The Cornwall Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday 20 January 2026 was set to cover a range of topics, including the allocation of seats on committees, recommendations from the Constitution and Governance Committee, and several motions proposed by councillors. The meeting also included time for public questions on various local issues.

Allocation of Seats

The council was scheduled to consider the allocation of seats to political groups on its committees. This process is a statutory requirement, aiming to ensure that the representation of political groups on committees reflects the overall political balance of the council. Following a recent by-election, adjustments to these allocations were necessary. The report detailed the proposed distribution of seats across various committees, taking into account the number of members in each political group.

Designation of Section 151 Officer

A report was presented concerning the designation of the Council's Section 151 Officer, also known as the Chief Financial Officer. This is a statutory role with significant responsibilities for ensuring the lawfulness and financial prudence of the council's decision-making. The meeting was to consider the designation of Annabel Scholes to this role, in addition to her appointment as Chief Operating Officer, following a recruitment process.

Recommendations from the Constitution and Governance Committee

Two recommendations from the Constitution and Governance Committee were scheduled for discussion:

Review of Council Procedure Rule 12 – Motions on Notice

This recommendation proposed changes to Council Procedure Rule 12, which governs how motions submitted by councillors are handled. The aim was to enable more motions to be debated at full council meetings, while also introducing parameters for effective agenda management. The proposed changes would allow for advisory motions on executive functions to be debated, with the understanding that the Cabinet would be informed by the council's vote but not bound by it. The committee also recommended parameters for managing the agenda, including a meeting closure time and a set duration for debating motions.

Use of Chairman

The committee recommended a change in terminology within the council's constitution, proposing to replace the term Chairman with Chair . This change was suggested to promote inclusivity and gender neutrality, aligning with the Council's commitments under the Public Sector Equality Duty. A note was proposed to be included in the constitution to clarify that where legislation mandates the use of Chairman, this would be interpreted as Chair for equality and diversity purposes, except where statutory compliance requires the specific term.

Motions

Three motions were scheduled for consideration:

Cornwall Council Says it Values Trial by Jury

This motion proposed that the Council mandate its Leader to write to the Home Secretary, condemning proposed government plans to restrict the right to trial by jury. It also aimed to affirm the council's support for jury trials and their civic value, and to urge the safeguarding of this fundamental component of the justice system. The motion highlighted concerns about potential reforms that could limit jury trials for certain offences.

Cornwall Council Supports Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Businesses in Cornwall

This motion called for the Council's Leader to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, expressing opposition to measures in the Autumn Budget 2025 that were predicted to negatively impact Cornwall's Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure (RHL) sector. The motion requested the government to reverse the decision to end existing business rates relief for these sectors, consider increasing the discount for hospitality businesses, and delay business rates revaluations. It also aimed to recognise the significant contribution of RHL businesses to Cornwall's economy and social fabric.

Cornwall NHS Dentistry

This motion proposed that the Council's Leader communicate with the Government and NHS England to seek fairer funding for dentistry initiatives in Cornwall, including support for a proposed NHS dental teaching clinic pilot in Wadebridge. It also called for the Director of Public Health to facilitate partnerships between NHS commissioners, universities, and dental schools to support such initiatives and explore the use of council-owned property for similar clinics across Cornwall if the pilot proved successful.

Questions from the Public

Several questions from members of the public were scheduled to be addressed:

• Road Closure due to Mine Workings: A question was raised regarding the prolonged closure of a road in Beacon due to collapsed mine workings and the reasons for the delay in commencing repairs.
• Business Rate Rises: A question was posed to the Leader regarding the potential impact of Labour's plans to increase business rates on Cornish businesses, particularly those in the Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure sectors, and whether the Leader would support Councillor Mustoe's motion on this matter.
• Public Transport: Questions were raised about the progress of transferring bus depots and stations to Go Cornwall from First Group plc, and whether Cornwall Council would review the frequency of bus services during evenings and Sundays.
• Bus Service Changes and Passenger Representation: A question was asked about the establishment of a Public Transport Passengers Forum, given the significant bus grant awarded to Cornwall Council and the impending transfer of services from First Group plc.
• Newquay Airport: A question was directed to the Leader concerning alleged mismanagement at Newquay Airport, including financial losses related to Eastern Airways and low occupancy rates for the PSO Airline, and whether this was costing taxpayers millions.