July 2014: new parcel depot at Skypark will create
147
new jobs:
http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Delivery-firm-DPD-set-expand-Skypark-East-Devon/story-21640859-detail/story.html
November 2015: new parcel depot at Skypark has created
35
new jobs:
http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/New-DPD-super-depot-Skypark-near-Exeter-creates/story-28212288-detail/story.html
As Owl has already hooted, the Tory Government, for ideological reasons, is very keen to devolve some power over public spending to new regional bodies.
Local authorities in Devon and Somerset- including EDDC- have responded enthusiastically setting up a consortium, the Heart of the South-West (HotSW) to bid for more power to spend central government money.
But critics believe that the Government wants to boost local productivity by letting rip construction, housebuilding, and manufacturing, and by encouraging the selling off of public assets to be more economically exploited by the “free market”. Farming, tourism, and renewable energy seem low priorities. Climate change and the environment seem hardly to figure as concerns.
The negotiations at HotSW involve a business organisation, the Local Enterprise Panel, (LEP) but it’s difficult to know exactly who calls the tune, because the meetings so far have been closed to press and public and no minutes are published. A draft bid is almost ready and is intended to be sent to Whitehall before Christmas.
EDDC representative on HotSW is Council Leader Paul Diviani, and, true to form, a recommendation was about to be slipped through for Cabinet approval, to give Cllr Diviani delegated authority to agree to whatever bid HotSW comes up with!
But thanks to the insistence of Chair of the Scrutiny Committee , Independent Cllr Roger Giles, the context of the recommendation was openly discussed first, at a special meeting (Combined Overview & Scrutiny) called in the nick of time, just hours before the Cabinet meeting last Wednesday (2nd Dec).
The meeting began with a presentation by EDDC Chief Officer Mark Williams, which confirmed that the thrust of HotSW was to boost the local economy by expanding construction, industry and commerce – productivity was too low, he said, because there were a lot of old people in the area! The new digital economy would benefit from better training and apprenticeships, especially “Greater Exeter” (including part of East Devon).
Councillors were sceptical. Tory Mike Allen said HotSW negotiations should be more transparent, and Independent Cllr Rob Longhurst followed up his idea, putting forward the motion that a group of councillors with appropriate responsibilities should be kept informed of developments and consulted before decisions were made.
This was accepted, and it was also proposed that no delegated authority should be given to the Leader until the Full Council Meeting on 16th December, by which time all councillors would be sent a copy of the bid.
A triumph for transparency? Not quite— the bid will still not be put in the public domain before it goes to Westminster.
EDW note: Two previous posts on the subject here https://eastdevonwatch.org/2015/12/03/devolution-eddc-ceo-asks-us-to-trust-him-and-diviani/
and here https://eastdevonwatch.org/2015/12/05/that-devolution-meeting-part-2-the-dark-gets-darker/
“Rules dictate that MPs under investigation for unjustified or fraudulent expense claims must be publicly identified.
…Under rules set by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), MPs under investigation for unjustified or fraudulent expense claims must be publicly identified.
But the organisation’s compliance officer, Peter Davis, has avoided naming individuals by carrying out detailed “assessments” of the complaints, denying they amount to formal “investigations”.
The loophole last week allowed Mr Davis to refer two MPs to the police over expenses fraud without ever launching a formal investigation, which would have triggered a public announcement.
It has also allowed other MPs to avoid publicity about using taxpayer-funded websites for party-political material by paying back website domain fees to Ipsa, or simply removing content from sites.
Ipsa previously proposed conducting probes in secret to prevent “reputational damage” to MPs – but the idea was dropped after criticism from the Commons Standards Committee and Committee for Standards in Public Life. It now appears that Ipsa is using “assessments” to get around calls for transparency.
According to a breakdown of cases, released by Mr Davis’s office in response to a Freedom of Information request, 40 “assessments” of allegations against politicians were carried out in 2014-15. But just one – relating to Conservative MP Bob Blackman’s mileage claims – was classified as a formal investigation and disclosed publicly.
