Policy paper

Cornwall devolution deal (Kevambos Digresennans Kernow) 2023

Published 22 November 2023

Applies to England

Subject to ratification of the deal by all partners and the statutory requirements referred to within this document, including the consent of Cornwall Council and parliamentary approval of the secondary legislation implementing the provisions of this Deal.

Signatures

The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Jacob Young MP
Minister for Levelling Up

Cllr Linda Taylor
Leader, Cornwall Council

Introduction

1. Cornwall has a diverse and unique history, with its native name (Kernow) deriving from historic records as early as 400 AD. Through its ancient Neolithic monuments, its Celtic language and its rich mining heritage, Cornwall’s past continues to shape its present. Cornwall enjoys a beautiful natural environment with 422 miles of coastline and a vibrant culture and heritage of creativity and innovation. This history and the geography of Cornwall, surrounded on three sides by the sea, fuels a strong sense of place and fosters a proud distinctive identity.

2. The government has set itself a mission that, by 2030, every part of the country that wants a devolution deal will have a devolution deal, with powers at or approaching the highest level of devolution, with a simplified, long-term funding settlement. The Levelling Up White Paper makes clear the case for devolution as the engine room of improved productivity and reduced regional disparities. Devolution will be critical to delivering the government’s 12 headline Levelling up missions, strengthening local leadership to act more flexibly and innovatively to respond to local need, whether on transport, skills or regeneration.

3. In the Levelling Up White Paper, the government published for the first time a devolution framework, which sets out a clear menu of options for places that wish to unlock the benefits of devolution. This framework places a strong emphasis on the importance of high profile, directly elected local leadership, strong local governance, and joint working across sensible and coherent economic geographies. The most comprehensive package is a Level 3 deal, for areas with a single institution over a sensible geography, with the strongest and most accountable leadership, such as a mayoral combined authority (MCA), or a single unitary authority or a county council covering a functional economic area or the whole county geography with a directly elected mayor. The Level 2 offer is for devolution to single local government institutions without a directly elected mayor, such as combined authorities, or a single upper tier local authority covering a functional economic area or the whole county geography with the leader and cabinet governance model. The Level 1 offer is for devolution to local authorities with looser joint working arrangements, such as a joint committee model.

4. This document sets out the terms of a proposed agreement for a Level 2 devolution deal between the government and Cornwall Council. This document describes both the offer of powers, functions and investments from the government and the reforms and measures that Cornwall Council will need to deliver. The statutory requirements for implementing the deal include the Council consenting to the secondary legislation implementing aspects of the deal, and Parliament approving it.

5. Formed in 2009, Cornwall Council is the third largest unitary local authority in the country by measure of the population served, with 570,300 residents. It is the fourth largest unitary by area, but the twelfth least densely populated, of all 62 unitary authorities. With most other public sector organisations and strategic partnerships serving the same geographical boundary and functional economic area, Cornwall offers enormous potential to take a new approach to ‘total place’ to deliver the Cornwall Plan 2050 and Levelling up missions with the support of the government.

6. In 2002, the UK government recognised the Cornish language under Part II of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Additionally, in 2014, the government agreed to include the Cornish within the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The broad aims of the Framework Convention are to ensure that the UK government, as a signatory, respects the rights of people belonging to national minorities, undertaking to combat discrimination; promote equality; preserve and develop the culture and identity of national minorities; guarantee certain freedoms in relation to access to the media, minority languages and education; and encourage the participation of people belonging to national minorities in public life. This proposed deal reinforces the government’s commitments under the obligations of the aforementioned Council of Europe treaties.

7. Cornwall’s population has grown faster than the UK average in the last decade, increasing 7.1% overall (compared to 6.3% across England), with marked increases in the number of 70–74-year-olds (52%) and 75-79-year-olds (37%). This is leading to acute demand pressures across public services in Cornwall, particularly in the provision of social care and affordable housing.

8. The challenges and opportunities faced by the Council are significant in equal measure; therefore, this second – and more significant – devolution deal to the one agreed in 2015 will support the Council’s mission to create a carbon neutral Cornwall where everyone can start well, live well and age well.

9. Cornwall also faces a range of challenges which impact on productivity levels and the ability to grow. These include cross-cutting low productivity; low levels of higher qualifications; significant pockets of deprivation; lack of grid capacity; and a business sector with low research and development investment levels.

10. However, there are a number of significant and emerging growth sectors that this deal and other government initiatives – including £132 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), £99 million from the Towns and Future High Streets Fund, £50 million from the Levelling Up Fund and £14.3 million from the Getting Building Fund – seek to support:

• Clean energy resources – capitalising on unrivalled natural resources.
• Geo-resources – harnessing expertise and the critical minerals necessary for the low-carbon transition, in a sustainable way.
• Data and space – exploiting the unique physical, digital and intellectual assets in the region, and using data to overcome local and global challenges.
• Visitor economy – potential to be a global leader for low-carbon experiences for visitors and residents, maximising links to the environment, heritage and culture. -Agri-food – creating a productive and sustainable sector maximising market opportunities for land and marine management, and food processing /production.

11. As part of the government’s commitment to devolution, Cornwall Council has also received £10 million of capital funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to enable the delivery of a number of affordable housing and heritage schemes during 2023/24 that support the Council’s priority outcome of creating a thriving and sustainable Cornwall that offers a secure home, a decent income and a great environment for all.

12. Greater local powers and investment are needed to level up, to tackle the challenges facing Cornwall, and to harness its huge economic opportunity for the benefit of people in Cornwall and for the whole UK. Accordingly, Cornwall Council and government are minded to agree a devolution deal which will provide powers and funding to enable Cornwall to unleash its economic potential and, in doing so, level up, raise living standards for its communities and make a full contribution to the UK economy. It will build upon the area’s history of collaboration and the 2015 devolution deal to maximise this investment.

