With the Budget debate over it was time to move on to the debate on should there be a St Piran’s Day public holiday in place (extra would be nice) of one of the current May holidays. I have nothing in principle to moving this holiday, but I have some reservations to the process.
One of these is the lack of public consultation to firmly establish the support in Cornwall to moving this holiday. You could argue there is more support for a later public holiday in say, October. But again, this is more on guesswork than actual hard evidence.
I firmly believe before any letter is sent to central government we gather the views of the public with a few options. However, this is not what Cornwall Council decided today. Granted it did say it would consult, but it also said it would send a letter to government giving our preference this is before any consultation has taken place.
This is the problem I have. How can you send a preference if you do not know what the public want. I made the point if we just added a percentage to carparking without consulting there would be uproar. I know you cannot consult on everything, but when something like effecting someones holiday, then surely we should try and consult before we give the ‘official’ view.
Anyway, here is the recommendation which was the carried by the majority:
1. The Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader, be requested to write to central government stating (1) that, in principle, any change in the May Bank Holiday should lead to the creation of a public holiday in Cornwall on St Piran’s Day and (2) that the government should press ahead with full consultation on the issue of replacing the May Bank Holiday.2. The Chief Executive consider how to undertake most effectively a test of public opinion on the issue of creating a St Piran’s Day Public Holiday in Cornwall and report back to a future meeting on the options including the cost implications.
