An EDA correspondent writes, “Don’t forget that EDDC have been co-operating with Exeter and Teignbridge regarding the SHMA! Which has been delayed and delayed again, largely because EDDC, Teignbridge and Exeter cannot agree upon the methodology and outcome. Thus leaving us high and dry without a Local Plan. So much for cooperation, and saving money by acting together.”
For EDDC’s announcement yesterday, see https://eastdevonwatch.org/2014/11/25/greater-exeter-a-profoundly-undemocratic-decision/
“Buck of the Millenium” awards go to:
Leader Paul Diviani – Leader, that’s a clue! He led his fellow-councillors up the Skypark creek and dropped them in their supermarket boat without paddles.
To the members of the Relocation Working Party for … well for nothing- wasting public money perhaps? Councillors Bloxham, Buxton, Cox, Diviani (of course), Elson, Gazzard, Hull, Moulding, Newth, Stott and Twiss. Particular mention here for Councillor Newth who, as a Sidmouth councillor, allowed the Knowle and all its employees to slip away on her watch.
Special mentions must go to the Chief Executive Mark Williams and particularly to the Deputy Chief Executive Richard Cohen who managed to make the whole process so secret that no checks and balances could take place, let alone consultation. It is possible that the fatal flaws would have been spotted much earlier had they been in the public domain so why … .
And, last but definitely not least, let us not forget “embedded” Relocation Manager Steve Pratten, hired out from Davis Langdon for a huge fee to provide us with …. er … pass.
To all these we would really like to say ….. goodbye.
A statistic: the amount of money spent on this failed project would have paid a good part of the upgrade costs of the Knowle.
Expelled-ex-Tory Councillor Graham Brown (former Chairman of the first Local Plan panel and former Chairman of the East Devon Business Forum) has had his application for a certificate of lawfulness in breach of a restrictive covenant for more than 10 years at his home at Ware Farm refused:
Feniton developers Wainhomes make their buyers agree to a restrictive covenant that says they must not object to adjacent development:
Oh, the panic! No supermarket so no Skypark – now what! Think, think …. oh heck, we’ve sold the Knowle site – humungous panic. Wait, wait, there’s some space in Exmouth, there’s some space at the East Devon Business Centre (especially now we have told tenants they will need to leave), yeah, that should do it, quick, quick, a press release, oh heck, how are we going to talk our way out of this one, how can we fix it before the next election! Now, who can I pass the buck to? What, me, buck – no way!
Oh, and someone had better tell the councillors – oh damn, they have read it first on the EDA website and the Express and Echo.
That’s another fine mess you’ve got me into Ollie …. Ollie …. where are you Ollie!
Time to lie down in a darkened room …. what’s that, the last person left and turned the lights out?
Extract from council papers:
Report to: Cabinet
3 December 2014
Relocation Update – key decision
Purpose of report
In particular to make Members aware that Marketing of Knowle and Manstone sites is completed and further discussions with bidders are in progress and ….. to advise Members of changed circumstances and proposed changes to the preferred new HQ site.
Recommendation
1. Note project progress following the previous update report of4 June 2014
2. Recognise emerging changes to the relocation project agreethe following:
a. The marketing exercise for Knowle and Manstone has resulted in a range of offers and , following a detailed assessment process,
we have received price, form and quality of development propositions that merit further detailed negotiation toward selection of a preferred developer.
In the interim, Exmouth Town Hall has been vacated by Devon County Council Services and represents a new opportunity within the relocation plan.
As part of its commitment to more mobile working and accessibility, the Council will offer a service presence as customers require in future at locations elsewhere in the District.
combining capital receipt and repayment of prudential borrowing versus existing office running cost and unfunded expenditure on
existing building repair, maintenance and improvement.
Authorise the Deputy Chief Executive (Development, Regeneration and Partnership) in consultation with the Office
Accommodation Executive Group to take forward further actions in pursuit of the above recommendations and Project
Plan
4. Agree that further reports are produced for Cabinet and Council on project progress and to seek formal approval for any disposal of Knowle
AND MORE MAJOR COCKUPS:
Do recall that, all down the line, EDDC insisted that the relocation would be “cost neutral”!
Click to access 031214-cabinet-agenda-public-version.pdf
One highlight:
Surprise, surprise! The following statement has just been issued by East Devon District Council:
25 November 2014
Development at Knowle and changes to destination to be considered by cabinet
Significant changes to the preferred location of new council offices in East Devon will be discussed at cabinet next week (Wednesday, 3 December).
Cabinet will hear the latest developments since it was last reported in February and how changing market conditions mean that SkyPark is no longer the preferred option.
Whilst SkyPark has been the leading contender as the relocation site, the council was very clear that no decision was going to be made on the final location until all the facts and figures were known with other key pieces in what is a complex jigsaw slotting in to place.