Among those listed as “closed prior to an investigation” was a case in June last year where an unnamed MP claimed for a taxi journey that was not allowable. The compliance office concluded it had been a “legitimate error by a member of staff” and said it had been “repaid in full”.
In another case, an allegation was made that an MP’s staff had filed duplicate claims for a hotel. Mr Davis considered the matter closed after “the MP provided a valid explanation for why two separate hotels were claimed inadvertently for the same night and… repaid”.
Will Diviani and Williams go head-to-head on this one, or does Swire have it in the Santa sack already (presuming it isn’t too far beneath him)?
What would have happened if Storm Desmond had chosen East Devon for its landing, with all its rivers and estuaries?
What the Environment Agency DOESN’T tell you is that the phrase ” one in a hundred or two hundred year event” does NOT mean such floods will ONLY happen once in a hundred or two hundred years: they mean 5 or 10 times in a thousand years – which could be five or ten years in a row! However, if we do get 10 years in a row and we query them when it happens in year 11 – they will tell us it is an acceptable statistical variation, etc. etc.
Plus the EA uses PAST events to work out what to do where the past is no guide whatsoever to the future.
In any case, with climate changes going haywire and El Nino playing up more than usual, it is all pretty meaningless.
What CAN you do? DON’T BUILD ON FLOOD PLAINS – the clue is in the name! And perhaps even extend the said floodplains!
Evidence should be no more than 3,000 words, which should concentrate minds. Though the press release below is somewhat misleading. It is true that more council housing was built between 2010 and 2015 than the previous five years but it neglects to say that many, many more council houses were built each year in the 20th century. For example, 11,740 council houses were built during the time of the coalition government, yet it was not unusual to see 100,000 – 180,000 council homes being built each year in the latter half of the twentieth century – only 15-20 years ago.
One also must note that right-to-buy took many of those homes out of social renting.
“The Local Government Association is today launching a Housing Commission to explore new routes to housebuilding so councils can enable the building of more desperately-needed homes.
Councils built nine times more homes between 2010 and 2015 than between 2000 and 2005 and are desperate to dramatically increase the availability of new homes in their local areas.
The LGA said this is vital to building the 230,000 new homes the country needs each year as private developers have not built more than 150,000 homes a year for more than three decades.
The Housing Commission will also explore the importance of effective housing in boosting jobs and growth, helping meeting needs of an ageing population, saving social care and the NHS money, and helping people into work. It will focus on four themes:
Housebuilding – new ways that councils can enable investment in new homes;
Place making, community and infrastructure – the role of councils in shaping homes within prosperous places and communities;
Employment, welfare reform and social mobility – the role of housing in supporting tenants to find and progress in sustained employment;
Health and quality of life for an ageing population – the role of housing in adapting to an ageing population and preventing onward costs onto social care and health services.
Evidence is sought on the key issues for communities, partners and councils, on good practice that has successfully addressed those issues, and what is needed to build on those successes. Councils, partners, organisations and individuals to contribute their issues, evidence, and examples of effective housing and ideas to the Commission’s Advisory Panel, made up of experts and academics.
The Commission will take a medium-term view incorporating current housing reforms but will look beyond them in making the case for councils to be able to deliver the homes our communities and places need. Findings will be brought together in a report in Spring 2016 and presented at the LGA Annual Conference in June 2016.
http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/housing/-/journal_content/56/10180/7594397/NEWS
Submissions to:
LGAhousingcommission@local.gov.uk
“FRESH air, once thought to be essential for a healthy lifestyle, is being banished from some of Britain’s newest homes and schools — because it is so polluted.
Developers are being told they will get permission to build houses, flats and schools on some sites only if they fit them with windows that cannot be opened and mechanical ventilation systems that filter toxins from incoming air.
