Secrets of the Star Chambers

The last thing I want to do is to spread fear or alarm where none is required. So let me be clear - these "alternative" cuts to Cornwall Council services are "for consideration" only and are "currently not recommended by Cabinet."


So there is no threat to Falmouth's 24-hour fire cover. And any suggestion that Cornwall might be reduced to only three libraries is total nonsense. And would councillors seriously consider getting rid of "at least one major leisure centre?" And even not turning up for the Royal Cornwall Show? Er, maybe...

This working document details the sort of discussions that went on behind closed doors during the Star Chambers - discussions which could well have had the citizens of Cornwall lobbying their elected politicians if they had been allowed to know what was going on. The trade unions would probably have been interested, too.

I wonder if any of these ideas will make it into the published Cabinet papers due for release on Monday? The cuts add up to a further £35.2million. Here are the highlights:

Removal of members' community chest (£260,000) - "Members currrently have a budget of £2,150 to spend on their community. This option would remove this funding completely to focus on protecting key service budgets."

Waste - managed weekly collections (£1 million) - "Alternate service between recyclables and household waste. This will be controversial locally because of opposition and the Secretary of State's comments. However, this approach is the norm nationally now in top performing and it improves recycling levels as well."

Removal of members' highways budget (£35,000) - "Capital programme currently £1m pa. This proposal would reduce this to £0.5m pa and a budget of around £4,000 per member."

County Road maintenance (£1 million) - "Would result in less road maintenance....may result in a reduced winter maintenance provision, further claims against delayed carriageway and footway repairs and concerns about highway safety."

Fire Service 1 (£100,000) - "Removal of 24-hour cover at Falmouth."

Fire Service 2 (£2 million) - "10% reduction in budget. This will reduce the number of firefighter posts by 32 across the two stations at Camborne and Falmouth through a move to flexible crewing arrangement. The Newquay 24-hour trial will be lost (£0.96m) On top of this there will be a loss of one principal officer which would lead to an unsustainable management structure and put at risk the amalgamation with public health and protection (£0.13m.) Then there will be the loss of 10 senior oficers which will mean the loss of 35% of operational cover (incident command - £0.825m.) All of these changes could potentially trigger national industrial action."

Fire Service 3 (£2 million) - "Further 10% reduction - loss of 4 watch managers from training department which will have a detrimental impact on our ability to train firefighters and maintaining crew competence (£0.2m.) Remove prevention service which will greatly affect the ability to target vulnerable groups and meet the requirements of the Fire Services Act 2004 (£0.48m) Closure of Lostwithiel and St Dennis fire stations which will leave areas to be covered from neighbouring stations (£0.3m.) Switch existing 5 day crewed stations to variable crewing model - will see loss of 20 frefighter posts across Newquay, Truro, Bodmn, St Austell and Penance. Review of fire cover for Hayle, Camborne and Redruth (£0.55m.) All potential triggers for national industrial action. It is the opinion of the Chief Fire Officer that the service will be unsustainable at this level of savings and consideration would need to be given to merging with Devon and Somerset FRS."

Non attendance at Royal Cornwall Show (£46,000) - "Cancel attendance and sub let facility."

Public Health & Protection (£750,000) - "Whilst fully privatising the service may be legally unachievable, outsourcing specific aspects is achievable and is an option currently used by the service, including lower risk food hygiene inspections; pest control; air quality monitoring; food and water sampling and analysis; dog warden service (part.) Only substantive way of achieving a 10% budget reduction is by reducing front line staff by 25 FTEs - equates to 20% reduction of front line staff which would lead to a failure to protect areas of public health and a failure to discharge statutory functions. With this level of front line staff reduction it is highly likely that numbers of Ombudsman complants and judicial reviews will increase."

Leisure (£500,000) - "Further reduction in subsidy to £2m. Reduction of two community leisure officer posts. Plus removal from at least one major leisure centre (Dragon, Polkyth, Lux Park or Ships & Castle) and/or 2 medium facilities (Helston, Newquay, Phoenix, St Ives, Saltash, Truro, Splash,Wadebridge or Waterworld.)"

Beach and water safety (£200,000) - "20% reduction in budget may impact on tourism and reputation."

Libraries and One Stop Shops (£1.55m) - "Radical approach to library and OSS provision. This option is in addition to previous options. Leaving only three libraries/OSS centres in east, mid and west and closing all other venues. Increased potential for legal challenge. 100 posts redundant. Impact on People's Network and digitcal exclusion, loss of face to face role for Cornwall Council and possible claw back of funds."

Public conveniences (£1 million) - "Cease service completely/transfer to local councils and close all toilets apart frm summer season..."

The list goes on and on - but my brain grows weary, my eyes dim, and because the council is so enthusiastic about openness and transparency, it will probably wish to make some sort of announcement itself.