Newspaper column wc 26/12/22 - Looking back over a busy year

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and was able to take some time to reflect on why we celebrate this special day.

Speaking of reflection, I want to take this opportunity to look back at the year we have had as the end of 2022 approaches. 

I want to begin my column by mentioning one of the most historic and significant moments of this year, the sad death of our late Queen, Elizabeth II. I had the privilege of being involved in the many Platinum Jubilee events that were held across Mid-Cornwall in May of this year and saw people of all ages came together to celebrate her unparalleled reign.

The death of Her Majesty in September saw the nation unite once more in mourning for Elizabeth II and I was honoured to have taken part in events both locally and in Westminster around the Queen’s State Funeral and the Accession to the throne of Charles III.

Earlier this year we also saw the passing of our beloved D-Day veteran and local hero Harry Billinge, who touched the lives of so many, including mine, with his brave service to his country and tireless fundraising work to honour his fallen comrades.

I couldn’t write this column without also mentioning the big changes we saw at Number Ten as Boris Johnson stepped down as Prime Minister to be replaced by Liz Truss, albeit only briefly, before former Chancellor Rishi Sunak became our current Prime Minister. I will always be very grateful for everything Boris Johnson achieved, both for our country and for Cornwall, while in office.

On a more personal note, the change of Prime Minister saw changes for me and my role in Government. I started the year in the Whip’s office and in July was pleased to accept a role as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

I returned to the back benches in September however, I was pleased to be reappointed to the Whip’s Office by new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in October, where I remain today.

However, regardless of my role in Government, my main priority will always be working to deliver for our constituency and I look forward to continuing to do this whether or not I have a role in government.

Now to matters in the constituency where work has begun this year on a number of exciting projects this year.

We have seen the start of work on the A30 Link Road to connect the town and the A30, to provide a direct route from the A30 to St Austell and take through traffic away from the nearby villages. This is something I have lobbied Ministers on since before being elected MP and is the single biggest piece of Government infrastructure spending in Cornwall, at £85million. It has now been signed off and construction started in June.

We also saw the Government grant the first ever license for the launching of satellites from European soil at Spaceport Cornwall in Newquay, and as I write this, the launch date will be imminent. This is something that I have been involved with very closely and am excited to see happen. It is the first time anything like this has ever been done in the UK and is a huge achievement by all involved.

Speaking of achievement, I was pleased to work with Cornwall College and the Department for Education to secure a multi-million-pound funding boost that will allow Cornwall College to build a new campus in St Austell. This is ground-breaking for the town as it will support future generations and I look forward to continuing to support Cornwall College in its aspirations as a career college going forward.

I have also stood up and spoke at the Boundary Commission’s public hearing against proposals that would have seen the clay area communities split up and put in different Parliamentary constituencies, along with Par and St Blazey. I am pleased that following my representations the Boundary Commission has now withdrawn these proposals.

Housing issues have also continued to be a big part of my work. I know this is a big concern for many constituents which is why I have been pleased to work with Ministers to ensure measures are introduced to better regulating the holiday let industry through the Levelling Up Bill, such as Cornwall Council setting up a registration scheme for holiday lets in their areas and consulting on planning permission being required when a property is changed from residential to holiday use.

This year we also saw the continuation of the Government’s levelling up agenda, with confirmation of its replacement for EU funds, the Shared Prosperity Fund, worth more than £130million for Cornwall.

We also saw the Government confirm its long-awaited devolution deal for Cornwall, with an additional £360million of funding for Cornwall, as well as a new office of elected Mayor up for discussion.

I hope this has given just a glimpse of some of the work I have done on your behalf over 2022 and will continue to do.

As ever, I want to say a huge thank you to my team who have been busier than ever supporting me to assist constituents with issues. This year my team and I have received and replied to nearly 20,000 emails, dealt with nearly 9,000 individual pieces of casework on behalf of local residents and businesses, ranging from housing and benefit enquiries to visa applications and energy issues.

May I wish you all a Happy New Year and I look forward to continuing to serve our constituency and Cornwall through 2023 and beyond.

My office is now closed and will reopen at 10am on January 3, 2023. However, you can still contact me by emailing steve.double.mp@parliament.uk or calling 01726 829379 and leaving a message. I will get back to anyone requiring urgent help.

