New powers for Cornwall ‘In sight’
Cornwall’s MP’s, this week welcomed a government announcement that unelected Regional Assemblies are to be scrapped and powers over education for 14-19 year olds will be restored to local authorities.
Speaking in the House of Commons, North Cornwall’s MP Dan Rogerson challenged the Local Government Minister, John Healey, asking “Will he take seriously the aspirations of the people of Cornwall to have a greater say over their own affairs, especially given the ambitious proposals for a unified structure of local government in the area? Also, will he look again at the case for a locally accountable Cornish Development agency, in light of the important convergence funding from the EU?”
The Minister conceded that “Cornwall still faces some significant economic challenges” and said he would consider the need for a Cornish Development Agency alongside his decision on local government restructuring.
Commenting after the exchange, Mr Rogerson said:
“That control over 14-19 education has been put back where it belongs, with Councils, is clearly welcome and getting rid of unpopular and undemocratic Regional Assemblies is a step in the right direction too.
“What’s needed now is a further concrete commitment to funding development in Cornwall, and to ceding control over those funds to the Cornish people and their locally elected representatives.
“Following years of pressure from Liberal Democrats, the Minister is making the right noises. This shows just how big an opportunity the new Council for Cornwall could be for our communities. New powers are finally in sight.”
The MP for the West Cornwall and Isles of Scilly constituency of St Ives, Andrew George said:
“Irrespective of the outcome of next week’s anticipated announcement on local government reform, providing that Cornwall can demonstrate maturity, strategic capability and real ambition there is a real prospect of bringing more powers down to the Duchy and to our local communities.
“Though the manner and quality of the debate on local government reform has not been Cornwall’s finest hour, I’m optimistic that the Minister’s announcement will give us the future prospects to build a strong consensus, demonstrate Cornwall’s distinctiveness from the Government zone for the South West and then draw up plans so that we can decide matters for ourselves locally rather than being told by unelected grangos in Bristol and elsewhere.”
