Cornwall Council elections: where the different parties stand
Elections for all 87 seats on Cornwall Council are being contested on Thursday 1 May.The council, which is a unitary authority, was won by the Conservatives at the previous election in 2021. It is responsible for all public services locally - including fixing potholes, waste collections, caring for vulnerable adults and children, planning, and housing. Speaking to BBC Radio Cornwall, the seven major parties vying for votes have outlined their priorities if elected. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order of surname.A full list of candidates standing in all divisions for Cornwall Council can be found here.
Conservative cabinet member Martin Alvey defended his party's record - including the introduction of 20mph zones.He said they wanted to build four thousand council houses a year during the next administration. Discussing how to boost town centres, he said they would freeze car park charges for four years and improve footfall by converting empty space above shops into housing.
Green candidate Drew Creek claimed expensive parking was impacting town centres and they supported reducing fees during the off-season for local residents.He admitted they would like government permission to raise additional income through the introduction of a 'tourist tax' to copy what has been done elsewhere in the country. He also said affordable housing should be built first in any new developments.
Mebyon Kernow leader Dick Cole said the party would push for extra powers to be devolved from Westminster so more decisions on providing affordable housing could be made in Cornwall.He insisted town centres had received some financial support - and wanted to see villages and rural communities also catered for. He said cuts in government funding over recent years meant a 'tourist tax' could be a valuable source of extra income.
Liberal Democrat group leader Leigh Frost vowed to get "back to basics" and deliver key services properly instead of being distracted by issues like the future of Newquay Airport.He said town centres needed support to evolve as places for socialising and some discounted parking for residents might help.He wanted the council's arms-length developer Treveth to build more affordable housing and to incentivise developers and landlords to provide more homes for private rent.
Labour candidate Laurie Magowan said they would encourage more community-led housing schemes and focus on bringing empty homes into use and making them more energy-efficient.He wanted to work with local traders to put on more events like markets and live music to encourage more footfall in towns - but would not commit to lowering tariffs in car parks.He cautioned against a 'tourist tax' being too punitive and harming visitor numbers at quieter times of the year.
Rowland O'Connor, from Reform UK, said the party would freeze council tax bills and look at how the authority spends its money. He wanted powers from the government to offer tax incentives to encourage developers to renovate old buildings to provide more housing and protect greenfield sites. He said lowering parking charges would help ailing town centres - but the party did not support increasing the cost of holidays to Cornwall with a 'tourist tax'.
Independent group deputy leader Adam Paynter promised they would build 10,000 extra social homes over the course of the next administration.He said they would re-introduce more frequent clearing of drains and gullies to keep water off roads and reduce potholes forming.The group also supported the idea of a residents parking card where local people could use car parks for a discounted price.
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