13. The Cornwall devolution deal shows how levelling up can be done in practice – with clear alignment to the Cornwall Plan 2050 and the government’s twelve headline Levelling Up missions.

14. The government will continue to work with Cornwall Council on important areas of public service reform and infrastructure investment, to support inclusive economic growth in towns, cities and rural areas whilst tackling climate change, on Cornwall’s journey to carbon neutrality by 2030 and beyond, to deliver the Cornwall Plan by 2050.

Summary of the Devolution Deal between the government and Cornwall Council

The government and Cornwall Council are minded to agree a devolution deal which will provide Cornwall with new powers and funding to increase opportunities and living standards through inclusive growth and productivity improvements.

The devolution agreement includes:

• New powers to better shape local skills provision to ensure this meets the needs of the local economy. This will include devolution of Adult Education functions and the core Adult Education Budget, and the opportunity to provide input into Local Skills Improvement Plans.

• £0.5 million of funding to support Cornish distinctiveness, including the protection and promotion of the Cornish language, subject to a business case.

• Government also commits to agreeing a memorandum of understanding with Cornwall Council on the attendance of the Council Leader or an appropriate deputy at meetings of the languages work sector of the British-Irish Council, as an adviser to the government on matters pertaining to the Cornish language.

• Support for Cornwall Council’s ambition to create a Cornwall Floating Offshore Wind Commission to minimise the marine ecological impact and maximise job creation.

More detail on these commitments is given in the main body of the document below.

Governance

15. Cornwall Council has already taken bold steps in securing effective and accountable governance. Cornwall underwent a process of local government reorganisation in 2009, moving to a single unitary local authority with a leader and cabinet executive governance model.

16. The government, Cornwall Council, the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, and the Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group signed the first Cornwall devolution deal in 2015. The 2015 deal led to the creation of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Leadership Board to provide effective place partnership working at a regional level and to oversee the successful delivery of the deal. The Board brings together a powerful alliance of leaders from the public and private sector to provide collective leadership to realise the full economic, social and environmental potential of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

17. The government and Cornwall Council recognise that many of the policy areas in this deal have the potential to benefit the Isles of Scilly. The government and Cornwall Council will therefore continue to work with the Council of the Isles of Scilly and other local partners to determine how the Council of the Isles of Scilly will be involved in the implementation of this devolution deal. Cornwall Council and the Council of the Isles of Scilly entered into an inter-authority agreement in May 2017 which provides a framework for the undertaking of functions across the councils’ administrative areas.

18. The government and Cornwall Council also recognise that certain proposals in this deal will have an impact beyond Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. In these areas, Cornwall Council will work with the relevant public bodies and other partners in other parts of Southwest England - including the Great South West alliance - to ensure effective implementation of these proposals and to promote opportunities for pan-regional collaboration where appropriate to drive productivity and support levelling up.

Governance arrangements

19. As set out in the Levelling Up White Paper, the government sees that devolving functions from central government under a level 2 devolution deal to Cornwall Council will allow strengthened local decision making powers to benefit the residents of Cornwall.

20. As part of a level 2 devolution agreement, Cornwall Council will maintain their current governance arrangements of a leader and cabinet executive governance model. Cornwall Council’s elections will continue to take place on the same four yearly cycle, with the next scheduled elections due in May 2025. The electorate will be local government electors in the area of Cornwall Council.

21. The full council will annually elect a leader from amongst its councillors. The leader will choose between two and nine other members of the council to form a cabinet. The leader and cabinet take decisions to deliver a business plan, within the budget and policy framework as set by the full council.

22. Functions contained in this deal and listed below, will be devolved to Cornwall Council by the government. Where functions are subject to conditions, these are set out alongside the function being devolved.

23. The government will devolve to Cornwall Council the following functions:

• Adult education and skills functions.

24. Voting arrangements in respect of devolved functions will be as set out in legislative provisions and/or the Council’s Constitution. This will include the procedures under the leader and cabinet executive governance model.

25. Cornwall Council will be scrutinised and held to account for their level 2 devolution deal by the Council’s appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be appointed by the Committee from amongst the members of the Committee. Cornwall Council is undertaking a review of all overview and scrutiny arrangements. This will ensure arrangements are appropriate in light of the additional functions and funding being devolved to Cornwall Council.

26. As a local government institution with devolved powers, Cornwall Council will be subject to the English Devolution Accountability Framework (‘the Framework’). The Framework applies to all English institutions with devolved powers. In line with the Framework, the government, Cornwall Council and other areas with devolution deals will work together to put in place mechanisms to ensure that local leaders and institutions are transparent and accountable, work closely with local businesses, seek the best value for taxpayers’ money, and maintain strong ethical standards.

27. Cornwall Council should also have regard for the government’s Scrutiny Protocol, which develops the standards and best practice to make sure that scrutiny committees in areas with devolution deals can meet this unique challenge. This is to empower local residents and provide them with the confidence that devolution is leading to improvements in their area.

28. The proposals in this devolution deal are subject to:

• The acceptance of the proposed deal by Cornwall Council’s cabinet.
• The Secretary of State being satisfied that the required statutory requirements as set out in sections 16 and 17 of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 (including amendments made by the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act (LURA)) have been met.
• The consent of Cornwall Council and Parliamentary approval of the required secondary legislation.

29. The government recognises that Cornwall Council has ambition to deepen devolution over time. The government and Cornwall Council will continue their dialogue on these matters with a view to achieving these ambitions. Further devolution may be predicated on the further strengthening of local governance and accountability.

