Sustainable Growth and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 11 November 2025
Key Takeaways
- •The Committee approved minutes from the October 7, 2025 meeting and conducted both private and public sessions regarding questions to the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Investment.
- •The Cabinet Member confirmed that County Farms are not being sold off, only farmhouses and small land parcels where tenancies have ended, raising approximately £2 million for estate management.
- •Discussion focused on ensuring South East Cornwall residents benefit from the Devonport investment programme, with plans to improve transport links and create housing within commuting distance.
- •The Committee's work programme was updated to include briefings on the Local Plan viability, Cornwall Housing's timeline reduction plans, and tourism policy following Visit Cornwall's demise.
- •A presentation was received on the Cormac Small Highway Scheme Review, though the meeting summary appears incomplete.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain errors. Read the full minutes for the official record.
The Sustainable Growth & Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee confirmed that there were no declarations of interest and formally approved the minutes of its 7 October 2025 meeting. A resolution was passed, by a majority of the members, to exclude the press and public while the Committee considered information classified as Category 3 (financial or business affairs of a particular person). Councillor Mitchell recorded a dissenting vote on that resolution, and the related minutes were marked confidential. The Committee later resolved that any further debate on questions to the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Investment would be conducted in public.
During the public portion of the meeting the Cabinet Member answered a series of questions. He explained that roughly 25 % of the current Devonport workforce already resides in Cornwall and outlined plans to secure well‑paid jobs for local residents, improve transport links (including the Torpoint Ferry and rail services), and develop new housing within commuting distance. He confirmed that Westminster MPs are actively lobbying for a housing deal for Cornwall and that a major housing meeting is scheduled in Westminster; alternative funding such as Evergreen repayable grants is being pursued following the loss of the Shared Prosperity Fund. Regarding County Farms, the Cabinet Member clarified that the Council is not selling the farms themselves but is disposing of a small number of farmhouses and parcels where tenancies have ended, a routine estate‑management exercise that has previously raised about £2 million. Capital receipts from these sales will be placed in the general fund, although the Council has already allocated roughly £16 million to the farm estate for maintenance and housing priorities.
The Committee reviewed its mid‑year work programme and approved an updated version with several additions. An informal briefing on the Local Plan’s “viability” theme is scheduled for 15 December 2025, followed by a formal discussion of the Cornwall Council Road Safety Strategy Refresh on 3 March 2026. Regular briefings on the Visit Cornwall tourism programme, a briefing from Cornwall Housing on reducing the timescale for making housing stock decent from eight to four years, and a further tourism‑policy briefing were also mandated. The Chair, Vice‑Chair, Senior Responsible Officer and Democratic Services Lead were given authority to amend
Attendance
18 of 18 members present
Decisions
Record and sign meeting minutes
The council agreed that the minutes from the Sustainable Growth & Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 7 October 2025 were accurate and need the Chairman’s signature.
Exclude press and public during certain business
The council decided to keep the press and public out of the meeting when discussing matters that involve Category 3 exempt information.
Hold further debate on Cabinet questions in public
The council decided that any further discussion of questions for the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Investment will be held in public.
Approve updated Work Programme with additions
The council approved the updated Work Programme, adding five items: road safety, Visit Cornwall briefings, a Local Plan viability briefing, a Cornwall Housing timeline briefing, and a tourism policy briefing.
Determine Work Programme amendments via Chairman
The council decided that any changes to the Committee’s Work Programme will be decided by the Chairman, who will consult the Vice Chairman, Senior Responsible Officer and Democratic Services Lead, and the Senior Responsible Officer will implement the changes and record them for the Committee.
Related meetings
Adjacent Sustainable Growth and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings:
Other meetings within a week
- Constitution and Governance Committee — Constitution and Governance Committee - 4 November 2025 (4 Nov 2025)
- Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee — Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 5 November 2025 (5 Nov 2025)
- Miscellaneous Licensing Committee — Miscellaneous Licensing Committee - 7 November 2025 (7 Nov 2025)
- West Sub-Area Planning Committee — West Sub-Area Planning Committee - 10 November 2025 (10 Nov 2025)
- Licensing Act Sub Committee — Licensing Act Sub Committee - 12 November 2025 (12 Nov 2025)
- Cabinet — Cabinet - 12 November 2025 (12 Nov 2025)