Local Government Reform And Devolution In Cornwall

As you know, the Government has provisionally short listed Cornwall's bid to reform local Government. There is now a process of consultation to gauge views and also to fine-tune the proposals.

This is an important moment for Cornwall. Whether grasping the opportunity for change, or choosing the status quo, Cornwall's future voice with government and our local services will be greatly affected by what we decide.

My parliamentary colleagues and I have given strong support to the County's proposals, on the proviso that the upheaval of reorganisation should only go ahead if real benefits - and real powers from central and regional government - can be gained for Cornwall.

As your MP I am greatly interested to know your views and suggestions, and to address any concerns you may have about the proposed re-organisation.

1. We have campaigned hard over many years to get more decisions over Cornwall's affairs to be taken here in Cornwall, not by the unelected "south west region" or in Whitehall. The bid proposes a much stronger voice for Cornwall - not just a single elected Council, but the return of significant powers to Cornwall over economic development funds (from the region), strategic planning (from the region), and local health services to link them better with social services.

Would you support the return of these key powers to Cornwall?

2. The present District Councils would merge with the County to form the new authority. However, delivery of local services is best done at a local level. The District Councils all link two or more major towns. Their boundaries are not necessarily coterminous with any natural communities, rather they are simply artificial constructs forced on us by central government in 1974. Cornwall's MPs support the plan to end these anomalies and decentralise local services (presently operated at District level) back to each of the major towns across Cornwall and their surrounding rural communities. The current proposal is that sixteen local offices would deliver local services in each of the major towns - and where Parish/town councils agreed to do so they could take on additional responsibility for more services still.

Do you support the principle of local services being delivered at a more local level in this way and what is your view on the sixteen proposed principle allies?

3. Health and Social Services are currently run by the Strategic (unelected regional) Health Authority, and by County Hall. The proposal would unite the two budgets and make them accountable locally - avoiding the problems between the two where, for example, both claim that providing care for vulnerable, elderly and disabled people is the other body's responsibility.

Do you agree it is important to link health and social services to ensure everyone who needs care gets it?

4. The proposal (audited independently and by Government) would ultimately cut the administrative costs of local government in Cornwall by £17million, since there would not be the need for seven finance departments, seven sets of chief officers, seven human resources departments, etc. These savings could be used to cut council tax and/or to protect and improve front-line services.

How do you feel these savings should be best used?

I would be grateful if you could spare the time to complete the following questionnaire.

Cornwall's MPs are determined that as many people as possible are involved in deciding the future of local government for our area. Together we can ensure that Cornwall escapes the over-bearing reach of London and regional bureaucrats, who have controlled Cornish affairs for far too long.