our Consultation Document we explain the key powers and funding the Deal would bring and the governance changes we would need to make to secure the Deal. Please read this document before completing the questionnaire.

You will also find links to more information about the Deal on this page.

Before you start:

By registering yourself on Let’s Talk Cornwall (or signing in if you are already registered) before starting the questionnaire, you will be able to save this questionnaire part way through and return to it later without losing responses that you have already completed. You will also receive an automated copy of your responses for your records. We will also be able to let you know about key updates with the Deal, including when the report of this consultation is published.

You do not need register to complete the questionnaire. If you prefer not to register but you do want us to keep you informed with key updates, please subscribe to ‘stay informed’ on this page.

  • Cornwall Devolution Deal Consultation Questionnaire

    Please complete our questionnaire to give your views on the Cornwall Devolution Deal. This questionnaire will close on 17/02/2023.

    In our Consultation Document we explain the key powers and funding the Deal would bring and the governance changes we would need to make to secure the Deal. Please read this document before completing the questionnaire.

    Privacy Notice 

    We will use the information you provide to help inform decisions in relation to the Cornwall Devolution Deal, including the decision whether or not to accept the Deal, including the change to an elected Mayor, which is a requirement of the Deal.

    The Data Controller for the information you provide in this survey is Cornwall Council, New County Hall, Treyew Road, Truro TR1 3AY. Data Protection Registration Number: Z1745294. Once the survey has closed, your data will be held within Cornwall Council’s secure network and premises for up to 2 years. Where we ask you to supply personal data on this form, we will only make access to this data available to authorised members of staff who are required to process it for the purposes outlined in this privacy notice. Please note that other information you provide, such as responses to open questions, may be published in full.If you are responding formally on behalf of a business or organisation, please note that your responses may be attributed to you and/or your organisation.

    Complete Questionnaire

Budget consultation

/in /by
You are invited to have your say about Cornwall Council’s spending priorities and budget for 2023/24.

We are currently consulting on our draft budget for 2023/24 until Sunday 15 January 2023.

This year we’ve seen an unprecedented rise in the cost of living, impacting on everyone in Cornwall. As everything is becoming more expensive, we also have higher costs. At the same time, demand for our services continues to grow. Our population is growing, people are generally living longer and the type of services that people need is changing. This comes at a time where we are still recovering from the financial costs of supporting and protecting our residents during the Covid pandemic. In short, increased costs and demands on our services are higher than what we planned for last year and we have to make additional savings to be able to balance our budget.

Last year, we set out a clear path forward and started making some very tough decisions on how we shape our Council to deliver services in the future, how we prioritise our spending on the services we deliver and how we balance our budget.

Our Business Plan is based on a clear mission for Cornwall Council of working with communities for a carbon neutral Cornwall, where everyone can start well, live well and age well. Our priorities, shaped by our residents and young people, are to make Cornwall:

  • A brilliant place to be a child and grow up
  • In a thriving, sustainable Cornwall that offers a secure home, a decent income and a great environment for all
  • With vibrant, safe, supportive communities where people help each other live well
  • All supported by an empowering and enterprising Council that delivers great value for money

Our draft budget proposals reflect these priorities. We are now seeking views on our plans to deliver these priorities within the budget available to us. Our proposals build on the actions we have already taken to tackle the housing crisis, turbo-charge our economy, and make Cornwall the first place in the UK to be net carbon neutral.

More information about our proposals and the consultation can be found on https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/budget-23-24

Budget consultation event

We are holding an online event for our businesses, public sector and voluntary sector partners and stakeholders, where you will be able to discuss the proposals with the Leader, Deputy Leader and Chief Executive of Cornwall Council:

Wednesday 4 January 2023
7pm to 8.30pm

A video of the event will be made available after the meeting on the Council’s Let’s Talk website.

I hope you will be able to join us at the event and look forward to seeing you there.

If you would like to attend this event, please let us know by emailing haveyoursay@cornwall.gov.uk by 5pm on Tuesday 3 January. We will then send you a link and joining instructions for the event.

Cllr David Harris
Deputy Leader | Isel hembrenkyas
Cornwall Council | Konsel Kernow

Gritting – Cornwall Council

/in /by

Our Winter Service Plan states that we will salt (commonly known as “grit”)

  • All A and B roads
  • Some other well used roads
  • Access to sites of strategic importance, including but not limited to
    • hospital minor injury units
    • health centres
    • major transport interchanges and
    • most fire stations
    • Access to some secondary schools

Precautionary Salting Network

We call the network of roads we salt the Precautionary Salting Network. The network is over 1,400km (900miles) of road.

In normal circumstances we would aim to complete the 25 routes within three hours.

You can view a map of our precautionary salting network using the online mapping system.

You can view the areas that will be salted over the next 24 hours by following @CornwallCouncil.

