Devolution means passing down the management and/or ownership of public sector land, buildings and services to are more local or community level. The benefits of local ownership and management are that they are more responsive to the community’s needs and services can also be more efficiently run through a better understanding of local suppliers and contractors.
Cornwall Council has promoted devolution (passing on the ownership and management of land, buildings and services) to town and parish councils for many years. In St Ives, the Town Council already owns and manages the library service, all the public toilets, some parks and gardens, buildings such as the Guildhall and the Island Centre and public seating.
But the Town Council has an ambition to take over all Cornwall Council owned assets, a total of 49. In 2023, it agreed a Town Devolution Package with Cornwall Council to roll out this programme over a two year period.
This ambitious programme will see parks, gardens open spaces and key local buildings come to the Town Council. To support the package, the Town Council produced a detailed strategy, setting out its aims and objectives underpinning all the sites. Our ambitions include:
The protection of heritage buildings and a re-imagined use to ensure they have a sustainable future
The re-imagining of parks and green spaces so the better meet the community’s needs and make space for growing and nature
The development of commercial assets which provide small retail and workshop space for local independent businesses.
Commercial Properties and Assets
Most of the buildings, parks and gardens will be manged and protected as public spaces for future generations. In some other cases, the Council will run buildings or services on a commercial basis, for example retail shops or, public carparks. This is an essential part of the programme as it generates income, which can be re-invested into other services which cost money to run and maintain, such as all the public parks. If your business or community group is interested in renting or using one of the spaces or buildings, you can contact us at the following email address landandproperty@stives-tc.gov.uk
What Next ?
The legal, financial and property negotiations take a long time to complete and this work is underway. So far, the Council has taken ownership or management of the following
The Guildhall
The Cornerstone Library Building
The Island Centre
St John’s Ambulance Station (the Old Fire Station)
War memorial and memorial gardens
The Island Blockhouse
Porthmeor Putting Green
Porthmeor Bowling Club
Barnoon Workshop
Richmond Gardens
View the maps to find out which assets are part of the Town Deal Package
Read more about the Council’s Strategy and Business Case
