Daily Archives: 8 Feb 2018

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8 Feb 2018

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Developers/ Development, Economy, Growth Strategy, Local Enterprise Partnership, Privatisation

“A Chief Executive to Lead the Heart of the South West LEP Towards Prosperity for All” ***

*** Prosperity for all LEP Board Members perhaps? !!!

“The Heart of the South West (HotSW) Local Enterprise Partnership is looking for a new chief executive to start in the summer following the retirement of Chris Garcia, who has led one of England’s most successful LEPs for five years.

The role demands a high calibre candidate for this increasingly pivotal role in the HotSW economy, which covers Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay.

Chair of the Heart of the South West LEP, Steve Hindley CBE DL [Chairman if the Midas construction empire], said: “We’re a strong business-led partnership between the private sector, social enterprises, local authorities, universities and colleges throughout Devon and Somerset and the unitary areas of Plymouth and Torbay, making us one of the largest LEPs in the country, so we’re looking for strong leadership and talent.

“Across the HotSW area, there’s a mix of urban and rural economies, stunning natural capital, rich heritage and a tremendously exciting range of business opportunities.

“We’ve established an impressive track record with a £750m investment programme to support our mission to see better productivity and better jobs; and we’re poised to launch a new delivery plan for a step change in productivity.

“The role of LEPs is increasing as we become firmly aligned with the delivery of the government’s Industrial Strategy, our funding is secured for at least another two years, and we’ll now have regular meetings with the Prime Minister.

“I look forward to meeting some exceptional applicants for this exciting role as HotSW LEP enters the next phase in its journey towards prosperity for all.”

Applications are open until 16 February and a candidate briefing pack is available at: http://www.heartofswlep.co.uk/news”

http://heartofswlep.co.uk/news/chief-executive-lead-heart-south-west-lep-towards-prosperity/

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8 Feb 2018

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Developers/ Development, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Tourism

Seaton Heights on the market – again!

How many times is this? Four, five …? More? It will certainly be more difficult to sell now the centre-sited Premier Inn is up and running as from tomorrow.

“… The site is overgrown and presents certain hazards associated with derelict buildings. Accordingly, all viewers are strongly advised
to wear appropriate footwear and clothing. All viewers enter the site at their own risk. The vendors, and their agents, cannot accept
any responsibility or liability for any injury or damage caused.

Viewing Arrangements
There will be three scheduled viewing events:

Friday 9th February
Tuesday 13th February
Thursday 22nd February

Appointments to view must be pre-arranged
and confirmed with either of the joint agents.

Method of Sale
For sale by informal tender with all bids to be received no later than 12pm noon on Thursday 8th March 2018.”

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71192222.html

Particulars here (or via link above):
http://assets.reapit.net/stp/live/pdf.php?p=EXE180009&t=S

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8 Feb 2018

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Misc

Clinton Devon Estates and Blackhill Quarry – trying to be Mammon AND God!

From a correspondent:

“I am still trying to get my head around the extent of the gap between Clinton Devon Estates (CDE) publicity campaign and how much care they have actually taken over the ecological aspects of the application to extend the Blackhill Engineering site.

A previous blog:
https://eastdevonwatch.org/2018/02/05/clinton-devon-estates-desperately-tries-to-justify-quarry-industrial-units/comment-page-1/

provided a link to a Devon Live article on CDE’s application under the headline: “Quarry expansion plans will provide ‘space for nature and sustain local economy’”.

In the article Mr Rix (CDE) said: “Prior to submitting this application, we commissioned a comprehensive ecology report, which shows that, because the application involves replacing existing industrial equipment, the work is unlikely to impact on nearby designated sites, nor the County Wildlife Site. Nevertheless, we will be implementing an ecological mitigation plan.
But how much emphasis has “Space for Nature” actually been given in the application so far?

Outline planning was validated on 20 December. Formal closing date for comments was set for 6 February, this Tuesday, the day Natural England submitted their comments. Natural England is the government’s adviser for the natural environment in England, helping to protect England’s nature and landscapes for people to enjoy and for the services they provide. What do their comments at the end of formal consultation say?

“SUMMARY OF NATURAL ENGLAND’S ADVICE:
FURTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED TO DETERMINE IMPACTS ON:
EAST DEVON AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY (AONB)
EAST DEVON PEBBLEBED HEATHS SSSI
EAST DEVON PEBBLEBED HEATHS SPECIAL AREA OF CONSERVATION (SAC)
EAST DEVON HEATHS SPECIAL PROTECTION AREA (SPA)

As submitted, the application could have potential significant effects on the East Devon AONB, East Devon Pebblebed Heaths SSSI, East Devon Pebblebed Heaths SAC and East Devon Heaths SPA. Natural England requires further information in order to determine the significance of these impacts and the scope for mitigation.”

