Taking on the top job at a council helming the first rural devolution deal was never going to be an easy move. However it is fair to say Cornwall Council’s new chief executive, Kate Kennally, was thrown straight in at the deep end after starting her role at the beginning of January.

‘The first week in, I had budget briefings with all members, had 65 members come and debate the shape of the four-year budget, we had our monitoring board for the devolution deal and had the Department for Communities and Local Government down to see how we’re doing and engaging with MPs. We had an opportunity to bring all the different public sector leaders and voluntary sector and the LEP together to look at what the devolution deal means for Cornwall and how we work together,’ she tells The MJ just days after she took over as chief executive.