Cornwall Council
Cornwall Council (Cornish: Konsel Kernow), known until 2009 as Cornwall County Council (Cornish: Konteth Konsel Kernow), is the unitary authority which governs the district of Cornwall, which covers the majority of the ceremonial county of the same name in the South West of England. The council has had a Conservative Party majority since the 2021 local elections. Its headquarters is Lys Kernow in Truro.
Cornwall Council Konsel Kernow | |
|---|---|
| Whole council elected every four years | |
Coat of arms | |
Council logo | |
| Type | |
| Type | Unitary authority with combined authority powers |
| History | |
| Founded | 1 April 1889 |
| Preceded by | District councils
|
| Leadership | |
Chairman | Pauline Giles, Conservative since 2021 |
Vice-Chairman | Jordan Rowse, Conservative since 2021 |
Leader of the Council | Linda Taylor, Conservative since 2021 |
Deputy Leader of the Council | David Harris, Conservative since 2021 |
Chief Executive | Kate Kennally |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 87 (44 needed for a majority) |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | 4 years |
| Elections | |
| First-past-the-post | |
Last election | 6 May 2021 |
Next election | May 2025 |
| Meeting place | |
| Lys Kernow Truro Cornwall United Kingdom | |
| Website | |
| www.cornwall.gov.uk | |
The area covered by the council is rural, and includes almost all of the ceremonial county; the Isles of Scilly are governed by a unique unitary authority. Cornwall was a two-tier non-metropolitan county from 1974 until 2009, when its six districts were abolished and the county council took over their functions. The council has a tradition of large groups of independent councillors, and was controlled by independents in the 1970s and 1980s.
Cornwall Council provides a wide range of services to the 570,000 people who live in Cornwall. In 2014 it had an annual budget of more than £1 billion and was the biggest employer in the county, with a staff of 12,429 salaried workers. It is responsible for services including: schools, social services, rubbish collection, roads, planning and more.