The “hermetic homes” policy is being forced on councils by the Department for Communities and Local Government, which fears the designation of 700 air pollution zones by local authorities is blighting the 1,400 square miles of prime land within their borders.
Under the department’s national planning policy framework, developments in such areas can now go ahead provided buildings have features such as unopenable windows and filtration.”
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Health/article1641677.ece
Which EDDC web page, updated only this month, lauds the employment opportunities available to Cranbrook residents at the inter-modal freight terminal – a project never started and totally abandoned in August 2014?
Mark Williams, CEO of East Devon District Council, was given a rough ride by majority and opposition Party Councillors alike, following his presentation this week (Weds 2nd Dec), to the District Council’s two watchdog committees.
The combined Overview and Scrutiny Committees (O&S) met to find out what lies at the heart of the Heart of the South West (HOTSW) devolution bid, shortly to be sent to Westminster.
Mr Williams compared the devolution bid to a train just starting on its journey from the heart of South West to London. But one Tory Councillor warned the CEO, “Before we get to Exeter, the lines may be broken because we’ll have run out of money”.
(There’s a summary of the presentation in our earlier post https://eastdevonwatch.org/2015/12/03/devolution-eddc-ceo-asks-us-to-trust-him-and-diviani/ )
After hearing it, the O&S Councillors expressed three areas of major concern:
1. Finance
2. Health service provision
3. Governance
Here is a sample of their questions to Mark Williams (MW) with some answers received:
Cllr Roger Giles (Ind, Ottery St Mary Town : Has any attempt been made to assess the cost savings of devolution?
MW : “No. It’s too early.” He went on to add, “We all know there is waste in (any) system” and “It’s better to have shared outcomes for a hope of savings.”
RG: “Has there been any estimate of officer time?”
MW: “No.”
Cllr Alison Greenhalgh (Con, Exmouth Littleham) “How do we make a decision about governance?“
MW replied that he thinks the bid will be for a combined authority, though “the Government will struggle to understand” why a mayor is not appropriate for this region.
Cllr Marianne Rixson (IEDA, Sidmouth,Sidford ), referring to other enterprise zones asked, “ What’s the certainty of us being successful against bids from elsewhere?”
MW: HOTSW “can operate independently from enterprise zones.”
MR also wanted to know “how financially viable are the councils involved?”
MW referred the point to Ian Baker, of the South West Audit Partnership (SWAP), who confirmed that at a recent seminar attended by Cllr Rixson, a representative of external auditors Grant Thornton had warned that SOME councils are due to go bust by 2020.
Cllr Peter Faithfull (INdependent, Ottery St Mary Town) made the point that Councillors are “still largely in the dark”. “Can we have an independent observer, to understand what’s going on in (HOTSW) meetings?” We only get feedback AFTERWARDS, he said.
MW: There is “no need” to have an impartial report.
RG: Can the public attend?
MW: No. They are private meetings.
Cllr Mike Allen (Con, Honiton St Michael’s) had a barrage of questions: “Where is the money going to come from for business support?” How would the retraining of older people work? “How will infrastructure for planning issues get financed?” “Where is the money going to come from, for example, for schools?”
MW: There is money, but it gets lost in the system.
Matt Booth (Ind, Sidmouth Town ) asked “How much of health service will be outsourced to private businesses?” and wondered what would be the knock-on effect on health services already facing further cuts. He also wanted to know “Where do Neighbourhood Plans fit into the HOTSW devolution bid, in terms of protecting areas?”
MW : “Neighbourhood Plans (NPs) will continue irrespective.” But he was not sure that those preparing the NPs “would see the opportunity of tapping into growth possibilities”.
Cllr Ben Ingham( IEDA, Woodbury &Lympstone), citing the “complete lack of control in recent years regarding health care”, said that HOTSW’s 5 year view for ‘health & wellbeing’, is “just pie in the sky”. “We are being given an option we know nothing about”, he continued. “Are we being given a hospital pass?”
