An outside consultancy firm could be appointed to help Cornwall Council transform its adult social care services, writes Richard Whitehouse, local democracy reporter.

Newton Europe is being lined up to carry out work which is aimed at ensuring that services can be delivered in the face of cuts in funding.

One of the key goals of the council is to keep older people living in their own homes for longer which is cheaper for the council and, it says, better for their health and wellbeing.

Helen Charlesworth-May, strategic director for adult social care and health at Cornwall Council, told the council’s health and adult social care overview and scrutiny committee that bringing in the consultants was the next stage for the transformation of the service.

An update on the adult social care transformation is set to go before the council’s Cabinet this week. There, councillors will have to make the final decision on whether to appoint consultants to carry out the work.