Cornwall is to get a directly elected mayor under levelling-up plans announced by the government on Thursday (November 17). Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said in his Autumn Statement a devolution deal would be agreed "shortly" with the county, although no date has yet been confirmed.
A deal with Cornwall Council will mean the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government in the region. A mayoral system would be similar to those voted for in other cities such as Bristol and Manchester.
Cornwall is among a number of regions on the verge of agreeing mayoral devolution deals with the government, according to Mr Hunt, including Suffolk and Norfolk and "an area of the North East".
Once agreed, these deals will increase the proportion of people living under a directly elected mayor with devolved powers in England to over 50%, the government said.
"The government remains committed to giving more local areas greater power to drive local growth and tackle local challenges. This includes delivering the commitment to agreedevolution deals with all areas in England that want one by 2030."
Mr Hunt also promised to proceed with round two of the levelling up fund to at least match the £1.7bn value of round one.
Jonathan Riley, practice leader at Grant Thornton UK in Bristol and the South West said: “Anyone expecting a bonfire of levelling up policies was probably pleasantly surprised. The emphasis on energy, infrastructure and research and development as drivers of growth will be welcomed across the South West, as will devolved powers for Cornwall."
Under its plans, the government has also pledged to sign new so-called "trailblazer" devolution deals with Greater Manchester and the West Midlands Combined Authorities by early 2023. It said the deals would act as a "blueprint" for other areas - such as Cornwall - to follow. The idea would be to devolve powers in these regions to boost skills, transport and housing, including through consolidating funding.
However, there was no other mention of the South West in the chancellor's address on Thursday. The British Chambers of Commerce South West (BCCSW) had called for Mr Hunt to recognise the region as the UK's green-blue "powerhouse".
Stuart Elford, BCCSW chair, told BusinessLive ahead of the Autumn Statement: "It’s time for the government to recognise the Great South West as the blue-green powerhouse of the country and the South West as the ‘blue peninsula’. That means we need more investment in infrastructure, both physical transport and digital."
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