Cabinet ignores vote by council

COUNCIL bosses have been accused of arrogance after they ignored a vote by councillors.

The ruling group on Cornwall Council said yesterday that it would push ahead with plans to set up a joint venture partnership with a private company to run services including libraries, benefits payments, IT and payroll.

The contract has been valued at somewhere between £210million and £800million.

Although Cornwall's Cabinet backed the proposal in July, the full council voted on Tuesday in favour of a motion that said the decision was not in the best interests of the people of Cornwall.

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Yesterday the council said that the Cabinet remained committed to the programme and would continue to work with health partners to issue an invitation to tender.

Cabinet member Cllr Steve Double said: "All the concerns raised by members during the debate have already been considered by the Cabinet.

"This proposal, which brings together the best of the private and public sector in an innovative partnership, is vital to the future delivery of Cornwall Council services."

Cllr Jeremy Rowe, leader of the Lib Dem group on the council, said: "I am appalled at this latest display of arrogance from the Conservatives at County Hall.

"More than half of the democratically elected councillors present voted to stop this privatisation process, yet a select few in the top floor bunker in Truro have decided to ignore that clear view and plough on regardless.

"They have no mandate for this but still have the arrogance to assume they know better than just about everybody else. It is a black day for democracy in Tory-led Cornwall."