Cornwall Cornwall Council has today voted on the Conservative administration’s first Budget since taking office in May 2021.

The Budget will see Cornwall Council’s share of Council Tax charge rise by 1.99%, plus an additional 1% for the Government’s adult social care precept. This total 2.99% rise is the equivalent of a 96p per week increase for an average band D property.

The proposals also include £1.3 billion of capital investment, including support for economic growth projects that create homes and jobs for local people and reflect the priorities of residents.

Councillor Linda Taylor, Conservative Group Leader and Leader of Cornwall Council said: “I am pleased to see Cornwall Council today vote to approve our first Budget as a Conservative administration.”

“These are difficult times, as we come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, with adult social care in particular being a challenge as never before and we have had to make tough decisions to ensure essential services are maintained and vulnerable people supported.”

“We have also of course inherited numerous and complex problems associated with the past management of the council over the previous 8 years by the Liberal Democrat and Independent administrations that preceded us.”

“As the administration that runs Cornwall Council it is our job to effectively deal with these big issues that face us, not to kick them into the long grass or duck them altogether, as previous administrations have done. That just saves up trouble for later and is not a responsible way for a council to behave.”

“Our Budget today has been based on the priorities that the people of Cornwall told us about over the past year and we will continue to do all we can to responsibly and sensibly deliver on those priorities for Cornwall, and at the same time provide good value for the taxpayer.”

Responding to the budget, the Labour group said the conservatives promised a lot for Cornwall only nine months ago at the local elections, but their government has been underfunding and short-changing councils for over a decade.

"Their first budget has in fact become a bonfire of services – with £59 million of service cuts, and £18 million of job cuts, plus a maximum council tax rise for residents. Coming after cuts to swimming pools and bike trails, it’s not exactly the vision of a joined up Conservative Cornwall that voters were promised.

"Our funding settlement in Cornwall has been cut by 24% since 2016. We have lost substantially more than other parts of the country as money has been drained from rural to urban areas. Meanwhile demand for services like care for the elderly and children has increased exponentially.

They added: "This administration should be safeguarding our vulnerable people services and demanding fairer funding from their friends in Westminster as they promised they would, rather than meekly rolling over just 9 months into office. Cornwall needs its Council to fight for us, not sell us out."