Council chief executive is leaving after 10 years

Cornwall Council's chief executive "has decided to leave her role" as after 10 years, the authority has announced.

Kate Kennally said: "I am privileged to have served Cornwall for 10 years, during which time Cornwall has hosted the G7 leaders' summit [in 2021], worked with communities to respond to the Covid pandemic and recovered from significant events such as the Coverack floods and Storm Goretti."

Her departure comes after she went on a leave of absence in September. An exact date of her leaving has not been announced.

The council said interim leadership arrangements were in place and it would recruit a new permanent chief executive "in due course".

The council appointed former chief executive of the Falkland Islands government Andy Keeling as interim deputy chief executive in September after Kennally went on the leave of absence.

Kennally joined the council from the London borough of Barnet, where she was the strategic director for commissioning and deputy chief executive.

She has been in charge during three political administrations in Cornwall.

She has been the highest paid highest earner at Cornwall Council, with a base salary of £201,661, rising to £239,479, including pension and expenses, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.