Charlotte MacKenzie

Posts Tagged ‘Charlotte MacKenzie’

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More homes for Cornwall

In Uncategorized on July 2, 2009 at 1:24 pm

Labour’s prospective MP challenges Cornwall Council to meet the need for affordable local homes.

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On the day that Cornwall Council appointed its new portfolio holders for Housing and Planning, Charlotte MacKenzie asked Councillor Mark Kaczmarek and Councillor Graeme Hicks to meet her to discuss how the new Council will meet the need for local affordable housing.

Hundreds of people have signed Labour’s petition (on and offline) to meet the need for local affordable homes. The petition will go to Cornwall Council.

Following the meeting on Monday 29 June, Charlotte MacKenzie said:

‘We had a good discussion in which I pressed the new portfolio holders on the need for positive action by Cornwall Council to deliver more affordable homes despite the challenging context.

‘It’s vital that more homes are made available for the 18,000 households on waiting lists in Cornwall. The Council is already committed to completing over 2000 homes each year up to 2011, it will take positive leadership to make that happen in the present climate, and with Government backing more could be achieved.

‘I’m delighted for everyone who is waiting for a new home in Cornwall that on Monday the Government announced it is increasing investment in housing. So that more new homes are completed and more jobs are created in the construction industry.

‘Cornwall Council is a major landowner. The challenge to the new Council is to bid for funding, build, release their land, give go ahead to planning permissions, and adjust allocations policy to meet local needs for affordable homes.

‘Cornwall Council has said it wants to provide more strategic leadership locally. This is their opportunity to make a real difference for people with local housing needs.’

For more information contact Charlotte MacKenzie 01872 261675.

Notes

1. The £1.5 billion housing investment outlined in Building Britain’s Future includes:

o Extra funding for councils and housing associations – to build around 15,500 new affordable homes, of which over 11,000 will be available for social rental and the rest will be affordable housing. More may be built if greater value for money can be achieved.

o Extending the Kickstart programme – to get stalled housing sites back on track, with the aim of delivering an additional 13,000 homes, of which 4,000 will be affordable.

o Investing in the development of public sector land – owned by the HCA, local councils and other public sector bodies to deliver up to 1,250 units of which 500 could be affordable.

On top of the Government’s existing housing commitments and recent announcements in the Budget, the new investment will deliver an additional 20,000 new affordable energy efficient homes over the next two years. 45,000 new jobs will be created in the construction and related industries to build the extra new homes.

2. The investment will be matched with reforms that deliver value for money and recognise rights and responsibilities for those in social housing. While preserving security of tenure, reforms will include:

o Changing the current rules for allocating social housing – not changing those previously required for people in serious housing need (the ‘reasonable preference’ categories) but by enabling councils to manage better local pressures on their waiting lists, and to give more preferences to those who have spent a long time on a waiting list.

o Expanding Choice Based Lettings – to help residents to move nationwide, and support to tenants who need to move to take up the offer of a new job.

o Clamping down on sub-lettings fraud – freeing up more homes for those in need. o Reforming the council house finance system – to allow councils to keep all the proceeds from their own council house sales and council rents.

3. Housing and Planning Minister John Healey MP confirmed that the Government wants local Councils to act. He said: “Together these announcements signal my intention to get local authorities involved in delivering more housing that their local area needs. Councils haven’t built significant numbers of housing for a long time, but with this extra cash and an overhaul of the council house funding system I am giving councils the green light to start building more homes in their area. And we are putting our money where our mouth is to fund new Housing Association developments, get mothballed housing projects back on track, and free up public land for more affordable homes.”

Photo: Charlotte MacKenzie with John Healey MP at County Hall in July 2008.

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Fighting climate change in Cornwall

In Uncategorized on June 27, 2009 at 8:40 am
Labour’s prospective MP calls for Britain to lead the way at UN climate change summit.
 
On 26 June the Labour Government published “The Road to Copenhagen”, Britain’s pitch for what the deal should include at the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen in December. This makes clear that Britain will be on the side arguing for action.
 
