The Leader of Cornwall Council says the authority is "facing the most challenging budget setting in the history of the council" and warned there will be tough decisions ahead.

Linda Taylor made the comments at a meeting of full council yesterday morning at County Hall where she said she had written to new local government secretary Michael Gove to ask that Cornwall is "at the very front of the queue" for a new County Deal.

The Conservative council leader said:

"We are facing the most challenging budget setting in the history of Cornwall Council. The effects of the pandemic combined with increasing pressure on adult social care services means that we will have to make some tough decisions in the months ahead, even as we implement our plans to create a stronger Cornwall.

"I believe one of our key strengths here in Cornwall moving forward will be our ability to work with our MPs and like them I welcome the creation of a new department for levelling up in the Prime Minister's recent reshuffle.

"I have already written to the new Secretary of State Michael Gove urging him to ensure that Cornwall is at the very front of the queue when it comes to the new County Deals which will be so vital when it comes to raising wages and productivity here.

"My letter concludes, 'I appreciate that you are looking to work with areas that have strong, accountable, visible local leadership and that can bring clear, innovative and ready to deliver proposals to the table. I want to assure you that, as leader of Cornwall Council and chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Leadership Board, I am confident of fulfilling the brief. All the partners round the leadership board are determined to build back better, greener and fairer. A county deal for Cornwall will enable us to level up local wages and productivity and make a greater contribution to our national ambitions by accelerating the transition to a net zero economy ensuring the nation's energy security and attracting inward investment to global Britain'."

Cllr Taylor then went on to outline what her administration has identified as the priorities for the council over the next four years.

She said:

"For the first time in Cornwall's history we have a Conservative council, working with six Conservative MPs and a Conservative government and I am determined that we use this clarity of thinking to create a better Cornwall for all of our residents.

"Since forming this new administration we have thought long and hard about what we would like to see as our measure of success in the next four years, put simply our priorities are the same as our residents, making Cornwall a brilliant place to be a child and grow up in a thriving sustainable Cornwall that offers a secure home, decent income and a great environment for all within a vibrant, safe and supportive community where people help each other and live well, all supported by our council's enterprising organisation that gets it right first time for our customers.

"These will underpin every decision we make over the next four years and I know you will all work with us to ensure we deliver for the people we serve."

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