In the Chancellor’s budget speech yesterday (3^rd March 2021) it was announced that Cornwall was not designated a Priority 1 area, one of those areas most in need of funding under the government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda, but was given Priority 2 status.

Lib Dems on Cornwall Council have slammed Cornish Conservative MPs for not ensuring that Cornwall receives its fair share of this funding whilst many areas of the North of England have.

Newly released Government figures celebrate Lib Dem and Independent led Cornwall Council as the number one council in the country for supporting small businesses through the coronavirus pandemic.

Lib Dems on Cornwall Council have provided over £273million to businesses which have fallen through the gaps for support. Lib Dems on Cornwall Council are continuing to lobby the government for further funding. 

Cornwall Liberal Democrats are backing calls to make pet theft a specific criminal offence and change the law to treat stolen dogs as animals rather than possessions. 

A petition to make dog theft a specific criminal offence has so far reached 194, 171 signatures. According to the charity DogLost there has been a 170% increase in dog thefts since lockdown started.

Lib Dems and their Independent colleagues on Cornwall Council have today (23^rd February) approved the 2021/2022 budget for Cornwall.

Despite the Conservative government cutting funding to Cornwall Council from £175.6 million in 2015/16 to £126.3million in 2019/20 coupled with increasing social care costs, Lib Dems on Cornwall Council have balanced the budget, reduced interim and agency staff spending by two thirds compared to the Conservative administration, and increased spending on social care for vulnerable Cornish residents.

Lib Dems on Cornwall Council have today (23^rd February) secured £200,000 for an expanded and enhanced doctor’s surgery in Bodmin.

Two Bodmin GP surgeries - Carnewater and Stillmoor - have been working collaboratively to create a new doctors’ surgery.  However, funding concerns stalled progress between the health service providers. The £200,000 funding secured by Lib Dems on Cornwall Council will facilitate the progression of the expanded and enhanced health service for Bodmin residents.

Five years from its original adoption, Lib Dems on Cornwall Council have today (23^rd February 2021) approved the next phase of their Environmental Growth Strategy for Cornwall.

The refresh builds upon significant local action for safeguarding and stewarding our natural environment. The strategy also sets out in further detail how partners across Cornwall will work together to deliver the goal to grow nature set out in Gyllyn Warbarth: Together We Can, The Cornwall Plan 2020-50.

Lib Dems on Cornwall Council are today celebrating the 1000^th promised new home being completed. We have brought 380 long term empty homes back into use and helped deliver 1000 new homes for Cornwall - more than one in four of which are affordable homes for people with a connection to the local community.

The release of the government’s white paper setting out legislative proposals that will result in profound changes to the provision of health care is a step in the right direction, however, it has failed to lay out a substantial plan for social care, despite consistent calls for reform.

This week in Parliament (26^th January 2021), the Government introduced a motion to delay the Environment Bill by at least six months.

This is yet another delay to legislation the Government had declared as “landmark” and “vital” if the UK is to “maintain and improve our environmental protections as we leave the EU.

Cornwall Council Liberal Democrat Group are backing high standards for British food and farmers. The call comes following a Lib Dem backed cross-party amendment to the Trade Bill defeated the Government in the Lords yesterday. The amendment will ensure that future trade agreements meet the UK’s high standards of animal welfare and the environment.