6.30 this evening (Friday) at Clyst St George and Ebford Village Hall.
Monthly Archives: January 2015
A bumper Overview and Scrutiny Committee agenda with some hidden gems!
Thursday 22 January 2015, 6.30 p.m. Knowle
The agenda is here:
It really is hard to know where to start! So much to overview and (maybe not quite) scrutinise!
1. An update on relocation – the first for this committee since June 2014 (pages 14-35). Includes a long report about why Knowle is too run down to work in and the horrendous cost of putting this right. No mention of the fact that the buildings have had little or no maintenance for the at least the last 4 years (and almost certainly longer) so they have been allowed to deteriorate. Costings that would include stripping out and replacing just about EVERYTHING!
And, by the way, a little paragraph tucked away that confirms that EDDC was somehow planning to enter a “fixed price” contract for Skypark that would have been against EU regulations. Now, why wasn’t THAT spotted by the experts right at the start?
2. Then we move on to how to “improve” Task and Finish Forums. Basically, this would be done by agreeing the scope of such TAFFs in advance and not deviating from them one little bit. Oh, and getting the Legal Officer’s “advice” on such scoping. You see what we mean about a lot of overview and very little scrutiny. In this case, the Legal Officer fires the arrow, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee draws a bulls-eye around it and a TAFF says “look at that – exactly in the centre of the target!”.
A TAFF is meant to INVESTIGATE. To investigate it has to have a format that allows it to explore areas that might not at first be evident. No way, says EDDC, a TAFF does what our officers tell it to do, no more no less – though less would be good.
3. And then we get to an agenda item on the Business Task and Finish Forum (pages 61-65) which basically says that, as its Chairman Graham Brown is no longer with us, what’s the point of all this – let’s kick it into the long grass where it belongs just before an election.
It misses the point entirely: this was not (just) about its Chairman and his myriad of council and business interests. It was about a group of big local landowners and developers carving up the district in their own image (something which has,to a certain extent, since happened) and whether this was an appropriate way to bring together evidence and policy for a district council and its Local Plan. Well, that isn’t going to get an airing is it!
Much is made of a successor to the East Devon Business Forum – the EAST DEVON BUSINESS SUPPORT GROUP.
This group apparently has a one-page website which lists its members (basically Chambers of Commerce, the NFU and Federation of Small Businesses) but contains no mention of any constitution, meetings, scope, etc (perhaps the EDDC Legal Officer could help with that, just like the Economic Development Officer was SO helpful to the East Devon Business Forum as its Hon Sec). However, at least two of the “same old” names appear on the list of members crossing over with the old EDBF. And it has this addition:
“The East Devon Business Leaders Group.
“This organisation represents the larger businesses that operate within our district & it provides them with a forum where they can meet together to discuss matters which are of interest to the larger businesses.”
No web pages, no names of members, no names of businesses involved- oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Strategy 2014 – 2019
A question for the SWAP internal auditor
At the last Audit and Governance meeting, the internal auditor – SWAP – said they wanted electors to ask questions about Knowle relocation (as if there haven’t been enough!
So here is one:
What is the difference between “cost neutral” and “no additional cost” when speaking of Knowle relocation?
We ask because one of the answers to a question asked about this on “What Do They Know” is as follows:
Question: Could you confirm that the council still wishes to render any final decision as cost neutral?
Answer: To be specific, the Council is committed to delivering new offices at no additional cost to council tax payers.
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/relocation_manager#incoming-398480
Now, obviously there is something different about the two phrases or the answer would not have been so specific.
We are keeping our beady eyes on this one – the devil is in the detail and detail is hard to find at Knowle.
Councillors reject officer advice on large village development
Citing lack of sustainability:
Save Clyst St Mary campaign…NEW PROPOSALS AND IMPORTANT MEETING
This message has just been sent to supporters, including EDW:
‘Firstly, thank you to each and everyone of you for writing in letters objecting to the current planning proposals that we previously advertised. We are succeeding in making our voice known at Council level (and beyond!) and I have been told today that the number of objections is rapidly increasing. We managed to gain with the support of other like minded residents over the weekend another fifty five.
We have been approached by some residents concerned from the that one of the fields surrounding Walnut Cottages, off Oil Mill lane, Clyst St Mary is subject to a planning application for a solar farm. Objections close on Friday 16th January; however, we have been told that they will still count shortly after that date should you wish to object to this The Planning reference is 14/2952/MFUL. There are links from our website, together with a sample template letter that I have attached to this email. Should you wish to email your objection the correct email address is: planningwest@eastdevon.gov.uk
(Template letter shown here: Save Clst St Mary Campaign ObjectSolar )
Another important point to note is that we have been advised that there has now been a formal application submitted for forty houses directly behind the Clyst Valley Football Club, land which is presently owned by the Plymouth Brethren. This follows on from the consultation at Westpoint in December 2014 . Please be aware, on the plans available at the consultation, access to this development was to be gained from the demolition of a house in Clyst Valley Road, in order to create an access route through the estate. Unfortunately there is currently no reference to any point of access, nor the precise location of the proposed houses; should further details be obtained, obviously we will keep you informed. The reference for this proposed development is: 15/0072/MOUT. Again, there are currently no documents available on line to view, but.we will endeavour to keep you up to date as we find out more information.
As you are already aware, the outcome from The Parish Extraordinary last Wednesday resulted in Charlie Hopkins (expert planning consultant) being appointed to work for us. He is coming to talk with the Parish Council and the residents to agree representation for all of the major applications that are directly affecting us. The Parish Council has arranged a larger venue at the Village Hall, so hopefully no one will be left out in the cold this time! Please let’s try and once again fill the new venue – your support is all that’s required Tuesday 20th January at 7.30pm
Remember: Together, we can do this!’
