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Tough times are ahead for Cornwall as it moves to unitary status, according to its new chief executive. In a frank assessment of Cornwall's future, the chief executive of the county's soon-to-be unitary council, Kevin Lavery, warned it faced early government intervention if it was not able to get its act together. He told a packed meeting of Cornwall's councillors last week: ‘I'm not saying we are in crisis, but there are some dangerous signs. ‘If we don't address them, we could end up on a slippery slope, and if we didn't get off that, we could end up with intervention.' Cornwall moves to unitary status on 1 April, with one council replacing the current system of six districts and a county council. But the new authority looks likely to set sail on stormy waters, inheriting a series of troubles from its predecessors. Mr Lavery, who took on the £200,000-a-year chief executive position in November, highlighted problems following the Penhallow hotel fire, a wrangle over a local hospital, temporary closure of Newquay Airport, and the ditching of the council's planned logo. But he claimed the key was to focus on the transition until July, and kick off seven transformation programmes, including shared services and affordable housing. Elsewhere, Northumberland has also decided to keep its original logo when it, like Bedfordshire, Cheshire and Shropshire, moves to unitary status on 1 April. In Suffolk, an opinion poll carried out by the Opinion Research Business claimed the majority of people supported a three-unitary council set-up for the county, despite the Boundary Committee's refusal to consult residents on this approach as part of its review of local government structures.

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WHITEHALL

'Crisis ahead for Cornwall'

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