Cabinet - 12 November 2025

The Cabinet meeting began with the formal approval of the previous meeting’s minutes, which were signed by the Chairman after a motion moved by Councillor Frost and seconded by Councillor Paynter. The Leader then reported on the restoration of the Cornwall‑to‑London Public Service Obligation route, confirming that an interim provider had reinstated daily Newquay‑Gatwick flights from 23 November 2025, with a planned increase to twice‑daily services from mid‑February 2026. He highlighted the Council’s selection as the sole non‑mayoral authority in Sir Charlie Mayfield’s Keep Britain Working review, a three‑year partnership aimed at improving workplace health, and noted the Council’s participation in a Government‑run pilot to support local bus services.

The meeting included several updates on national engagements. The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Public Health, together with the Director of Public Health and Exeter University, will present the “Pretty Poverty” report to the Government to argue for targeted funding for rural poverty. The Housing Portfolio Holder will meet Homes England on a joint pilot to accelerate affordable‑home delivery, while the Deputy Leader will attend the Global Cornish launch event to mobilise the diaspora and attract investment. These activities were presented as evidence of the Cabinet’s focus on protecting essential services, enhancing health and work outcomes, and promoting Cornwall’s interests beyond the county.

A public question from Mr J Carley of Chacewater sought a definitive start date for public engagement on the Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP). The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change explained that the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Leadership Board and Climate Commission would lead the engagement programme, which was already underway and would continue over several months. Feedback will be collected, collated and shared with both the Commission and the Council, forming part of an ongoing, continuous dialogue to support the LAEP’s implementation.

The Deputy Leader presented the Council Performance Report for July‑September 2025 and the draft Council Priorities Plan 2026‑2030. The report confirmed strong delivery on several strategic programmes but highlighted continued cost pressures, notably a projected £7.9 million overspend on the revenue budget and a £15 million overspend in Children’s Social Care. Mitigation measures, including the Demand Management Strategy for Home‑to‑School transport, reduced the overall forecast overspend to £4.5 million, and the Medium‑Term Financial Plan is expected to achieve 80 % of its savings target. The draft Priorities Plan, endorsed by the Cabinet, sets out six priorities—affordable housing, a clean environment, a resilient economy, support for families, healthy lives, and reliable transport—along with associated metrics and a consultation process for residents.

Finally, the Cabinet approved several policy documents and initiatives. The “Our Customer Philosophy 2025‑2030” was adopted, establishing six guiding principles (reliable, easy to use, accessible, community‑focused, caring, trustworthy) for all Council services. The refreshed “CornwALL Connected” Digital Inclusion Strategy (2025‑2030) was endorsed, aiming for universal internet access, digital skills development, integration of digital inclusion across health, education and the economy, and a sustainable, adaptable framework. The Portfolio Holders for Environment and Climate Change, Adult Social Care and Health Partnerships, and Community Safety and Public Health each secured approval for their respective reports on climate action, an integrated home‑based prevention and intermediate care model, and a ten‑year Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy, respectively. Discussions during the meeting raised concerns about workforce recruitment in adult care, the causes of rising teenage conception and STI rates, and the drivers of digital exclusion, but the approved strategies addressed these issues through targeted interventions and continued monitoring.