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Enthusiastic readers of Cornwall Council's constitution have been asking me to find out why, in the 18 months since the council was launched, it has failed to hold at least one "State of the County" debate. This is what you find when you turn up the document on the council's own website:

15.1 Calling of debate - The Chairman of the Council will call a State of the County of Cornwall debate annually on a date and in a form to be discussed with the Leader.

15.2 Form of debate - The Chairman will decide the form of the debate with the aim of enabling the widest possible public involvement and publicity. This may include holding workshops and other events prior to or during the State of the County of Cornwall debate.

15.3 Chairing of debate - The debate will be chaired by the Chairman or in his absence the Vice-Chairman.

15.4 Results of debate - The results of the debate will be: (i) disseminated as widely as possible within the community and to agencies and organisations in the area; and (ii) considered by the Leader in proposing the budget and policy framework to the Council for the coming year.

Sounds like fun - if the council ever gets round to holding such a "State of the County" debate, the pubs will be empty. I shall make the usual inquiries.