Cornwall Council Leadership
Who runs Cornwall Council: the Council Leader and Cabinet that set executive policy, the opposition group leaders that hold them to account, and the chairs of the Overview and Scrutiny committees that examine council decisions.
Council Leader
The Leader of the Council heads the administration, chairs Cabinet and is the council's principal political spokesperson.
Chief Executive
The Chief Executive is Cornwall Council's most senior officer (a paid employee, not an elected member). They lead the council's permanent staff, act as Head of Paid Service, and advise Cabinet and Full Council on the legal and operational implications of political decisions.
See the Kate Kennally profile on People of Interest for biography, salary band and reporting lines.
Cabinet members and portfolios
The Cabinet is the executive of Cornwall Council. Each member holds a portfolio covering one or more service areas — housing, transport, adult social care, children and families, environment and so on — and is accountable to Full Council and to the Overview and Scrutiny committees for decisions in their brief.
- Leigh FrostLiberal DemocratLeader of the Council
Jim McKennaIndependentAdult Social Care and Health Partnerships
Hilary FrankLiberal DemocratChildren, Families and Schools
Thalia MarringtonLiberal DemocratCommunity Safety & Public Health
Tim DwellyIndependentEconomic Regeneration & Investment
Loic RichIndependentEnvironment and Climate Change
Peter La BroyIndependentHousing
Adam PaynterIndependentResources
Sarah PreeceLiberal DemocratTourism, Localism and Planning
Dan RogersonLiberal DemocratTransport
Source: Cornwall Council ModernGov. See Cabinet meetings and decisions.
Opposition group leaders
Cornwall Council is organised into political groups. Group leaders are elected by their group's members — usually at the annual group AGM — and speak for them at Full Council, sit on key panels and shape opposition strategy. Where a leader has not been publicly identified, we say so rather than guessing.
Paul AshtonReform UKGroup Leader · Reform UK group (23 seats)
Kate EwertLabour & Cooperative PartyGroup Leader · Labour & Cooperative Party group (4 seats)Deputy: Laurie Magowan
Rowland O'ConnorCornish Independent Nonaligned GroupGroup Leader · Cornish Independent Nonaligned Group group (3 seats)Deputy: Anna Thomason-Kenyon- Group leader not publicly identifiedIndependent Non AlignedIndependent Non Aligned group (2 seats)
No leader has been publicly identified for this group at the time of writing. We will add an entry once a primary source confirms the role.
- Group leader not publicly identifiedRestore BritainRestore Britain group (1 seat)
No leader has been publicly identified for this group at the time of writing. We will add an entry once a primary source confirms the role.
Group leadership data is editorially curated against Cornwall Council's published sources and local press reporting. Names, roles, and as-of dates link to their original source. Spot a stale entry? Tip us at cpw.supervise347@passinbox.com.
Overview and Scrutiny chairs
Overview and Scrutiny committees examine decisions made by Cabinet and review the performance of council services. Each committee is led by a chair who sets the agenda and signs off scrutiny reports.
Budget Development Overview and Scrutiny CommitteeChair: Roger Tarrant (Chairman)
Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny CommitteeChair: Andrew Mitchell (Chairman)
Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny CommitteeChair: Nicky Chopak (Chairman)
Sustainable Growth and Place Overview and Scrutiny CommitteeChair: Rory Gow (Vice-Chairman)- Together for Families Overview and Scrutiny CommitteeChair: Kate Ewert (Chairman)
See all Cornwall Council committees for full membership and meeting records.