Natural England is also awaiting further information on the effectiveness of the proposed ecological mitigation. So the comprehensive ecology report can’t have been as comprehensive as advertised and the mitigation would seem to be missing!

Further reading shows that CDE slipped Natural England an “updated” Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment on 5th February (this Monday), one day before the deadline for comments.

Why the need for an updated LVIA? A clue can be found in a Devon County Council comment of 16 January:

“Given the current requirement to remove the existing plant and restore the site to heathland, the District Council may wish to ask the applicant to take this into account for the “baseline” for the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment. Paragraph 6.18 of the Planning supporting statement appears to assess the proposed visual impacts set against the baseline of the existing plant and machinery. It would be more appropriate if the landscape assessment acknowledged that the existing plant, machinery and buildings are not permanent features and that there is a current agreement to restore the site to heathland which needs to be considered as a part of the overall planning balance. This is especially important given the location within the AONB and the NPPF policy tests for new development in such locations.”

In other words the assumption that this can be treated as an established Industrial brownfield site, as suggested by Mr Rix, is incorrect.

The evidence emerging from these expert consultees shows just how insensitive this application has been to the particular sensitivities of this site.

Clinton Devon Estates are now desperately trying to catch up. Their credibility to care for the countryside has, in my view, been severely damaged.

Although the formal consultation period is closed comments can still be made by e-mail to planningwest@eastdevon.gov.uk quoting 17/3022/MOUT.

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8 Feb 2018

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Economy, EDDC, Scrutiny, Sustainability, Transparency

“Councils used as ‘human shields’ for cuts, says John McDonnell”

“John McDonnell has accused the government of using cash-strapped local councils as “human shields” to absorb deep spending cuts by the Treasury.

The shadow chancellor seized on reports that Surrey – where the Runneymede and Weybridge constituency of the chancellor, Philip Hammond, is located – was facing a £100m cash crisis.

Analysis by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism identified Surrey as the council facing the largest gap between expected revenues and expenditures in the coming financial year. The average deficit at the 150 councils the bureau examined was £14.7m.

Meanwhile, a survey of senior council officials by the Local Government Information Unit thinktank found that almost 80% had no confidence in the future sustainability of council finances.

McDonnell said: “If you ever wanted to see the utter failure of this government, look no further than your local council. Many are struggling to maintain many basic services because they are being forced to pass on Tory cuts.

“There needs to be an urgent change of direction in local government funding in this country. We need to see an end to a situation whereby Tory governments are using local councils like human shields as they continue to drive ahead with their failed austerity agenda.”

McDonnell appeared at a conference in Preston alongside the shadow communities secretary, Andrew Gwynne.

Many of the councils under greatest financial pressure are in Tory-held areas, and Conservative MPs have put pressure on the government to relieve the squeeze in particular areas.

Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, announced an extra £150m this week specifically to be spent on social care in areas of greatest need, amid a growing backlash from backbenchers.

But council leaders said it would not be enough to meet rapidly increasing needs.

The LGIU’s survey of councils’ finances suggested that 94% are planning to raise council tax in the coming year to make ends meet, and 65% will be dipping into their financial reserves.

In his speech, McDonnell highlighted alternative approaches to delivering local services.

Labour believes the threat to council services, such as social care and support for children, are the latest stark illustration of the ongoing impact of austerity.

The government has promised to put social care funding on a sustainable footing; but a green paper on the issue is not due to be published until next summer.”

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/feb/08/john-mcdonnell-councils-used-human-shields-funding-cuts

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8 Feb 2018

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Accountability, East Devon Tories, Hugo Swire, Inequality, Lobbying, Sleaze

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Tories auction off access to PM and ministers at their annual ball

Readers may recall the tasteless joke made by Hugo Swire about the unemployed at the £10|15,000 per table Tory fundraising ball attended by porn barons, sex shop owners, former jailbirds and assorted other rich riff-raff in 2015:

“Joke of the night
Auctioneer Hugo Swire, a Tory MP, inviting bids for the flight, said: ‘For an extra £1,000 we will throw in a case of wine. For an extra £5,000, we will throw in Greece as well.”

