Funding agenda as Cornwall Council Cabinet met after elections

The funding of nearly £89 million for communities across Cornwall was the main topic for discussion when Cornwall Council’s cabinet committee met.

Councillor Linda Taylor, leader of the council, welcomed her colleagues into their new roles, and welcomed being able to form the first single-party cabinet following the Conservative group’s securing of a majority.

On today’s agenda were a review of the council’s financial position, a review of the ongoing response to the Coronavirus pandemic, and a decision to confirm support for communities which have been successful in their bids to the Government’s Town Deal fund.

The decision saw the cabinet agree to provide up to £16.4m in match funding to develop and deliver projects.

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It represents another milestone in a process which started when Camborne, Penzance, St Ives and Truro were invited to develop Town Investment Plans which were submitted earlier this year.

The four towns have now been awarded almost £89m in total from the Town Deal fund to deliver a £180m multi-year programme consisting of 40 projects to revitalise their local economies and boost opportunities for residents.

The next phase of work will involve Project Leads working with the Town Deal Boards and Council to develop detailed business cases for each project over the next 12 months and today’s decision by Cabinet provides the match funding and resource to support the development and delivery of these projects to turn this opportunity into a reality.

Stephen Rushworth, Cornwall Council Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Economy, said: "The four Town Deal Boards have taken this once in a generation opportunity and worked incredibly hard to develop their visions for the future prosperity of their local areas.

"A lot of hard work still lies ahead but the decision today is a really important step forward in helping bring these projects to fruition and the Council looks to working with the Project Leads and Town Deal Boards in the coming years."