Daily Archives: 21 Aug 2018

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21 Aug 2018

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Conflict of interest, Democracy, Electoral Commission, Scrutiny, Transparency

“DUP fined £1,000 over ‘inaccurate’ loan reporting”

Owl says: remarkable how this article gives no details of EXACTLY what the DUP did wrong, how much money was involved and borrowed from whom, for how long and at what rate of interest! Transparency my …..!

“THE DUP has been fined £1,000 by the Electoral Commission for “inaccurate” loan reporting.

The watchdog imposed two fines worth £500 each, which were paid earlier this month, its latest report disclosed.

In a statement it said: “The Commission considered, in accordance with the enforcement policy, that sanctions were appropriate in this case.”

Ann Watt, head of the Electoral Commission in Northern Ireland, added: “The reporting requirements are clear, so it is always disappointing when parties fail to comply.

“It’s vital that voters are given an opportunity to see accurate and full reportable data on what parties spend money on in order to influence them at elections and referendums.

“This provides transparency in the political finance system and is open for anyone to scrutinise.

“The Commission will continue to enforce these requirements on all parties and campaigners to ensure voters have the information they need.”

The Traditional Unionist Voice was also fined £1,000 for late delivery of a spending return for last year’s general election. The fine was due to be paid earlier this month.”

http://www.irishnews.com/news/politicalnews/2018/08/21/news/dup-fined-1-000-over-inaccurate-loan-reporting-1412808/

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21 Aug 2018

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Local Government Finance, Scrutiny

A BIG council [this time Labour] about to bite the dust?

“Birmingham City Council’s auditors Grant Thornton [also] revealed earlier this month the council had spent £117m of its reserves in two years.

The auditing firm has issued a rare set of recommendations under section 24 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act – understood to be an early warning of financial mismanagement. …”

https://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2018/08/pressure-childrens-services-forces-torbay-make-cuts

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21 Aug 2018

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Economy, Growth Strategy, Health and Social Care (local), Inequality, Mark Williams CEO EDDC

Older people are NOT unproductive

EDDC’s CEO (rapidly approaching retirement age) was once heard to call the district’s retired people “unproductive” …

“Countries could economically benefit from people living longer and should invest more in health to raise life expectancy, a think-tank has urged.

The International Longevity Centre said that as people live longer productivity also increases, in terms of ‘output’ per hour worked, per worker, boosting the economy.

Improving health and ensuring that people live longer should therefore be a key goal for governments, the analysis, based on OECD figures from 35 countries [see graph below], said.

According to the analysis, Iceland, which has one of the healthiest populations in the world, has an employment rate of 83% for 60 to 64-year-olds. This compares to the OECD average of 48.9%.

Ben Franklin, assistant director for research and policy at the think-tank, said that as raising life expectancy results in improved productivity, countries will also be able to collect more taxes from the people in work.

He said: “Public policy and economic forecasters should consider how best to take into account the potential fiscal benefit of better health and not neglect it in discussions of our long run sustainability.”

The report said that the findings are particularly important amid “many debates about long run government spending” where health spending is seen as a “drain on fiscal resources”. …”

https://www.publicfinanceinternational.org/news/2018/08/economic-benefits-people-living-longer-says-think-tank

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21 Aug 2018

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Accountability, Police (local)

Crimes committed by police officers and civilian employees in Devon and Cornwall

“Making a child watch a sex act, perverting the course of justice and possessing indecent images of children are among the crimes committed by police officers in Devon and Cornwall in recent years.

A total of 19 members of staff – officers and civilians – employed by Devon and Cornwall Police have been convicted of criminal offences or received cautions in the last five years, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

During that time period, a total of 45 police officers, nine police community support officers (PCSOs) and 12 members of staff were suspended by the force.

Of those, 38 were either dismissed or resigned.

In total, 10 civilian members of staff were convicted of criminal offences or received cautions between 2013 and 2017.

One staff member, who was suspended in 2013, received a caution for possession of indecent photos of children.

Another, who was suspended in 2014, was given a caution for indecent exposure.

Two other staff members were given cautions for misconduct in a public place and a data protection offence.

In addition, one staff member received a conditional discharge for theft.

Another was fined and banned from getting behind the wheel after being convicted of drink-driving.

Other offences convicted by civilian staff included shoplifting, battery and assault.

66 people suspended over five years

Over the five-year period, a total of 66 police officers and civilian staff members were suspended by Devon and Cornwall Police.

Of those, 19 were dismissed and a further 19 resigned.

