The Cabinet of Cornwall Council met on Wednesday, 6th May 2026, to discuss a range of important issues. The meeting's agenda included the council's annual report, road safety, taxi licensing, the proposed development of a strategic authority for Cornwall, updates on the local plan, council-owned companies, and the Kernow Industrial Growth Fund.

Cornwall Council Annual Report 2025-2026

The meeting was scheduled to consider the Cornwall Council Annual Report for 2025-2026. This report was intended to summarise the council's achievements in delivering its Priorities for Cornwall over the preceding twelve months. It was also to reflect on how the organisation adhered to its values of fairness, ambition, inclusion, and respect. The report was to be read in conjunction with other performance assessments, including the Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge and the Chief Executive's Stewardship of Resources report. The annual report was to detail progress against the council's six priorities, which were shaped by resident feedback and manifesto commitments. These priorities included strengthening communities, protecting the environment, building a resilient economy, supporting families and young people, enabling healthy lives, and improving transport and connectivity. The report was also to acknowledge the significant socio-economic pressures and rising costs faced by the council, which had necessitated difficult decisions to safeguard financial stability.

Cornwall Road Safety Strategy

A key item on the agenda was the Cornwall Road Safety Strategy. This strategy aimed to accelerate progress in reducing deaths and serious injuries on Cornwall's roads, aligning with the Vision Zero principle that no death or serious injury on the roads is acceptable. The strategy was built around the Safe System approach, which acknowledges that human error is inevitable and that road systems should be designed to minimise the consequences of mistakes. The strategy outlined six objectives, including embedding Safe System principles, targeting resources effectively, improving safety for all road users, reducing transport-related harm, delivering focused education, and strengthening partnerships. The accompanying Action Plan was structured around five components of the Safe System: Safe Roads and Roadsides, Safe Road Users, Safe Speeds, Safe Vehicles, and Post-Crash Response. The strategy was developed following extensive consultation with professionals, partners, and residents, with a particular focus on addressing risks for young drivers, motorcyclists, older people, and those using rural roads. The report highlighted that Cornwall has a significant proportion of rural roads, increasing the risk for its communities. The council intended to incrementally increase its investment in road safety, aiming for a total of £3 million over the four years from 2026/27 to 2029/30.

Taxi Zones in Cornwall

The Cabinet was also scheduled to discuss the future of taxi zones in Cornwall. Currently, Cornwall operates with six separate taxi licensing areas, a legacy of the former district council boundaries. The Department for Transport's best practice guidance recommends the abolition of taxi zones to simplify the system for passengers, improve taxi availability and customer choice, and create a fairer and more efficient system. The report indicated that abolishing zones could reduce costs for the authority through simpler administration and enforcement, and promote fuel efficiency. A public consultation had been conducted, with a significant majority of respondents, particularly those within the taxi trade, expressing a preference to retain the existing taxi zones. Concerns raised included the potential for drivers to concentrate in busier areas, leaving rural areas underserved, and the impact on local businesses and vulnerable users. The Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee had recommended that the Cabinet retain the existing taxi zones, citing that national guidance might not be best suited for Cornwall's rural context and that the consultation outcome showed strong opposition to changes. The report noted that if taxi zones were abolished, a new table of fares for the entire county would need to be created and consulted upon.

Proposed Cornwall Foundation Strategic Authority, Spatial Development Strategies, Local Government Reorganisation and Other Public Sector Reforms

A significant item on the agenda was the proposal for Cornwall to explore designation as a Single Foundation Strategic Authority (FSA). This move was presented as a step towards Cornwall having greater ability to determine its own future, with decisions about its economy, infrastructure, and public services being made more locally. The designation was seen as supporting Cornwall's devolution aims, recognising its distinct identity and national minority status, without requiring a directly elected mayor. While the FSA designation would not immediately grant more devolved powers than already secured, it was viewed as a pathway for future devolution and strengthening Cornwall's position in wider public sector reforms. The report also highlighted the importance of aligning Cornwall's new Spatial Development Strategy with this devolutionary geography, ensuring it was based solely on a Cornwall-only footprint. This was linked to the Government's intention for strategic planning areas to match devolution areas. The proposal was presented as a way to ensure that other national reforms, such as those affecting policing, the NHS, and local government in neighbouring areas, followed a Cornwall-specific approach.

Local Plan Update - Final Interim Report on Local Plan Progress, Including Baseline Report, Recommended Timetable, Process and Next Steps

The Cabinet was to receive an update on the progress of the Local Plan for Cornwall. This report was intended to set out the timetable for the next Local Plan and seek delegated authority to commence formal work, including stakeholder engagement on key topics and setting out a vision. A particular focus was placed on the relationship between the Local Plan and the Council's devolution journey, specifically the need for strategic spatial planning at a Cornwall-wide scale. The report highlighted the Government's concept of Spatial Development Strategies (SDS) and the decision for Cornwall to prepare its own SDS, distinct from any joint planning with Devon authorities. This was framed as aligning with Cornwall's identity as a fifth Celtic nation and having a national planning document. The report also reflected on community engagement events, summarising key themes raised by residents, including the need for affordable homes, clarity on infrastructure, revitalised town centres, protection of green and blue assets, and better understanding of planning processes. Sewage was identified as a major issue, echoing concerns raised at the Healthy Rivers and Seas Summit.