MW replied that Manchester, for example, has received invitations to develop a plan for integrating health and social care. And Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) have been present at two HOTSW meetings, although “I don’t think they were committing themselves,” he mentioned….. leaving some people wondering, if CCG were not cooperative, would this kill the bid?
(More to follow…)
” … EDDC chief executive Mark Williams replied that Mill Street car park would not be developed ‘for the foreseeable future’ – before clarifying that he meant ‘the next two or three years’.
Opening Mill Street for a local cause was the brainchild of Sidmouth councillors Cathy Gardner, John Dyson and Matt Booth.
Councillor Iain Chubb, portfolio holder for the environment, said: “Having a car park with unoccupied spaces is of benefit to no-one, so it makes sense to take the opportunity to test public demand for reserved off-street car parking and at the same time use this exercise to help a terrific cause.”
He said the move will ensure the spaces are not wasted while EDDC prepares to implement a pay and display system next year.
Rotary club treasurer Bill Titley welcomed the donations.
He said it will be spent on the volunteers’ various projects supporting elderly and youth groups locally.
The council’s business support team will collect donations and issue permits lasting one, two or three weeks.
Anyone interested in applying for one should call 01395 571780 or email carparks@eastdevon.gov.uk”
http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/mill_street_cash_to_boost_rotary_club_of_sidmouth_1_4336831
Ignore the name in the link – this is about over-development in Dawlish causing sewers to overflow – today Dawlish, tomorrow almost anywhere in East Devon:
“… [South West Water] aid there was no “quick fix” because the problems at Secmaton Lane and Secmaton Rise were complex and the site had seen “considerable new development”.
“A row over affordable housing has divided a picturesque Devon village famous for thatched cob cottages dating back to the 16th century.
In a row which will echo across many small Westcountry communities, a small group of locals is pitted against the council and its need to meet housing targets and provide cheaper homes.
Moves to identify land for development in Broadhembury have sent shock waves through the parish of around 700, which include TV property show presenter Kirstie Allsopp.
Three separate surveys have been conducted by the parish council, revealing a majority in favour of building a handful of affordable homes, and five eligible families.
Despite the apparent support and need, a group of around 45 residents in the centre look set to block the plan to allocate land within East Devon District Council’s list of potential sites to be developed, under its Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment.
Among those opposed to building on land owned by a local farmer, opposite the village hall, is Michael Drewe, who lives in Broadhembury House and owns many of the cottages in the centre, where the Drewe Arms carries the family name. Mr Drewe, a descendant of Julius Drewe, who built Castle Drogo, says the village has grown organically for 500 years and doesn’t need “another community stuck on the side”.
In a letter to the village magazine, he warned that there were plans for 20 houses – “and this could be the start of something a lot bigger”.
He claims to have been misrepresented by the “dubious” survey, adding: “Would you be proud to have supported an unnecessary and highly incongruous housing estate that proved to have destroyed the incredibly special – indeed unique – nature of a gem like Broadhembury?”
“There is too much at stake here, and once the damage is done it will be irreversible.
The parish council was asked to review five sites but said only one fir – eh??met the criteria set by EDDC, such as building near shops and schools.
The council launched a survey in 2013 and found that 74% of the 121 surveys returned (265 were delivered) backed the construction of more affordable homes with 12% against, most saying between five and 15 homes were required.
A further survey by the Community Council of Devon sent to each person on the Electoral Roll generated 194 responses; people responded (almost 40%), the majority wanted more than 11 to be built.and 365 saying 20 should be built.????
In November 2014 the Devon Rural Housing Partnership carried out a confidential survey and found that five people would qualify for affordable housing. using their measures. When asked where these homes should be built, most said Broadhembury, followed by Kerswell then Luton.
The matter is set to come to a head next week at a parish council meeting with only one item on the agenda.
