Daily Archives: 10 Mar 2016

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10 Mar 2016

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Planning System

Council officers, don’t you just love ’em … not in Torridge

“A DEBATE on a planning decision which “diminished the democratic process” had councillors questioning the constitution process and delegated powers given to planning officers.

Councillor Sam Robinson put forward a notice of motion in last Monday’s full Torridge District Council (Feb 7) meeting, to have the monitoring officer re-assess their constitution and develop a protocol that will overcome what he believes “is the present lacuna and democratic deficit”.

Mr Robinson told a packed town hall the catalyst was a planning application refused by the plans committee on a five-two vote.

The application, by Turley, for up to 200 homes in Heywood Road, Northam, was refused – then an appeal was lodged but planning officers said they would not be defending the appeal.

http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/Torridge-District-Council-questions-powers-given/story-28742789-detail/story.html

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10 Mar 2016

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Accountability, Standards Committee, Transparency

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“Commons watchdog chair Sir Kevin Barron steps aside from committee over ‘rules breach’ “

“The Labour MP who oversees ethical standards in the Commons has stepped aside from his role following a Telegraph investigation into his business dealings.

Sir Kevin Barron, the chairman of the standards committee, agreed a contract with a group of companies that said he would arrange events in Parliament in return for payment – an apparent breach of the rules.
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On Thursday he announced that he had referred himself to Kathryn Hudson, the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, over the disclosures.

The move means that two members of the committee that regulates MPs’ behaviour now face inquiries by Mrs Hudson. Earlier this week the Telegraph disclosed how Tommy Sheppard, an SNP member of the committee, was being investigated over his failure to declare a shareholding worth £200,000. He blamed an “administrative error”.

Sir Kevin’s announcement came after the Telegraph revealed how he undertook to provide “services”, including sponsoring events in the House of Commons, for the Japanese Pharmaceutical Group (JPG) in return for thousands of pounds. …”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/12190163/Commons-watchdog-chair-Sir-Kevin-Barron-steps-aside-from-committee-over-rules-breach.html

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10 Mar 2016

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NHS (local)

What has been your experience of our local NHS “Stay Well” campaign this winter?

NHS NEW Devon CCG are currently running a short survey to help evaluate the national and local winter campaign. The aim is to find out if their efforts are making a difference.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NHSwinter?platform=hootsuite

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10 Mar 2016

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Misc

Vital flood research funding cut by two-thirds

“Funding for “vital” research to improve flood forecasts, warnings and defences has been slashed by almost two-thirds since 2009, figures obtained by the Guardian show.

The annual funding for flood research and development, which the government has not published, has fallen from £4.89, in 2008-09 to £1.85m in 2015-16, a drop of 62%.

“The government says evidence is required but they have cut the R&D [research and development] budget that could have provided it,” said Prof Edmund Penning-Rowsell, at the Flood Hazard Research Centre at Middlesex University and a member of a group that advises the government on its flood R&D programme, which he also previously chaired.

“David Cameron is dead keen on security in relation to the EU issue, but what about security at home, protecting people, houses and businesses from flooding?”

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/10/vital-uk-flood-research-funding-slashed-by-nearly-two-thirds

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10 Mar 2016

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Economy

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Tory MPs against “growth”?

27 Tory MPs voted against allowing shops to open all day on Sundays and the Government was defeated.

Government Minister Brandon Lewis said they had stopped “one billion pounds of growth”.

Does this mean that ar least 27 Tory MPs are not swayed by their party’s mantra of growth, growth and only growth?

Seeds of dissent …