Public meetings on proposals for County Deal for Cornwall begin tonight
The first of ten meetings on the County Deal and a possible Mayor of Cornwall start this evening
A series of public meetings is set to be held to give people the chance to find out more about the new County Deal for Cornwall and the possibility of a Mayor for Cornwall. Cornwall Council has agreed in principle a new county deal which will provide new powers and funding for Cornwall.
However, in order to secure the deal, the Government says that Cornwall Council would have to change its governance structure and have a directly elected Mayor for Cornwall. Currently the leader of Cornwall Council is selected by councillors who have been elected across Cornwall.
Under the new system residents in Cornwall would be able to choose who would be the Mayor for Cornwall and be the figurehead of Cornwall Council. Supporters say that this would help Cornwall but critics say it is unnecessary, costly and could place too much power with one person.
Cornwall Council leader Linda Taylor has backed the Deal for Cornwall and says that it would bring an extra £360million into Cornwall and give the council more control over projects and decisions in Cornwall.
However, critics have said that the £360m would be delivered over 30 years and have argued that the funding could be provided by the Government without the need for an elected mayor.
There have also been calls for a referendum to be held so that people in Cornwall can decide whether they want to have a directly elected mayor. A final decision on this will be made once the consultation is complete. If Cornwall Council does approve the deal and to having an elected mayor the first elections would take place in 2024.
Cornwall Council is currently undertaking a public consultation on the new county deal and whether Cornwall should have a directly elected mayor. A questionnaire has been published for people to complete to give their views on the issue.
To help with this a number of public meetings will be held across Cornwall starting next week. All the meetings will start at 6.30pm, they will be held at:
Monday, Jan 16 – Penrice Academy, St Austell
Wednesday, Jan 18 – Redruth Community Centre
Friday, Jan 20 – Bodmin College
Monday, Jan 23 – Newquay Tretherras School
Tuesday, Jan 24 – New County Hall, Truro
Thursday, Jan 26 – Saltash Guildhall
Friday, Jan 27 – Falmouth Maritime Museum
Monday, Jan 30 – St John’s Hall, Penzance
Monday, Feb 6 – The Falcon Hotel, Bude
Tuesday, Feb 7 – Launceston Town Hall
All are welcome to attend the meetings to find out more about the county deal and ask questions of council officers and councillors.
You can find out more about the deal, and take part in the consultation here
The questionnaire will close on February 17.