A prominent Conservative Counsellor Louis Gardener revealed in a full County Council meeting that his 9 year old daughter had been approached on school premises with offers of vapes. The Cabinet member for the economy in the Cornwall Unitary Authority is also currently the second highest paid Counsellor on the Cornwall Council. After Council leader Linda Taylor the next highest-paid councillor is Louis Gardner, a member of Mrs Taylor’s Tory cabinet. The portfolio holder for economy and councillor for Newquay Central and Pentire claimed £56,602.05. That included the basic allowance, plus £22,642.54 special responsibility allowance for his cabinet role, £3,752.40 for travel and living expenses and £12,711.11 for dependents carers’ allowance.

Cllr Gardner is one of only three councillors to claim the carers’ allowance, which is paid towards childcare, or care for the elderly or disabled people. He claimed over £12,500 more than any other council member.