 

Newspaper column wc 19 December 2022 - Looking towards Christmas

Parliament has now risen for Recess and so I am working in the constituency and looking forward to taking some time off with my family later this week for Christmas.

I hope you will also be able to take some time to enjoy the festive season with your friends and family and celebrate this special day.

Over the last year I have been contacted about all manner of things, but something that has remained a very important issue for me and many people in our constituency, which they have expressed significant concerns about, is illegal immigration.

That is why I am pleased to see that the Prime Minster has now set out new plans to address this issue. These include a new agreement with Albania so that the vast majority of Albanian claimants can be removed; a new, permanent, unified Small Boats Operational Command in the channel with 700 new staff and tougher immigration enforcement with 200 new staff and better data sharing with banks.

They will also see cheaper accommodation sites so we can move migrants out of hotels such as the Beresford in Newquay and also clear the initial asylum backlog by 2023 by doubling the number of caseworkers and radically streamlining the process.

The Prime Minister has also announced that legislation will be introduced in early 2023 to make it clear that if you enter the UK illegally you should not be able to remain but should be swiftly detained and removed.

I fully support the Government in its efforts to tackle illegal immigration and look forward to seeing the Prime Minister’s plans in action. The UK has a proud and long history in being a safe sanctuary for those genuinely seeking refuge from war or persecution, such as we have seen recently with those from Ukraine who have come to Cornwall

However, our hospitality should not be abused as some have been doing and it is right we close these loopholes whilst continuing to provide safe routes for those that need it.

Now turning to some good news for schools in our constituency. Last week the Government announced that it will be providing extra investment for Mawgan-in-Pydar Primary School in St Mawgan and also Poltair School in St Austell to improve facilities as part of School Rebuilding Programme.

This is something that I have been working closely with the Government on as I understand that the quality of facilities in schools can have a significant impact on a student’s learning.

I am pleased to see that the two schools will both benefit from the School Rebuilding Programme, backed by £1.8 billion in 2022–34 to rebuild and refurbish 239 more schools across the country. This will see old buildings updated and modernised to create state-of-the-art sports halls, music rooms, science labs, and dining areas.

It’s great to see the Government continuing to invest in our schools to provide children with the best opportunity to succeed and helping them to learn and develop and achieve their full potential. 

Finally, I would just like to take this opportunity to thank all those who will be working over the festive period in our NHS and care sectors, those who work in retail and hospitality, our local police and other emergency services and our armed forces who keep us and others safe all over the world, all year round. Thank you for all you do

However you spend your Christmas, I hope you have a good one and I would like to take the opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year for 2023.

My office will be closed from 12 noon on December 22, 2022 and reopen at 10am on January 3, 2023. However, you can still contact me by emailing steve.double.mp@parliament.uk or calling 01726 829379 and leaving a message. I will get back to anyone requiring urgent help.

 

Newspaper column 14 December 2022 - More powers to control holiday lets

Housing, and in particular its availability and affordability, has been an issue in Cornwall for many years. However, it has grown significantly worse over the last few years due to the massive increase in demand for holiday lets and Airbnbs which I know people are concerned about popping up in communities across Cornwall.

Cornwall has seen a massive rise in the number of properties converted into Airbnbs. In January 2016 there were 17 Airbnb properties in Cornwall. According to data from holiday rental research firm AirDNA, there were 20,688 active Airbnb and Vbro rentals in Cornwall as of August 2022.

Housing continues to remain one of the biggest problems that people raise with me and is something I, and other MPs, have been working with the government to address.

That is why I am pleased to see that the government has now announced new measures to manage the number of holiday lets in Cornwall. This follows the Government consulting on a potential scheme earlier this year.

As you will know, I have been working with Ministers for many months to ensure these important measures would be included in the Levelling Up Bill as it completes its passage through the House of Commons.

I am glad to see the Secretary of State confirm that the Levelling Up Bill will include the ability for Cornwall Council to set up a registration scheme for holiday lets in the county. As an MP who represents an area with disproportionate numbers of these properties in their constituencies, I have been calling for this action for a while.

A register of holiday lets will not only allow Cornwall Council and the Government to better understand their impact on the communities they are in, but also better regulate this sector in the future.

But it does not end there. The Secretary of State has also confirmed he will be consulting on plans which would mean holiday let owners need to submit a ‘change of use’ planning application with local planning authorities having a say on whether or not they agree with the changes.

