CORNWALL has become the first rural county to gain new powers over its own affairs with the agreement of a package of devolved powers.

Prime Minister David Cameron was due to visit Cornwall yesterday to announce the deal to 'put power in the hands of Cornish people'.

The £5bn agreement, based on a 'Case for Cornwall' set out by Cornwall Council leader John Pollard, gives the local authority control of bus services, the power to decide how EU funding will be spent, and the ability to plan towards an integrated health and social care service for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The deal will also give more say to Cornish agencies on how to provide employment and skills opportunities and business support.

Cornwall Council leader John Pollard has described the deal as 'the first step in the journey towards the full Case for Cornwall'.

'We were early in recognising the national agenda for devolving powers,' he said. 'By creating a Case for Cornwall which was strong and realistic, we have had a positive response from the Government. This gives Cornwall greater powers over public sector funding.'

However, some in the county have said that the deal does not go far enough. Cornwall Council Lib Dem cabinet member Edwina Hannaford from Looe called the agreement an 'encouraging, if modest start'.

'I can see nothing to redress the unfair bias that central Government shows towards rural areas like Cornwall,' she said. 'We receive £49m less funding compared to urban areas.'