Cornwall Council's Cabinet committee will meet in Truro this morning, with the latest performance report for the authority on the agenda.
Also up for discussion at the meeting are the Corserve business plan for 2024-28, and the council’s Safeguarding Children Partnership’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements.
There will also be an opportunity for public questions to be asked, and to hear the latest announcements from the leader, Councillor Linda Taylor.
You can watch the meeting live via the council's webcast service, or follow proceedings via our live blog below:
Alternatively, you can keep up with proceedings by following the live blog below:
9.30am: Today's meeting will begin at 10am.
10am: The meeting has started. Cllr Linda Taylor, leader of the council, is running through apologies for absence and declarations of interest.
10.01am: The minutes of the last meeting are approved and we now move onto the leader's announcements.
10.03am: Cllr Taylor highlights funding concerns in her statement, saying: "Following the debate at the Full Council in July, we wrote to the Deputy Prime Minister highlighting the unanimous support the motion calling for fairer funding for Cornwall had received.
"I am disappointed to report that we have yet to receive a response, which is why Cllr Harris included it within the submission he made last week in an effort to influence the Chancellor’s Autum Statement and ensure the gravity of our financial situation is understood.
"We will of course continue to apply pressure ourselves and work with Cornwall’s MPs to ensure we can secure the best possible outcome for our residents, and ensure Cornwall no longer receives below average funding which fails to cover the cost of the demand-led services we provide.
"Hand in hand with this, as we have also highlighted previously, we are currently in a position where we have no direct replacement for the Shared Prosperity Funding which is due to end next Spring.
"I’m grateful to the MP for Truro and Falmouth, Jayne Kirkham, for raising this issue in the House of Commons and we will continue to call for clarity on the situation as quickly as possible.
"I have heard Government continually promising to sort out funding for local government, but it is time for action, not words and I hope they will give us the details we need sooner rather than later to allow us to begin planning with clarity."
10.04am: There is one public question, regarding the council's strategic plan following the Grenfell report released earlier this month. Cllr Olly Monk responds to say the council, along with fire service colleagues, will review the plans and ensure its learnings ae implemented.
10.13am: We now move onto the Council Performance report for quarter one, which is introduced by the deputy leader, Cllr David Harris.
Cllr Harris tells the meeting: "As was the case prior to the General Election, I am taking every opportunity to raise the Council’s position with the new Government both directly and through Cornwall’s Members of Parliament, who I hope to be briefing later this week.
"As the leader has said, as an example of the direct action, last week I sent a detailed and thorough submission to the Treasury following the invitation to submit representations ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and Spending Review.
"I also appended the letter the Leader sent to the Deputy Prime Minister conveying the unanimous support for the Fair Deal for Cornwall motion expressed at Council on 16 July, noting that we haven’t had a response to that letter, or indeed any of the letters we’ve sent to the Government since 5 July."
10.18am: Cllr Louis Gardner, portfolio holder for the economy, seconds the report, and tells the meeting that officers and cabinet members are 'straining every sinew' to ensure spending is kept under control and savings are delivered.
10.26am: Cllr Barbara Ellenbroek, portfolio holder for children and families, tells the meeting that all of Cornwall's MPs are aware that Cornwall's children's services are not fairly funded, and that it needs to be addressed. She explains the team has faced extra financial pressures due to an increase in the number of children needing support, but that they are working to deliver value for money while putting the safety of children first at all times.Watch the Webcast
10.27am: Cllr Olly Monk, portfolio holder for housing, says that meeting the decent homes standards is one of the financial challenges faced by his portfolio, but that progress is being made.
10.33am: Cllr Carol Mould, portfolio holder for neighbourhoods, says that she is pleased the rollout of the new waste collection service is well under way, and that the team are resolving the challenges they face along the way. She explains how her entire portfolio is striving to see where savings can be made, and thanks everyone for working hard to provide the best value for money they can.
10.50am: Cllr Phillip Desmonde raises the issue of winter fuel payments being halted for some pensioners this winter. Cllr Andy Virr, portfolio holder for adults and social care, agrees that the change is disappointing, and says the council will be helping point people to the support available for those facing any financial hardship.
10.54am: Cllr Connor Donnithorne, portfolio holder for transport, tells the meeting that he is disappointed to see only one councillor from opposition parties at the meeting, and suggests it would be better to see the Cabinet being held to account by more opposition members attending these meetings.
10.57am: The leader tells the meeting that members need to urge residents to apply for all the support they may be available to them, including pensions credit.
11.03am: Cllr Donnithorne asks the leader to write a letter to the Government requesting they reconsider the decision to stop the winter fuel allowance for those not in receipt of pensions credit. Cllr Taylor agrees, while saying she will also ask for the application system for pensions credit to be simplified as a matter of urgency.
11.05am: The Cabinet approves the performance report unanimously. We now move onto the Corserv Business Plan, and is introduced by Cllr Martin Worth.
11.10am: Cllr Worth tells the meeting that the plan includes the transfer of Cornwall Airport Newquay from the Corserve group of companies at the end of the year, but may have to be changed if that does not happen. The plan is approved unanimously.
11.12am: Cllr Ellenbroek is introducing the final agenda item this morning, the Safeguarding Children Partnership’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements.
11.16am: Cllr Virr seconds the item, telling the meeting that it is very often hidden work, but vital for allowing children to thrive.
11.22am: Today's meeting has now concluded