CORNWALL will experience one of the most dramatic changes in local government for almost 40 years on April 1 as the county council and six district councils are replaced with a new single unitary authority.

All the county services will be provided by the new Cornwall Council, which is expected to make savings of £25-million from 2011.

But the message to the people of Cornwall is that it will be 'business as usual' on April 1.

Chief executive Kevin Lavery said: 'While we have exciting plans to improve the services currently provided by the county and district councils, and to introduce new ones, this will take place over a longer period.

'Our aim for April 1 has always been to provide business as usual by ensuring residents receive the same quality of services they received on March 31.

'This will mean from day one that people's bins will still be emptied, the streets cleaned and roads repaired, parks, play areas, libraries and leisure centres will be open and benefits claims and planning applications will be dealt with in exactly the same way.'

One-stop shops have been set up in 22 towns across the county, including Callington Town Hall where residents will be able to get help and advice on any council matters.

A customer services officer has been appointed to deal with a wide range of queries such as information on local schools and childcare, how to access benefits or when recycling is collected.

Specialist staff, including planning officers, will also be available, either via telephone or face-to-face 'surgery' sessions at the local venue.

To help keep the services local, the new council has created three service delivery areas: East Cornwall – Caradon and North Cornwall, Central Cornwall – Carrick and Restormel and West Cornwall – Kerrier and Penwith.

The council has created a number of new committees to deal with planning and licensing applications during the period between April 1 and the elections to the new council in June.

The East Cornwall planning committee will meet every three weeks at Liskeard and Camelford, alternately.

New style 0300 telephone numbers will provide easier, more direct access to services such as planning and housing, together with one general number to contact the council (0300 1234 100.)

However, local residents will still be able to use the same numbers and e-mail addresses they currently use to contact the county, borough or district council during the next few months.

The customer service telephone lines will also be open for longer — from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 4pm on Saturdays. The new website is http://www.cornwall.gov.uk">www.cornwall.gov.uk

The new council is also providing a new stronger voice for communities through the creation of 19 new community networks of which Callington is one.

Based around groupings of parishes and electoral divisions, the networks will see local councillors working with local people and organisations to improve things in their local areas.

Cornwall county councillors will continue in office until the elections on June 4 when the new 123 unitary councillors will take over.

District and borough councillors cease to hold office on April 1 when the six district councils are wound up. However, the 12 district/borough councillors who currently sit on the implementation executive will continue on it until June. Some district/borough councillors will also be co-opted for a short time as members of the planning and licensing committees of Cornwall Council.