On Wednesday 29th July, Cornwall Council’s ruling Cabinet voted to “accept the UK Government’s intention to designate Cornwall Council as a single Foundation Strategic Authority (FSA).”

Commenting on behalf of Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall, Cllr Dick Cole, said:

“The designation of Cornwall’s single principal authority as a FSA does represent a change to local government arrangements, but it is a long, long way from the Celtic-style devolution that Cornwall merits.

“This designation will hopefully safeguard Cornwall as the geography unit for future governance and protect us from being forced into an amorphous south west entity. But we need much better than this.

“I was present at the Cabinet meeting and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the preceding day, when FSA status was discussed. I expressed MK’s view that Cornwall needs a much better democratic settlement and I challenged everyone at the unitary authority to campaign for proper devolution as exists in Scotland and Wales.”