Vote for a referendum for an elected mayor in Cornwall has been deferred
Campaigners gathered outside County Hall this morning calling for a referendum
Last updated 29th Nov 2022
The decision on whether Cornwall Council should vote on whether or not to hold a referendum for an elected Mayor, has been deferred.
It's after campaigners gathered outside County Hall this morning at a 'public assembly' to call for a referendum for a new mayor for the Duchy.
The motion was put forward by Cllr Tim Dwelly, Independent Councillor for Penzance East. He told us: "My motion sets out that we will have a vote on that at Cornwall Council where councillors will have to decide whether to ask the people and trust the people or exclude them from the decision. Clearly, I'm in favour of the first.
"If you're going to have a big change like this, with one person effectively being in charge of everything that Cornwall Council does with very little control or scrutiny, then that should be the choice of the Cornish people. If the Cornish people vote to have a Mayor, that's fine, but to have a mayor imposed on people without a referendum would be a recipe for political chaos".
Today's final full council meeting heard that the council will now wait until the outcome of the public consultation of the Devolution Deal.
Councillors today voted 43-34 to pass a motion that read: "The decision on whether Cornwall Council should vote on whether or not to hold a referendum to decide whether the council is, in future, led by an elected Mayor, should be deferred until a report is received by Council on the outcome of the public consultation on the Devolution Deal including the requirement to have an elected Mayor."
Throughout the meeting, debates took place between councillors discussing any possible referendum on the creation of a Mayor for Cornwall.
Cllr Linda Taylor, Conservative Group Leader and Leader of Cornwall Council said:
“I was really surprised to see our opposition apparently united in opposing plans that will, following the shortly forthcoming consultation to the people of Cornwall, see a vote at County Hall on whether future plans for a Mayor should go to a referendum or not.”
“As I have always said, we should not be making decisions on important matters like this without having all of the information to hand to allow us, as a council, to make a true informed decision.”
“Sadly it appears the other political groups on the council are following the example of the so-called Independent Group, who in May this year said they were unanimously opposed to any Mayor without knowing any of the details.”
“We will continue to work with all reasonable partners to ensure these plans are properly scrutinised and decisions made on how they proceed once all information is provided and the people of Cornwall consulted.”
“To do anything else, and instead to rush to hasty decisions based on political bias, would not be right for the people of Cornwall".
The public consultation will continue until after the new year.