Siol nan Gaidheal forum

You signed a petition asking the Prime Minister to "(1) reject Cornwall County Council's bid for unitary status; (2) affirm his support for the principle that political power should be exercised by democratically elected representatives at the most local competent level of government; and (3) introduce legislation to replace Cornwall County Council with a Cornish Assembly, which shall exercise (i) such residual powers as may not be devolved beneficially to lower tiers of government, and (ii) additional strategic powers devolved from central government, including those currently exercised by the South West Regional Assembly and other unelected quangos."

The Prime Minister's Office has responded to that petition and you can view it here:

http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page14150.asp

Prime Minister's Office

The Government issued an Invitation to Councils in October 2006 to come forward with proposals for a single-tier of local government in their areas. Following a process of careful assessment, which included a twelve week consultation on shortlisted proposals, the Government announced on 5 December 2007 that Cornwall County Council's proposal for a single unitary council for Cornwall will be implemented.

It was judged to have met all of the five criteria as specified in the original Invitation to Councils. The order creating the unitary authority will be debated in Parliament in the New Year. It is intended that the new unitary council will be up and running on 1 April 2009.

The Government's view on the idea of a separate assembly for Cornwall is well known and remains unchanged. It is not easy to see advantage in an 'assembly' that would duplicate an existing unit of local government over a coterminous area.

The Government's approach on devolving powers from central Government to the sub-region was set out in the Local Government White Paper published on 26 October 2006 and in the Review of sub-national economic development and regeneration published on 17 July 2007. The Review builds on the White Paper by proposing increased powers and stronger incentives for all local authorities, including those in Cornwall, to improve the prosperity of their communities.

On 17 July 2007, the Government also announced that 'Regional Assemblies in their current form and function will not continue'. Regional Assembly planning and housing responsibilities will transfer to the existing Regional Development Agencies (RDAs).