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Expect the usual suspects to crop up in media coverage of Cornwall councillors' allowances, down for debate again at the full council meeting on Tuesday (the Local Government Association is recommending a 2.3% rise.)

I forecast more heat than light, much tedious grand-standing (it's started already,) a platform for the Taxpayers' Alliance and a pointed refusal by councillors to engage in the real issue: who runs the council?

It's a simple choice. As long as we have 123 councillors, most of them will have very little influence. Power will remain with the ten Cabinet members. A smaller council would mean that each individual councillor carried much more weight across larger council divisions. It's the case for a full-time, professional class of local politician.

Parish pump representation would properly become the preserve of parish and town councillors. But at County Hall, Cornwall councillors would have the power to exercise far more control over the executive. A price worth paying?