Cornwall Council’s Cabinet is reporting back on its achievements so far and plans for the future following its first 100 days on the job.
Leader of Cornwall Council, Linda Taylor said:
“Winning overall control of Cornwall Council was a resounding endorsement of our policies. our commitment and the trust you the voters have given us.”
“We knew there would be challenges, what we did not know was the full extent of the financial mismanagement by the previous administration.”
"Our pledge to deliver value for money has become even more important. The following messages from your Cabinet show what we have achieved in our first 100 days, which we started with the closure of the council’s Brussels Office.”
Councillor David Harris – Deputy Leader and Finance:
“I was asked to comment on the first 100 days of a Conservative Administration in County Hall so I said, " There is no money" and was told a longer comment was needed so I said " There is no ******** money" but even that, despite being absolutely correct is not enough words. I will not gild the lily, after four years probing and questioning the old junta and being fobbed off with polite words and a Cabinet who seemed to believe whatever they wanted to tell themselves I am not surprised that we are now looking at holes in the financial model going forward that are quite staggering. “
“My job, along with the entire Cabinet and in particular working with our excellent Chief Operating Officer and her teams, is to look at how we balance the budgets. A start has been made with ongoing reviews of the Council's entire operating model and also its huge property estate but this will not be easy and will require some difficult choices to be made.”
“One thing of which I am sure, we will not shirk these decisions and we will not allow problems to be kicked into the long grass.”
Councillor Olly Monk – Housing and Planning:
“Make no mistake about it, Cornwall is currently in a housing crisis, exacerbated by the Covid-19 crisis but not helped by the previous inaction by our predecessors in county hall over the past eight years. What is needed is not complaining letters to the government and more debate, but action. Since taking office and in response to the lack of Housing across all sectors of Cornwall’s Housing Market we have launched a nuts and bolts review of all aspects of Housing in Cornwall.”
“We are committed to building the housing that the people of Cornwall need and make sure that this housing goes to people living in Cornwall. We are currently building two temporary accommodation sites that will house over 35 single people .These monitored and secure sites provide vital accommodation keeping vulnerable residents off our streets . The first of the these sites will be at New County Hall in Truro due to be opened by September and the second site in Camborne is due to open in October . Further sites and buildings are currently undergoing construction or refurbishment utilising modular buildings.”
“We are also currently refurbishing over 100 properties that will be brought back into use. These sites will provide much needed temporary accommodation for people vulnerable to eviction.”
“We have also began the process that will allow us to work with our MPs and Government to demand a change in the law that will allow Cornwall Council to force 2nd home owners to have to pay Council Tax that will be subject to a surcharge . We will also insist that any residential property that the owner wants to use as a holiday let has to be licensed.”
“Moving forward this Council will commence building and purchasing large amounts of Council homes that will offer a fair rent coupled with the security of a long term tenancy. This along with the building the homes that local people demand will start to address the imbalance of the Cornish housing market.”
Councillor Andy Virr – Adult Health and Social Care:
“We have set a clear direction for Adult Social Care that there is no place like home for our Cornish residents. We have too many elderly residents in care homes, but with a more joined up approach they could be back in their own homes. We want to have caring communities that come together to support the isolated, as communities did through the Covid crisis, by assisting families, enabling volunteering and growing our statutory caring in people’s homes. We want our residents to live well in their own communities.”
“We have been supporting businesses and residents to manage to balance between the opening up of society and the need to still keep control of the Coronavirus. Our local NHS has been leading the country in the vaccine roll out and we have been supporting communities where outbreaks have occurred with additional vaccine clinics and testing. Despite the challenging numbers of cases our local NHS has not been overwhelmed by admissions – a reminder to us all of the power of vaccination.”
Councillor Philip Desmonde – Transport:
“Transport Policies comprise two key themes - Connectivity and Quality of Life.”
“The key element of Quality of Life is to deliver on our Manifesto for 20mph Zoning for those Town and Village Communities that ask for it.”
“This very popular policy is coupled with our emerging Healthy Streets policies. The key aims are to deliver reduced vehicle pollution, encourage cycling and safe walking with low carbon outcomes to support Climate Emergency mitigation.”
“Over the last few months of this Conservative Administration, the demand for this policy to be implemented has been substantial - more than 20 Communities in just 3 months throughout Cornwall. The expressions of interest continue to be received. This will be accounted for in our refresh of the Local Transport Plan: Connecting Cornwall 2030.”
“The Connectivity theme is also being developed. The aim is to make the use of the Cornwall wide public transport as accessible and as simple to use as possible under the banner of a “One Public Transport System”. An excellent example in delivery is the St Erth Modal Hub, bringing together walking, cycling, bus, car and train. This Summer, a 450% growth in use was recorded!”
“Summary achievements since May include:
· A review of Community Network schemes to support reduced delivery time – our 60% reduction in bureaucracy delivered!
· A workshop with partners on Cornwall’s 20 is Plenty policy.
