Cornwall Council - 22 July 2025

The meeting opened with a prayer led by the Reverend Mark Dunn‑Wilson and a brief acknowledgment of the King’s Birthday Honours, naming local recipients of OBEs, MBEs and BEMs. The Chairman paid tribute to the late former councillors Malcolm Moyle and Doris Ansari, after which a minute’s silence was observed. The Leader congratulated staff on the recent One and All Employee Awards and announced that Cornwall Council had secured £5.5 million of Government funding to expand the county’s electric‑vehicle charging network, delivering up to 2 000 new charge points in two phases beginning next spring. He also confirmed the reversal of the decision to sell Cornwall Airport Newquay, the reinstatement of the Airport Consultative Forum and the launch of an accompanying engagement programme.

A series of public questions were taken, covering topics such as motorhome parking, the absence of a mayoral authority, recent highway repairs, the Supreme Court ruling on sex and gender reassignment, housing allocation, flag‑display policy, public‑transport funding, bailiff use for council‑tax debt, and the council’s transparency measures. Responses were given by the relevant portfolio holders, who outlined ongoing trials (e.g., motorhome parking in Bude), clarified procedural constraints, detailed the technical reasons for the Bodmin road works, described the council’s compliance work on the gender‑related ruling, and explained the current approach to debt recovery and resident support. The Leader reiterated the council’s commitment to clean water, urging an urgent meeting with South West Water to address pollution incidents in rivers, beaches and estuaries.

Six motions were formally considered. The council committed to work with stakeholders on a strategy to deter boat abandonment, clean up existing wrecks and lobby for tougher legislation, with the motion referred to the Cabinet for further action. A health‑care motion sought constructive engagement with NHS England and the new Integrated Care Board, joint governance with Devon, and strengthened Healthwatch provision; this was also referred to the Cabinet. A voluntary ban on the sale of plastic “flying rings” was adopted, together with a publicity campaign and a request that council beaches discourage their use. The Audit Committee’s Annual Report 2024/25 was approved, Captain Charles Gurd was re‑appointed to the Cornwall Harbours Board for a second term, and the revised Miscellaneous Licensing Policy was accepted.

The Leader concluded by reflecting on the first two months of his tenure, highlighting the reversal of the council‑car‑park privatisation, the strengthening of the airport, and the publication of the Cabinet’s strategic priorities – community strengthening, quality jobs, affordable housing, youth support, environmental sustainability, transport and inclusivity. He announced the “State of Cornwall 2025” report, called for fair central‑government funding, and reiterated the council’s commitment to local decision‑making, cross‑party collaboration and representing Cornwall’s interests at national level. All motions and items were recorded and the minutes of the 20 May 2025 meeting were signed by the Chairman.