The Individual Decision Day meeting of Cornwall Council on Wednesday 22 April 2026 was scheduled to discuss funding for further education capacity and updated arrangements for civil parking enforcement. The meeting's agenda also included reports on the procurement of community drug and alcohol services, and the renewal of a public spaces protection order regarding dogs on beaches.

Further Education Capacity Capital Funding

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the discussion of Further Education Capacity Capital Funding¹. The report pack outlined proposals for the formal acceptance of two grants from the Department for Education (DfE): £7,366,974 for 16-19 education capacity and £1,141,220 for construction skills capital funding, totalling £9,286,542. This funding is intended to support Cornwall Council's statutory duty to provide post-16 learner places and address capacity pressures within further education providers across the county.

The report detailed how this funding aligns with existing council strategies, including the Adult Skills Commissioning Plan², the Cornwall Good Growth Plan³, and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Skills Implementation Plan⁴. It was noted that the funding would support increased capacity, improved learning environments, and the delivery of skills provision aligned with Cornwall's economic and labour market priorities. The report also highlighted the financial implications, including the uplift to the Capital Programme, and the legal and governance arrangements for managing the grant funding, which would involve entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the DfE. The potential risks associated with the funding, such as delays in DfE approvals and provider readiness, were also outlined.

The report presented two options: to do nothing and decline the funding, or to accept the funding and deliver the grants in line with DfE conditions. The latter was identified as the preferred option.

Civil Parking Enforcement - Updated Enforcement Arrangements

The meeting was also scheduled to consider Civil Parking Enforcement - Updated Enforcement Arrangements⁵. The report highlighted forthcoming changes within the Civil Parking Enforcement Service and sought approval for delegated authority for the Group Leader for Community Protection and Civil Parking Enforcement to approve and implement subsequent updates to the procedures.

The report indicated that the existing procedures, approved in 2018, required a comprehensive update to reflect significant changes in enforcement powers and policy. These changes include the introduction of moving traffic enforcement⁶, expanded dropped kerb enforcement, preparation for future pavement parking legislation, and strengthened guidance around Blue Badge enforcement⁷. The report detailed that Cornwall Council had been designated as a Moving Traffic Enforcement Authority, with powers coming into force in December 2025. The procedures would also be updated to reflect potential changes to on-street parking charges and to strengthen measures against Blue Badge fraud. The report stated that these updates would support road safety, accessibility, traffic management, and fair enforcement, aligning with the Cornwall Transport Plan 2030.

The recommendation was to approve the proposed updates and delegate authority for future procedural amendments to the Group Leader.

Procurement of Community Drug and Alcohol Services

The agenda also included a report on the Procurement of Community Drug and Alcohol Services (Adults and Young People)⁸. The report sought approval to proceed with the procurement of redesigned services for adults and young people across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The current contract was due to end on 31 March 2027, and the report highlighted the need for re-procurement due to workforce fragility, rising complexity of cases, reductions in ringfenced national grants, and increased statutory expectations.

The proposal was to undertake a competitive process under the Provider Selection Regime (2024)⁹ to secure two separate contracts: one for adults (18+) and one for young people. The estimated expenditure was £87 million over nine years, funded by the ringfenced drugs and alcohol Public Health Grant¹⁰. Authority was sought to delegate the contract award to the Strategic Director for Community Wellbeing following the procurement process. The report detailed the strategic context, including alignment with the national 10-year drugs strategy, From Harm to Hope ¹¹, and the Combating Drugs Outcomes Framework¹². It also outlined the benefits for residents, including reduced drug and alcohol-related deaths, improved mental health integration, and reduced crime.

Renewal of PSPO Dogs on Beaches 2026

The meeting was also scheduled to consider the Renewal of PSPO Dogs on Beaches 2026¹³. The report explained that the current Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) governing seasonal restrictions for dogs on beaches in Cornwall was due to expire in April 2026. A PSPO is made under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014¹⁴.

The report detailed that the current PSPO covers 46 beach and coastal areas, with three additional 24-hour restrictions around the Hayle Estuary to protect wildlife conservation areas. A public consultation on the renewal had received 6,654 responses, indicating general agreement with the need for restrictions, although dog owners generally favoured fewer restrictions while non-dog owners preferred more. The report noted that the current restrictions appeared to have found a middle ground. The Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee had endorsed the preferred option, which recommended renewing the existing restrictions on restricted beaches, with specific daily times and seasonal dates for beaches with and without Blue Flag or Seaside Award status.

The meeting also included minutes from previous Individual Decision Day meetings held on 28 January 2026, 25 February 2026, and 18 March 2026. These minutes covered a range of decisions including the extension of a revolving credit facility for Celtic Sea Power Limited¹⁵, the Section 75 Agreement for Section 117 aftercare arrangements¹⁶ under the Mental Health Act 1983, the River Camel Mitigation Strategy – Septic Tank Replacement Scheme – Local Development Order¹⁷, the release of vacant HRA properties¹⁸, the Cornwall Housing Growth Prospectus¹⁹, the acquisition of seven one-bedroom homes in Newquay²⁰, the appointment of a long-term site operator for the Heartlands site²¹, the Mid Cornwall Metro - Par Lift-Bridge Delivery Decision²², the provision of security services to designated accommodation sites, the Crisis and Resilience Fund 2026-29²³, the Belonging in Cornwall Strategy²⁴, and the Statutory Public Sector Equality Duty Return (Annual Review) 2026²⁵.