A COUNCIL tax surcharge for second-home owners is just one of a range of policy announcements made by Cornwall’s new Conservative administration.

The senior members of the new cabinet have set out their observations and their key priorities as they reflect on their first 100 days in office.

Tackling what she described as “financial mismanagement” by the previous Independent/Lib Dem Council, would be one of the first challenges, said leader Linda Taylor.

Deputy leader and cabinet member for finance Cllr David Harris worded it more strongly:

“I was asked to comment on the first 100 days of a Conservative Administration in County Hall so I said, " There is no money" and was told a longer comment was needed so I said " There is no ******** money".

“I will not gild the lily, after four years probing and questioning the old junta and being fobbed off with polite words and a Cabinet who seemed to believe whatever they wanted to tell themselves ….we are now looking at holes in the financial model going forward that are quite staggering. “

My job, along with the entire Cabinet and in particular working with our excellent Chief Operating Officer and her teams, is to look at how we balance the budgets.”

A thorough review of “the Council’s entire operating model and huge property estate” had already begun, he said, and there would be some “difficult choices ahead”, but he promised that the new administration would not shirk decisions.

Cornwall’s housing crisis and climate change were among the top priorities, said senior councillors, as they move forward in their first term. The new leaders say they also wants to streamline the way residents in Cornwall interact with the Council, and have pledged to bring in one sole customer record for each person through all the Council’s various departments, and Alexa integration to allow people to “talk to the Council at any time and get immediate responses”.

Councillor Olly Monk, who holds the portfolio for Housing and Planning, said:

“Make no mistake about it, Cornwall is currently in a housing crisis, exacerbated by the Covid-19 crisis.

“What is needed is not complaining letters to the government and more debate, but action. Since taking office we have launched a nuts and bolts review of all aspects of Housing in Cornwall.”

“We are committed to building the housing that the people of Cornwall need and make sure that this housing goes to people living in Cornwall.”

The Council is currently building two temporary accommodation sites for single, vulnerable residents, and refurbishing more than 100 properties to be brought back into use for temporary accommodation, and there are plans for more emergency and short-term housing, said Cllr Monk.

“Moving forward this Council will commence building and purchasing large amounts of Council homes. This will start to address the imbalance of the Cornish housing market.

“We have also began the process that will allow us to work with our MPs and Government to demand a change in the law that will allow Cornwall Council to force second home owners to have to pay Council Tax that will be subject to a surcharge . We will also insist that any residential property that the owner wants to use as a holiday let has to be licensed.”