CORNWALL GETS CHANCE OF STRONGER VOICE

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 29th Mar 2007

Cornish Unitary Bid

News that Cornwall has progressed to the next stage in its bid to reform local Government has been broadly welcomed by Cornwall's five MPs as an opportunity to unite the county with a powerful strategic voice.

The proposal from Cornwall means replacing the current seven County, District and Borough Councils with a single elected assembly which could take powers from central government and the region.

Issues currently decided at regional and national level on Cornwall's development funding, strategic planning and other matters would be decided by local councillors. Decisions affecting local services would be devolved to Cornwall's principal towns and their surrounding communities. With seven councils replaced by one there could be huge savings in administrative costs, delivering more money for frontline services and keeping down Council Tax bills.

The plan will now go out to twelve weeks' formal consultation.

MP for Truro & St Austell, Matthew Taylor commented:

"This is a once in a generation opportunity to strengthen the voice of Cornwall and give local people back control of local issues currently decided by bureaucrats in London and the unelected regional authority. People should make sure to have their say now - and to make clear our demand for an authority with real control over local services.

"This will be a new kind of Council for Cornwall, replacing both the County and the District Councils in 2009. Every household will be contacted to give their views on the many issues, and we hope there will be a very strong, positive response."

The MPs are keeping up pressure on Ministers to ensure that the shake-up will bring real power to Cornwall, and are calling on local people and organisations, to make sure their voice is heard in shaping the final proposal over the next twelve weeks. All Cornish households will receive information and will be invited to respond with their thoughts on the key issues involved.

Dan Rogerson, MP for North Cornwall added:

"Cornwall's District and County Councils agree there are huge benefits in a stronger voice for Cornwall. It is now clear which proposal is going forward, and it is time to set aside minor differences to ensure this change is for the good.

"All five of Cornwall's MPs will be working with the County and District Councils to keep up the pressure on Ministers to deliver real devolution to Cornwall.

"No less will do."

Proposals to bring more power to Cornwall have also attracted the support of Cornish Liberal Democrat Peers.

Lord (Paul) Tyler said:

"The Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Team believe that a united Cornish authority could bid for additional opportunities, for example, to pilot the abolition of Council Tax in Cornwall and its replacement by a fairer Local Income Tax."

Four of Cornwall's District Councils had put forward an alternative proposal for a unitary authority but this has been turned down as unviable. Cornwall's MPs are calling on all the District Councils and the County Council to now work together to ensure the best possible proposal to bring powers back to Cornwall and also devolve decisions on local issues to local communities.

MP for St Ives, Andrew George, added:

"This could be a welcome first step for a new beginning for Cornwall. But the ball is still in the Government's court.

"Cornwall should be able to decide for itself if it really wants to waste taxpayers' money propping up private sector treatment centres rather than our vital local NHS hospitals. Cornwall should be able to decide if it wants more of its housing stock to be used for second homes or if we want to use powers to control this trend and improve prospects for local families seeking affordable accommodation. Cornwall needs and deserves more powers to run our services better. The big question now is whether the Government will give us the power to do it."

ENDS