The UK Government today published its proposed “Level 2 devolution deal” for Cornwall and the following statement has been issued by the unitary authority:
“A proposed new devolution deal for Cornwall focused on skills, green energy, and Cornish culture has been announced by the Chancellor during his Autumn Statement this afternoon.
“The level two deal has been negotiated following the decision not to pursue a level three deal, which would have required the introduction of a directly elected mayor for Cornwall.
“The new deal has been negotiated with the Council’s priority outcomes at its heart, with a focus on making Cornwall a brilliant place to be a child and grow up, and creating a thriving and sustainable Cornwall.
“The proposed deal includes:
“Skills: Government will fully devolve the adult education budget from 2025, giving the Council control over how best to support adult learners, so we can make sure people have the right skills for the new industries developing in Cornwall, including those in the net zero economy.
“Green energy: The creation of a Cornwall Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) Commission to bring clean energy to the shores of Cornwall and elsewhere quicker, enabling Cornwall to contribute to the delivery of the UK’s targets for renewable generation.
“Cornish culture: The deal means Cornwall Council will be able to attend meetings of the British-Irish Council alongside the UK Government as an advisor on matters relating to the Cornish language. It also includes a further £500,000 to support Cornish distinctiveness and the Cornish language.”
Commenting on behalf of Mebyon Kernow, Party Leader Cllr Dick Cole said: “As we predicted previously, this ‘level 2’ agreement is not a devolution deal at all, but limited accommodations between the UK Government and local government in Cornwall. While we welcome some limited acknowledgement of Cornwall’s distinctiveness and identity, this is not the devolution that is a reality in Wales and Scotland.”
MK will be making further comments over the next few days.
We can also report that the “deal” will be reviewed by the Customers and Support Services and Overview and Scrutiny Committee at Cornwall Council on Monday 27th November, in advance of the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 28th November. In addition to the recommendation to accept the “deal,” it is also recommended that a “reference group, made up of the five leaders of the political groups” is set-up to oversee the development of a “Cornwall White Paper,” which will build an “ask” for further devolution.
The deal can be viewed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cornwall-devolution-deal-kevambos-digresennans-kernow-2023