Cornwall’s Fire and Rescue Critical Control Centre will continue to handle all emergency calls from local residents after a decision taken by the council’s Cabinet committee this morning.
A review of call handling had considered outsourcing some of the service to call centres outside Cornwall, but this idea was rejected, and extra funding will instead be provided to improve the technology used by the service.
At a busy meeting at County Hall, the cabinet also agreed to continue to allow bus pass holders to use their cards during peak hours, and approved business plans from Corserv, Treveth and Celtic Sea Power.
More 20mph zones are also set to be rolled out across Cornwall after the Cabinet committee heard about the success of the first phase of the scheme.
Discussing the plans to widen the 20mph speed limit programme, the cabinet heard that the initial roll-out of the programme, which saw the limits introduced in Falmouth, Penryn and Camelford, had proved successful.
Research has shown that average traffic speeds have dropped in 20 out of the 22 areas where the 20mph signage has been placed.
The scheme will now be rolled out across Cornwall, with areas with poor road safety records targeted initially.
The decision to extend free peak time travel for bus pass holders also saw the Cabinet agree to provide free bus travel for care leavers for 2023-24.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Linda Taylor, leader of Cornwall Council, said: “It has long been an ambition of this administration to provide free bus travel for care leavers, it is a brilliant initiative that will make a huge difference to care leavers - these are our children and this is a great example of how we can be a good parent to them.
“I am also delighted we are retaining the call handling for the fire service within Cornwall. Although it may have been cheaper to outsource the service, it is not always right to just take the money-saving option.
“This review has been intensive, with discussions with our fire crews who would be directly affected by any changes, and the involvement of the Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee, whose hard work helped us reach this decision.
“I said when we were elected that we would be a listening administration, and this decision is a clear reflection of that promise.
“Finally, it also gave me great pleasure to be delivering on another manifesto pledge with the roll-out of the 20mph zones across the rest of Cornwall.
“These measures have proved a success in the areas where they have been introduced already, and we have been inundated with requests from communities to be included in the programme.”
You can re-watch today's meeting via our online webcast service.
