IT looks like the mystery of where Cornwall Council’s chief executive has gone will leave residents on tenterhooks for a little while longer.

Kate Kennally – the local authority’s most senior officer, who earns more than the Prime Minister – went on a sudden “leave of absence” earlier this month, with the council explaining that interim leadership would have to be put in place. A new interim deputy chief executive, Andy Keeling, started in the post yesterday (Monday, September 14).

Two questions relating to Ms Kennally have been raised by members of the public at the first full meeting of Cornwall Council since her disappearance from Lys Kernow (County Hall) in Truro.

The first related to the controversial subject of the previous Conservative administration’s member for the economy, Louis Gardner. Mr Gardner resigned as a councillor when he was employed by the council-run Spaceport Cornwall as its head of future air and space.

We revealed last year that he did not declare an interest when approving a £200,000 grant from the council to Spaceport Cornwall even though he had accepted the top space tech job. The grant was rescinded and Mr Gardner stood down from his new role.

However, we reported in July that Mr Gardner had signed a “confidential settlement agreement” with council-owned Corserv/Cornwall Airport Ltd on leaving his post. There have been calls for a council investigation into the matter as a result.

During public questions at today’s full council meeting, former Cornwall councillor Steve Arthur, of Perranporth, asked: “On May 1, 2025 the chief executive learned that Louis Gardener had negotiated an exit settlement to leave his role as head of future air and space at Corserv. On what date did the leader of the council first learn of this negotiated settlement?”

Council leader Cllr Leigh Frost replied: “I didn’t receive a formal update on the matter, so I don’t have an exact date. I would have learned of that settlement at the same time as all the other members, which I believe was in the press.” There was a low rumbling of “ooh” from some members following his response.

Mr Rickard, of St Dennis, then asked: “Can someone please tell me the reason for Kate Kennally’s absence?”

“Obviously I understand the public interest in this matter,” said Cllr Frost, who was sat alongside new deputy CEO Mr Keeling. “However, I cannot provide any further details. Personnel matters are treated with the same degree of confidentiality for all members of staff regardless of their seniority.”

It seems the mystery of what’s happened to the CEO will run for a while yet.