Instead, recommendations to cabinet are to retain the council-owned Heathpark site in Honiton and potentially combine East Devon Business Centre with a new headquarters. This will allow existing tenants of the business centre to remain.
In addition, it is recommended that the council use the existing office space at Exmouth Town Hall, recently vacated by Devon County Council. This would allow for a smaller building in Honiton and existing tenants at Exmouth Town Hall to remain.
Interest
Marketing of Heathpark began last year and the highest value commercial interest came from a supermarket operator. The offer price negotiated at that time was attractive as part of the funding package to relocate to SkyPark but the supermarket reduced its offer in line with a new business sector model. The reduced offer makes a sale of the site no longer attractive.
In response to marketing of Knowle and Manstone, a mix of proposals were received, which contained variations on residential, retirement and/or care and extra care communities whilst retaining the public park. All proposals were based on the removal of existing buildings at Knowle (whilst keeping or re-provisioning the bat roost). A range of matters still need to be explored before selecting a preferred bidder but once selected, it will be for the developer to enter into discussions with the planning authority to explore proposals.
Among the bids are proposals to develop Knowle only. It could well be that a preferred developer is selected that leaves Manstone to continue operating as a depot for the time being. The depot functions currently provided at Knowle Depot would be transferred across to Manstone.
New build at Honiton and refurbishment of Exmouth Town Hall will be funded by capital receipts and prudent borrowing. Over a 20 year period the spend will at least pay for itself with savings accruing after then. This would allow the council to remove itself from a costly, uncertain and increasingly impractical future at Knowle.
Essential repair works to existing buildings would cost £1.5 million and there is no funding allocation to cover this cost. Refurbishment of all existing buildings would cost up to £15.9m. Knowle has high annual energy costs of £83,900 per year compared to a predicted energy cost for Honiton/Exmouth combined of £33,700 per year.
Operationally, a twin site approach accommodating around 250 officers will be supported by mobile working. The council aims to expand its digital offering and has an ongoing project to improve existing online transactions and develop a further online service for customers who would like to do their business online.
Demand
Sites in two of East Devon’s major towns provide an ideal opportunity for the council to respond to the demand for various services. It is clear there is a need to increase service provision for housing benefits, Council Tax, housing advice and register and debt advice in both Exmouth and Honiton and there would be significant demand led presences in Sidmouth and Axminster.
The council would provide surgeries in other towns as they do in Cranbrook, Seaton, Ottery St Mary and would experiment with frequency and range of services depending on demand.
In the longer term, the council needs to consider the shape of local government. A combined Honiton and Exmouth office base offers a more flexible approach to our accommodation requirements involving new and modernised offices in two locations. In a world of increasing co-operation between local authorities, a smaller headquarters and an accessible presence around the district offers a better proposition for our customers.
If a successor organisation or other local government arrangement inherited Knowle from the council it is unlikely that such care would be shown toward its future use as shown by the East Devon District Council.
Cabinet’s decision next week will then be considered by full council on Wednesday, 17 December.
A correspondent has put together a group of Excel spreadsheets of all EDDC expenditure over £500 between 2010 and 2014. Figures are arranged by year, by payee, by cost centres, etc. and were provided by EDDC as required by law.
The document is HERE eddc_over500
Of course, of as much interest is payments NOT included here. Already one eagle-eyed viewer has noted that there do not seem to have been any payments made to the East Devon Business Forum. Even if it was paid monthly there are some payments far below the £500 per month threashold when such payments must be advertised.
Please feel free to comment here or email us at
if you see any anomalies.
and an interesting comment on Independent councillor Claire Wright’s blog:
“It would be so dangerously easy to misconstrue this development as an attempt to coordinate housing development for builders rather than address the real agenda that means something to the electorate. Or is it that this development is the sweet spot for the various individuals involved, because they have quite deliberately chosen to focus on development rather than caring for the community. Still, elections are coming so best hurry through what you can while you can?”
Young woman: Dad, what would you think of Pete Exeter as a husband for me?
Father: Now, hold on young lady, we know nothing about him. What are his job prospects? Can he offer you a good lifestyle? Is he trustworthy? And what do we know about those relatives that he’s so cosy with – the Teignbridges? I need to know a whole lot more about him and them before I can answer that question. We East-Devons don’t just jump into things without thinking about them first, you know.
Young woman: Too late, Dad. We got married yesterday. Now, about you – you’ve been alone too long, so I’ve set up a blind date for you with a woman I met on the bus – seems nice – Southie Somerset is her name. Oh, and the banns are being read on Sunday and I’ve booked the honeymoon …
” … Workers across East Devon are earning more than £3,000 lower than the national average, new research has shown.
In Teignbridge employees earn an average of £18,026 a year, more than £4,000 fewer (stet) than the national average. ” …
Oh well, cheap labour for “Greater Exeter”:
East Devon Watch 