Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 15 January 2026

The Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee confirmed the minutes of its 13 November 2025 meeting, adding a comment that waste‑recycling data presented did not include commercial waste, which was noted as an incomplete picture of overall recycling rates. No public questions were received. The Cabinet Members delivered their reports, and the Committee discussed the county’s emergency response to a recent storm. Members thanked emergency services, highlighted communication breakdowns caused by loss of power, landlines and mobile signal, and agreed that a post‑incident review will incorporate digital‑vulnerability findings. Officers confirmed that operational arrangements already met major‑incident thresholds, that a formal declaration would not have altered statutory duties or unlocked additional funding, and that improved emergency‑contact mechanisms and renewed parish engagement will be part of the lessons‑learned process. Other topics included widespread tree loss, ongoing cost‑capture work for national disaster‑funding eligibility, agricultural impact assessments, and plans to explore enhanced digital resilience for rural hubs.

The Chief Fire Officer presented the statutory duties, strategic risk assessment, resource planning and key programmes of the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service. Discussion covered on‑call staffing sustainability, the possibility of youth fire cadet schemes, succession planning for an ageing workforce, and the lack of a current need for new fire stations according to risk modelling. Officers also reported stable road‑traffic incident numbers, highlighted the vulnerability of older drivers, and explained that most business‑inspection findings involve minor improvements rather than enforcement action. Business‑continuity arrangements activated during the storm were described, and the Committee resolved to recommend to the Cabinet that the Community Risk Management Plan 2026‑2030 be submitted for approval on behalf of the Fire and Rescue Authority.

The Head of Resilient Communities and the Amethyst Strategic Intelligence & Performance Manager introduced the Safer Cornwall Partnership Plan refresh, covering crime reduction, safeguarding, substance misuse, exploitation, antisocial behaviour and partnership development. Members raised questions about policing capacity, youth engagement, single‑point‑of‑contact arrangements, and the availability of drug‑related mortality data, to which officers responded that staffing concerns were being monitored, educational collaborations were ongoing, community safety officers would support coordination, and coroner data would be shared when available. The Committee noted the removal of hate‑crime as a priority for the Police and Crime Commissioner but confirmed the partnership would continue to focus on it, and agreed to add a reference to Cornish identity on the “Our People” page before publication. The 2026/27 refresh of the Safer Cornwall Partnership Plan 2025‑2028 was approved for sign‑off at the Safer Cornwall Strategic Board, pending any further comments.

Finally, the statutory three‑year review of the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for seasonal dog restrictions on designated beaches was presented. Officers recommended retaining the existing restrictions, citing proportionality, national guidance and consultation evidence, and confirmed that signage costs would only arise if changes were made. The Committee agreed to recommend to the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health the creation of a new PSPO that sets specific seasonal and daily restriction times for beaches without Blue Flag or Seaside Award status, slightly different dates for flagged beaches, and maintains 24/7 restrictions at Carnsew Pool, Copperhouse and Hayle Estuary. The recommendation was passed, and the Committee noted that enforcement will continue to be carried out by multi‑skilled Council officers and trained parish staff, despite the resource‑intensive nature of the work.