Firstly, a very Happy New Year!
Whilst the weather was quiet and saw some crisp winter days as the year started things have certainly changed since!
Storm Goretti saw some of the highest wind speeds recorded in Cornwall in recent years and caused considerable damage to property and trees etc with one person very unfortunately losing their life. The major impact of the storm was in the west of the Dutchy and we in the east seem to escape the worst of things. Our thanks need to go to the emergency service workers, those who went out into the wind to restore lost power, water and phone lines. There was an army of people who, from the Friday morning, toiled clearing the roads to ensure that life could get back to as close to normal as quickly as possible and again we need to recognise their efforts and thank them for it. What we as a council and community now need to do is to reflect on what happened, how successful our response to it was and learn from this so that we are even more prepared for the next time. One thing we can be sure of is that there will be a next time.
As previously mentioned the council has been in budget setting mode in preparation for the presentation of the budget to Full council in late February. I reported that there was a deficit in funding meaning that cost savings and efficiencies were being explored to ensure that expenditure equals the councils income. Just before Christmas the Government issued further details as to the funding settlements coming to councils. This saw Cornwall lose out again meaning that additional savings of £13 million are having to be found in respect of the 2026/27 year on top of the £50 million that had already been identified. This comes as a real blow to the Dutchy. Earlier in the year the Government launched the ‘Fairer Funding Review’. The aim of this was to ensure that funding to local government was fair in the way that monies are allocated between councils. It said that it would specifically address the impact of rurality and remoteness upon the cost of delivering services in these types of areas, recognising the geographical spread of people and the lack of choice in selecting service providers driving costs up. Initial results looked promising with Cornwall potentially benefitting but these final figures mean that we would have been better off under the old system. The term fairer funding seems to have become a bit of an oxymoron.
It was great to see so many people come to the Local Plan drop in on Wed 14th Jan at the Old Bank in Camelford. Comments made have been collated and will now be reviewed and used to inform the development of the plan. I look forward to seeing the results and thanks to everyone who made the effort to come along.
The council is always keen to hear peoples view on issues facing us, as am I. There are frequent consultations and surveys on the Lets Talk Cornwall site, https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk, so do please visit this regularly and let us know what you think. The latest consultation is on parking charges in the Dutchy and is open until the 4th February.
Thanks must go to all of you for enduring the disruption caused by the resurfacing of the B3266. It was a long stretch of road that needed to be dealt with but hopefully we will all now be able to enjoy a smooth ride into and out of the village.
Again, a very Happy New Year and I hope 2026 bring you all that you would wish it to.
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 07928 945782.
Councillor Mark Burnett
Cornwall Councillor for Camelford and Boscastle
