Community government in Cornwall – time for democratic renewal

The Cornish Social and Economic Research Group (CoSERG), responded to the then Governments proposals for changes to Cornish local government in 1992 in the document ‘Empowering Cornwall’ published in 1994. This post builds upon the 1994 report.

 

One element of the document proposed the establishment of Community Councils, decentralising non-strategic decision–making to the lowest possible level. The objectives behind the proposal were to: encourage local involvement, strengthen local democracy and guarantee accountability and quality of service provision at the local level..

 

This tier of community councils would provide for a vigorous grass-roots democracy and build on and encourage the sense of identity of local communities.  These community councils would be frontline agencies ensuring a continuing direct link between elected councillors and local people. 

 

Community Councils, would not, confusingly duplicate the functions of higher tiers of government. They would not be mini-county or district councils.  On the contrary they would be solely concerned with service delivery and quality control.  Community Councils would replace the current Community Area Partnerships. They would operate in close partnership with the Cornwall-wide regional authority.  They would act as the primary source of information for the public for both themselves and the Cornwall-wide authority (together with agencies responsible to it). They would act as ‘one-stop’ shops for the local community.

 

Geographies

These Community Councils would reflect the dispersed nature of Cornish settlement patterns. Their boundaries might take account of historical factors (for example the old Hundred boundaries) together with economic links (travel to work areas) as well as school and shopping catchment areas.  The exact boundaries of such councils should emerge from grass-roots discussions as far as possible, thus reflecting community desires than imposing yet another top-down blueprint. About 20 democratically elected Community Councils would be appropriate. 

 

Areas of competence

Community Development - (Employment, Housing)

Economic Development

Education, Information & Culture

Environment - (waste control, pollution control)

Health & Welfare

Planning - local

Public Services - (Consumer affairs, Fire, Police, Probation) 

Transport, Communications & Ports

 

For the original extract from Empowering Cornwall, see-

https://www.cornwallecon.com/post/8-the-coserg-solution-regional-powers-and-community-government-p-19-21