30. Cornwall Council must follow the applicable procedure as set out in the Local Government Act 2000 (including amendments made by the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act), if it proposes to change its governance model from the current leader and cabinet executive governance model to an alternative governance model specified in section 9NC(8) at a future date. Such procedure requires the Council to notify the Secretary of State, who will consider whether to amend or revoke the secondary legislation which confers the level 2 devolution deal functions onto the Council.

Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Integration

31. The Levelling Up White Paper announced the government’s intention to support the integration of Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) functions and roles into local democratic institutions. On 4 August 2023, government confirmed its previous ‘minded to’ decision to withdraw central government support (core funding) for LEPs from April 2024 and transfer their functions to local and combined authorities. This deal confirms the integration of LEP functions into Cornwall Council and the Council of the Isles of Scilly, subject to government endorsement of an integration plan and the agreement of the two councils.

32. Cornwall Council and the Council of the Isles of Scilly will be supported to take on relevant functions and roles of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP in line with published guidance and with any agreed interim arrangements. In doing so, all parties will work together to ensure the independence of the local business voice is both maintained and represented within Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly through advisory boards established by the two local authorities. Cornwall Council will ensure that any business advisory board or equivalent structure is meaningfully involved in local decision making, maintaining a culture of constructive challenge and scrutiny, and includes representatives of the business community.

33. Government funding for integrating LEP functions will be subject to future spending decisions by individual departments and business planning.

Skills and education

Adult education

34. Adult Education plays a significant role in lifelong learning, an individual’s personal development and contributes to Cornwall’s local economy with increased skills levels and productivity in the workplace. Devolving the Adult Education Budget (AEB) to Cornwall Council will allow skills programmes and delivery to meet local economic needs and opportunities underpinning both our emerging and foundation sectors.

35. Whilst the number of people in Cornwall qualified to Levels 2 and 3 are above the England average, there are significant place-based variations in skills and productivity across Cornwall. For example, NVQ3 ranged from 12.5% in Camborne & Redruth to 23.9% in South East Cornwall. Over the next 10-15 years, slower growth in the working population and significant technology driven changes are likely to require increased adaptability and re-skilling by people who are already working as well as maximising the potential of young people entering the labour market.

36. The government will fully devolve AEB to Cornwall Council from academic year 2025/26 subject to readiness conditions and Parliamentary approval of the required secondary legislation conferring the appropriate functions. Funding for Free Courses for Jobs (FCFJ) will also be devolved and will be ring-fenced.

37. Prior to full devolution taking place, the government will work with Cornwall Council to support their preparations for taking on the relevant functions, including offering implementation funding on a ‘matched-funded’ basis and awarded through a business case process.

38. Upon devolution, Cornwall Council will be responsible for making allocations to providers and setting the outcomes to be achieved, including with statutory entitlements. The government will not seek to second guess these decisions, but it will set proportionate requirements about outcome information to be collected in order to allow students to make informed choices.

39. The government will inform Cornwall Council on which basis the existing methodology operates to calculate the size of the grant to be paid to Cornwall Council for the purpose of exercising the devolved adult education functions.

40. The government will discuss with Cornwall Council and other areas which are planning to secure devolved adult education functions, any proposed changes to its methodology for calculating devolved areas’ grants.

41. In order to proceed with devolution, the government needs to be assured of the following readiness conditions:

a. The Secretary of State for Education and appropriate accounting officer are assured that Cornwall Council is operationally ready to administer AEB and is satisfied the required statutory tests have been met.

b. Parliament has legislated to enable transfer to Cornwall Council of the current statutory duties on the Secretary of State to secure appropriate facilities for further education for adults from this budget and for provision to be free in certain circumstances.

c. Agreement to a memorandum of understanding between the Department for Education and Cornwall Council that provides appropriate assurance that the named parties will work together to ensure the future financial stability of the provider base, including for sharing financial risk and managing provider failure.

d. Learner protection arrangements are agreed between parties.

42. The Department for Education will continue to work with Cornwall Council to commission a local programme of Skills Bootcamps, to be informed by future spending agreements.

Skills and employment

43. Cornwall is ambitious for its people. Cornwall Council’s ambitions are to grow the economy, build on its assets and provide everyone with the opportunity to access good quality jobs, whilst setting a course for a decarbonised and sustainable future for business, for people and for the environment.

44. If these ambitions are to be realised then a step change in the skills system is needed not only to grow the economy, but also to meet the challenges and opportunities arising through the impact of the pandemic, automation, changing working practices and an ageing workforce. Whilst it cannot be predicted exactly how skills needs will change, Cornwall Council know that they will, and devolution will offer the area the opportunity to shape a responsive employer-led skills system to develop a flexible, adaptable and skilled workforce fit for the future.

45. Cornwall Council is uniquely placed to unlock local talent by ensuring the area has an employment and skills landscape that meets local need; aligning investment to Cornwall’s strategic priorities and ensuring that resources and expertise can support more people into work, improve skills and match people with jobs. Cornwall Council have over 20 years’ experience of delivering European Social Funds, supported by a strong local governance board and an intermediate body. A more joined up and locally defined employment and skills programme will enable:

a. Linking of capital/infrastructure projects to current and future skills need.

b. Facilitation of better alignment/co-ordination of provision through commissioning, to help address local skill needs.

c. Better joined up solutions to address skills needs with a clear offer and pathways.

46. Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) will set out the current and future skills needs of the area and how local provision needs to change to help people develop the skills they need to get good jobs and increase their prospects. They will build a stronger and more dynamic partnership between employers and providers and allow provision to be more responsive to the skills needs of employers in local labour markets.