· A trial scheme in Truro to create space for pedestrian and cyclists to ensure a sustainable and healthy city centre.
· Securing £451K e-bike funding from DfT to pilot area a scheme to improve access to employment through the loaning of e-bikes, supported by a touring road show.
· A new contract with Sustrans to oversee a behaviour change programme to support modal shift to active travel and public transport
· Using funds secured from the Government’s £2bn Active Travel Fund to develop a Quiet Lane trial in the Truro area to reduce traffic and support walking and cycling in a safer, more enjoyable environment
· Securing £219K from the Capability Fund to develop Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) in 7 towns to enable Cornwall access to the £2bn walking and cycling fund in the future
· Trialling the innovative Smart Cities approach to monitor issues such as flood risk and air quality”
Councillor Martyn Alvey - Environment and Climate Change:
“In recognition of the importance that this Administration places in the cross-party declaration of a Climate Emergency in January 2019, and the commitment for Cornwall to achieve ‘Net Zero’ by 2030, it was considered important that in the post-election rebalancing of the portfolios we should see ‘Climate Change’ feature as an explicit Cabinet role. Underpinned by the creditable work already undertaken to place Cornwall Council as a leading Authority in Climate Change Action (as recognised in our shortlisting for an MJ Award), and the commitment of the Government to support Cornwall in becoming the first Net Zero region of the UK, we continue to build upon the work of the Carbon Neutral Cornwall Team to weave a ‘Green Thread’ through all Council activity.”
“However, this isn’t without challenge.”
“We continue to strive for a modal shift in the way we move about the Duchy and must balance the ambitions of our Climate Change Development Planning Document against the need to meet the challenge of building sufficient but environmentally efficient and affordable homes. The laudable aspiration of the ‘Forest for Cornwall’ initiative to plant 8000 Hectares of new woodland by 2030 set out by the previous Administration is being ‘reality checked’ as potentially unachievable, whilst action is being taken to find ways to better protect the healthy mature trees we have, and ensure that planting conditions attached to planning approvals are carried out.”
Councillor Stephen Rushworth - Economy:
“In the first 100 days since taking office the economic department has secured £88.7million government funding for Penzance, St Ives, Camborne and Truro from the Towns Fund Programme.”
“I allocated £1m from the Community Renewal Fund to numerous towns around Cornwall, so they can work up shovel ready schemes to revitalise their towns in preparation for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. £500,000 will also soon be made available for villages to bid for.”
Councillor Richard Pears – Customers:
“We have refocused our engagements with residents on delivering results for people, not just ticking boxes.”
We are streamlining the links between the council and its companies, such as Cormac, to cut red tape and allow our companies to operate more effectively.
“We have started work on smarter council IT with one customer record throughout all the council’s systems, Smart Bots to quickly deal with basic issues from residents, a streamlined website with web app capabilities, and Alexa integration to allow people to talk to the council and get immediate responses at any time.”
“We have insisted economic projections for all council projects and policies, which allow us to balance the social and environmental aspects of our actions along with the return on investment.”
Councillor Carol Mould – Neighbourhoods:
“I have worked with my team and local members across Cornwall to work with Safer Cornwall to ensure Cornwall is a safe, vibrant inclusive place to live and work for all residents.”
“We are working to increase recycling rates, and consultation on implementing the governments environmental bill for Extended Producer responsibility and Deposit Return Schemes.”
“We are also working hard to deliver the government’s funding for Changing Places toilets, to enable those with complex needs to access changing facilities and enable greater freedoms to visit attractions and venues.”
“I am also pleased that we have delivered the new Members Community Chest to allow Cornwall Councillors to support charities and projects in their communities. This has Increased to £3,000 per member and can now be used for revenue to help areas in regeneration after the pandemic as well as towards capital projects.”
“We are also reviewing Community Networks and working generally across my portfolio to support returning to business as usual following an incredibly difficult 18 months.”
Councillor Barbara Ellenbroek – Children and Families:
“Most of my time has been spent getting to know and understand the intricacies of this portfolio.”
“There have been presentations and conversations about all sorts of topics, from organising of the very successful Y7 to discussions about Children’s Rights, something that as yet is not enshrined in law.”
“Together for Families has an amazing team that has gone above and beyond through the pandemic to support all children and their families to come through this unprecedented time.”
“I am looking forward to bringing forward our manifesto promise to improve the waiting time for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) children.”
“We have been invited to work with Andrea Leadsom MP and Truro and Falmouth MP Cherilyn Mackrory on their investigation into how to ensure that every child has the best Start in Life through the Start in Life Unit. This is a project that Andrea Leadsom MP has been charged to work on by the Prime Minister. Another great compliment to Cornwall as we are being used as an example of an authority delivering a brilliant service.”
“My main priority, and that of Together for Families is to ensure that in every piece of work that we do across the Council that the needs of Children and their families is embedded into every decision that we make.”
