An independent review board set up to consider how Cornwall should be run in the future has come up with a swathe of hard-hitting recommendations – and insisted there is ’no compelling argument’ for a directly-elected mayor.

The Governance Review External Group (GREG) was established by Cornwall Council to provide advice and evidence on proposals for how the Council should be governed in the future, how and where decisions should be made and the wider question of how partners should work together to lead Cornwall.

Amongst the report’s many findings and recommendations are:

The creation of a new Leadership Board for Cornwall, to be chaired by the council leader, bringing together senior representatives of public services, businesses and the voluntary and community sectors to come up with a ’joined up and long-term strategy for Cornwall’.

There is no compelling argument to introduce a directly elected mayor for Cornwall.

A challenge to strengthen the important relationship between Cornwall Council and the 213 town and parishes to make them more effective.

That overwhelming evidence shows the passion, commitment and hard work of the Council’s 123 elected members.

However, GREG concluded that while councillors are hard-working, they spend a disproportionate amount of their time dealing with the symptoms of issues as they crop up at a local level, at the expense of taking a more strategic approach to addressing the underlying causes.

Merging and reducing the number of council committees on policy development and scrutiny.

Urging the Council to get out more to people where they are, and to rely less on people turning up at what they termed ‘Town Hall talks’.

GREG urges the Council to encourage more young people to get involved in the civic life of Cornwall.

Over the course of five Inquiry days during July, GREG gathered views from more than 100 people.

The report’s will be considered by the constitution and governance committee at its meeting on September 19.