47. Working with the designated Employer Representative Body, utilising and sharing the local labour market intelligence and analysis it has developed, Cornwall Council will support and provide input into the LSIP for the area.

48. Cornwall will be considered alongside other areas with a Level 2 devolution deal at future Spending Reviews with regard to the devolution of skills funding.

Careers education and advice

49. The government recognises the significant unique opportunities that are developing across Cornwall and that, to ensure maximum benefit of the AEB allocation and the area’s economic growth, a more place-based and industry led approach to careers education is developed for both adults and young people. Ensuring access to high quality careers, advice and guidance is a crucial element of the government’s long-term ambitions around social mobility, raising aspiration and ensuring we are able to secure the future workforce our economy needs.

50. In support of this objective, the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP and Local Authority partners have worked closely on the development of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Careers Hub. With the folding in of relevant LEP functions as announced in August 2023, the government and partners within the Cornwall area wish to ensure that there remains a shared focus on careers education and advice for young people. The Department for Education will therefore seek to work with DLUHC, Cornwall Council and other relevant partners to support the continuity of activity within the Careers Hub.

51. To ensure a more place-based and joined-up approach to careers education locally, the government supports Cornwall Council to work with local stakeholders to align careers provision with devolved AEB activities.

Employment

52. Cornwall Council and the government recognise the crucial link between local skills, education, health and workforce development activity in the region and the work of the Department of Work and Pensions.

53. The Department for Work and Pensions, through regional Jobcentre Plus and Partnership teams, and Cornwall Council will work together on shared strategic employment priorities through a place-based approach.

54. Cornwall Council will work in partnership with local and regional work and health stakeholders as well as the Department for Work and Pensions and other parts of the UK government to ensure effective and coordinated strategic planning and delivery of local employment, health and skills provision, through funding streams such as the UKSPF and AEB, that meet local needs and complement national employment provision.

Education Investment Area

55. In the Levelling Up White Paper, the government announced Cornwall as one of fifty-five Education Investment Areas (EIA) to tackle areas of low educational attainment. Cornwall Council is already working closely with the Department for Education’s Regional Delivery Directorate (RDD) to improve educational attainment in Cornwall, and the University of Exeter’s Centre of Social Mobility to identify the underlying issues impacting on achievement. As part of the EIA, Cornwall Council will continue to work in partnership with the RDD and local partners in the education system to improve outcomes for children and young people.

Housing and land

56. There are a variety of factors affecting the acute demand for homes in the Cornish housing market. Not least of which is the fact that Cornwall is a beautiful place to live and work and, post pandemic, has an ever-growing population as more people move here than move out. As a result, Cornwall is experiencing significant challenges in meeting housing demand with average house prices in excess of average income levels.

57. Accordingly, housing availability and affordability are the top two challenges that Cornwall Council’s Housing Strategy 2030 is trying to address through a multi-pronged and innovative approach to provide homes where people and communities can thrive.

Working with Homes England

58. Cornwall Council and Homes England are committed, with the support of DLUHC to working collaboratively – combining their skills and capacity to reduce the barriers to affordable housing delivery, regeneration and wider housing growth through the development of a shared development pipeline for the region. This will be underpinned by a clear action plan setting out workstreams, timescales and milestones, as well as respective roles and responsibilities.

59. Homes England and DLUHC will explore the potential for investing in the delivery of this pipeline – in support of Cornwall’s wider strategic ambitions for enhancing the affordability and accessibility of housing locally – through current and future funding streams, including the Affordable Homes Programme and Brownfield Infrastructure and Land Fund. Through taking a co-design approach with Homes England, Cornwall Council will seek to enhance the impact of any funding allocated within the area over the next five years. This is in addition to £10 million of devolved capital funding already provided to Cornwall Council by DLUHC, of which £7 million has been directed by the Council towards delivering more affordable homes across Cornwall in 2023.

60. As part of this approach, partners within Cornwall will seek to further align their own resources and capacity alongside the work of Cornwall Council, working closely with government to maximise the impact of joint programmes such as the One Public Estate through the use of their land and wider capital assets.

Rural housing

61. Recognising the specific challenges involved in increasing housing availability and affordability in small rural communities for those with the highest needs, Homes England, DLUHC and Cornwall Council will also collectively explore how wider measures could better support Cornwall Council’s plans to increase much needed rural affordable housing delivery, especially across small sites.

Private Rented Sector

62. In light of the significant housing challenges in Cornwall, the government will work with Cornwall Council to explore opportunities for increasing decency in the private rented sector, in a way that will encourage landlords to remain in the sector and invest in their properties to ensure minimum legislative standards of accommodation are met. One such opportunity is Cornwall’s participation in the government’s Private Rented Sector (PRS) Pathfinder programme, which creates the environment to test new, innovative ways of raising housing standards in the PRS. In Cornwall specifically, the project seeks to develop a comprehensive understanding of certain key sub-sectors, and to test new ways of proactively targeting and regulating sub-standard private rented accommodation. Whilst still in the early stages of delivery, excellent progress is being made, and strong links have been formed with both DLUHC, and the other participating local authorities.

Second homes and short-term lets

63. Cornwall has specific challenges around second homes and short-term lets. Around 5% of all homes in Cornwall are being used as second homes – but with up to 40% of all homes being used in this way in some areas.

64. Government has introduced powers through the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act to enable local councils to apply a council tax premium of up to 100% on second homes.