Labour’s prospective MP for Truro and Falmouth Charlotte MacKenzie said:
 
“Climate change is something we all need to be concerned with. People across Cornwall have got in touch with me on this issue. Worried about what kind of planet we are going to leave for the next generation.
 
“But if we do act, instead of these changes and what they mean for our homes and countryside, we could have a more stable climate and new jobs in Cornwall. Instead of it being treated like a government secret, the Road to Copenhagen document will be sent to schools, libraries, citizens advice centres and other places across Cornwall.
 
“I’ll make sure I get your opinions on what needs to be done. I’m playing an active part in developing the Cornwall climate change action plan. And I’ll make sure I tell Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what people in Cornwall are saying.”
 
Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said:
 
“This is make or break time for our climate and our future. With less than six months to go before crunch negotiations in Copenhagen, it’s clear that there is no ‘plan B’.
 
“The world’s got no option but to work together to get a global climate deal that’s ambitious, effective and fair.
 
“Our climate manifesto puts the British public in the front and centre of our efforts to get a climate deal.
 
“For people in Britain, getting a global deal now will mean reducing the risk of devastating future climate impacts and the huge extra costs that would bring.  But it will also open the door to big new opportunities to create green jobs and economic prosperity.
 
“So here is the challenge for Britain: we need to show the way to a low-carbon future, but we also need to get all countries signed up to acting as well. We can help tip the balance by our own actions and by persuading other countries to join a global deal at the UN meeting in Copenhagen, this December.”
 
For further information visit http://www.actoncopenhagen.decc.gov.uk

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Labour’s prospective MP pledges to clean politics

In Uncategorized on June 25, 2009 at 4:54 pm

Labour’s prospective MP for Truro and Falmouth, Charlotte MacKenzie, today pledged to maintain high standards as an elected representative and politician.

Charlotte MacKenzie said: “I would like all our elected representatives and politicians to help to clean up politics by subscribing to this pledge. There are too many examples – including some local ones – where MPs have let down their constituents and seem to have put self-interest ahead of the people they were elected to serve.”

The Labour pledge reads, “As a Labour candidate:

I seek elected office for the honour of serving the public and our democracy;

I will subscribe to high standards of integrity, transparency, accountability and prudence with public money;

I will publish online my full salary and parliamentary allowances;

I believe it a duty to hold regular meetings, engagement events and surgeries with my community and constituents and will do so;

I will communicate regularly with my electorate and will be available through email, telephone and other means to my constituents;

I will regularly report back to my constituency party as well as to my constituents.”

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Recycle for Cornwall

In Uncategorized on June 23, 2009 at 2:31 pm
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A Labour parliamentary spokesperson for Cornwall is supporting national recycle week June 22-28.
 
Recycling has never been more important.
 
Labour’s prospective MP for Truro and Falmouth Charlotte MacKenzie commented:
 
“Cornwall needs to greatly reduce the amount of waste collected in black bags as we pay landfill tax on every one of them and it is estimated this will cost local council tax payers £160 Million.
 
“Four out of ten households in the former Carrick area don’t use the kerbside recycling scheme which collects glass, plastic bottles, cardboard, paper, tins and other recycling from your doorstep. There are also recycling points at some supermarkets and car parks, and tubes to collect batteries for recycling at several local post offices.
 
“A lot of people are worried about the cost of living at the moment and recycling and reducing waste can help to save you money.
 
“I hope lots of people will support the recycling week events being organised by Cornwall Council or find out more at the Go Green event being organised by the Rotary Club in Truro on Saturday 27 June.”
Picture: Charlotte MacKenzie with representatives of Transition Truro, Truro City Council, and the Post Office delivering the battery recycling tube to Truro post office at High Cross. 

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Call for consultation on bus services

In Uncategorized on April 7, 2009 at 2:44 pm

Labour’s Charlotte MacKenzie today called on the new Cornwall Council and First Devon and Cornwall Ltd to consult people on changes to bus routes and timetables in Falmouth and Truro.