Bob Nelson, chairman of Broadhembury Parish Council, said the views of those in the village centre had to be considered despite the majority support from the parish.
If we want affordable housing the best chance we have is on that site,” he added.
“Not everyone agrees and quite a few think it will damage the uniqueness of the village – understand that. If the people who live close don’t like it, it is unlikely we will go ahead. If people don’t want affordable housing near them we won’t push it. The more important consideration is to get the neighbourhood plan into legislation.”
Conservative district councillor Philip Skinner said each village around the district “needs to do a little bit more” to help with the chronic lack of house-building. He described the anti-campaign as “all rather sad really”.
“There is no rampant house building or a developer looking to push it, just a little local scheme with a community land trust,” he added. “It is a beautiful, unique village and this ticks all the right boxes. The parish has worked hard to develop a neighbourhood plan then out of the blue Michael Drewe has kicked up.”
“House prices in the UK are set to increase by between 4% and 6% in 2016, as increasing affordability problems and the prospects of an interest rate rise put the brakes on the property market, the country’s biggest mortgage lender has forecast.
Demand for property has increased in recent months, but the number of homes coming on to the market has remained at a record low. Surveyors and property websites have reported a shortage of properties for sale which is driving up prices, and described a vicious circle as potential sellers wait until there are more homes available before putting theirs on the market.”
“A manor house near Exeter that is one of the region’s oldest has been sold to a Chinese investor for £2 million.
Canonteign Manor is a restored Grade I listed 16th century manor with views over the Teign Valley on the edge of Dartmoor.”
“More than 350 people a week renting a house in the South West are at risk of losing their home.
Approximately 19,000 renters were put at risk of being evicted from their home last year.
The research, conducted by housing and homeless charity Shelter, found that one in every 86 rented households across the Westcountry were at risk.
Using figures received from the Ministry of Justice, Shelter identified hotspots in the region where renters are most likely to face losing their home.”
The article goes on to say that 197 renters were given official evictions last year which was 1 in 89 of all the renters in the area.
Has anyone seen the project below discussed or agreed on by district councillors – or is it yet another example of the EDDC CEO Mark Williams wagging the body of the councillor dog?
Is our multi-partner STRATA IT company behind this decision? Do they even know about it? Who knows – certainly not us!
And how does it affect EDDC’s relocation plans which lay great stress on broadband connectivity as the main way in which residents will access council services?
At last night’s EDDC Cabinet meeting in response to questions from the public asking why EDDC had not committed match funding to the Connecting Devon & Somerset (CDS) Phase 2 programme run by Devon & Somerset County Councils, a statement was read out which appears to that EDDC plans to withdraw from the CDS Phase 2 programme – at the moment the only council in Devon and Somerset that is doing this.
EDDC apparently plan to run their own project to provide predominantly Fibre To The Home broadband (FTTH) across all of the rural EDDC area that is not covered by the existing Phase 1 hcontract with BT.
Anyone who knows the saga of our ( still pending) Draft Local Plan – around seven years in discussion is allowed to groan at this point!
A letter sent by Mark Williams to BDUK, (the government body responsible for UK broadband subsidies), on November 24, appears to confirm this.
EDDC is hoping to tap some of the additional £10M that was announced in the Chancellors Autumn Statement to fund the project, but it remains to be seen how much of this money may come EDDC’s way since every other District and County in the South West can be expected to claim portions of this funding and when divided up, so EDDC’s allocation could be relatively small.
At this stage the statement should not be regarded as anything more than an “Expression of Interest” since a great deal of work will have to be done by EDDC before rural residents could expect to see the fruits of this initiative.
In the meantine, CDS, funded with up to £45.5M for Phase 2 are continuing in their third attempt to find Phase 2 suppliers for 95% coverage and are holding a “supplier day” which over 20 interested companies will attend on December 4 (see post on this by Ian Liddell-Grainger below) CDS say they intend to sign contracts with suppliers in June 2016.
