Elected mayor ‘wrong choice for Cornwall’ insist councillors

A GROUP of councillors has launched a bid to block plans for Cornwall to have a directly-elected mayor, saying it would give “one person excessive control”.

Cornwall Council is bidding to secure a level three agreement with the Government under its county deal plans which would require a directly elected leader for Cornwall.

However a group of councillors from the Independent and Liberal Democrat groups at County Hall have submitted a motion calling for the full council to support devolution without a mayor.

The motion, which has been submitted by Independent councillor Tim Dwelly and seconded by Lib Dem group leader Edwina Hannaford, will go before the next full council meeting at County Hall on Tuesday. It also has the support of councillors John Fitter, Hilary Frank, Julian German, Thalia Marrington, Jim McKenna, Loic Rich, Tamsyn Widdon and Paul Wills.

Cllr Dwelly’s recommendation states: “Cornwall Council strongly supports a devolution package that gives significant new powers and funding to Cornwall, but rejects the Government’s condition of a directly-elected mayor or governor of Cornwall.”

In his submission Cllr Dwelly explains that the council had previously secured from the government the promise of devolution without the need for any change in its governance. In 2016 the council rejected adopting a directly elected mayor.

The councillors say that as a “large rural Duchy” Cornwall has many different characteristics to places like London or Manchester and they warn against giving too much power to one person.