Why we use salt

Salt (commonly known as “grit” when spread on the road) is used to lower the freezing point of water in frosty conditions. This stops ice forming and reduces the possibility of skidding, or more serious road accidents.

Stored in salt barns around Cornwall, it can be used quickly by Cormac when weather forecasts indicate a freeze ahead.

Salting is usually done before freezing occurs. Weather forecasts often predict near freezing temperatures with rain, hail or sleet showers.

These showers can wash the salt from treated roads and leave them prone to freezing. This makes forecasting and planning salting difficult.

We take every reasonable step to prevent freezing roads.

Cormac’s staff monitor the weather conditions throughout the day and night. They liaise closely with forecasters specifically employed for this task.

There are also 11 roadside sensors that measure road temperature and other important information. This information is automatically sent back to the forecasters and Cormac staff.

What are we unable to do

  • We will not routinely treat footways. When there is a significant risk of icy conditions for long periods through the day we may salt busy footways in main towns. We can only do this if it does not affect the treatment of the precautionary network.
  • Salting or other work on the trunk roads, as these are the responsibility of the Highways England.
  • Salt all roads and footways. This would be an enormous and costly task. We can salt the Precautionary Network only.
  • Always keep roads free of ice and snow.
  • We do not salt on request. We will only consider salting and clearance of routes off the main gritting routes once the precautionary network is clear.

We do not provide salt bins.  Please see the guidance on salt bins.

To report urgent emergencies of ice and snow on the road, where it is resulting in hazardous conditions, telephone 0300 1234 222 (24 hour service). Please include location details. We will assess the situation and send resources to the places in most need. This will be when the precautionary network is clear and where resources permit.

For more information please see our winter service procedures.

Last Updated:

16/05/2022

Need help?

Most issues can be resolved online, it’s the quickest and most convenient way to get help.

Use our contact us form

The Big Green Tender

/in /by

Avian Flu

/in /by

The UK’s Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer declared a new Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) for Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly), Devon and parts of Somerset on 31 August 2022.

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ)

Cornwall Council Trading Standards is reminding all keepers of poultry that they are legally required to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks, of whatever type or size, to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of disease occurring.

The AIPZ now in force across Devon, Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and parts of Somerset does not include a requirement to house birds.

The public are also reminded that they should not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds that you find and follow the guidance on Defra’s advice to the public page.  The UK Health Security Agency continue to advise that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency advice remains unchanged, that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

Defra’s advice to the public 

The advice from Defra to all bird keepers in the new AIPZ affected areas means you must:

  • Cleanse and disinfect clothing, footwear, equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry and captive birds – if practical, use disposable protective clothing
  • reduce the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry and captive birds are kept, to minimise contamination from manure, slurry and other products, and use effective vermin control
  • thoroughly cleanse and disinfect housing on a continuous basis
  • keep fresh disinfectant at the right concentration at all farm and poultry housing entry and exit points
  • minimise direct and indirect contact between poultry and captive birds and wild birds, including making sure all feed and water is not accessible to wild birds
  • prevent access by poultry to ponds and watercourses and ensure that birds are kept in fenced or enclosed areas

Keepers with more than 500 birds will need to restrict access for non-essential people on their sites, workers will need to change clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures and site vehicles will need to be cleaned and disinfected regularly to limit the risk of the disease spreading.

The UK has faced its largest ever outbreak of bird flu with over 130 cases confirmed across the country since late October. The introduction of this regional AIPZ comes after the disease was detected in captive birds at nine premises across the south-west region since last month, as well as several cases in wild seabirds.

Jane Tomlinson Trading Standard Manager covering Animal Health and Welfare at Cornwall Trading Standards Service, said: “Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, poultry keepers are legally required to meet the enhanced biosecurity procedures to protect their birds from this highly infectious virus.

“We are responsible for enforcement of these legal requirements and our officers are working hard to help and advise poultry keepers. We recommend all poultry keepers sign up to the Defra poultry register and the disease alert service where they will receive regular text updates.”

Defra has said that the introduction of an AIPZ follows the recent increase in cases of bird flu in poultry and other captive birds in the area and increased reports of mass mortality in wild birds.

They have indicated that the prevention zone will be in place until further notice and will be kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of bird flu.

Whilst the health risks to the general public are low, Public Health Cornwall is also urging people not to feed wild birds to further reduce the risk and stop the virus spreading.

Brian O’Neill, Consultant in Public Health at Cornwall Council, said: “Bird flu is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to people’s health is low. But that’s not to say we shouldn’t be doing everything we can to stop it spreading so that risk becomes even lower.

“As well as not touching them, we would also strongly urge people not to feed wild birds at their local ponds, lakes and rivers as large gatherings of birds make transmission of the virus more likely.”