Charlotte MacKenzie said:

“Reliable local bus services are very important, particularly for the over-60s and young people. I am very concerned about the changes made to the 88 and 88b service between Falmouth/Penryn and Truro, and the impact on people needing a service that stops at Perranwell or travelling to Treliske.

“In addition, it is unclear whether the number 93 bus will continue to stop at Trelissick, enabling people to travel by bus to visit the gardens when new timetables come into operation from 3 May.

“Some changes to Council subsidised routes seem to have been made without public consultation.

“People hoped that the merger of Truronian with First might improve local bus services, not lead to cuts.”

Charlotte MacKenzie has written to Cornwall Council and First about these routes, as well as other bus service issues raised with her by local groups.

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Call for new Cornwall Council to help hard-pressed tenants now

In Uncategorized on April 2, 2009 at 10:21 pm

Labour’s would-be MP for Truro and Falmouth, Charlotte MacKenzie, has called on the new Cornwall Council to take advantage of help offered to hard-pressed tenants by the Government to lower rent increases.

On 6 March the Housing Minister, Margaret Beckett, announced that the Government was to invite local authorities to apply for cash to reduce average guideline rent increases from 6.2 per cent to 3.1 per cent.

The changes to the guideline rent increase means tenants should see a marked drop in their proposed average rent increase for the coming year – but only if the help is claimed.

Charlotte MacKenzie said:
“This offer of help by the Government is welcomed by hard-pressed tenants in Truro and Falmouth constituency – but it’s up to the new Cornwall Council to claim it. Today they will have received a letter setting out what their new revised guideline rent will be and if any time is lost in responding positively local tenants will want to know why.

“The Government has listened to what people in Carrick said about the planned rent increases, and I am determined to help tenants get a fair and affordable deal. I am delighted that the Government has listened to people who wrote to them – including the letter that I sent to housing and local government ministers – and representations by Carrick Tenants Forum.

“I have written to Cornwall Council asking them to make sure we don’t miss out.”

Margaret Beckett said:
“We are determined to do all that we can to help local people in these difficult times, which is why I announced this extra help on 6 March. As I set out, there is no reason why the revised increases cannot be introduced straight away, so I would urge Cornwall Council to ensure that there is no delay in taking up the offer.”

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Cash boost for schools in Cornwall will help local economy

In Uncategorized on March 3, 2009 at 2:43 pm

Charlotte MacKenzie has welcomed news that schools across Cornwall will get extra funding this year. As part of the Government’s efforts to support local businesses and jobs through the recession, millions of pounds of spending on school buildings and repairs are being brought forward from 2010/11 to 2009/10.

Every school in Cornwall will benefit with £3,889,148 of funding brought forward from next year to this year – a total of £13,612,017 of spending this year. The funding will go direct to headteachers and schools can choose how to spend the money as they see fit, from building new classrooms or science laboratories to fitting out new gyms or ICT facilities.

In addition, the Government has allowed Cornwall County Council to bring forward £3,000,000 for larger school building projects co-ordinated by the local authority – making a total of £16,066,374 of spending this year. This week’s announcements mean a total of £29,678,391 will be spent on school buildings and repairs in Cornwall from April £6,889,148 of it brought forward from the following year.

Charlotte MacKenzie, Labour‘s prospective MP for Truro and Falmouth, said: “It’s vital that we support the economy at this difficult time, so I’m delighted that every school in our area will benefit from this injection of extra funding this year.

“This is all part of the Government’s efforts to put extra money into the economy this year to help the country through the recession. So I hope local schools will get on and spend the money – not just to improve facilities for pupils but to support small businesses and jobs in our area too.

“But I urge the Lib Dems on Cornwall County Council to look again at their response to the Government’s offer to bring forward spending on school building projects co-ordinated by the Council. It’s a shame that they’ve only decided to bring forward 15.8% of the total available to them to support jobs and businesses in our area.

