Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info On the run-up to the Cornwall Council election on May 1, we've asked each party and political group to address the reasons why people should vote for their candidates and what their manifesto is to maintain and improve the lives of the 580,000 people who live in the Duchy. The council's Non-aligned Group outlines why it believes Cornish residents should vote for its candidates in two weeks' time. The group is made up of former Conservative councillors who resigned from the party to become independent members who are not affiliated to any political group. Finance: borrowings have reached an unsustainable level. Interest on monies borrowed is unaffordable and monies need to be repaid, for every £10m borrowed £600k is required annually to service it. Major projects like Langarth and Pydar need to be undertaken commercially. Newquay airport: Losses are increasing as passenger numbers reduce, it either needs to be run efficiently or privatised. Spaceport is highly unlikely to ever host a rocket launch and further subsidy merely massages the ego of senior officers. The Eastern Airways public service flights to London are unlikely to receive an extension of government funding so an alternative carrier will be needed. A review by aviation experts is necessary to see if the whole operation is being run as efficiently as possible. School transport: The eligibility of free transport needs to be re appraised. The safety of a walking route should take into account the ability to walk it in bad weather especially on exposed moorland. The assessment should take place at the time the child is expected to walk the route. It should also be possible for a parent to walk the route with the child and a younger sibling in a buggy. Any discretion on numerical limits should be restricted to 10 per cent. To sign up to the weekly Cornwall Politics newsletter click here. Adult Social Care is a statutory duty and officers have worked diligently to reduce costs. It is essential that best value for money remains a priority. The Dedicated Schools Grant is causing concern as it currently does not need to be declared on the council balance sheet. Work must be done to reduce the liability which is currently scheduled to reach nearly £100m in a couple of years. We cannot rely on a benevolent central government to pick up the tab. The posting of a cabinet member to a senior post in Newquay Spaceport would appear suspicious. The appointment requires a full investigation and should be overturned if not compliant with recruitment procedures. Democracy must return with councillors dictating policy. Officers should then carry out policy as set by councillors. Contracts over £100k should be authorised by a cabinet member. Social housing is desperately needed, the allocation system needs to be changed to give local people priority over others. More work needs to be done to reduce the number of people in emergency accommodation, the costs of which need to be reduced. All towns with a police station should have a public access counter. With the NHS reforms imminent we must ensure that public access to treatment is open to all who need it. Transport to and from appointments must be available at affordable cost even when out of Cornwall. Thirty per cent of Cornish residents rely on Devonian hospitals. Non-aligned councillors will campaign for local issues and won’t be hog-tied by party dogma. Cornwall Council elections 2025: All the candidates you can vote for on May 1 Cornwall Council elections 2025: The Conservatives on why you should vote for them on May 1 Cornwall Council elections 2025: Liberal Democrats on why you should vote for them on May 1 Cornwall Council elections 2025: Labour on why you should vote for them on May 1 Cornwall Council elections 2025: Independents on why you should vote for them on May 1 Cornwall Council elections 2025: Reform UK on why you should vote for them on May 1 Cornwall Council elections 2025: Mebyon Kernow on why you should vote for them on May 1 Cornwall Council elections 2025: Non-aligned Group on why you should vote for them on May 1