Independent Councillors on Cornwall Council
Independent councillors do not sit as members of a national party. Each Independent is elected on their own platform; they are not a single coordinated group.
Average meeting attendance
- All-time
- 91%
- Last 12 months
- 91%
- Councillors counted
- 15
558 of 610 attendance records
433 of 476 records
Weighted by exposure: one record per councillor per meeting
2025 election performance
- Seats won
- 16
- Total votes
- 22,011
- Seat change vs prior
- 0
- Currently sitting
- 15
Source: Cornwall Council 2025 election results. “Currently sitting” counts members under the Independent banner today and may differ from seats won at the election due to defections and by-elections.
Independent councillors
Independents are listed together for convenience but do not constitute a single political group. Each councillor is elected on their own platform and may caucus and vote separately.
David SaunbyFalmouth Trescobeas & Budock
100% attendance
- Vice-Chairman, Miscellaneous Licensing Committee
Mike ThomasHelston North
100% attendance
- Chairman, Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education
- Chairman, Pensions Committee
James BallCamborne Roskear & Tuckingmill
88% attendance
- Vice-Chairman, Budget Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee
- Chairman, Central Sub-Area Planning Committee
- Vice-Chairman, Strategic Planning Committee
Adam PaynterLaunceston North & North Petherwin
73% attendance
- Vice-Chairman, Chief Officers Employment Committee
- Vice-Chairman, Cabinet
Committees chaired by Independent councillors
- Budget Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee — chaired by James Ball
- Cabinet — chaired by Adam Paynter
- Central Sub-Area Planning Committee — chaired by James Ball
- Chief Officers Employment Committee — chaired by Adam Paynter
- Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee — chaired by Andrew Mitchell
- Cornwall Council — chaired by John Thomas MBE
- Cornwall Growth Board — chaired by Tim Dwelly
- Corporate Finance and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee — chaired by Julian German
- East Sub-Area Planning Committee — chaired by Mark Gibbons
- Licensing Act Committee — chaired by Robin Moorcroft
- Miscellaneous Licensing Committee — chaired by David Saunby
- Pensions Committee — chaired by Mike Thomas
- Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education — chaired by Mike Thomas
- Strategic Planning Committee — chaired by James Ball
- West Sub-Area Planning Committee — chaired by Brian Clemens
Other independent groupings on Cornwall Council
Independent is one of 5 independent-flavoured groupings on Cornwall Council. They are distinct: different councillors, different ways of caucusing (or not). The others:
- Cornish Independent Nonaligned Group — 3 members
Known as CING. A 2025-formed caucus of councillors who left Reform UK after policy disagreements and now focus on Cornish-interest matters.
- Independent Non Aligned — 2 members
Councillors who sit outside both the major party groups and the established independent caucuses.
- Stand Alone Independent — 1 member
A solo grouping — a single councillor not affiliated with any caucus.
- Non-aligned — 1 member
Councillors who have left a group and sit under no group whip, distinct from those elected as Independents.