Cornwall Council’s new Conservative leader Linda Taylor announced her Cabinet earlier this week – but what has this administration promised it will do for Cornwall?

The Conservatives launched a manifesto ahead of the local elections titled 'Conservatives Plan for Cornwall', with a sub-title 'Cornwall Conservatives – Taking Cornwall forward, together'.

Inside the plan sets out the party’s priorities, which include closing the council’s Brussels office, introducing more 20mph zones, putting recycling bins back into car parks, and prioritising housing for local people.

A short five-page document, it opens with a message from the Conservative Group leader Linda Taylor.

In it she states: “We will never forget that the money the council spends, is your money!"

The next page – titled Vote for Change at Cornwall Council – sets out some of the party’s aims, which it will now have the opportunity to deliver after being placed into power at County Hall.

The first states that “we now need a council that will take us forward and build a stronger future which will support our communities, cut waste and deliver the services that matter the most, effectively and on budget”.

In the second section it vows to close the council’s Brussels office, which it claims "costs a minimum of £50,000 a year for no discernible benefit.”

It adds: “We want to focus our spending on the core council priorities like care, education, roads, waste services and housing.”

The third section begins: “We need homes for local people and sympathetic planning. Cornwall is beautiful and we are determined to keep it that way but we also recognise the need for new homes for local people to live in.

“We want to focus on housing that reflects local need and affordability. We will reverse the current policy of putting large affordable/social housing developments in rural areas where they are not always needed and the cost of transport makes it even more expensive for families.

“We will focus on small pockets of affordable homes which are supported by local communities to keep our villages alive and allow youngsters to stay in the place they were born and raised.”

In the fourth section the manifesto talks about the “need to build back a strong economy” and says that the party will support existing businesses and encourage new enterprises.

It talks about “emerging markets particularly in the green economy and space”.

The fifth section talks about working together with local communities and states: “We will listen and deliver on the issues that matter to you. We will short cut the process by which minor works on roads, etc, are done by giving councillors, who are accountable to you, the power to get works done without going through layers of bureaucracy.”

It also adds that the Conservative administration will “review the effects of the new waste contract” which will see both recycling and black bag waste collected fortnightly.

The manifesto also says that the Conservatives will “put the environment at the heart of all our decision making”.

And it adds: “Where local communities request them, we will reinstate recycling bins in Cornwall Council car parks.”

Lastly the party turned its attention to the next generation. The document says it will encourage investment in community youth schemes “and social opportunities to enhance life choices for our young people”.

It pledges to help town and parish councils and voluntary groups to set up “meaningful” youth clubs and groups.

And it says: “We will direct funding to reduce the unacceptable waiting times for the diagnoses of special educational needs to ensure that children are supported at an early age.”

The final page of the document lists what is described as “appalling waste by Lib Dems and Independents” including money spent on consultants, IT licences, the Brussels office, Cannes trip for the MIPIM conference and fixed term loans.

Finally it finishes with the party’s six-point plan:

  • Abolish the council office in Brussels
  • Enable sectors like new green technology and space to flourish – turbocharging the economy, supporting businesses and entrepreneurs
  • Introduce more 20mph speed limit zones where there is strong public support locally
  • Where local communities request them, we will reinstate recycling bins in car parks
  • Prioritise housing for local people, to enable them to stay in the community they grew up in, with a focus on local need rather than large developments in the countryside
  • We will cut unacceptable delays in the assessment process for children with additional needs