Council Owned Companies Business Plans 2026-2030 - Cornwall Housing and Celtic Sea Power

The Cabinet was to consider the Business Plans for two council-owned companies: Cornwall Housing Limited and Celtic Sea Power Limited, for the period 2026-2030. These plans had undergone a comprehensive assurance process and endorsement by their respective Owners Boards and commissioner oversight. The Business Plan for Cornwall Housing was to focus on delivering social housing within a national and local context, with key deliverables including ensuring solid basics, delivering safe and well-maintained homes, embedding the right organisational culture, understanding residents and communities, and working smarter across all services. The Celtic Sea Power Business Plan was to outline proposed activities for the company over the next four years, centred on its Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) Strategy, which comprised enabling sustainable FLOW development, sustaining operations through the Green Growth Reserve, and developing future income streams for long-term viability.

Investment Plan for Kernow Industrial Growth Fund

The meeting was scheduled to discuss the Investment Plan for the Kernow Industrial Growth Fund. This report sought approval to submit a proposal to the Government outlining Cornwall's approach to delivering this new £30 million fund, which was dedicated specifically to Cornwall. The fund was presented as a recognition of Cornwall's nationally significant role in key sectors, including critical minerals and geothermal energy, which were considered distinctive assets of strategic importance. The proposed management of the fund was to be detailed, including a breakdown of the £30 million package, with £3 million allocated for revenue funding. The fund was to be structured around two main components: the Cornwall Catalyst Fund (£10–15 million), targeting Cornwall-based businesses in critical minerals and geothermal sectors, and the Asset Partnership Fund, focused on utilising Council land, particularly around the Airport, to host businesses in key sectors, supporting economic growth and generating income for airport operations.

Corporate Asset Management Strategy

The Cabinet was to consider the Corporate Asset Management Strategy (CAMS). This strategy was developed in response to the absence of a comprehensive asset management strategy when the current administration took office. The strategy was intended to be effective when supported by clear delivery plans, with significant work already underway within the Property Team to establish these. The CAMS represented a major transformation initiative focused on how the Council's buildings are used, acknowledging the substantial annual cost of the Council's estate (approximately £22 million) and the need to reduce this burden. The report was expected to highlight changes in building use and working practices since COVID-19, with some of the Council's largest buildings, including New County Hall, being significantly under-occupied. Difficult decisions regarding potential alternative uses or occupiers for parts of Council buildings were anticipated. The strategy also emphasised the need to overhaul income generation, remove barriers to lease renewals, and maximise both income and the effective use of retained assets.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service Community Risk Management Plan 2026-2030 Draft Document

The draft Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service's Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) for 2026-2030 was presented for Cabinet approval. The plan was to set out how the Service understood, assessed, and reduced fire and rescue-related risks across Cornwall, providing a framework for community safety through prevention, protection, and emergency response. The CRMP was developed through a comprehensive review of risk data, community demographics, incident trends, and future forecasts, with input from staff, partners, and public consultation. The plan was to address risks in five core areas: communities understanding and supporting residents, people investing in and enabling the workforce, sustainability in environmental and financial planning, ensuring the right resources are in the right place, and continuous improvement. The report noted that the Service awaited the publication of the round four His Majesty's Inspectorate's report and that changes would be made to how response times were reported, with average response times for both wholetime and on-call firefighters becoming the performance measure.

Proposed Off-Street Parking Places Order 2026

The Cabinet was scheduled to review the Proposed Off-Street Parking Places Order 2026. This report was to outline recommendations developed through engagement with Members and residents, responding to public demand, including the expansion of motorhome parking following a successful trial. Measures to reduce parking costs for residents and regular users were to be highlighted, such as adjustments to the JustPark wallet minimum top-up. The report was also to include proposals for introducing charging in certain currently free car parks and extending winter charging in others, originating from a review by the Sustainable Growth and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee. A full public consultation had been conducted, with feedback informing decisions such as including a first-hour-free period and free parking after 4pm in certain locations. The report was to acknowledge opposition to new charges but explain the necessity of charging to fund ongoing maintenance. The Portfolio Holder for Transport was to confirm that tariffs would be reviewed annually and adjusted as necessary, and that parking income directly funded the Parking Service, not council tax.

The meeting was scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 6th May 2026, at 10:00 am in the Trelawny Room, County Hall, Truro.