With the nights drawing in and fires being lit it is fair to say that things are warming up down in Truro. The number of meeting being held has increased dramatically with most Councillors having to travel to New County Hall several times a week. One of the Committees on which I sit is the Budget Oversight and Scrutiny Committee. The purpose of this committee is to critically review the budget, which is drafted by the Cabinet with input from the officers, to ensure that spending address the areas of importance for our communities. This has to be carried out in the knowledge that a large proportion of the budget has to be spent on certain services that the Council has to provide by law such as Adult Social Care and Special Educational Needs. It is enlightening to see how various competing demands are managed.
There was a hope that the Government’s ‘Fairer Funding Review’ would see Cornwall receive more central funding than has previously been the case. This extra funding would have recognised our remoteness and very rural and dispersed population and the additional costs that this brings in the provision of services. After the Government having consulted it is disappointing to learn that the likely outcome of the review will again see these elements not being fully taken into account and that Cornwall is again under funded compared to other areas. We can only hope that the Chancellor finds additional funding within her Budget this week.
The Council is also starting to consider the update to the Cornwall Local Plan 2010-2030. There are some initial roadshows where residents are being asked for their views on how they would like to see Cornwall develop and change over the 20 year period to 2050. Drop in sessions are being held around the County with local ones on Wednesday 14th January. There is one in Bude Methodist Church from 11am to 2pm and another later on from 4pm to 7pm in The Old Bank Camelford. I hope as many of you as are able will attend and give your views.
It is great to see work starting on the Community and Recreation Centre. This is being funded through the Community Levelling Up Programme (CLUP) and this payment is one of the last to come from the programme as it is now being wound up. Again another source of grant income to support our area has been lost. The monies need to be spent by the end of this year and it has been inspiring to see those people within the community pushing to get all the ducks in a row so that the work can be undertaken in a very short time frame.
Finally, and it seems very odd to be writing this in November, can I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
As always if you need my help or support with any matter please don’t hesitate to contact me either through my email cllr.mark.burnett@cornwall.gov.uk or on my mobile 07928945782.
Councillor Mark Burnett
Cornwall Councillor for Camelford and Boscastle