It is likely that any 100% coverage programme that EDDC sets up will take significantly longer than this to put in place.
The full statement as read by Cllr Ian Thomas at last night’s EDDC Cabinet meeting:
‘The questions rightly identified the fact that up till now the matter of Superfast Broadband roll out had fallen within the remit of Connecting Devon & Somerset (CDS) joint venture set up by the County Councils) and their contractual arrangements with BT. EDDC had chosen not to be a contractual party to the matter because of the excessive secrecy surrounding the original contracts.
The issue of agreeing an ‘in principle contribution’ to the phase 2 roll out or making a ‘commitment’ was not just a matter of semantics. Without an open approach to discussions and an ability to share that information with communities, it would be irresponsible to commit funding – or in effect, give it away.
EDDC was committed to pursuing the matter on behalf of its communities and recently on 24 November, the Chief Executive wrote in the following terms to the Commercial Lead of Broadband Delivery UK:
“We are writing to confirm our intention to apply for support from the South West Fund for a project to provide superfast broadband to the remaining 10% of premises in East Devon District not otherwise covered by the CD&S/BT Phase 1 buildout.
We have been in discussion with potential suppliers for the past year on a possible co-investment arrangement whereby public and private funds would be applied to the construction of a predominantly FTTH network, and we find their proposals appealing and well worth supporting, both financially by way of co-investment by EDDC, and in ‘soft’ terms.
In the absence of an application form, we intend to address the various points raised in the guidelines by way of a paper to be submitted to EDDC Cabinet and to BDUK. In the meantime, we can confirm the Council’s intention to comply with mandatory criteria points 1-5 and priority criteria points 6-9, and to satisfy information requests a-d.
We look forward to working with BDUK on the successful initiation, funding approval and execution of this important and worthwhile project.”
A reply is awaited in order to commence the stage of preparing a detailed report. We also understand that CD&S are in discussions to try to ensure the delivery of their original objectives.’
Before reading the report below, does anyone recall Kaa the Snake singing “Trussssst in me” to Mowgli in Jungle Book? Lyrics:
“Trust in me, just in me, Shut your eyes and trust in me, You can sleep safe and sound, Knowing I am around
Slip into silent slumber, Sail on a silver mist, Slowly and surely your senses, Will cease to resist
Trust in me, just in me, Shut your eyes and trust in me.”
The whole song is here on You Tube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1ILPl5FQaM
From a correspondent:
“This afternoon, EDDC Chief Executive, Mark Williams, gave a presentation on Devolution to a special session of the Combined Overview & Scrutiny Committees. The meeting, was apparently at the request of Cllr Roger Giles, who chaired the meeting, held at Knowle Council Chamber, Sidmouth.
Mr Williams introduced the Heart of the South West devolution bid, by using the analogy of a train journey just beginning. We are still “on a single track towards Exeter”, en route for London. The government had “opened conversations” about devolution, and the Heart of the South West (HOSW) is currently being led by Devon County, Somerset County, Plymouth City and Torbay.
“We shouldn’t kid ourselves” about what a low productivity region this is, the CEO cautioned, and listed the following key areas devolution would focus on:
1.Health,care & wellbeing ……Devon County is taking the lead, but EDDC says more can be done in e.g.housing & leisure.
2.Housing & Planning…..Constraints to attracting more businesses include the lack of readily available appropriate land; inadequacy of the A 303; Western Power supply constraints; and the issues around rural broadband. The “challenge of the lack of affordable housing” had to be tackled.
3.Employment & skills…Aim is to reduce to zero (‘Not in Education or Employment’) NEETs in the area. On-going career opportunities needed, with the increasing instability in the workplace.
4.Business support…..There should be more, and with better co-ordination. Aim to look for alternative, more lucrative, businesses than tourism & the care industries.
