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LIVE: Full Council, Tuesday, 18 April 2023


A meeting of the full Council will today discuss changes to council procedures which could see the end of secret ballots of members. 

Also on the agenda will be discussions on harbour fees for Falmouth and Truro, and the latest update on the authority’s capital programme.

Two motions have also been submitted for debate, one focussed on calling for further devolution for Cornwall, and one calling for support for the Climate and Ecology Bill currently being considered in Westminster.

The meeting will also see Cabinet members answering questions from both members of the public and from their fellow councillors.

The meeting, which will start at 10.30am, can be watched live via our webcast service, or you can follow the live blog below:

Watch the Webcast


9.45am: Today's meeting will begin at 10.30am.  You can view the agenda online.

Read the agenda


10.30am: Today's meeting is now underway, and we begin with prayers


10.37am: We are now hearing the chairman's announcements, with Cllr Pauline Giles opening with comments on the preparations for Armed Forces Day which will take place in Falmouth this summer.


10.41am: We now move onto the leader's announcements, with Cllr Linda Taylor telling the chamber her focus will now be on negotiating the best possible level two devolution deal for Cornwall.


10.43am: We will now hear questions from the public to the Cabinet.


10.52am: Public questions today have focused on housing, the recent devolution consultation and development in Newnham in Truro.


10.58am: Public questions have concluded, and we now move onto a look at the council's updated Capital Programme, introduced by Deputy Leader and Portfolio holder for Resources, Cllr David Harris.


11.11am: The Capital Programme uplift has been approved.


11.12am: We are now moving onto a debate on Council procedures, which would see secret ballots scrapped.  At present, if enough councillors vote in favour, a vote can be held in private, with the result published, but no record of how individuals voted.


11.17am: Cllr Colin Martin has suggested retaining secret ballots for the election of people into positions of power.


11.31am: After a debate, the council has voted to scrap secret ballots as a method of voting at Cornwall Council.


11.33am: The council is now considering a report on call-ins of executive decisions over the past year. 


11.36am: The council is now considering two items from the Harbours Board


11.39am: A motion calling for 'more meaningful devolution' is now being debated. It is being introduced by Cllr Dick Cole.


11.42am: The original motion submitted to council has been amended.  It now reads: 

In 2014, the UK Government recognised the Cornish as a national minority through the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

It pledged that the Cornish would have the "same status ... as the UK's other Celtic people, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish." This was a wide-ranging commitment from the UK state, covering culture, language, heritage, education, territorial integrity and public life.

We, the undersigned, are therefore disappointed that recent discussions about devolution have not featured consideration of a settlement that would give Cornwall greater parity with Wales and Scotland.

Cornwall Council resolves to inform the UK Government that we wish to commence negotiations for a more meaningful devolution settlement similar to those enjoyed in the other Celtic parts of the UK (such as a National Assembly of Cornwall or Cornish Parliament).

Cornwall Council also resolves to request a meeting between the Secretary of State and a cross-party delegation from Cornwall Council as a matter of urgency.


11.45am: The motion is being seconded by Cllr Loveday Jenkin


12.14pm: Following a number of speakers in favour of the motion, Cllr Linda Taylor, leader of the council, says she will not be voting for it, as she believes a more structured plan with public support would stand a better chance of success.


12.46pm: Following a long debate, the motion has been rejected by the council by 38 votes to 36, with one exemption.  We will now take lunch, and will return in one hour.


1.46pm: We are back underway after the lunchbreak, with a motion calling for support for a national Climate and Ecology Bill being introduced by Cllr Andrew George.


2.22pm:  The motion has been supported, with 32 votes for, 14 against and 18 abstentions.  We will now move onto the final agenda item; questions from councillors to Cabinet members.


3.05pm: Today's meeting has now ended