LAUNCESTON is ‘dying on its feet’ and needs more investment from Cornwall Council, the local authority’s leader Cllr John Pollard heard last week.

But Cllr Pollard said towns have to ‘reinvent themselves’, adding his council is ‘eager to help’ Launceston.

The comments came at a public meeting at Launceston Town Hall on July 20. The ‘who decides?’ meeting was the last one in a series across the county, and was a chance for people to think about and discuss what kind of governance system they would like to see in the future.

Cllr Pollard explained last year, once the council had signed the devolution deal — the first for a non-metropolitan area — the council agreed to have a governance review, looking at how the council currently operates and makes decisions about the services it provides.

Cllr Pollard said Cornwall Council wants ‘to pass decision making to parishes and towns’, adding: “More and more decisions about Launceston should be made in Launceston.”

Residents and town and parish councillors took the opportunity to put forward their concerns to the local authority leader.

Stourscombe resident Les Whaley said: “Regarding moving powers out of Cornwall I would like to see the town council have greater power and decision making, but also revenue to go with it.”

Town Cllr Dave Gordon said Launceston felt ‘cut off’ by Cornwall Council: “I don’t think anyone criticises our Cornwall Councillors, I think they are feeling frustrated as well. We are feeling neglected because of the moor.

“Devolution is a wonderful thing but it seems to us it is a one-sided thing. We fail to see where the other partner is. We are trying our best to take on services.”

Cllr Pollard said: “I don’t agree you are being neglected. I agree it’s a feeling. I’ve been told the same thing in Penzance, Torpoint and Saltash.

“I know your Cornwall Councillors work very hard to ensure you are not neglected.

“We are one clear geographical region with clear geographical borders. Our problem is we are still have difficulty delivering services of the same quality the length and breadth of Cornwall.

“We have an ageing population, we have a growing population. That creates huge pressure on Cornwall Council, trying to deliver the services people want.

“What we need to do is get a governance system so you are involved. We need a system where you don’t feel that frustration somehow.

“We are trying very hard to build these partnerships.”

Deputy leader of Cornwall Council, and the Liberal Democrat member for Launceston North and North Petherwin, Adam Paynter, gave examples of Cornwall Council’s investment into Launceston, including multi-million pound funding to revamp the college’s boarding house, a new fire station, and improving the recycling centre so it is a multi-million pound facility.

He added: “Yes we don’t get everything right. There is a lot of money that has come in. Launceston is certainly not on John’s blacklist!”

Resident Peter Penhorwood said: “If devolution is going to work properly you need to get more people like ourselves to come to these meetings.

“We are feeling left out. Launceston really is dying on its feet and unless some money gets spent here in someway it’s going to die.”

Cllr Pollard said: “Towns have to reinvent themselves. That’s what we are here to help. But you have to do it yourself. You have to find a different pattern.”

Giving Penzance and Falmouth of examples of towns that have ‘reinvented’ themselves, he added: “We are eager to help Launceston as well.”

Andrew Pringle, from Newquay, said: “What we need to do is a reduction in business rates so we can spur people in Launceston to open up a coffee shop. That’s how we are going to rebuild our towns.”

To Cllr Pollard he added: “We need your help to revitalise your small towns. I relocated here 14 months ago, it amazes me the lack of support to regenerate the areas. The council really needs to buck up its ideas and listen.”

Cornwall Council’s governance review is being led by the council’s constitution and governance committee that will make recommendations to the council.

An independent external panel, known as ‘GREG’ will also gather evidence for the committee to consider.

The review is looking at three possible models: a leader and cabinet system, an elected mayor and cabinet system, and a committee system. The council could also develop a model that sits outside the cabinet, mayor or committee system — this would require government approval.

Any changes to the current system will be introduced, to coincide with the local elections, in May 2021.

Cllr Pollard said the meetings were to encourage debate and discussion, and that the councillors were not there to ‘promote a particular system at all’.

The meeting was asked to vote what model they felt was right for Cornwall. Nobody voted for the elected mayor and cabinet model, eight people voted for the leader and cabinet model, two people voted for the committee system, seven people voted for none of the above, or a potential fourth model, and nine people voted that they did not know yet.

The public are now invited by Cornwall Council to give their thoughts on how decisions about public services in Cornwall should be made in the future in an online poll, launched following the public meetings. The poll is available via

The poll will be available until August 3.

People can also email their views to or write to Who Decides, Room 4S, County Hall, Treyew Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3AY.