A balanced draft budget for Cornwall that will see investment in the services that are critical for residents will now go out for public consultation following its consideration by Cornwall Council's Cabinet committee this morning.
Among the measures included in the draft proposals for 2026/27 are:
- Over £36m in our Together for Families services in 2026/27, which not only addresses the overspend during 2025/26, but also provides investment;
- Over £37m to continue the transformation of our adult social care services, providing better care delivered in the right place at the right time;
- £8m investment to protect delivery of core frontline services including waste and regulatory services;
- £9m invested to support transport, housing, economic growth and environmental services across Cornwall;
- £3m investing and improving our fire services capability.
Cllr Adam Paynter, deputy leader of the council and portfolio holder for resources, told the Cabinet meeting: “Today, despite an incredibly challenging financial backdrop and a continuing rise in demand for the services Cornwall Council provides, we are presenting a balanced and responsible draft budget, for public consultation.
“It is a draft budget and Medium-Term Financial plan that is honest about the pressures Cornwall faces but firmly focused on the future, protecting the services our residents rely on most.
“For the first time in a decade, Government has provided local authorities with a multi-year financial settlement. We have used this opportunity to produce Cornwall’s first Comprehensive Spending Review, including a draft budget which is balanced over every year of the three years of the Medium-Term Financial Plan.
“This is a major turning point for Cornwall Council. It gives us stability, it allows us to plan ahead, and it will help us continually improve our services, so they will be more efficient and more responsive to people’s needs.”
Alongside the investments are plans to reduce spending through efficiencies and modernising working practices.
Cllr Paynter added: “We are proposing savings of around £50m in 2026/27 - rising to a total of £133m over the full three-year period.
“These savings will come from adapting and improving the way we work, from generating more income where appropriate, and from transforming the way services are delivered.
“They will not come from endlessly chipping away at frontline services, but from a transformation programme that will help us modernise and redesign how we work, making more and better use of data and technology so we can ensure every pound is spent wisely.”
The draft budget will now go out for public consultation from December 29 to January 27. You will be able to read more on the plans and have your say at letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk.
You can watch a recording of today’s meeting via the council’s webcast archive service.
ENDS
Posted 17 December, 2025