Fresh calls for fairer funding for Cornwall as council aims to save £59 million
Its cabinet has approved a budget, including a council tax rise of almost 3%
Last updated 10th Feb 2022
Cornwall is still pushing for fairer funding from the government, as the council tries to save £59 million.
Its cabinet approved the budget for the new financial year on Wednesday, including a council tax rise of almost 3% and 400 job losses.
The plan has been recommended to the full council, which will meet to decide in two weeks' time.
Leader of Cornwall Council, Linda Taylor, said she was "proud" of the budget, adding that they inherited a "difficult financial situation".
She added: “I am confident that this budget provides an affordable and sustainable platform to make a real difference to the lives of people in Cornwall".
Deputy Leader David Harris is responsible for the budget and said there were still significant challenges ahead.
He added that decisions on reducing the council’s workforce had not been "taken lightly" and said he was “sorry” that workforce reductions are required.
Cllr Harris also said there was still a need for Cornwall to get a better funding deal from the Government to help provide services: "Cornwall Council has been pressing for some time for fairer funding and we continue to work with our six Cornish MPs to press Whitehall for this".
What are the priorities?
The budget includes an extra £45 million support for adult social care services in Cornwall.
Officials say the business plan is set to deliver £1.2 billion worth of essential services too, in line with these priorities set out in May:
For a brilliant place to grow up and be a child - investing for the future of children and young people in Cornwall with £94 million to provide 550 new school places and repair school buildings
For vibrant safe and supportive communities - significant £45 million extra investment in the day to day running of adult social care services. We will also invest for the future with £38 million for projects including providing our communities with warm, dry and energy efficient homes and investment in our fire and rescue service through a targeted appliance replacement programme.
For a thriving sustainable Cornwall - investing for the future of communities with just over £1.2 billion to support economic growth projects that create homes and jobs for local people, allowing the Council to lever in additional funding from external investors and also roll out a new waste service; and
For an empowering and enterprising organisation - investing for the future with £54 million for projects to put the Council at the forefront of modern, flexible, low carbon ways of working, maintaining and transforming our office estate.
Most savings will come from reducing the amount spent on contracts and through proposed workforce reductions.
The proposed budget was agreed by the cabinet and recommended to full council, which will meet on February 22nd.
Opposition councillors are understood to be preparing alternative proposals, amid concerns about some of the planned cuts.
More information about the budget can be found on Cornwall Council's website.