Yet another example of shifting tasks to smaller councils without the resources (equipment and personnel) to deal with them.
The town and parish councils then have to raise more money from their precepts and the county (and also) district councils can say they are cost-cutting and/or keeping down their share of council tax.
Sure they are – but WE still pay via the increased precepts.
Not cricket?
The council seems to be in a very similar position to East Devon (Core Strategy, evidence gathering, not yet a Local plan):
The local authority refused the application in October 2014.
“During the appeal process the development was amended to 90 dwellings and was approved by an inspector in July 2015.
West Berkshire said it was “of the view that the inspector has failed to apply the correct planning tests in determining the appeal and the council has been substantially prejudiced as a result.
Cllr Alan Law, Portfolio Holder for Planning at West Berkshire, said: “It is very important that planning inspectors are challenged when we believe they get things so wrong that it prejudices the council in determining other planning applications for housing.
The council has worked hard over many years to get the Core Strategy Adopted following stringent Government guidelines. We are currently doing this again, following unprecedented evidence gathering and public consultation, with the forthcoming Housing Site Allocations Development Plan Document. This will complete the picture for West Berkshire regarding future housing.
Cllr Law added: “We simply cannot allow all that effort and proper process to be totally disregarded and overturned by an individual planning inspector. We owe that duty to the people of West Berkshire who would not expect any less from us.”
And what does East Devon District Council do? Sells its tourism assets to the highest bidder who inevitably develops “clone tourism” of the type you can get anywhere. And gives a councillor the title “Tourism Champion” when said champion then becomes invisible.
And do you think Hugo Swire (busy jetting off all over the world) or Neil Parish (who devotes himself to farming and roads) have the necessary “spine” required in the article.
And recall that EDDC slated former Independent Councillor Claire Wright when she had the temerity to suggest a cut in VAT for tourism!
Non-tourism, big business, preferably with massive development, has always been EDDC’s choice. What will they do now that our local economy is showing that isn’t working?
“IT’S OFFICIAL –
…”Without doubt, those national figures hide a much bigger message for the Westcountry, where tourism is a huge contributor to the regional economy. This should provide all Westcountry politicians with the ‘spine’ to demand the things that this vital sector needs to deliver its potential for the region’s economy:
A reduction in VAT, in line with continental competitors;
A review of the Government’s cuts to funding tourism promotion;
A commitment to delivering the long-promised improvements to road access to the Westcountry”, said Mr Hanbury.
“Right now, the Westcountry’s tourism providers are coping with the need for a total rethink of our traditional seaside product, and many providers are coming up with magnificent solutions. But those providers are competing on unfair terms with Continental rivals, who have far better transport links and lower VAT rates”, said Bishop Fleming’s Will Hanbury.”
http://www.exeterchamber.co.uk/its-official-westcountry-tourism-is-the-biggest-sector-for-job-growth/news/
Front page of today’s Midweek Herald – no link to story on website:
Retirees, probably …
East Devon Watch 