5.Governance ..Options might be e.g. elected mayor? Combined authority? EDDC favours Place Based Boards with local focus, such as Greater Exeter & Growth Point.
In conclusion, Mr Williams explained the devolution bid as “Our ask”. EDDC wants to work in partnerships, with Exeter, Teignbridge, Devon County Council & Exeter University. Meetings are held at the Science Park, seeking innovation and more investment. The ambition is for Exeter to become a centre for data sciences and analytics, with the possibility of a new Exeter Institute of Technology.
Some “golden opportunities” would be in marine-based developments (Plymouth);nuclear energy (from Chinese-funded power station proposed for Hinkley Point, and Bridgewater College now centre for nuclear studies); and environmental futures (e.g. the Met Office, Exeter Science Park).
A 30- year strategic labour & employment plan would be presented to central government, emphasising resilience of infrastructure, and resilience of “a population that is productive”.
A draft paper will be issued on Monday, said Mr Williams, and he “would be happy to circulate it to (Council) members”. He predicted that it probably “won’t depart from this presentation” .
Admitting that the time pressure to get the bid submitted meant that there was no possibility of “forensic scrutiny” , he acknowledged that had caused some frustration.
“There is no secrecy,” he declared. “And someone has to take responsibility”. That “someone”, recommended for HOTSW delegated powers in Mr Williams’ report, would be EDDC Leader, Paul Diviani.
In the ensuing debate, questions from councillors came thick and fast, asking for much more detail, particularly on the financial basis of the devolution bid. And Councillor Rob Longhurst (East Devon Alliance Independent ) told his colleagues “ I don’t think we should be asked to authorise someone to sign a document that we haven’t seen.”
“It’s a matter of trust”, retorted a Conservative colleague, hitting the nail squarely on the head.
(Report of the meeting to be continued…)
December 2
BROADBAND EVENT ‘ANOTHER WASTE OF TIME’ SAYS MP
MP Ian Liddell-Grainger has dismissed as ‘an utter waste of time and money’ a suppliers’ event organised by Connecting Devon and Somerset, the local-authority-run consortium which is rolling out superfast broadband across the two counties.
CDS has announced that 50 delegates are attending Friday’s gathering in Taunton to help it ‘shape and finalise its requirements’ before tenders go out for the next phase of the scheme.
But Mr Liddell-Grainger, Conservative member for Bridgwater and West Somerset, says the event is nothing more than a smokescreen designed to hide CDS’s abject failure to meet its targets.
Earlier this year he called for it to be disbanded and for the Government to take over the project after it conceded it would fail to meet its promised target of 95 per cent coverage of the two counties by the end of 2017.
But today he said: “This is just a way of CDS trying to cover up the fact that it has failed to deliver what local people were promised.
“The fact is that it has been a shambles from start to finish and despite it talking airily of ‘engaging with the market’ at this event the whole thing is another symptom of the mess CDS has created – a mess I am now trying to sort out with Ed Vaizey the Energy Minister and the board of BT.
“The fact is that the greatest achievement of CDS to date has been to put back the roll-out of superfast broadband to hundreds of my constituents.
“It is, I am afraid, the result of boys trying to do a man’s job – and not the most competent of boys at that.
“CDS has become a by-word for ineptitude and inefficiency and none of the people running it have even had a shred of decency and apologised for the unholy chaos they have created: the word ‘sorry’ doesn’t seem to be in their vocabulary.”
At long last, small businesses and farms in rural Devon may have been cheered by the BBC Radio interview this morning with CEO of Ofcom, Sharon White. She seemed to suggest that maintaining the status quo on rural broadband rollout is unlikely.
She’s also quoted here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-3340726/Fairy-lights-slow-broadband–Ofcom.html
and in other newspapers with strong criticism of BT Openreach.
For constant news updates on Broadband for Rural Devon & Somerset (B4rds), see http://b4rds.org/news.html
East Devon Watch 