“It’s also disappointing that the Tories oppose our plan to bring forward spending on school buildings. Just at the time when we should be supporting the economy the Tories say they would actually cut spending, including billions of pounds from our school rebuilding programme. This would be bad news for local schools and bad news for local businesses.”

For more information please contact Charlotte MacKenzie 01872 261675.

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Report criticises Liberal Democrat council leadership

In Uncategorized on January 13, 2009 at 1:02 pm

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Charlotte Mackenzie, the Labour candidate for Falmouth and Truro, commented this morning on the published corporate assessment report from the Audit Commission on Cornwall’s fire services. She said:

“Sadly, this report confirms what local people fear. Fire services in Cornwall have deteriorated under Liberal Democrat leadership of council services since 2005. Fire services are now rated as ‘poor’ rather than ‘fair’.

“Among other issues, the report highlights weak political leadership by the County Council and recommends that ‘councillors need to take a stronger role in leading and challenging performance’ of Cornwall’s fire service.

“This is not the only service to receive less good ratings since the Liberal Democrats were elected in 2005 – the same is true of adult social care. At unitary authority elections later this year, people in Cornwall will have an opportunity to tell the Liberal Democrats what the Audit Commission can’t – it is time for you to go, Cornwall deserves better local political leadership.”

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Meet the need for local affordable homes

In Uncategorized on January 11, 2009 at 8:00 pm

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Hundreds of shoppers at a busy Penryn supermarket on Saturday signed Labour’s petition to meet the need for affordable local housing. Those signing ranged from students to pensioners, and included people losing work locally because of the slowdown in the construction industry. 

Charlotte MacKenzie said:
“Many people’s dream of finding a place of their own will be put on hold if developers do not proceed as planned with major developments like that of the former Richard Lander school site in Truro.

“Labour in Government is taking action to help people keep their homes despite the credit crunch. Carrick Housing has funding to build new social housing; and some local housing associations in Cornwall are also purchasing unsold homes, in developments affected by the downturn in the housing market, with the help of Government funds.

“It is really important that local authorities also work with developers in a way that maximises the opportunities that are available. This petition will go to the new Cornwall Council, which will be responsible for housing and homelessness in future, as well as for sustainable economic development.

“We want to move the debate forward. The people supporting our petition are not saying every controversial development proposal in Falmouth and Truro must be allowed to go ahead. But they recognise that if more affordable homes are needed, new housing does need to be built.”

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People in Falmouth and Penryn demand full-time firecover continues

In Uncategorized on January 5, 2009 at 2:10 pm

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The Labour parliamentary candidate for Falmouth and Truro, Charlotte MacKenzie, said today that people must be told about future fire-service plans.

Last year, campaigners in Falmouth and Penryn secured a victory when the Council lifted its recruitment freeze on full-time firefighters, clearing the way for vacancies to be filled and for Falmouth fire-station’s full-time cover to continue at night. However, a management report last October included the option of switching some of that full-time cover to other stations in Cornwall.

Charlotte MacKenzie said:
“Thousands of people signed petitions and joined the facebook group to save 24-hour full-time fire cover in Penryn and Falmouth. It is time the Council reassured the community and said what its fire-service plans are. I have written today to the new interim chief fire officer to make him aware of the strength of local feeling on this issue.

“The Council and Implementation Executive are now setting the budget for the new Cornwall Council. This does not include plans to increase the fire-services budget to take account of issues highlighted in the risk management report. If cover needs to be improved, the money should be found to do that. Cornwall is receiving the sixth largest revenue grant increase in the country. The Government is also providing additional funds that must be spent on equipping fire-services.

“It is great to see Commercial Road in Penryn return to business as usual after the furniture shop fire at night and despite the economic recession. Everyone knows that with 24-hour docks, oil storage, busy hotels and guest houses, university campuses and student accommodation, Falmouth and Penryn need full-time fire-cover at night.”

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