Currie implied that Robertson was unwilling to back down on part-privatising the Council whilst he was in power. He said: "I know you will never let go. I could not leave local government with billions of pounds of Cornish taxpayers' money at risk and on my conscience."

The Council has now said that Currie needs to investigate fully, as a matter of urgency, all reasonable alternative methods of delivering the services covered by the proposals.

It said that these plans need to address the need to make efficiency savings and to generate income.

Under the previous proposals, BT or CSC would have been legally required to deliver at least £5 million of savings over the next two years and to create a minimum of 500 net new jobs in Cornwall.