Opposition councillors have expressed concern after a member Cornwall Council’s Conservative led cabinet resigned his role to take up a new job as head of future air and space at Cornwall Airport Newquay, writes Local Democracy Reporter Lee Trewhela.
A number of opposition councillors have questioned the move, with a former council leader saying it “smells so fishy”.
Former mayor of Newquay Louis Gardner will step down from his cabinet role at the end of the week. He has revealed he will also not seek re-election as councillor for the Newquay Central and Pentire division at the council election on May 1.
His portfolio will be covered by council leader Linda Taylor, until the council election on May 1 when she steps down as a councillor.
Cllr Gardner said: “It has been a real honour to serve on the cabinet for the past three years and I am proud of the work we have done to build a Cornwall where people can start well, live well and age well.”
Cllr Taylor added: “I am sorry to see Louis step down. He has been a tireless champion for the business community in Cornwall since he took on the role in 2022. He will bring a wealth of political and defence experience to this new role.
“With just a few weeks left until the election I have decided to oversee the portfolio until then and will ensure we continue to work every day to build the thriving, sustainable Cornwall we all want.”
However, other councillors have questioned the move. Former leader of the council Julian German posted on social media platform X: “After four years of lobbying for money-losing Spaceport Cllr Louis Gardner gets a job there!l! Thought I was at Newlyn fish market it smells so fishy.”
Cllr Leigh Frost, leader of the Liberal Democrat group at the council, was also aghast. He said: “I think this raises serious questions about the priorities of the leadership of this administration. Who are they actually serving – the people they are elected to represent or themselves? I think this move clearly answers that question.”
Other opposition councillors, who did not want to be named, have contacted us about Cllr Gardner’s new job. One said: “This raises so many questions on the recruitment process, access to officers, inside info – nepotism at its finest!” Another simply asked: “Who interviewed him?”
Yet another councillor told us: “Even by the current council leadership’s standards, this is quite shocking to many of us. How much Tory feather-nesting can they get away with? This is the councillor who championed a potential transfer of the airport and spaceport to an American private equity investor, authorised £1 million to be spent on consultants to make this happen then watched it crash and burn as soon as the council finance staff took one look at the deal.
“Who appointed him and what were they thinking? How is he going to be credible to the next council if the Tories lose control – as they clearly expect to, judging from the number leaving?”
As the council announced Cllr Gardner’s cabinet departure, another councillor resigned from the Conservatives. Stephen Rushworth, who represents Padstow, wrote to Cllr Taylor saying: “Having been a Conservative all of my adult life, over the last few years I have become disillusioned with the direction of the Conservative Party. We now have, in my opinion, too many self-serving MPs who do not put their constituents first.
“Please could you remove me from all WhatsApp groups and email lists. For the remaining weeks I will be standing as a ‘standalone Independent’.” Cllr Rushworth will stand down as a councillor on May 1.
Cllr Gardner is no stranger to controversy. Just last week a Cornwall Council standards officer ordered him to apologise to current Newquay mayor Drew Creek over a “false” and “misleading” video in which he made allegations about Cllr Creek’s workplace.
In December Cllr Gardner was criticised for claiming £12,711 carers’ allowance between April 2023 to March 2024. He was one of only three of Cornwall Council’s 87 members to claim the allowance, which is paid towards child care, care for the elderly or disabled people. He claimed over £12,500 more than any other council member. Cllr Nick Craker received for £157.50, while Cllr Loveday Jenkin received just £27.90.
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Questions were also asked of Cllr Gardner in 2023 when bailiffs visited businesses associated with him. The first was to The Old Counting House, a Newquay deli and café Cllr Gardner owned and was later put up for sale, while the second was to the Royal British Legion (RBL) in Newquay, which closed owing considerable debts.
Cllr Gardner said bailiffs issued a notice on his shop due to a disagreement between the building’s landlord and a bank. He also said he resigned from his post as vice-chairman of the RBL before the club closed.
In his new role, Cllr Gardner will be accountable for around about £20m revenue budgets and £1m expenditure budgets.
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