65. The government is also taking steps to address concerns about the impact of short-term lets on local communities and housing markets. For instance, the government recently held a consultation on the design of a registration scheme for short-term lets in England, which it committed to introduce through the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act, and another on the introduction of a planning use class for short-term lets and associated permitted development rights. The government is now analysing the responses to both consultations. The government has engaged with Cornwall on this work and will continue to look for opportunities to work with Cornwall as any national measures are taken forward.

Town centre regeneration

66. The government has already allocated £99 million from the Towns and Future High Streets Fund to support Cornwall Council’s ambition to encourage economic regeneration and restore pride in place. The beneficiaries of this funding include St Ives, Penzance, Camborne and Truro.

67. The government understands that Cornwall Council places strategic importance on supporting local regeneration activity. The Council works to drive sustainable growth in towns such as Helston by encouraging diverse local communities and visitors to dwell in the area, enhance health and wellbeing and inject vibrancy into the local economy and cultural life. Cornwall Council will continue to explore opportunities to apply for additional funding and support to deliver this.

Transport

68. Nearly two thirds of Cornwall’s population live in small, dispersed settlements, and on-road transport is a significant part of the region’s carbon emissions. Cornwall has a unique road network which provides challenges and opportunities. Cornwall has invested heavily in transport improvements over the past 10 years to connect people, communities, businesses and services. Cornwall Council’s refreshed 2030 Local Transport Plan (LTP) responds to the challenges of climate change by ensuring Cornwall has a resilient, carbon neutral transport network, and supports communities to live locally. Cornwall Council is working with government to deliver its vision.

Network North

69. As set out in the recent Network North announcement, Cornwall will receive a proportion of the £2.8 billion funding to fix potholes in the South East, South West and East of England.

Powers of the Local Transport Authority and Local Transport Plans

70. Cornwall Council is already responsible for transport planning and delivery for the county and will continue to exercise these functions and powers.

71. As the Local Transport Authority, Cornwall Council has the statutory duty to develop and deliver a Local Transport Plan (LTP). Spending Review is expected in 2024; in developing its case for local transport investment DfT will be engaging the local transport sector. As such, DfT will look to draw on any emerging evidence base and strategy Cornwall is able to make available by that time. Cornwall will be expected to ensure its LTP aligns with best practice in transport planning including any revised LTP guidance, and to update their LTP as necessary.

Local and Regional Partnership Working

72. The government recognises that local and regional level organisations are often best placed to make practical changes required to meet shared strategic objectives on local economic growth and decarbonisation, ensuring that local communities and businesses are engaged. Peninsula Transport will develop its Regional Centre of Excellence, which will offer bespoke capability and tools to support local authorities in the STB area. This provides the opportunity for Cornwall Council to work with Peninsula Transport STB to establish if Cornwall Council would benefit from capability support.

73. As set out in the National Electric Vehicle Strategy, the government recognises the aspirations of Cornwall Council to improve public electric vehicle charging infrastructure, which would increase the uptake of electric vehicles and reduce carbon emissions by supporting all motorists in making the switch. Cornwall Council can also access support from their Sub-National Transport Body, Peninsula Transport, which has received government funding to develop a regional Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure strategy. This EVCI strategy will provide a robust plan of charging needs in Cornwall and can be used to underpin any public sector funding proposals, including applications for the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Capital Fund.

74. The government acknowledges the challenges Cornwall faces with transport connectivity as a large rural area. The government also recognises the aspirations of Cornwall which is why government has introduced a new £381 million LEVI scheme for local authorities to support local EV infrastructure delivery. Of this funding Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly were allocated £5.5 million capital and £503,000 resource funding (over 3 financial years). Capital funding covers the capital costs associated with charge point installation, such as hardware and engineering costs. Resource funding can be spent on staff to plan and deliver local charging infrastructure, including EV strategies. Government will continue to work with Cornwall to ensure they are ready for the next stage of their LEVI capital fund application. Expert advice and guidance are provided to all local authorities via the LEVI Support Body. They provide technical, commercial and management expertise to help local authorities develop and deliver infrastructure projects.

Buses

Enhanced Bus Partnerships

75. Cornwall will continue to lead the way with its Enhanced Partnership bringing the bus operators together to deliver joint initiatives to benefit the travelling public under the established branding of ‘Transport for Cornwall’, including joint ticketing across all operators, bespoke joint concessionary ticketing initiatives such as a young person’s concessionary ticket, and a free bus pass for care leavers and combined marketing and promotional material including a single place for all timetable information.

Bus Franchising

76. Cornwall Council has implemented an Enhanced Partnership to deliver high quality bus services as part of an integrated local transport system. If Cornwall Council concludes that bus franchising is likely to deliver better outcomes, the government will consider conferring franchising powers under the Transport Act 2000 to Cornwall Council where it demonstrates they have the capability and intention to deliver their chosen franchise model, and that franchising will deliver better services than their Enhanced Partnership without needlessly delaying benefits to passengers. In any partnership or franchising arrangements, where possible, Cornwall Council should seek within available resources to facilitate the delivery of smart, simple integrated ticketing across all local modes of transport in the area. Cornwall Council will continue to work with relevant partners – Peninsula Transport, bus and rail operators, Great British Railways and the Department for Transport – to realise this ambition.

Bus Service Improvement Plans

77. Cornwall Council will continue to work with the bus operators under the ‘Transport for Cornwall’ established branding to deliver its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) including the delivery of ticketing initiatives and capital improvements to support journey time reliability across the network.

Active Travel

78. To ensure consistency in the quality and safety of schemes, Active Travel England (ATE) will provide support to ensure walking and cycling schemes are designed and delivered to high standards, including compliance with Local Transport Note 1/20 (LTN 1/20). Cornwall Council will work with ATE to improve the design quality of all active travel schemes, particularly in a rural setting, funded by government and those that are locally funded. All cycling and walking schemes funded by government must be approved by ATE as complying with LTN 1/20.

