Cornwall Council leader re-elected unopposed

The leader of Cornwall Council has been re-elected unopposed.

Councilor Linda Taylor, who became leader for the first time following the 2021 election, was appointed at the authority’s annual meeting held at County Hall in Truro on Tuesday 21 May.

Cllr Pauline Giles was re-elected as chair of the council and Cllr Jordan Rowse returned as deputy chair for the next 12 months.

Cllr Taylor said: “I am delighted to have been elected as leader once again, it is a real honor to lead this council and I am grateful for the support I have received.

“I’m so proud of the work we’ve done as an administration since our 2021 election and we’ve worked so hard to deliver on the manifesto commitments we made three years ago.

“We have been clear in our determination to make Cornwall a place where everyone can start well, live well and age well, and we have already made great strides towards this goal.

“We will now continue to do everything we can to ensure we deliver the services our residents rely on, while providing value for money for our ratepayers.”

Cllr Taylor has announced there will be a shake-up in her cabinet over the next year, with the current portfolio holder for customers, Cllr Connor Donnithorne, standing down at the end of the month.

He will be replaced in the role by Cllr Martin Worth, who is currently chair of the council’s economic growth and development review and scrutiny committee.

Cllr Donnithorne said: “I have been proud to serve our Duchy as Cornwall Council’s youngest cabinet member.

“I have always tried to listen to the concerns of local people and businesses and tried my best to serve the long-term interests of Cornwall.

“I’m the first to admit that difficult decisions were made and I didn’t get it all right.

“But I’m proud to have played a small part in making Cornwall fairer and stronger, including by protecting free bus passes for pensioners in Cornwall, investing an extra £9.1 million in fixing more local roads and creating the first free bus pass for care leavers in Cornwall. between the ages of 18 and 25.

“I will continue to serve as a Cornwall councilor for Redruth Central, Carharrack and St Day to make our Duchy an even better place to be born, work and raise a family.

“And as the general election approaches, I will be going out every day to earn the trust and support of the residents of Camborne, Redruth and Hayle to be elected as our next Member of Parliament for our part of Cornwall.”

Cllr Worth said: “I am honored to take on this cabinet portfolio for the role of customers on behalf of all the people of Cornwall.

“Living right on the banks of the Tamar River, I join Linda and her practice in building on their achievements by working hard and providing my expertise in business and emerging technology for the benefit of all.”

The reports of each of the control committees in the council were heard at the annual meeting and two motions were debated; one calling for support to “break the cycle of poverty, ill health and unemployment” and the second calling for “supporting housing justice”.