COUNCIL bosses have agreed to meet with business leaders to discuss its plans to go into a partnership with an American company to manage Newquay airport and its 65-acre estate.

Cornwall Council will be meeting with representatives from Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and other business organisations as part of its consultation to potentially strike a deal with Westcore.

It follows John Brown, the new CEO of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, writing an open letter criticising the council for failing to consult the business community on its plan. He called for Cornwall Council to suspend a decision to select its preferred partner following concerns Westcore “appears to have limited experience in managing airports.” He also argued the business community needed to be consulted over such an important decision as the airport plays a vital role for Cornwall’s economy.

Cornwall Council is deep in the process of finding a financial partner to develop the land and also take the financial pressure off the unitary authority when it comes to running the airport, which is subsidised by the taxpayer to the tune of around £4.8-million each year.

The wider Cornwall Airport Newquay estate includes Aerohub Business Park, the Spaceport, Kernow Solar Park and 200 acres of land, which is likely to be developed by the new partner for housing and commercial property.

St Columb Minor Cornwall councillor John Fitter has also criticised the council about the lack of transparency over the proposed deal.

Cllr Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council's portfolio holder for the economy, and John Brown, CEO of the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, in a joint statement, said: “The council took a decision in June this year to enter into an ‘exclusivity agreement’ with a potential commercial partner to develop Cornwall Newquay airport.

“This was a commercial exercise following a strategic review of options. The exclusivity agreement allows the council to consult widely with the business community on the rationale, potential partnership approach and a proposed Land Use Blueprint which will be a concept plan and accompanying narrative that will describe the intentions for the development of the airport and the wider airport site.

“The Chamber of Commerce was pleased to hear at the newly formed ‘Economic Forum’ on July 11 that the council has committed to engaging fully with businesses across Cornwall. The council have also committed to providing insight into the red lines outlined in the Airport Strategic Review to satisfy the desire from businesses that any partnership with the private sector will be predicated on growth of the airport, maintaining regular routes to and from major cities in the UK and beyond  and the continuation of the specialist management by Cornwall Airport Limited which runs the airport on behalf of Cornwall Council.

“Through the economic forum the council has agreed to immediately meet with the board of the Chamber of Commerce as well as other business representative organisations as soon as possible and have extended this invite to other representative groups. These ‘round table’ sessions will be hosted by Cllr Louis Gardner who is Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for economy and skills. These early meetings will help explain the objectives, logic and process for the current proposals.

“Over the summer period a potential partnership agreement is being worked up as well as a land use blueprint which will describe at concept level the types of development and commercial activity that the council and a potential partner will pursue. The council has also committed to engagement in both of these respects in September before a final report is taken to the council’s cabinet.

“The council will ensure that it provides sufficient information so that business understands the nature of the potential deal as well as the commitments and benefits of the proposed partner and will reflect on any comments from businesses before a final decision is made.”