‘Interim leadership’ being put in place at Cornwall Council

Cornwall Council has announced that “interim leadership arrangements are being put in place” at the local authority.

The move is being made as the council’s chief executive officer, Kate Kennally, is “on a leave of absence”.

We approached the council for a statement after being contacted by council insiders and others with a flurry of rumours about Ms Kennally’s position.

A spokesperson for the council told us: “The chief executive is currently on a leave of absence.

“This is an important period for the council, with the upcoming budget and other key priorities to deliver, and so interim leadership arrangements are being put in place. These arrangements will be discussed at a meeting of the Chief Officers’ Employment Committee next week.”

Ms Kennally has been the CEO at Cornwall Council since January 11, 2016. She was previously strategic director for commissioning and deputy chief executive at the London Borough of Barnet.

She is the highest earner at Cornwall Council, receiving a base salary of £201,661, rising to £239,479 including pension and expenses, according to data from the TaxPayers’ Alliance Town Hall Rich List 2026.

Ms Kennally has been in charge during three political administrations – a Liberal Democrat and Independent coalition from 2016 to 2021, a Conservative cabinet from 2021 to 2025 and the current Lib Dem / Independent coalition, which came to power in May 2025.