Rail

79. The government understands that Cornwall places strategic importance on the Mid-Cornwall Metro Scheme as a key enabler to sustainable growth and economic regeneration, and welcomes the award of a significant amount of money (subject to business case approval) under the Levelling Up Fund.

Tamar crossings

80. The Tamar crossings – the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry – provide strategic infrastructure connecting Cornwall with Plymouth. Cornwall Council and its partner Plymouth City Council will continue to work together for a sustainable future for the crossings. Together with the government, they will consider options for future legislation to enable a more efficient toll revision process.

Net Zero, energy and environment

81. As part of its Net Zero Strategy and Net Zero Growth Plan, the government recognises that devolved and local government can play an essential role in meeting national net zero ambitions. Local leaders in Cornwall and elsewhere are well placed to engage with all parts of their communities and to understand local policy, political, social and economic nuances relevant to climate action. This is why the devolution framework grants places the opportunity to adopt innovative local proposals to deliver action on climate change and the UK’s net zero targets. Cornwall and local partners are already working together to achieve ambitious net zero targets. As well as net zero commitments made by Cornwall Council, public sector partners are working with local businesses and communities to deliver the Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Adaptation Plan.

82. The Local Net Zero Forum, chaired by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Local Government Association (LGA), is cross-government and brings together national and local senior officials. Through representative organisations on the forum – LGA, Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE), Core Cities and the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) – Cornwall Council will get the opportunity to discuss local net zero policy and delivery issues in the round.

Energy systems

83. The government recognises the need to increase Cornwall’s electricity network capacity to meet future electricity demand. The government is committed to ensuring that local areas, such as those with a devolution deal, including Cornwall, have a meaningful role in planning our future energy system for net zero, alongside other local areas as appropriate.

84. The government is considering the role of local energy plans, including their role in supporting strategic network investment, working closely with Ofgem as part of its ongoing governance review into local energy institutions and its proposals on regional energy system planning.

Heat networks

85. The government has confirmed its intention to establish heat network zoning in England. Under the zoning proposals, Zoning Coordinators within local government will be able to designate areas as heat network zones where heat networks are going to be the most cost-effective way to decarbonise heating and hot water within the zone. Local authorities will have powers to require certain buildings to connect to heat networks within the zones. This will enable Cornwall Council to assume the role of heat network zoning coordinator for its locality and play a key role in the delivery of heat decarbonisation infrastructure. The government is committed to having heat network zoning in place by 2025.

86. In addition, the government recognises the near-term opportunity to connect the Langarth development in Cornwall to a long-term, sustainable supply of geothermal heat, which has already been supported by the Green Heat Network Fund.

87. The government will support Cornwall Council alongside other local authorities across England to take forward heat network zoning, including collaboration with the private sector on developing heat networks within zones and to help capitalise on unique local opportunities to utilise all available low carbon heat sources, including geothermal energy.

Buildings

88. The government commits to exploring the potential benefits of and design options for a place-based approach to delivering retrofit measures, as part of the government’s commitment in the Net Zero Strategy to explore how we could simplify and consolidate funds which target net zero initiatives at the local level where this provides the best approach to tackling climate change.

89. This work will involve inviting Cornwall Council to work with the government through the relevant representative organisations to consider if such an approach could accelerate the meeting of net zero goals and provide better value for money.

90. Cornwall Council’s priority is to tackle fuel poverty whilst meeting net zero targets, and particularly to help address the challenge of supplying affordable low carbon warmth to off-gas communities.

Green Jobs

91. Through the Green Jobs Delivery Group, the government is working to ensure that workers, business and local areas, including Cornwall, are supported through net zero transition. Cornwall now has the opportunity to deliver green skills interventions at a local level through having a greater role in delivering AEB and the UKSPF.

Nature recovery

92. Government will support Cornwall Council to build the capacity it needs to leverage private finance into nature recovery, including representative and collaborative local governance, as part of a natural capital approach to environmental and economic growth. This will build on existing local investment readiness projects to help nurture emerging local environmental credit markets, such as for Biodiversity Net Gain units. It will complement local economic development investments to support socio-economic outcomes – including supporting local farm business resilience and catalysing green skills development and employment growth. Support provided by government already includes an award of £1 million as part of the Local Investment in Natural Capital programme, which provides access to specialist expertise; co-ordination of peer support; networking and shared learning; and local partnership working with Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) Arm’s Length Bodies (Environment Agency, Natural England, Forestry Commission).

93. Cornwall Council has been appointed by the Secretary of State for DEFRA, as the responsible authority for the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) area and has confirmed planned funding of £343,692 for financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25. The government welcomes Cornwall Council’s ambition to work closely with local communities and stakeholders in the preparation and delivery of the LNRS for the area, building on existing partnerships and the excellent work achieved so far.

94. The government will ensure that, over time, locally identified environmental priorities are incorporated into new environmental land management schemes where appropriate.

Climate Change adaptation

95. Government welcomes Cornwall’s ambitions to be a leader in adapting to climate risks and in making its area more climate resilient, including education on adapting to climate change, and development and implementation of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Defra looks forward to further understanding the proposals by Cornwall for a climate adaptation programme as they develop. Government would recommend that Cornwall engage with the Local Authority Climate Service pilot, which is currently being established by government and the Met Office. This will enable Cornwall to access climate information for its area, and help it develop a climate report summarising key results for awareness raising.

