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Cornwall Council leader Alec Robertson yesterday promised Lib Dem Alex Folkes that he had "an open mind" about whether the council should adopt a committee structure, rather than the present "all powerful" cabinet system.

The current system means that just 10 councillors (out of 123) make nearly all the important decisions. A committee structure would be more transparent, but would also entail the surrender of some political power and might, on occasion, be subject to potential ambush.

I suspect that some of Alec's less genial colleagues in the Conservative group will be advising him that if he is indeed considering a change, that there's no need to rush.