At yesterday’s meeting of the Customers and Support Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, there was an update on progress with a “devolution deal.”

The report to the Committee noted that Cornwall Council’s ruling Cabinet had taken the decision not to proceed with a Level 3 “deal” because of opposition to a directly-elected mayor. It also confirmed that the Conservative administration was looking to accept a weaker Level 2 “deal” (without a mayor or an investment fund), though the content of any new “deal” had yet to be published.

At the meeting, MK leader Cllr Dick Cole moved an amendment that challenged the ruling administration to bring all groups on the Council together to push for a more meaningful devolution settlement.

The motion was as follows: “CASSOSC notes that the content of any Level 2 Deal is likely to be quite insubstantial, especially in the context of Cornwall’s distinct national identity, and requests that the Cabinet create a cross-party panel to develop a more ambitious devolution ask of the UK Government as a matter of urgency.”

The Conservative majority on the Committee were unwilling to support this proposal and instead voted through an amendment to defer discussions until the content of the new “deal” had been published.