Corporate Finance and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 17 March 2026

At the meeting of the Corporate Finance and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor O’Connor was elected Vice-Chairman following a vote. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved. During Cabinet Member reports, the Leader confirmed that negotiations with the government over Bellwin scheme funding for Storm Goretti costs were ongoing, with the Council seeking approximately £5 million in reimbursement. The Deputy Leader noted no changes to the Treasury Management Strategy and announced that funding for residents using kerosene heating oil would be available from April through the Crisis and Resilience Fund. The Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration & Investment provided updates on adult education investments, the Evergreen Regeneration Fund (which would focus on place-shaping in specific towns), and the Farms Estate Inquiry, which indicated most land would remain in farming use. He also noted that the loss of the public service obligation air route was due to a lack of compliant bids, but discussions were ongoing with airlines for a commercial service to London City.

The Committee considered and approved recommendations from the Task & Finish Group on the Council’s face-to-face customer service offer. The approved framework introduced a two-tier model: enhanced Tier 1 access at Council buildings and standard signposting (Tier 2) at other locations including mobile libraries and partner organisations. Members added an additional recommendation to ensure continuous review of physical and sensory accessibility. A proposal to pilot the model at a second location in the West, possibly Penzance, was agreed in principle subject to resourcing. The recommendations were passed to the Leader for progression.

The Committee discussed the draft 2026–2030 Belonging in Cornwall Strategy, which sets out the Council’s statutory equality objectives and wider ambitions for inclusion. Members emphasised the need to explicitly recognise hidden disabilities, particularly dyslexia, within the strategy. Officers committed to engaging with the Disability Forum and learning from lived experience. The strategy was praised for providing a practical framework for meeting legal obligations, and officers confirmed that high-quality consultation, including direct conversations with residents, would be undertaken before finalisation.

Performance and resource stewardship were reviewed. The Quarter 3 performance report showed around 80% of measures rated green or amber, with a forecast revenue overspend of £9.1 million driven by pressures in Children’s and Adults’ Social Care. The Chief Executive’s Stewardship of Resources report highlighted strong performance in affordable housing delivery, climate action, and customer experience, while noting areas for improvement identified by the Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge. Members raised concerns about recurring overspends and the need for timely intelligence to support early intervention. The Chief Executive confirmed that transformation and cultural change were central to addressing long-term financial challenges.

The Committee endorsed, in principle, the proposal for Cornwall Council to accept designation as a Single Foundation Strategic Authority (FSA) under the Government’s devolution agenda. The Leader emphasised that this was a strategic step to secure a Cornwall-only footprint for devolution and spatial development strategies, without requiring changes to existing governance. Members sought reassurance about the proposed visitor levy, with the Leader clarifying that securing the power did not commit the Council to its use. The Committee noted the urgency of confirming a preferred geography by 26 March 2026 and agreed to recommend the proposal to Cabinet.