CORNWALL COUNTY COUNCIL v CORNISH [Escalation of problems for Council] The Council has been carrying out a Best Value Review [BVR] in the area of 'fairness'. Despite Cornish ethnicity being a major issue, a February 2003 Report to the BVR Management Board stated:
"Cornish issues. The perceptions of disadvantage expressed by the Service Review Board Members are extensive and wide reaching and are in the main beyond the scope of best value review. It would not be possible, given the current resources, to do what has been suggested in the timescale given. If the review does not meet its targets in the timescale established then the Council could be open to legal challenge. Legal advice has been sought on the issue of where the Council stands on the issue of Cornish. When the position is clear the Council will have to look at its position with regard to this area."
The BVR has consequently focussed on examining fairness in relation to disability, single parenthood, homophobia and sexism. This policy is reflected in the types of groups actively being consulted.
Therefore the Cornish issue remains administratively marginalised and the views of the Service Review Board Members are being ignored. Important information relating to the current CCC/parental dispute is being left out of the BVR and kept within the confines of a small group of four or five senior officers and leading members.
In respect of their decision to prevent children from registering as Cornish on the schools survey, this group have themselves authorised the spending of £2,500 of public funds on Counsels opinion [David Wolfe of Matrix Chambers]. The Opinion has been seen by this group, but not by anyone else within the Council.
Not only have certain Cornish Members of the Executive been prevented from inspecting the document, the Chairman of the BVR Committee [another Cornishman] has also been prevented from inspecting it. Without knowing what advice the Council has been given in relation to the legal position of the Cornish, the Chairman cannot know if his Review satisfies existing legal requirements.
Yesterday [16th Oct 2003] the BVR Chairman notified the Council that unless he is allowed to inspect the Opinion he will not allow the BVR Fairness Report to be forwarded to the Council.
John Angarrack
Parental action Co-ordinator
Director - Cornwall 2000: Civil Liberties/Human RightsCopies to: European Monitoring Centre on Racial Intolerance, EU Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia, Council of Europe Secretariat - Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, Council of Europe Committee of Experts of the European Charter of Regional and Minority Languages, C of Eu Human Rights Commission; European Platform of Regulatory Authorities, European Ombudsman, Federal Union of European Nationalities, EU Culture Commissioner, Eurolang, European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, Aire Centre; UN Committee - Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNESCO, UK Mission to UN at Geneva; Minority Rights Group, UK Home Office, UK Commission for Racial Equality, UK Legal Services Commission, UK Audit Commission, UK Office of National Statistics, UK Department for Education and Skills and numerous other government departments, NGO's and International bodies. It will also to be included in various reports to the same bodies.
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