Gaeron Kayley
http://saveclyststmary.org.uk/
Contaminated land: guidance for lawyers
There are a number of development sites in East Devon that are, or may be, on contaminated land.
For anyone considering buying a home on land that may be contaminated, this is the new guidance for lawyers and conveyancers about what they must endeavour to find out and what perhaps the Development Management Committee should be aware of when dealing with such land.
“Suggest that your client considers obtaining an independent valuation of the property. A reduction in the market value of the property as a result of contamination may lead to the buyer requiring a price reduction. It may also lead to a lender withdrawing from, or imposing additional conditions in, their offer.”
“Consider and advise your client of the use and effect of appropriate contractual protections. For example, by including exclusion and indemnity clauses and apportionments, warranties, or by making the contract conditional upon the seller complying with any remediation notices, to the buyer’s reasonable satisfaction, prior to completion.
Consider and advise your client of the appropriateness of obtaining an environmental insurance policy. Such policies are widely available to cover the costs of remediation of both undetected and disclosed contamination and related liabilities. However, such policies may contain limitations on what and who they cover. The amount of any premium, the level of excesses and the imposition of certain conditions are important factors to be considered in selecting a policy.”
http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/support-services/advice/practice-notes/contaminated-land/
“Councils united against Pickles’ spin”
The headline says it all really. Pretty pass when it’s your own side doing the criticising:
Wainhomes to cause species extinction?
The Horrid Groundweaver … that’s the spider, not Wainhomes, but if the cap fits …
And as usual, no Local Plan …
Temporary court order suspending Axminster Hospital bed closures lifted
It seems, as just announced on Spotlight, that the paperwork was not copied to the Health Trust so is not valid.
Shame that if we don’t consult them we can do nothing but if they don’t consult us they don’t get the same treatment!
Does Richard Cohen know more than the Energy Minister?
First Capacity Market auction guarantees security of supply at low cost
Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said:
… ‘This is fantastic news for bill-payers and businesses. We are guaranteeing security at the lowest cost for consumers. We’ve done this by ensuring that we get the best out of our existing power stations and unlocking new investment in flexible plant.’ …
… Our best estimate for the average annual net on domestic electricity bills over the period 2016 to 2030 remains an estimated £2 (in 2012 prices). This is equivalent to a 0.3% average increase in domestic bills.”
Mr Cohen if EDDC apparently believes that a more accurate figure is 10% increase year by year.
How long has East Devon UKIP candidate lived in East Devon?
Rumour has it that it is less than 6 months and he still maintains a family home in Shropshire.
If this information is wrong, we will happily publish a correction from Mr Chapman (and Mr Chaoman only) and will sincerely apologise.
Relocation costs: EDA (and others) to the rescue!
“The East Devon Alliance campaign group has long argued that the relocation project has had an air of “secrecy” surrounding it and has questioned why the council’s financial case has “never been fully revealed”.
Now, the group has welcomed the decision for reports into the “relocation financial model calculations and assumptions” to be made public: An internal report into the relocation figures by Andrew Ellins, audit manager of the South West Audit Partnership, and by external auditors Grant Thornton, will be made available to members of the council’s Overview and Scrutiny and Audit and Governance committees ahead of their joint meeting to discuss the findings on March 5.
… [EDA member] Mr [Tony] Green welcomed the forthcoming publication of the reports but criticised the time it’s taken for the financial case behind the controversial project to be scrutinised and revealed.
“There’s been a whole lot of secrecy surrounding the figures and a lot of suspicion about the move,” he said. I would have welcomed a detailed report a couple of years ago before the decision was taken to move. It’s extraordinary that it’s been left until the eleventh hour for auditors to look at the data in detail.
There was definitely a feeling at the meeting that the committee were waking up to the sheer scale of what could go wrong, and there was a genuine effort to get to the bottom of figures they had previously taken on trust.”
At the meeting, former chairman of Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce, Richard Eley, questioned the council’s annual energy consumption prediction of around eight per cent increase a year. Mr Green added that the estimation was “ridiculous” and annual costs would be more like a two – four per cent increase.”
PS: Just because we’re divorced it doesn’t mean we don’t still love ’em!
Knowle relocation energy costs ..a sensitive matter for EDDC, it seems.
There’s a curious continued reluctance of the relocation Team to fully answer SOS Chair Richard Thurlow’s Freedom of Information request on the matter. Details here: http://saveoursidmouth.com/2015/01/13/energy-costs-for-relocation-disclosure-of-information-still-refused/
Demand for school places reaching breaking point, says LGA.
The Local Government Association (LGA) has major concerns. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-30780126
Judicial review of Axminster Hospital bed closures announced
Fracking: rules will not apply to Scotland
Amazing what you can do with devolved power:
“Ask Pickles” – videos of questions and answers from a parallel universe!
Polished spin by Mr Pickles on a number of important topics in videos produced from “Question Time” events held last year.
Topics given the Pickles treatment include:
What help is there for villages under threat of over-development? Yes, he REALLY thinks there are things we can do!
Fracking (live with it)
Are councils doing enough to engage voters? (Well, he thinks so – our missing 6,000 voters might not have agreed and the Parliamentary Committee pointed the finger at EDDC for not doing enough)
Why have new unitary councils bedn blocked? (Because we can, and some of them might be too powerful and the wrong party)
What are the solutions to unaffordable affordable housing? Yes, Pickles thinks we can solve this problem!
New Draft Code of Audit for local authorities
The National Audit Office has produced its new Audit Code for Local Authorities. The draft now lies before Parliament for 40 days and will be implemented if not challenged during that time.
The draft code is here:
Tourism on the cheap in Devon
Visit Devon budget £45,000
Visit Cornwall £350,000 (ends March 2015)
Visit Yorkshire budget £3,000,000
East Devon Watch 