THIS week, we found out that Cornwall Council is, in fact, eligible for a share of a £635 million pot of cash to upgrade its leisure centres. 

The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding was set aside in order to help local authorities reduce their carbon footprint by, for example, installing air source heat pumps in its leisure centres. 

Now, unless your Cllr Connor Donnithorne and you seemingly believe the best way to address global warming and the climate crisis is to back hundreds of new oil and gas licences being granted on Twitter, efforts to reduce carbon footprints are a good thing. 

However, an FoI request revealed that Cornwall Council had not applied for any of the funding due to the fact it believed it was not eligible to do so. A position it has now clarified as being incorrect. 

The questions on this Skipper's mind are: WHY didn't Cornwall Council know what it is and isn't entitled to do so? Why did it take a member of the public to correct people whose job it is to know these sorts of things?

How are the people of Cornwall supposed to trust in their local authority if they don't actually know their way around local authority funding and what they can and can't apply for?

What I'd also like to know is whether Mr Andrew Moth, who corrected the council, intends to stand in the next local elections. I'm sure the people of Cornwall would be more than happy to vote for someone who actually knows how to read guidance notes....

You can read the full story on The Packet's website.