I am delighted to see these measures being proposed as they are significant steps towards enabling Cornwall Council to manage the impact of holiday lets on our local housing market.

However, I do believe that we need to remember that the housing crisis in Cornwall will not be resolved overnight. The county still faces some significant challenges, such as the high demand for houses and low supply and lack of affordable homes which was only exacerbated by the Covid pandemic.  

I understand that the rise in house prices and demand for holiday accommodation has seen many local families struggle to find homes to rent, or they have been priced out of the market, but I do believe that the measures announced by the government go some way to bringing balance back to the housing market.

The details of how the scheme would be administered will be consulted on before 2023’s summer recess, with a view to the scheme being up and running as soon as possible thereafter.

I know these measures will be something Cornwall Council will be keen to progress and look forward to working with them and my colleagues in Westminster to ensure they are in place as soon as possible.

As ever, if I can be of assistance on this matter, or any other, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – call: 01726 829379 or email: office@stevedouble.org.uk

Newspaper column 7 December 2022 - The Devolution Deal for Cornwall

  

On Friday we saw another important step being taken towards a new era for Cornwall with the signing of a historic £360 million devolution deal between the Government and Cornwall Council.

This historic deal, which transfers additional money and power into the hands of local leaders in Cornwall, is the first single county deal of its kind to be announced and shows the Duchy leading the way once again. This deal will now go out for public consultation before Cornwall Council makes a final decision next year.

I am pleased to see that we are now building on the previous 2015 devolution deal for Cornwall and taking the next step towards unlocking further benefits of devolution for the half a million people who live here.

 

Some of the key features of the deal include Cornwall’s first ever long-term, fully devolved investment fund of £360m guaranteed for the next 30 years; Powers to improve local skills to ensure these meet the needs of the local economy; £8.7 million to support the building of new homes on brownfield land; An additional £500,000 for transport planning to support the area to improve key transport infrastructure priorities and new powers to drive the regeneration of Cornwall and to build more affordable homes.

There is also up to £10 million for housing and heritage-led regeneration to support the delivery of locally determined priorities in Cornwall, and £500,000 of funding to protect and promote the Cornish language.

The deal also includes a commitment from government to work with Cornwall to finds ways to better manage the impact of second homes and holiday lets.

This significant deal could also mark a new era of political leadership by establishing a different relationship with the Government for Cornwall. This presents a huge opportunity for Cornwall and gives us the chance to obtain more decision-making powers and millions of pounds of additional investment to deliver on priorities for the people of Cornwall.

There has been a lot of speculation and rumour about the devolution deal, however, now that this ground-breaking announcement has been made, people can see for themselves exactly what this will mean for Cornwall rather than taking other peoples’ word for it: www.gov.uk/government/publications/cornwall-devolution-deal-kevambos-digresennans-kernow

I want to make it clear that this is the start of that journey, not the end, and what’s in the immediate deal, although very positive, is not the end of the story. The devolution deal will provide Cornwall with the basis to continue to negotiate with the government for more additional funding and powers to make the changes we want to see here happen.

There has also been much misunderstanding about what a Mayor will mean for Cornwall. Instead of 87 councillors choosing who will lead Cornwall Council, everyone living in Cornwall will be able to have a say on who will lead the Duchy.

 

This is not about creating another layer of bureaucracy, but about ensuring the Leader is elected by the people of Cornwall, who best understand what Cornwall needs. This will give the council leader a greater democratic mandate and can be directly held to account by the people of Cornwall.

The devolution deal will also give the Duchy a much higher profile and puts us around the table with people like the Mayors of London, Greater Manchester and West Midlands.

A lot has been said about what this deal will mean for Cornwall, but I hope people can now see for themselves and make up their own mind rather than listening to speculation and rumours.

There will now be a comprehensive consultation by Cornwall Council to listen to the views of people across Cornwall and I would encourage everyone to have their say and feed into that conversation. The 10-week consultation is set to begin on 9 December and if supported, the election of a Mayor for Cornwall will take place in May 2024.

I now look forward to working with my colleagues in Westminster and Cornwall Council to progress this important deal which has the potential to drive real improvements and outcomes for the people of Cornwall.

 

As ever, if I can be of assistance on any matter, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – tel: 01726 829379 or email: office@stevedouble.org.uk