Plans for a Mayor for Cornwall have been scrapped following such negative public response to proposals. Linda Taylor, Cornwall Council leader, made a statement this morning, but how have our local councillors reacted to the U-turn?

In a statement issued this morning, Linda Taylor, Cornwall Council leader said that because of the response, the authority will be pursuing a 'Level 2' devolution deal, which 'seeks to retain as many of the Level 3 deal (which would have required a Mayor) as possible, including the £10m adult education budget' but reportedly would not include the £360m funding for investment, believed to be over 30 years.

Speaking to the Post about this new approach to devolution, Adam Paynter, Cornwall Councillor for Launceston North and North Petherwin said: “I am absolutely delighted that the million-pound mayor has been binned this morning. It was a ridiculous idea that has been pushed by the out-of-touch Conservatives at the National level and some at the local level. 

“Cornwall has never wanted a directly elected all-powerful mayor. In my 22 years on Cornwall Council, we have voted 3 times to reject another layer of control in Cornwall. I hope this is the last we hear of it and move forward to receive more powers in Cornwall to make decisions here, not in Westminster.

“I have always been in favour of devolution to Cornwall and then Cornwall Council devolving powers again to Town and Parish councils. Decisions need to be made at the lowest possible level so local people can more easily influence decisions.”

Cllr Paynter isn’t the only one who is pleased to see this change from the council. Adrian Parsons, Cornwall Councillor for Altarnun and Stoke Climsland said: “Finally some sense has prevailed, with the Council Leader Linda Taylor finally dropping the proposal for a Mayor for Cornwall. The consultation was flawed and badly managed, to try and get the result they wanted, and yet the people of Cornwall still rejected it. Right from the start this was a massive misjudgement by the Conservative administration trying to add a further layer of bureaucracy to an already top-heavy system. 

“We all support devolution but it has to be meaningful where Cornwall sets the agenda and not Westminster. What’s required is the funding for true devolution with a Cornish Assembly where the people of Cornwall are put in the driving seat with regards to making the big decisions which affect all of our lives.”

Peter LaBroy, Cornwall Councillor for Bude echoed these responses, saying that he is “absolutely delighted that Linda Taylor and Kate Kennally have dropped the disastrous plan for a Mayor for Cornwall.” Speaking to the Post Cllr LaBroy explained the flaws of the public consultation.

“The consultation was flawed and badly managed, to try and get the result they wanted, and yet the people of Cornwall still rejected it. Right from the start this was a massive misjudgement by the Conservative administration trying to add a further layer of bureaucracy to an already top-heavy system. 

“We all support devolution but it has to be meaningful where Cornwall sets the agenda and not Westminster. What’s required is the funding for true devolution with a Cornish Assembly where the people of Cornwall are put in the driving seat with regards to making the big decisions which affect all of our lives.”

Finally, Councillor John Conway for Launceston South expressed his relief that Conservative Councillors “can follow their conscience and not the party line.” He said: “I am delighted that the proposal for a Mayor for Cornwall has been dropped. A Mayor would be bad for democracy and bad for Cornwall. 

“We currently have 87 elected Councillors who form Cornwall Council, there is no reason why any further devolved powers cannot be administered by the 87 and not by one individual. Common sense has been seen to prevail.

“We now have the evidence that Conservative Councillors can follow their conscience and not the party line.”

What are your thoughts on this change? Let us know at [email protected]