The new chairman and vice chairman of Cornwall Council have designated June as “Listening Month” and will tour Cornwall to find out first hand from local people how they are coping with increased financial pressures.

Chairman John Wood and vice chairman Ann Kerridge will be carrying out a series of informal visits to 22 one stop shops across Cornwall between Monday, June 10 and Thursday, June 20. They will also be meeting staff at the council’s contact centre in Redruth.

“We want to meet and talk with members of the public whose lives are being affected by the budget cuts” said chairman John Wood.

“Our aim is to listen so we can better understand the issues people are facing and see what the Council can do to help. “

Vice Chairman Ann Kerridge said: “With more than 20 places to visit over a short period of time this will inevitably be a whistle stop tour, but we will be spending up to two hours in each venue so we can hear the views of as many people as possible.”

“This is not about seeking solutions to the problems facing both the Council and people in Cornwall – it is to help all of us to understand the challenges we face. We will then report our findings to the Council so we can start looking at how to overcome them”.

The programme for the listening tour is:

Monday, June 10 – Fowey One Stop Shop - 9.30 am (Ann Kerridge) St Austell One Stop Shop - approx 11am (Ann Kerridge)

Tuesday, June 11- Bude One Stop Shop - 9.30 am (John Wood) Camelford One Stop Shop - approx 11 am (John Wood)

Wednesday 12 June – Liskeard One Stop Shop – 9.30 am (John Wood ) Saltash One Stop Shop - approx 11 am (John Wood) Looe One Stop Shop – 9.30 am (Ann Kerridge) Torpoint One Stop Shop – approx 11 am (Ann Kerridge)

Friday, 14 June Council contact centre 9.30 am

Monday 17 June – Callington One Stop Shop – 9.30 am (Ann Kerridge) Launceston One Stop Shop - approx 11 am (Ann Kerridge) Bodmin One Stop Shop - 9.30 am (John Wood) Wadebridge One Stop Shop approx 11am (John Wood)

Tuesday, 18 June Newquay One Stop Shop 9.30 am (John Wood) Truro One Stop Shop - approx 11 am (John Wood) St Ives One Stop Shop - 9.30 am (Ann Kerridge) Redruth One Stop Shop - approx 11 am (Ann Kerridge)

Wednesday, 19 June Penzance One Stop Shop - 9.30 am (John Wood) Hayle One Stop Shop – approx 11 am (John Wood)

Thursday, 20 June – Penryn One Stop Shop – 9.30 am (John Wood) Falmouth One Stop Shop - approx 11am (John Wood) Helston One Stop Shop- 9.30 am (Ann Kerridge) Camborne One Stop Shop approx 11 am (Ann Kerridge)