Devon and Cornwall make perfect enterprise partners for self-rule
Less than 50 days since the General Election and the coalition government is slaughtering Labour's sacred cows left, right and centre. Today one of the biggest comes a step closure to the abattoir with the revelation that Business Secretary Vince Cable thinks, with some justification, that the South West Regional Development Agency is too "Bristol-centric." Right on cue, detailed plans for a Local Enterprise Partnership – the Government's preferred successor to the RDA – based on the counties of Devon and Cornwall have been submitted to Mr Cable. The RDAs – under threat from the day Labour left office – are now surely living on borrowed time.
Many people inside and outside the business community will say good riddance. The South West RDA is expensive to run. It often struggles to provide a coherent strategy for a region as large and diverse as the South West. And while it can point to some successes there will always be questions about whether it gives us value for money here in Devon and Cornwall.
But if it does get the bullet, as now seems likely, what gets put in its place? You can be sure that the campaign in Cornwall to go it alone with a Local Enterprise Partnership based solely on the Duchy will shift up a gear now the writing is on the wall for the RDA. We have serious doubts, however, that it would be the right way to go.
If the South West RDA is far too big – stretching as it does from the outer reaches of Gloucestershire and M4 corridor east of Swindon to the Scillies – the county of Cornwall is too small on its own to wield real influence in Westminster and Brussels. Cornwall is unique and will always retain its cultural identity. But when it comes to banging heads together, fighting for funding and encouraging new enterprises to set up shop, Devon and Cornwall together stand a far greater chance of winning the argument.
The local authorities responsible for Cornwall, Devon, Torbay and Plymouth have a critical mass that means they would be taken seriously if they pooled resources under a Local Enterprise Partnership. Cornwall alone risks being isolated and ignored.
Vince Cable's assessment that the South West RDA failed to do enough for the far South West is spot on but moving from a South West RDA to a Cornwall-only body fighting for funds is too big a jump and could be just as damaging for those parts of the Westcountry already suffering through neglect.
We cannot get away from the fact that cutting public spending overall is the driving force behind the likely demise of the RDA. Devon and Cornwall must fight for every pound under the current regime and the budget will be even tighter as public spending cuts begin to bite. That makes it vital that what money is available to pump-prime inward investment is spent wisely and in those parts of the region that need it most. That means creating the right structure to target funds into the areas where they are really needed. A two-county Local Enterprise Partnership, taking in Torbay and Plymouth, fits the bill.
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by Gary, Saltash
Wednesday, June 23 2010, 8:49AM
“Would athletes get the option of competing for England or for Cornwall? If not there'd be a lot of cheesed off people I can tell you.
Big Ger, Truro
It¿s a means to an end, almost worth giving to get rid of these clowns once and for all
I suggest the 12 sad old men from C24 have to volunteer to compete in any events they can not find an athlete to represent Kernow.”
by TonyL Penryn, Penryn
Tuesday, June 22 2010, 7:04PM
“Could I suggest that you all (mostly) pop into BQ and buy a tin of paint (just cheap own brand)
Pop home and paint one wall of your garage on the inside.
Now - sit and watch the paint dry!! That is more fun than reading the drivel on this matter. The £1000 etc would be better spent at a hospice!!”
by Big Ger, Truro
Tuesday, June 22 2010, 11:24AM
“A Cornwall Commonwealth Games campaign? Don't make me laugh! Next up a Cornish Soccer World Cup Campaign and a Cornish Winter Olympics campaign!
Even though I'm a big rugby fan, just got my season ticket for the Pirates, and went to Twickenham for the 99 county finals, even I wouldn't support a Cornish campaign to have a team in the six nations, we'd be massacred!
To have a team in the Commonwealth games, who dreamed this lark up?
Would athletes get the option of competing for England or for Cornwall? If not there'd be a lot of cheesed off people I can tell you.”
by Tom, Kernow
Tuesday, June 22 2010, 12:43AM
“Campaign Kernow ¿ Cornwall and the Commonwealth Games - Recognition.
As cash donations are not viable in the present economic climate, it has been decided to seek our target by way of pledges. It should also be noted that not all monies will be needed at once but in stage payments. £50,000 is sought to legally prove that Cornwall has a legitimate right to recognition, and representation, as a Commonwealth Nation.
