The Individual Decision Day meeting of Cornwall Council, scheduled for Wednesday 27 May 2026, was set to address several key decisions under the purview of the Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Localism and Planning, and the Portfolio Holder for Housing. The meeting's agenda included decisions on the future of the Education Library Service, the legal compliance and examination stage of the Pentewan Valley Neighbourhood Development Plan, and proposals for Homelessness Supported Accommodation Services. Additionally, updates on the Council Homes - CHL Management Agreement, Commissioning Plan, and Decency were scheduled for discussion.

Education Library Service (ELS)

The meeting was scheduled to consider a proposal regarding the Education Library Service (ELS). The report indicated that the current income-traded model for ELS, which specifically supports primary schools, is facing significant financial pressures. These pressures are attributed to declining pupil numbers, constrained school budgets, and increased market competition. The report suggested that the number of schools using the service has stabilised, but those schools are spending less on the ELS products, leading to a forecast reduction in income. The recommendation was to approve the proposal to cease the income-traded ELS and integrate the service into the Cornwall Public Library Service. This integration was presented as a way to provide a sustainable and community-focused model for supporting school literacy, enabling schools to borrow resources directly through the public library network and strengthening local library-school relationships. The report clarified that ELS operates outside the Council's statutory obligations under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964, which pertains to the provision of a public library service, not a separate traded service for schools.

Pentewan Valley Neighbourhood Development Plan 2026-2030 Legal Compliance and Examination Stage

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Pentewan Valley Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) for the period 2026-2030. The report indicated that the Council has a statutory duty to assist communities in preparing NDPs and to guide them through examination and referendum. The Pentewan Valley NDP, once made, would form part of the statutory development plan and guide decisions for that area. The report detailed that the NDP had been submitted to Cornwall Council along with a basic conditions statement, a consultation statement, and evidence of compliance with European Environmental legislation. The report also noted that recent legislative changes from the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 had removed the requirement for neighbourhood plans to be in general conformity with strategic local plan policies, replacing it with a requirement that plans should not prevent housing development proposed in the development plan for the area. A new basic condition was introduced stating that a neighbourhood plan should not result in less housing than would have been provided if the plan did not exist. The report confirmed that the neighbourhood planning team had considered the policies within the Pentewan plan and concluded they would not prevent housing development otherwise permitted by the Local Plan, especially given the current presumption in favour of sustainable development. The report stated that the Pentewan Valley NDP had been checked against the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) and was considered legally compliant. The recommendation was that the NDP be agreed as legally compliant, publicised under Regulation 16, and taken forward to examination.

Homelessness Supported Accommodation Services (HSAS)

The meeting was scheduled to consider proposals for the commissioning of Homelessness Supported Accommodation Services (HSAS) from 1 April 2027. The report highlighted a new government funding regime, the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant (HRSDAG), which consolidates previous funding streams. This funding is intended to increase the supply of supported accommodation by funding housing-related support services, with a focus on single homelessness prevention, relief, and preventing/reducing rough sleeping. The report sought approval for a hybrid procurement approach, combining competitive tendering with direct awards for specific schemes where the provider has a secure legal interest in the property. The proposed contracts would commence from 1 April 2027 for an initial two-year period, with options to extend by three plus three years, subject to performance and funding. The approach aimed to standardise specifications, improve quality and consistency, and align provision with strategic priorities. The estimated annual cost for the HSAS programme was around £1.9 million.

Council Homes - CHL Management Agreement, Commissioning Plan and Decency Update

The meeting was also set to review the Commissioning Plan for Cornwall Housing Limited (CHL), the Council's arms-length company responsible for managing council homes. The report indicated that the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan for 2026/27 represented a significant increase in funding for accelerating stock decency measures, with an additional £40 million investment over four years. The report sought approval for minor amendments to the Management Agreement to ensure it remains fit for purpose and reflects the agreed HRA and CHL Business Plans. The planned works programme for 2026/27 had a total allocated cost of £14 million, with £10 million dedicated to Decent Homes and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund works. The programme aimed to deliver planned investment works to 2,383 properties during the 2026/27 year, prioritising non-decency issues, particularly heating, insulation, and ventilation, as well as completing legacy maintenance and addressing isolated component replacements. The investment also aimed to support fuel switching, decarbonisation objectives, and improve thermal performance to reduce fuel poverty.

The meeting also included standard agenda items such as announcements, declarations of interest, and questions from the public to the Portfolio Holders. Provisions were also made for the exclusion of the press and public for specific items where exempt information was likely to be disclosed.