Cornwall offered devolution deal giving greater control over budgets including transport

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has formally offered what it describes as an historic devolution deal for Cornwall that would see the region awarded £360m and greater control over its budget.

The deal would give Cornwall Council a locally elected Mayor and greater control over transport budgets, building, skills delivery, and greater influence with government to tackle challenges of second homes

This includes £500,000 in funding for transport planning and extended provision over local transport budgets.

Levelling up minister Dehenna Davison said the deal offered transfers "new money and power into the hands of local leaders".

Some £360m will be guaranteed to the council for the next 30 years to support long-term regeneration and levelling up across the area.

Approval of the deal would see Cornwall Council adopting a directly elected mayor and cabinet executive governance model. The elected mayor would be directly accountable to Cornwall’s electorate and provide overall leadership of the Council.

Mark Duddridge, chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, said, “These deals are just the first steps in transferring power away from Whitehall into areas that want them.”

A decision on whether to hold a referendum on the issue has been deferred until the end of public consultation.