Cornwall Council has signed a new devolution deal with the Government which would guarantee £360million of funding and new powers over the next 30 years.

Newquay and St Austell MP Steve Double said the publication of the Cornwall deal was the “start of a new era”.

At Spaceport Cornwall, levelling up minister Dehanna Davison signed the document alongside Cornwall Council leader Linda Taylor with both describing it as an “historic” day.

The deal is subject to public consultation, full agreement from Cornwall Council and Parliamentary approval.

Under the deal Cornwall Council will be given responsibility for the adult education budget as well as getting additional powers over planning, housing and transport.

The deal includes an additional £8.7m for housing and funding for the Cornish culture and language.

The proposed deal has been overshadowed by the requirement for Cornwall Council to change its governance arrangements to secure the deal which will mean Cornwall having a directly elected mayor for the first time.

There has been a vigorous debate about whether there should be a public referendum on whether Cornwall wants to have a directly elected mayor or not.

Ms Davison said: “We set out in the Levelling Up white paper a framework for devolution and different levels that people could opt into and we always said that in order to access the biggest groups of powers and funding we would like to have that directly accountable leadership so we in central government can go spend the money on what they are doing and that is why we really believe in the mayoral model.

“But also being on the start of a devolution journey with a mayor in place, if you look at other areas across the country with elected mayors, I’m talking about Teesside, West Midlands, and Greater Manchester, they started with a particular deal and since then there has been so much more progress, so much more powers given, so much more funding given so I think this is the start of a really, really incredible and positive journey.”

The headline figure on the deal is the £360m over 30 years which provides £12m a year for Cornwall.  wMs Davison said: “This is the start of a long-term agreement between Government and Cornwall to make sure we are focusing on what is right for Cornwall and they have the powers and funding they need to attract investment, grow local jobs, bring benefits for the local area and that investment fund is additional money, money that wasn’t available otherwise so that is a good thing, but having it guaranteed across 30 years is really important because what that allows us, the mayor, the leader, to do is borrow against it and put in place really major investments at the outset.”

Cornwall Council is set to launch its consultation on the deal next week.

Mr Double said the deal was about much more than just extra funding and believed the introduction of a Mayor for Cornwall was more important.

“It gives us the opportunity to reset our relationship with government to have a new era, to have a seat at the top table along with the other mayors across the country. And then that gives us a basis for future negotiations to attract more investment, more powers, devolve more powers to Cornwall.”

But what if, in the consultation, the people of Cornwall reject this deal and proposal for a mayor?

Mr Double said: “The council will have to listen to that, that is the whole point of the consultation.

“But now we have got the deal and people can see for themselves, I would simply say to everyone in Cornwall... what’s not to like about this. More money, more powers, the opportunity to continue to protect and enhance our unique Cornish identity and culture, which is really important to a lot of people here, and the opportunity to make the most of the opportunities ahead of us.”

Cllr Taylor said: “I am appealing to one and all to carefully consider this huge opportunity for Cornwall to receive more funding, powers and influence – and have your say on the deal that will help shape Cornwall’s future when the consultation begins.”

Opposition councillors have not been impressed.

Labour group leader Jayne Kirkham said: “On the face of it the deal looks mainly to be worth £12m per year, which is a tiny percentage of Cornwall Council’s budget – about one per cent. It cannot possibly deal with all the issues that Cornwall faces.

“It also seems that the cost of the mayoral election and paying for the mayor themselves could have to come out of that figure, which may not be able to be spent on services like social care.

“The whole deal is conditional upon Cornwall accepting a mayor and there do not seem to be any significant powers passported down from Westminster as part of this deal.

“It’s also disappointing that the deal is being ‘signed’ today by a junior government minister and the Leader of Cornwall Council before Cornwall Council and the people of Cornwall have even seen it.

“The next Labour government is committed to pushing forwards with genuine devolution that will be much deeper and broader than that being offered by the Conservatives. We also wouldn’t force a Mayor or governance structure on Cornwall.”

Mebyon Kernow leader Dick Cole called on people to take part in the consultation and call for “real devolution” for Cornwall.

He said: “From the press release it is clear to me that this so-called devolution deal is not devolution at all.

“It does not include far-reaching powers being transferred from Westminster to Cornwall like what has happened elsewhere in Wales and Scotland that helped create the Welsh Parliament and Scottish Parliament.

“As someone who has campaigned for meaningful devolution for his entire adult life I am desperately disappointed that this is the best that we can do.

“We feel very much outside of this, it is a Conservative council coming up with something with a Conservative Government.”

Colin Martin, acting leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: “It touches on many areas of concern to residents in Cornwall, but the new powers and funding on offer fall far short of what is needed to tackle the enormous challenges we face.

“The promise of £360m sounds great… until you realise it’s spread over 30 years! The annual figure of just £12m is a drop in the ocean when you consider that the council faces a shortfall of £63m in its budget for the next year.”

Independent councillor Tim Dwelly said: “It’s astonishing that this deal is being signed by one person, Linda Taylor, without even holding a debate and a vote of her cabinet let alone Cornwall Council.

“And everyone can see it’s no big deal. There isn’t going to be any extra money at all for council services.”