Over the last week, Radio Cornwall ran a number of features focusing on local government in Cornwall. It started with a short ‘debate’ between the group leaders (see blog entry for 1 March). This was followed by a series of interviews with cabinet members to discuss issues such as transport and waste collection. It finished with an ‘Any Questions’ debate between the four group leaders on the Council that was recorded on Thursday night and broadcast on Friday lunchtime.
As well as me, Alec Robertson was there for the Tories with Neil Burden for the Independents, while Robin Teverson represented the Liberal Democrats.
From a personal perspective, I think it went well and I was glad to see the issue of the proposed incinerator raise its chimney frequently during the debate. The line of the Conservative leader was that terminating the contract would be “catastrophic” while Robin Teverson challenged the administration to re-negotiate the contract with SITA using its ‘commercial leaverage.’ It was obvious that Robin did not grasp the full consequences of the Contract, signed by the previous Lib Dem administration, and associated procurement rules. I invited him to attend meetings of the Waste Panel to find out more. He declined but under pressure from Laurence Reed suggested a “tutorial – one to one – with Dick.”
I also repeated MK’s call for a Commission to investigate the extent of the underfunding that Cornwall and its communities suffer. In one exchange (that was edited out of the broadcast programme) my Conservative opponent in St Austell and Newquay, who was in the audience, stated she could guarantee fair funding from a Conservative Government. I asked when I would be getting a letter to that effect from David Cameron. No date was given but it was suggested that Dave would like to meet me!
Other topics covered included the extent of wages paid to the Chief Executive and the Corporate Directors – in this discussion I focussed on the scandal of low wages in Cornwall; and the possible out-sourcing of public services – I made it clear that I supported quality public services provided through the public sector and not pared-down services provided through the private sector.
I hope I did MK justice. I would also like to thank BBC Radio Cornwall for hosting this debate and fostering greater debate about local government in Cornwall.
This morning, as one of the four group leaders on Cornwall Council, I took part in a Radio Cornwall debate which focussed on the implications of expected cuts in central government funding to local councils. Such cuts could obviously lead to job losses and reductions in services.
I used the opportunity of the debate to remind everyone that Cornwall has been under-funded for many years and we receive less money for our schools, hospitals and public services than elsewhere in the UK.
I called for a Commission to investigate the full extent of this Government under-funding of Cornwall, just as the recent Holtham Commission (organised by the Welsh Assembly) found that Wales is under-funded by £300 million a year.
Now must be the time to demand that Cornwall receives its fair share of expenditure, which will help us cope with the difficult economic times that lie ahead.
I would hope that all political parties would support this call for a Commission into the under-funding of Cornwall. It is also my hope that the main London parties would agree to abide by the findings of such a review and guarantee Cornish communities their fair share of future spending.
Mebyon Kernow has challenged all political parties standing in Cornwall at the coming General Election to make sure that their election leaflets are printed in Cornwall.
We have also criticised the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives for failing to support local businesses by having campaign literature printed ‘up-country.’ Both parties have spent a small fortune on leaflets and election literature in recent months, but sadly have often used printing firms based outside of Cornwall.
Taking the new St Austell and Newquay constituency, where I am standing, as an example, the Royal Mail has already delivered numerous Lib Dem and Tory leaflets to local residents during the last 12 months or so. This literature contains the normal soundbites about fighting for local people and campaigning for Cornwall - but they seem to have a problem with using local businesses.
Some of the material from the Conservative candidate was produced in Surrey, but not one of the ten Liberal Democrat leaflets (which we have copies of) were printed in Cornwall. Three were printed in Devon, three in Dorset, two in London and two in Peterborough.
It is my view that all politicians who want to represent Cornwall in parliament should be helping to sustain local businesses in our villages and towns.
Our pledge is a simple one. Every leaflet, booklet and every single piece of literature produced by Mebyon Kernow for the General Election will be printed here in Cornwall. I hope that the other parties will follow our example.
