Council chief executive goes on leave of absence

Cornwall Council has put "interim leadership arrangements" after it announced chief executive officer Kate Kennally is "on a leave of absence".

Kennally joined the council as chief executive in 2016 from the London borough of Barnet, where she was the strategic director for commissioning and deputy chief executive.

She is 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.

A council spokesperson said interim leadership would be discussed at a meeting of the chief officers' employment committee next week.

Kennally has been in charge during three political administrations.

They include a Liberal Democrat and Independent coalition from 2016 to 2021, a Conservative cabinet from 2021 to 2025, and the current Lib Dem and Independent coalition since May 2025, the LDRS said.

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