THIS week, all eyes will be on Westminster as MPs take once again to the green benches for a frantic two weeks before conference season begins.

While I’m in London, though, my eyes will be on Cornwall. Namely Cornwall Council’s economic scrutiny committee, who are meeting to discuss the private outsourcing of car park enforcement.

This seems to be the latest in a string of planned firesales in the dying days of Cornwall’s Conservative-run council, seemingly hellbent on balancing the books at whatever cost.

Unfortunately, they only seem to be focusing on their own interests, rather than the long-term future of Cornwall. In looking to sell our car parks to the highest bidder, the council have all but set in stone rising costs for residents, while also missing an easy win that would keep car parks under our control and even lead to a profit.

Since most private companies coming in will look to use automatic number plate recognition systems, there is no reason why Cornwall Council can’t make this investment itself.

This way, rather than the focus being turning a profit, we can put our residents first, keeping costs down and putting our efforts instead towards enforcement and keeping money spent in Cornwall in Cornwall.

The Conservative-run council’s mismanagement of asset sales is a theme that’s been repeating since March, as it announced the sale or transfer of 2,000 of its assets in a bid to save money. While it might look to them like they’re making a quick buck, to the rest of us, it screams of a lack consideration and professionalism that will leave Cornwall Council’s finances in tatters for the next administration.

I was elected on a promise to fight for Cornish prosperity, and to me, keeping our carparks under our control is a step in the right direction. I’m hoping the scrutiny committee sees sense and pushes back on the decision to sell our carparks. Cornwall deserves to have control over its assets and residents deserve to see the money they spend invested back into the community, rather than flowing upcountry or offshore.

Noah Law

Labour MP for St Austell and Newquay