Net Zero infrastructure

96. The UK Infrastructure Bank (the Bank) will increase infrastructure investment across the UK by partnering with the private sector and local government to help tackle climate change and support regional and local economic growth. The Bank’s advisory service, when launched, could offer advice and support to local actors, including Cornwall Council, to help deliver on their objectives, including driving investment into Net Zero Infrastructure and innovative local projects. It can also act as a convenor, bringing together local actors for collaborative projects, and where appropriate identifying where projects can be aggregated to achieve greater impacts.

Cornwall Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) Commission

97. The government recognises the need for major investment in the UK’s onshore and offshore electricity networks to ramp up the generation of renewable and low-carbon power. As announced in the British Energy Security Strategy, the government is working to cut the length of time required to consent to connections for renewables projects, which will bring clean energy to the shores of Cornwall and elsewhere quicker, subject to planning approvals.

98. In the British Energy Security Strategy, the government announced its ambition to deliver up to 50GW of offshore wind by 2030, including up to 5GW of innovative floating wind. The government recognises Cornwall is well-placed to capitalise on the economic and clean energy opportunity presented by floating offshore wind given its proximity to the Celtic Sea.

99. The government supports Cornwall Council’s ambition to create a Cornwall FLOW Commission, to support the region to contribute to the delivery of the UK’s targets for renewable generation. This locally-led Commission will examine options at a regional level, to streamline and accelerate the development process, minimise FLOW’s cumulative marine ecological impact, and maximise the regional economic development and jobs creation.

100. Cornwall will benefit from the Floating Offshore Wind Demonstration Programme, which will see Cornish innovation help to commercialise new floating offshore wind technologies, generating economic opportunities for local people and businesses.

Culture and tourism

101. Building on the work done as part of Cornwall’s long-listed bid for UK City of Culture 2025 to develop a shared set of ambitions, and its World Heritage Site legacy, a subset of DCMS’s Arm’s Length Bodies will work in partnership with Cornwall Council alongside other local partners such as Ertach Kernow to recognise and prioritise future opportunities.

102. Partnership work will focus on maximising the contribution of culture and heritage to place-making in Cornwall’s villages, towns and cities - strengthening access to a distinctive and appealing cultural and heritage offer for local people, communities, and wider audiences. Realising the region’s creative and cultural potential will complement its broader ambitions, such as attracting and retaining young people and supporting the development of the visitor economy to extend the season throughout the year, as well as offering services for wellbeing, skills development and for more people to take an active role in culture and heritage. Placemaking initiatives in locations like Redruth Town Centre and Penwith Landscape have shown the potential of DCMS’s Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs) to deliver transformative programmes and build pride in place and deliver wellbeing benefits in partnership with local authorities, businesses and the third sector.

103. This will be supported by a refreshed Cultural Investment Board between Cornwall Council and DCMS’s ALBs, which will provide a forum to set out priorities for the region from all parties and identify commonalities amongst these to be taken into consideration by relevant ALBs and Cornwall when making policy, operational and/or funding decisions.

104. Tourism and the visitor economy are crucial industries for Cornwall, with the area amongst the UK’s most prolific visitor destinations every year, including through its cultural and heritage offer. To help support this crucial industry, the British Tourism Authority will work with the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Visitor Economy Partnership to help develop Cornwall’s visitor economy, including working to harness Cornwall’s potential to grow domestic and international visitor spend and to encourage visits throughout the year.

Cornish language

105. In 2002, the UK government formally recognised the Cornish language under the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages. The government welcomes Cornwall Council’s continued efforts to protect and promote the Cornish language over this period, and commits to work with the Council to explore further ways to support the ongoing protection and promotion of Cornish language in private and public life. This includes consideration of specific proposals to review formal arrangements regarding responsibility for Cornish language planning and delivery. The government understands that Cornish language support is a priority for Cornwall.

106. To enable greater awareness and use of the Cornish language, the Media Bill, as introduced into the House of Commons on 8 November 2023, includes Cornish in the list of regional and minority languages referenced in the new public service remit for television, alongside Welsh and the Gaelic language as spoken in Scotland, Irish, Scots and Ulster Scots.

107. The government will provide £500,000 of funding in 2023/24 to support Cornish distinctiveness, including the protection and promotion of the Cornish language, subject to a business case.

108. The government will furthermore agree a memorandum of understanding with Cornwall Council on the attendance of the Council Leader or an appropriate deputy at meetings of the languages work sector of the British-Irish Council, as an adviser to the government on matters pertaining to the Cornish language.

Heritage

109. The government recognises the opportunity presented by the group of sites in Cornwall that form part of the National Heritage Collection, managed under licence by English Heritage Trust. While English Heritage Trust have already carried out significant work in this area, they will continue to work with stakeholders to raise awareness of the Cornish as a national minority and to embed the ambitions of the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The government supports English Heritage Trust’s ongoing work with Cornwall Council to review the presentation, interpretation, and marketing of sites in Cornwall to reflect the particular Cornish landscape.

110. This is in addition to £10 million of devolved capital funding already provided to Cornwall Council by DLUHC, of which £3 million has been allocated by the Council to seven priority heritage schemes to enhance the creative and cultural offer across Cornwall during 2023/24.

Cornish Hedges

111. The government acknowledges Cornish Hedges as iconic and unique landscape features with significant environmental and heritage value, as well as the economic value of Cornish hedgers as a skilled green profession, and is supportive of the use in Cornwall of the locally developed Hedge Importance Test. The government will consider the case for supporting the positive management of Cornish Hedges through the agricultural transition programme or farming reforms.

Digital

112. The government is committed to supporting Cornwall’s digital connectivity ambitions, including through the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, which was published in April 2023 and sets out a strategic framework for the development, deployment and adoption of 5G and future networks. This includes working closely with places to encourage investment in advanced wireless connectivity and increase its adoption across the local economy and public services.

