Change in allowances
District councillors have agreed that present attendance allowances, paid to Caradon members, will be scrapped.
In their place a basic annual allowance of £1,700 will be available to each member. Special responsibility allowances, required by the government, will not be introduced for senior members until later in the year after an independent review of allowances has been concluded.
VAT could mean bridge toll rise
There are fears that, if the UK is ordered by Europe to pay VAT on bridge tolls, the toll on the Tamar Bridge could rise from £1 per car to £1.20.
As ferries are classified differently from the bridge, however, the charge on the Torpoint ferries could remain at £1. A report studied this week by the Bridge and Ferries joint committee said it would not be able to fund the VAT bill itself, if imposed, as it would stand at £720,000 per annum. Europe has taken legal action against the UK for not levying such charges on road and bridge tolls.
St Mawgan Air Day grounded for good
RAF St Mawgan have made the shock announcement that not only have they cancelled this year's International Air Show Day, but that it has been permanently removed from the event calendar. The RAF are blaming the high costs of new health and safety guidelines.
The news has been heard with great consternation by Cornwall's tourist industry who say the Air Day brings thousands of extra visitors into the county.
The RAF first opened the base for the Air Day in 1933 and the 1998 event raised £70,000.
Last year it was cancelled because of the Eclipse and the commitments in Kosovo.
Bridge closures
Tamar Bridge closure dates for the rest of February and beginning of March will be as follows: 10pm Saturday February 26 until 6am Sunday February 27 and 10pm Saturday March 4 until 6am Sunday March 5.
Nine of the 16 closures have now been completed.