If you find a sick or dead wild birds, don’t touch them and please report to DEFRA on 03459 33 55 77 (select option 7) if you find:

  • one or more dead bird of prey or owl
  • 3 or more dead gulls or wild waterfowl (swans, geese and ducks)
  • 5 or more dead birds of any species

Then

  • if it is on Council land, please let us know so we can remove it.  You can report it here and pinpoint the location.  There is an interactive map so you can see if it’s on Council land.
  • if the dead bird is on private land, please report it to the landowner.
  • if you find a dead bird on your property, if DEFRA is unable to remove it, please follow DEFRA’s guidance on how to safely dispose of it

Poultry keepers should report suspicion of disease in their birds to APHA on 03000 200 301.

Community Councillor Vacancy

/in /by

Would you like to make a difference to your local community?

We currently have one vacancy that we are looking to fill by co-option.  We invite anyone who is interested in being considered to notify the clerk via e-mail or post. In particular we would like to hear of any specific skills or interests that you believe would benefit the Parish Council.

The position is unpaid and includes approximately 11 meetings a year.  The Parish Council is non political.

A Parish Councillor must be:

  • a British citizen, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union, and
  • 18 years or older on the day you become nominated for election
  • for the whole of the 12 months prior to nomination he/she must:
    • have been an elector of the parish and either occupied or owned/rented premises in the parish, or
    • resided within 3 miles of the boundary of the parish, or
    • had his/her principal or only place of work in that area

You cannot stand for election if you:

  • are the subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order
  • have, within five years before the day of the election, been convicted in the United Kingdom of any offence and have had a prison sentence (whether suspended or not) for a period of over three months without the option of a fine

If you would like to be considered for this place or you would like further information about the role of a community councillor and the co-option process, please contact :

Laura Storey

Clerk to Polperro Community Council

PO Box 82

Looe

PL13 9DG

07539 878832

clerk@polperrocommunitycouncil.gov.uk

Worried about money? Support is available

/in /by
Struggling households in Cornwall are reminded that there is support available to help them through the cost-of-living crisis.

Residents can check out the available help on Cornwall Council’s Cost of Living Support and Worried About Money web pages.

Town and Parish Councils are urged to signpost residents to this support where possible.

Meanwhile, Cornwall Council can confirm it has secured a further £4.5 million through the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Household Support Fund (HSF) to help hard-hit households. The money will primarily be used to provide one-off cash payments to pensioners in receipt of pension credit and to families with children eligible for free school meals.

The remaining money will be used by the Council and partner organisations such as Volunteer Cornwall, Disability Cornwall and Community Energy Plus to help support those most in need.

Details on how people can access the fund will be made available in the coming weeks.

The Council and other members of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Leadership Board have already pledged to work even more closely to help people following the Cost of Living Summit held in Penryn last month.

Cornwall Council News 4 November 2022

/in /by

Support your local small businesses – Free parking in Cornwall Council car parks on 3 December

Small Business Saturday falls this year on 3 December. On the day it will be free to park in all Cornwall Council ‘pay and display’ and ‘pay on exit’ car parks, and to use the Truro Park and Ride.

Small Business Saturday is a national initiative, now in its tenth year. It is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities.

All Cornwall Council car parks are clearly branded, and there will be posters about the parking offer at charging points on the free parking day.

If the car park is one of the ‘pay on exit’ car parks, you should take a ticket from the entrance barrier as usual. When leaving the car park, please insert your ticket into the machine by the exit barrier. If you have only parked on the free parking day, the barrier will open to allow you to exit. But if you have stayed for longer than the free parking day, any additional parking fee will need to be paid for before you drive up to the exit barrier.

Please find a full list of Cornwall Council car parks

Have your say about Cornwall Council’s rubbish and recycling collections, street and public open space cleaning services

Twice a year we ask you to tell us what you think of the rubbish, recycling, street and public open space cleaning services provided on behalf of Cornwall Council by our contractor Biffa. We want to hear from Town and Parish Councils and their communities about the services you receive so please share this message.

The survey will run until 30 November 2022.

You can take the survey online.

Answers are anonymous and can help Cornwall Council identify and address any issues, as well as helping us to continue to improve and manage the contract as efficiently as possible.

Anyone who can’t complete the survey online can get a paper copy by ringing 0300 1234 141 or by emailing refuseandrecycling@cornwall.gov.uk

You can find out more about the most frequently asked questions on the Council website

Looe Area Community Speedwatch – Appeal For More Volunteers

/in /by

A Speedwatch Group was recently formed for the Looe area supported by PCSO Steve Cocks.  A few sites have been identified for monitoring, and I am sure that you could think of many more, but to be effective and sustainable we need more volunteers.

Full training is given.

All equipment is provided.

Each session is about 1 hour.

Commitment is flexible.

No special skills required.

 Further information can be found at www.communityspeedwatch.org 

To register your interest contact the Parish Clerk