“Devon and Cornwall police slammed after creating sand sculpture of naked female murder victim
The officers’ entry into the contest on Perranporth Beach in Cornwall. featured a naked woman with large breasts face down with a spade in her back, surrounded by police tape (pictured).”
Holding to account, not accepting glib answers, challenging spin:
“Cameron accepts TTIP amendment to mollify rebel Tory MPs
Revolt over lack of bill to protect NHS from EU trade deal threatened PM with first defeat on Queen’s speech since 1924
David Cameron has moved to quell a rebellion by Conservative Eurosceptics over a controversial trade deal between the EU and US, after he faced the first government defeat on a Queen’s speech since 1924.
The prime minister has been forced to accept a critical amendment about the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) after it was signed by 25 Tory backbenchers, and backed by Labour, SNP and Green MPs.
The politicians, led by the Conservative former cabinet minister Peter Lilley, expressed regret that the government did not include a bill in the Queen’s speech that would protect the NHS from the deal.
A No 10 spokesman said: “As we’ve said all along, there is no threat to the NHS from TTIP. So if this amendment is selected, we’ll accept it.”
But members of the official campaign to leave the EU, Vote Leave, said they were not reassured by the statement. Steve Baker, one of the signatories on the amendment and a leading figure for Brexit, said that by accepting the amendment the government was conceding that the trade deal did represent a risk for Britain’s health service. …”
East Devon District Council has announced the 12 photographs that will make up its Countryside Calendar. Owl had a competition for an alternative East Devon Countryside Calendar. Here are the first three winning entries.
Our first three months – January, February and March are devoted to Cranbrook for which we received many entries. Originally called an eco-town, the eco part of it was dropped last year for some reason.
January – Cranbrook takes shape
February – Cranbrook “shaped”
March – Quite a few things went wrong …
April – December to follow
Source: Express and Echo website
“Tory Eurosceptic MPs are threatening to rebel on the Queen’s Speech unless David Cameron agrees to exempt the NHS from any EU-US free trade deal.
In an extraordinary challenge to the Prime Minister’s authority, more than 25 Tory MPs are set to join Labour to back an amendment giving the health service special status in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
Vote Leave sources pointed out to HuffPost UK that the last time a Government was defeated on a Queen’s Speech amendment was 1924 – and then premier Stanley Baldwin had to quit.
The crunch vote is set for next Wednesday – just a month before the EU referendum on June 23. …
… Signatories include Labour’s Paula Sherriff, Jon Cruddas and Ian Mearns. Tories include Peter Lilley, Anne Marie Trevelyan and Steve Baker.
To underline the threat to Cameron’s 17-strong majority, Chris Stephens from the SNP has signed it too.
Labour and trade unions have long argued that the EU-US trade deal needs to specifically exempt the NHS from threat posed by private American healthcare companies.
Lilley, a former Trade and Industry Secretary, said: “I support free trade. But TTIP introduces special courts which are not necessary for free trade, will give American multinationals the right to sue our government (but not vice versa) and could put our NHS at risk. I cannot understand why the government has not tried to exclude the NHS.
“I and other Tory MPs successfully lobbied to bring a failing private Surgicenter serving our constituencies back into the NHS. It would have been impossible or hugely costly under TTIP had there had been an American owner who could have sued the NHS in a TTIP Court.”
“The main elements of the Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill are to be:
Neighbourhood Planning: the Bill will “further strengthen neighbourhood planning and give even more power to local people”; it will also strengthen neighbourhood planning by making the local government duty to support groups more transparent and by improving the process for reviewing and updating plans.
Planning Conditions: the Bill will ensure that pre-commencement planning conditions are only imposed by local planning authorities where they are absolutely necessary –
“excessive pre-commencement planning conditions can slow down or stop the construction of homes after they have been given planning permission”; the legislation will “tackle the overuse, and in some cases, misuse of certain planning conditions, and thereby ensure that development, including new housing, can get underway without unnecessary delay”.
Compulsory Purchase: the legislation will make the compulsory purchase order process “clearer, fairer and faster” for all those involved; there will be reform of the context within which compensation is negotiated; the Government’s proposals, on which it has already consulted, would consolidate and clarify more than 100 years of conflicting statute and case law; “we would establish a clear, new statutory framework for agreeing compensation, based on the fundamental principle that compensation should be based on the market value of the land in the absence of the scheme underlying the compulsory purchase”.
National Infrastructure Commission: the Bill will establish the independent National Infrastructure Commission on a statutory basis; the Commission is to provide the Government with expert, independent advice on infrastructure issues “by setting out a clear, strategic vision on the future infrastructure that is needed to ensure the UK economy is fit for 2050”; measures will “unlock economic potential across the UK and ensure that growth and opportunities are distributed across the country, boosting productivity and competitiveness through high-quality infrastructure”.
Land Registry: The new legislation will enable the privatisation of Land Registry, which will “support the delivery of a modern, digitally-based land registration service that will benefit the Land Registry’s customers, such as people buying or selling their home”; it could also return a capital receipt to the Exchequer to help reduce national debt.”
Remember this post from 20 April 2016 when several of our local dignitaries enjoyed a very chummy night out at the opening of the Deer Park Hotel’s new Orangery?
Colin Brown, East Devon District Councillor for Dunkeswell, EDDC Development Management Committee and Licensing Enforcement Committee, of the Monkton Court Hotel, Honiton; director of Bell Vue Developments
Paul Diviani, Leader EDDC, Devon County Councillor and Local Enterprise Partnership board member and formerly of the Stockland Arms Hotel, Stockland
Jenny Wheatley-Brown, also of the Monkton Court Hotel, Honiton and Conservative candidate for district council seat (lost) at Seaton at the last election and also director of Bell Vue Developments
and
John O’Leary, EDDC Councillor, Licensing Enforcement Committee, with special responsibility for the Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton and Town Councillor for Honiton St Pauls, also formerly of the Stockland Arms Hotel, Stockland
at The Deer Park Country House Hotel for the unveiling of it’s orangery.”
Well, it appears that all of them considered that they were being invited to this knees up in their private capacities, since none of them have declared the event in their “Hospitality and Gifts” expenses at EDDC.
What a very, very, very fine line our politicians tread.
So, if the Deer Park comes before either the Development Management Committee or the Licensing Committee in future Messrs Brown and O’Leary can sit on them with clear consciences.
And for your delectation, here is how the night was described by one attendee:
The building boasts floor-to-ceiling palatial arched windows and decadent chandeliers, and mosaic flooring with dapper decor throughout. The lavish bash was held in Honiton last Friday (April 15). Mike Arscott, sales and marketing director at Deer Park Hotel, said “The orangery launch party was an outstanding success. “It was a genuine privilege to gather over 300 friends, colleagues and constructors together to celebrate the completion of our latest phase of development. “I am extremely proud of the new facilities at Deer Park and look forward to welcoming many old and new faces back to see the beauty and style we have put back into this stunning country house. “The party wouldn’t have been a success without the support from our local suppliers. The madness of the cabaret acts and magic performers plus a simply spiffing fireworks display, will live long in all our memories.”
http://www.eastdevon24.co.uk/news/grand_orangery_unveiling_at_deer_park_is_a_success_1_4501090
Unfortunately, the “Gifts and Hospitality” page of the EDDC website appears to be offline at the moment, but when it is up and running again, you can access it here:
http://eastdevon.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/councillor-conduct/gifts-and-hospitality/
East Devon Watch 