Newspaper column 19 May 2021 - The Queen's Speech and housing

Last week Parliament returned from the prorogation with the State Opening of Parliament when Her Majesty the Queen began a new session of Parliament with the ‘Queen’s Speech’. This is where the government lays out its programme for the new session.

The Queen’s Speech laid out a comprehensive programme of bills and other measures the government will be bringing to Parliament including key areas such as the environment, animal welfare, crime and victim support, protecting free speech, supporting the NHS, providing people with the skills they will need for the future, planning reform and levelling up our economy.

Every new session of Parliament begins with several days of debate on the topics in the Queen’s Speech. I am pleased to be able to contribute to the debate last Thursday. In my speech I raised one of the issues that I know is currently a major concern for local people – housing.

We have seen a dramatic increase in demand for housing, to purchase and rent, in Cornwall. Some reports indicate that there have been over 15 million searches for properties to buy in Cornwall already this year, the highest in the country, and over 1 million people looking to rent a home. I have often said that I can appreciate why so many people are interested in living in what is the most amazing place in the UK, I mean I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. But the current situation is unsustainable and is having a very negative impact for local people and businesses.

My office is regularly being contacted by local people who are finding it impossible to find a place to live, whether to purchase or rent. I also know of many businesses that are struggling to find the staff they need, not because they cannot recruit staff, but because often those staff are coming from elsewhere and although they find a job they then cannot find anywhere to live and so have to decline the job offer.

In my speech in Parliament, I highlighted the concerns many local people have raised with me. Clearly part of the solution is that we do need to build more homes in order to meet the housing need both locally and nationally. The government are proposing new legislation that will seek to simplify the planning process to make it easier to build the new homes we most definitely need. However, I also acknowledge the reasonable concerns some have about the impact any reform of the planning system may have.

The experience in Cornwall of the past decades is that just building more houses does not necessarily mean local people are able to access these new homes. Too many are purchased by people who use them as an investment – whether that is as 2^nd homes, holiday lets or buy to rent properties. There is little point in building lots of new houses if they aren’t available for local people to buy or rent as their main residence.

This is a hugely complex matter and anyone who pretends there are quick or easy solutions doesn’t understand the realities of the housing market. We live in a free country where people are free to purchase property and live wherever the wish – I do not think anyone would seriously want to change this. The government has and continues to take steps to assist people onto the housing ladder. Schemes like Help to Buy have helped many first-time buyers. New measures such as 95% mortgages and a new homes discount scheme will further assist. I believe we also need to make more use of community land trusts and self-build opportunities as well as building more ‘affordable homes’ that are only offered to local people.

Following the debate, I have since spoken to the housing minister to ask him to ensure his office is aware of the current situation in Cornwall and what steps the government could take in the short term to help. There is not going to be a single solution to this challenge, but it is something that we need to work for a long-term sustainable solution to. I will continue to work to find the solutions we need so that local people, particularly our young people, have the opportunity to own or rent a home in the place we all love to call home.  

Newspaper column 12 May 2021 - Local elections update

 

Last week’s local elections proved to be historic for Cornwall. For the very first time the Conservative Party will form a majority administration at County Hall. This was the outcome of the hard fought campaign which saw the Conservatives win 47 of the 87 council seats.

Obviously, I am pleased with this outcome which will mean that with the council leadership being from the same party as all of Cornwall’s MP we will be much better able to work together for the benefit of Cornwall.

Here in St Austell and Newquay it was also a very positive result with the Conservatives taking 11 of the 16 seats. I want to pass on my congratulations to all those who were elected including the three Mebyon Kernow and two Independents.

There were some disappointments with two sitting Conservative councillors losing their seats. I want to say a big thank you to Mark Formosa and Sally-Anne Saunders for all their work for the residents of their divisions. Politics can sometimes be brutal, and it is sad to see hard working and dedicated councillors miss out on re-election. I am sure we would all wish them well for the future.

There were also a number of other councillors from different parties, who were not re-elected, many of them were long serving councillors over many years. I want to say thank you to them for all they have done for the communities they represented.

Having spent the past 6 weeks out and about speaking to local residents there were a number of clear priorities that were raised time and time again. Issues of anti-social behaviour, housing for local people, inappropriate and over development and traffic and speeding were the issues most often raised. The one thing I know is that the newly elected council will ensure that it works to deliver on the priorities of the people of Cornwall and I look forward to working with all those elected in a constructive and positive way to address the priorities of local people.

I know each of the Conservative Councillors well and I know they will be dedicated to representing and serve their communities. We do not have a magic wand to change things overnight, but I do know with Conservatives now representing a very large part of this constituency, including all of the seats in our two main towns of Newquay and St Austell, we have a team that will be determined to get things done and I know they have already made a start.

This election was of course quite different to normal, being held as we emerge from the lockdown. Despite this the election went off without a hitch and thanks should go to the council officers who made it possible. It also demonstrated that despite what some parties were claiming, it was the right decision to go ahead with the elections at this time.

Next week we will continue our journey out of the lockdown with another important step in easing the restrictions. As I write this we await to hear the precise details of what the Prime Minister will announce but all the indications are that indoor meetings will now be allowed.

I am sure we will all welcome this, particular as the weather currently seems to be against us. It will also enable pubs, bars and restaurants to serve customers inside which will be another important step on our economic recovery.

With the lifting of restrictions, I will be recommencing my regular Advice Surgeries. If you would like to book an appointment to see me, please contact me office on: tel. 01726 829379 or email office@stevedouble.org.uk