Cornwall Council leaders challenge Government over Fair Funding review

The leader and deputy leader of Cornwall Council have written to the Government challenging a Westminster decision to strip ‘remoteness’ out of the local government Fair Funding Review.

The council’s Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Leigh Frost and its Independent deputy leader Cllr Adam Paynter have written to the Minister for Local Government Alison McGovern MP saying the revised approach “bakes in the same old unfairness, leaving Cornwall facing a net loss of £3.6 million and a staggering £37.5 million swing away from where we should rightfully be”.

Cornwall Council’s ruling administrations – whether Conservative or the new Lib Dem / Independent cabinet – have long demanded that the Government looks more kindly on Cornwall when it comes to local government funding.

Cllr Frost has pointed out that Cornwall is one of the most sparsely populated regions in the country and its geography means services cost significantly more to deliver. “From children’s social care to collecting waste, remoteness matters. It has real-world costs,” he argued.

“Removing this factor doesn’t make those costs disappear, it just means Cornwall is expected to shoulder them alone. We are standing up for Cornwall and demanding Government restores the funding formula that recognises the true cost of delivering public services in rural and coastal communities.”

Sharing the letter on social media, Conservative councillor James Mustoe said: “Fair play to Leigh and Adam, I am sure their stand will have support from all political parties.”

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