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2948470/Porn-barons-Shady-financiers-Hedge-fund-kings-Welcome-secret-Tory-ball-ANDREW-PIERCE-reveals-went-closed-doors.html

as reported here:

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2015/02/11/hugo-swire-is-auctioneer-at-15000-per-head-tory-ball/

Readers will be pleased to know that this annual event continues to be a highlight of the posh-toff Tory donor calendar. The dinner was held, appropriately enough, in the Natural History Museum, home to many other dinosaurs, though perhaps not as rich as the living ones!

Reports include:

A Tory donors paying £55,000 in an auction to spend a day with Theresa May.

Other auction lots included a dinner at a restaurant hosted by Stanley Johnson and the Made in Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo – who appeared together on the ITV reality show I’m a Celebrity – which went for £15,000.

Another auction lot was a chance to “walk in the footsteps of Churchill” by having dinner with the defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, in the Churchill war rooms, which reportedly went for £30,000.

A bidder is understood to have paid £12,500 for a home-cooked dinner with the environment secretary, Michael Gove, and his wife, Sarah Vine, at their west London home.

Dinner in Edinburgh with Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservative leader, attracted bids of more than £15,000, while lunch with Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, proved somewhat less alluring, with bids around the £2,000 mark.

Departing guests were reportedly greeted by a flashmob of taxi drivers honking horns in protest at May’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month in which she said Uber had got things wrong but should not be shut down.

As reported in

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/feb/08/black-and-white-ball-dinner-with-defence-secretary-goes-for-30000-at-tory-fundraising-ball

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8 Feb 2018

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Developers/ Development, EDDC, Land Supply, Public Open Space

“Since Margaret Thatcher came to power, 10% of the area of Britain has left public ownership. No wonder there’s a housing crisis”

“… in all the proliferating discussion about the rights and wrongs of the history of privatisation in Britain – both from those determined to row back against the neoliberal tide and those convinced that renationalisation is the wrong answer – Britain’s biggest privatisation of all never merits a mention. This is partly because so few people are aware that it has even taken place, and partly because it has never been properly studied. What is this mega-privatisation? The privatisation of land.

Some activists have hinted at it. Last October, for instance, the New Economics Foundation (NEF), a progressive thinktank, called in this newspaper for the government to stop selling public land. But the NEF’s is solely a present-day story, picturing land privatisation as a new phenomenon. It gives no sense of the fact that this has been occurring on a massive scale for fully 39 years, since the day that Margaret Thatcher entered Downing Street. During that period, all types of public land have been targeted, held by local and central government alike. And while disposals have generally been heaviest under Tory and Tory-led administrations, they definitely did not abate under New Labour; indeed the NHS estate, in particular, was ravaged during the Blair years.

All told, around 2 million hectares of public land have been privatised during the past four decades. This amounts to an eye-watering 10% of the entire British land mass, and about half of all the land that was owned by public bodies when Thatcher assumed power. How much is the land that has been privatised in Britain worth? It is impossible to say for sure. But my conservative estimate, explained in my forthcoming book on this historic privatisation, called The New Enclosure, is somewhere in the region of £400bn in today’s prices. This dwarfs the value of all of Britain’s other, better known, and often bitterly contested, privatisations. …”

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/08/biggest-privatisation-land-margaret-thatcher-britain-housing-crisis

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8 Feb 2018

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Health and Social Care (local), Inequality, NHS (local)

“A third of carers quit each year”

“More than a third of care workers give up their job within a year because of low pay, lack of prestige and limited options to advance, a report says.

About half of care workers are paid £14,625 a year or less, equivalent to £7.50 an hour, and many have to work unsocial hours, travel long distances and lift or support people they care for.

The study, by the National Audit Office (NOA), found that about 6.6 per cent of posts among the 1.3 million jobs in the adult social care sector were vacant, and there were vacancy rates of 11.3 per cent for managers and 16 per cent for registered nurses. …”

Source: The Times (pay wall)

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8 Feb 2018

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Council tax

“Surrey, UK’s richest county, hit by £100m cash crisis”

“Britain’s richest county is facing a £100 million cash crisis as scores of councils struggle to close budget deficits, an investigation has found.

Surrey county council has one of the worst financial shortfalls in the country, according to research seen by The Times. The disclosure came as nearly every part of England warned of tax rises to make ends meet and half of local authorities prepared to cut services for children. Nine out of ten councils will be millions of pounds over budget by the end of the financial year.

Surrey’s woes will alarm Downing Street as it is a solidly Conservative council and the county is represented at Westminster by seven senior government ministers. … “”

Source: The Times (pay wall)