We seek a judicial review on the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) decision of refusal, and have great confidence in our legal position headed by Solicitor and Notary Public Mr.John Kirkhope. At present, he is a taking a Ph.D. at Plymouth University into the Laws of the Duchy of Cornwall. Mr Kirkhope is regarded as the foremost expert on the Laws and Constitution of Cornwall and his research has very much strengthened our claim.
Should our target not be reached by the 14th of October 2010, Cash donations to date, under £5, will go to the Clic House Children¿s Cancer Unit at Treliske Hospital, whilst all others will be returned and the campaign closed.
Pledges can be made via Email to: pledge@campaignkernow.com
Or sent, with your telephone number to:
Campaign Kernow Trust.
PO Box 70.
Camborne,
Cornwall.
TR14 9WZ.
Please do not send money until requested.
One way this could be achieved is for fifty Cornishmen or women dedicated to the cause to come forward and each raise £1,000
http://www.campaignkernow.com/”
by IMS, PZ
Monday, June 21 2010, 9:21PM
“Holman is an English and Dutch topographical surname, meaning "dweller in a hollow (hole)". The name was first recorded in England in Worcestershire before the Norman conquest of England”
by ALAN SANDERS, CAMBORNE
Monday, June 21 2010, 1:29PM
“C.GEE OF NEWQUAY; or is MK anti scots as well? NO and you know it.! By the way does anyone know know anything about BRETT HOIMAN who kicked a goal for australia in the WORLD CUP. as holman is a well know camborne family and it would be correct to send a letter of CONGRATULATION AND HONOUR from KONSEL AN DRE KAMMBRONN nice to see a cornishman doing well hope the anti cornish don't get up set???”
by c.gee, St Austell
Monday, June 21 2010, 11:30AM
“P. Lemon, Penryn
states...'' there's 27 different groups of interested parties to highlight problems and fraud''..
The Mafia are jealous of the ''corruption and fraud'' excercised in the E.U.”
by c.gee, newquay
Monday, June 21 2010, 11:26AM
“Onan Hag All, Kernow ...states...''The English attempt to rule the UK has faltered and dissembled'' The last 2 P.M.s were hardly English, or is M.K. anti Scots as well ??”
by Onan Hag All, Kernow
Monday, June 21 2010, 9:38AM
“Mr P Lemon of Penzance is right, The English attempt to rule the UK has faltered and dissembled. It is falling apart, another good reason hy Kernow needs to be recognised as a sovereign nation under the EU flag and St Piran's flag, not teh blood banner of England, nor the liars "Union" flag.
Then when we have true Cornish people of true Cornish blood running this country for our children's sake, will we be financially and morally sound again,. We will watch the English progrom destroy itself, secure in our own country of Kernow.
How long before we would need to erect a customs fence along the Tamar?
At present the English take out, illegally, £1.95 billion in taxes, and puts gives into the country less than £1.65 billion of it's take! This robs Cornwall of £300 million a year! Think how many affordable homes for thos eof Cornish blood that money could build!!!!
The banks and insurance companies also leach what is left of Cornwall¿s hard earned cash and only ever put back 70p for ever £1 they take in deposits.. This should be a national scandal, but due to teh quisling stance of our "fifth estate" is never mentioned.
Rise up brave men of Kernow, we have been unsuccessful at the ballot box due to unfair, biased and wholly Anglo-centrist election rigging. We should protest every day until teh world hears us!
Rise up!!!”
by P. Lemon, Penryn
Monday, June 21 2010, 8:40AM
“To Alan & Freethinker
The UK experiment is already in total disarray. How long before we see the total collapse of the UK atogether!
The EU has flaws, and there's good and bad there. But they're trying to address 'em; at least, there's 27 different groups of interested parties to highlight problems and fraud... Unlike the Westminster civil servants and lords, and their vested interests, bulldozing through with its corruption and ineptitude, regardless, with no real checks and balances (how did we only find out about the mostly fraudulent expenses system in 2010 ? And you say the EU's corrupt?! It's right here on our door step!)
Btw, members of the EU in the worst state following the credit crunch, are PIGS and... UK !!
Go figure.
www duchyofcornwall eu
KBV”