113. As set out in the National Cyber Strategy 2022, the government is committed to strengthening the capability of local authorities such as Cornwall to buy and use connected places technology securely. In May 2021, the National Cyber Security Centre published the Connected Places Cyber Security Principles, a foundational step in supporting the cyber security of the UK’s connected places. Since then, the government has continued to develop its support of local authorities deploying and managing connected places technologies and in 2022 the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) published the Secure Connected Places Playbook. The Playbook was designed in collaboration with local authorities and helps them to get their cyber security foundations right whilst setting a strong cyber security culture. The government hopes to continue to work with local authorities such as Cornwall Council to support the secure and sustainable adoption of connected places technologies. Bolstering the UK’s Cyber Ecosystems remains a high priority for the government.

114. The government recognises that high quality digital connectivity is crucial for future economic growth and productivity in the region. The private sector will continue to lead on the rollout of broadband and mobile infrastructure, with DSIT supporting delivery in less commercially viable areas. The government will engage with Cornwall Council on a regular basis, on delivery plans in the region, particularly where they involve hard to reach rural areas. The government is committed to achieving nationwide coverage of gigabit capable broadband by 2030 and to ensuring that rural areas are not left behind including in Cornwall. Procurements covering Cornwall are scheduled to launch in 2024, and regular Project Gigabit programme updates will be provided demonstrating progress in delivering for communities across the area.

Innovation, trade and investment

115. The government is committed to supporting places to realise their entrepreneurial and innovation potential, underpinned by ambitious measures set out in the Levelling Up White Paper.

116. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) will work closely with devolution deal areas, including Cornwall, to make it easier for businesses to access the information, advice and support they need, drawing on DBT’s global and sector offer.

117. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and UK Research and Innovation will work with Cornwall Council to explore opportunities for closer long-term collaboration in strengthening their local research and innovation capacity. Cornwall’s priority is to explore opportunities to unleash innovation potential across its economy, particularly in key sectors such as Net Zero, Space, Agri-food and its digital and creative industries.

Public service reform

118. The government supports Cornwall in its ambition for public service reform, including a focus on creating safe, healthy, resilient communities. The government commits to working with the Council and partners to explore initiatives to improve delivery of public services, such as how best to support residents with multiple complex needs. Where appropriate, and as part of its levelling up agenda, the government will also consider devolving further powers to Cornwall Council to support public service reform.

Data

119. Good quality data is essential for understanding local need and the place-specific issues affecting people in an area. As set out in the Levelling Up White Paper and the Government Statistical Service’s Subnational Data Strategy, the government is working to improve the dissemination of subnational statistics to empower local decision makers, including in Cornwall, to use data-led evidence to respond to local priorities.

120. Cornwall Council will work with the government to understand the existing barriers to data sharing and better use of data in their area, and explore where improvements to the quality of, or access to, data could support them in achieving Cornwall’s local ambitions. As part of this, the Spatial Data Unit (SDU) will work with Cornwall Council to help support data capability, including in data science, and will engage with the council to further understand its needs and priorities.

Place-based approach to delivery

121. The government recognises Cornwall’s innovative work to reduce health disparities and the challenges it faces to deliver health improvements across a dispersed geography. The government will support the partnership working with the Integrated Care System in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall Council to examine opportunities for place-based priorities.

Healthy places collaboration to improve health and wellbeing

122. Cornwall Council and the government will collaborate to accelerate the vision for Cornwall to be a leading global healthy place. Cornwall has many of the ingredients in place to start well, live well and age well with all the benefits of the natural environment, active lifestyles and community strengths. The additional investment through this deal in employment and skills will contribute a health gain for those living in Cornwall and targeted at those with poorest health.

123. The government recognises Cornwall’s innovation record and that this could provide a foundation for testing new public health approaches. The government will work with Cornwall Council to leverage further opportunities to reduce rural and coastal health disparities and deliver on Levelling up missions. This approach will jointly tackle the complex health issues of our times, including childhood obesity and healthy ageing, by working with Cornwall Council to support local action on expanding access to green space, increasing physical activity, and shaping a healthier and more sustainable food environment for all to enjoy.

Resilience and public safety

Crime and public safety

124. Cornwall Council, in partnership with the government, will work with the Devon and Cornwall Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) to agree an appropriate arrangement to ensure close collaboration and productive joint working on public safety between Cornwall Council and the PCC.

Local resilience

125. Cornwall Council will continue to have a clear role in local resilience, in line with its duties as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act. Following government’s full consideration of the role and responsibilities of Local Resilience Forums, there may be additional opportunities for Cornwall Council, alongside other local resilience partners, to participate in future testing and piloting of potential new roles and responsibilities for local emergency planning and preparedness, prior to any fuller national roll out.

Cornwall Council’s Commitments Underpinning the Deal

126. Cornwall Council will work with the government to develop a full implementation plan, covering each policy agreed in this deal, to be completed ahead of implementation. This plan must be approved by the government prior to delivery. Any issues of concern with the subsequent delivery of this deal will be escalated to ministers and leaders to resolve, in keeping with the letter and spirit of devolution.

127. As part of the implementation of the deal, Cornwall Council and the government will agree a process to manage local financial risk relating to the deal provisions.

128. Prior to the implementation of the deal, the government will work with Cornwall Council to give the public and stakeholders – including Parliament – a clear understanding of: the powers and funding that are being devolved to Cornwall; where accountability sits as a result of this deal; and how decisions are made.

129. Cornwall Council and its members will continue to adhere to their public sector equality duties, for both existing and newly devolved responsibilities.