Cornwall Council – Charlotte’s candidate column for local newspaper

People and services matter most.

It’s wrong that people’s views were ignored when the new Council was created. The Liberal Democrats let people down. Threatened cuts to fire services. Closed the Airport for three weeks. Failed to develop a waste strategy with community backing. Charged unlawfully for some care services for vulnerable people. How unfair that was.

Labour increased Cornwall Council’s funding by 4.5%. Despite this, the Tories put up your Council Tax average bills by £5 a month.

Last year in Cornwall, just 14% of people voted Tory. 86% either did not vote or voted for non-Tory candidates. The Tory-dominated Council is failing people. Failing child protection causing Government intervention. Failing to provide housing. Failing to re-register thousands of local families in housing need. Failing to involve communities when disposing of Council property. How unfair that is.

Child protection, upper GI cancer services transfer, waste management – Cornwall Council’s actions placed its responsibilities in the hands of decision-makers at Westminster.

Community concern is what motivates one in three people to volunteer in Cornwall. It’s a huge force of change for the better.

We need better services, stronger local democracy, and community assets and town management transferred to local communities.