No action was taken against 10.

The information supplied by the force lists 12 cases as either pending or not decided at the time of publication.

The remaining cases were resolved with a final written warning, management action or management advice.

The force stated that all those that did not resign or were dismissed returned to work.

Of all those suspended, 37 were the subject of a criminal investigation.

At total of 28 police officers and staff members were charged.

The force is yet to decide if a further six, who were all suspended in 2017, will be investigated for any potential crimes.

Full pay for suspended officers

All officers and staff members suspended from the force receive full pay while the matter is investigated.

The force states: “Officers and staff are always suspended on full pay until the misconduct is concluded; this can be for an extensive period.

“This is set within national regulations and is not at force discretion.”

Of those suspended during the five years, 40 were constables earning between £19,971 and £38,382.

Five were sergeants earning between £39,693 and £43,134.

The highest earning staff member, who was suspended in 2013, was earning between £40,755 and £45,507.

Suspended for 900 days

One individual who was suspended in 2013, remained on suspension for more than 900 days.

At least 16 were suspended for more than a year.

The data shows that 10 staff members remained on suspension at the time the information was supplied.

Of those, one was suspended in 2015, three in 2016 and six in 2017.”

https://www.devonlive.com/news/local-news/shocking-crimes-committed-police-officers-1918306

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21 Aug 2018

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Accountability, Inequality, Privatisation, Scrutiny, Sleaze

“Royal Mail boss is humiliated in another pay row as concerns grow that he is involved in too many companies”

Man with fingers in several pies, most of which are going off, gets more money as a thank-you for making the bad pies!

“Royal Mail chairman Peter Long has been forced into an embarrassing U-turn in a fresh row over fat-cat pay at a second company he runs.

Just weeks after suffering one of the biggest shareholder revolts in corporate history at Royal Mail, the 66-year-old faced investor fury at estate agency Countrywide, where he is also chairman.

The company, whose brands include Hamptons International, Bairstow Eves and John D Wood, had planned to hand top bosses including Long up to £20m in shares.

But the controversial bonus scheme has been axed following a backlash from investors who threatened to vote against the plan at a meeting next week. The climbdown comes weeks after Long was humiliated by Royal Mail shareholders when 70pc of them voted against the postal service’s pay policies.

Concerns have been raised about whether he is over-stretched. He is paid £300,000 a year as chairman of Royal Mail and £360,000 as executive chairman of Countrywide.

He is also deputy chairman of the supervisory board at travel agent Tui, where he earns £167,000, but has relinquished his role as chairman of Spanish theme park operator Parques Reunidos.

In an interview two years ago Long said: ‘You have to ensure that when you take on chairmanships you can give sufficient time to them and you don’t spread yourself too thin.’

Peter Kyle MP, a member of the parliamentary business committee, said: ‘I have met people who can do the most prodigious amount of work and do it very well. But we have to judge the performance of executives by outcomes and not on their words, and it’s very clear there have been some outcomes for Royal Mail that have affected staff and affected customers, and this for me should trigger a period of reflection.’

Countrywide is Britain’s biggest estate agent and has about 10,000 employees, but has been struggling in the face of slumping property sales and online competition. It has issued four profit warnings in less than a year. …”

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/article-6080113/Royal-Mail-boss-humiliated-pay-row.html

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21 Aug 2018

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Accountability, Affordable and Social Housing, Developers/ Development, Inequality, Persimmon

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“Persimmon profits rise 13% after help-to-buy boost”

Owl says; Summary – take care of your donors and they will take care of you.

“The housebuilder Persimmon has reported that its profits rose by 13% in the first half of the year, boosted by the government’s help-to-buy scheme and competitive mortgage deals.

Pretax profits jumped to £516m from £457m in the six months to 30 June, and Persimmon said it expected further growth in the second half of the year, bucking the wider trend of a slowing UK housing market.

“We have continued to experience good levels of customer interest in our housing development sites as we trade through the quieter summer season,” said the Persimmon chief executive, Jeff Fairburn.

“Customers are continuing to benefit from a competitive mortgage market and confidence remains resilient based on healthy employment trends and low interest rates.”

Britiain’s second biggest housebuilder angered shareholders earlier this year after handing Fairburn a £75m bonus. A report published last week by the High Pay Centre revealed Fairburn was the highest paid FTSE 100 boss in 2017, with a £47.1m package.

Persimmon sold 8,072 new homes in the first half of the year, up 4%. The average selling price increased by 1%, to £215,813.

The housebuilder has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the government’s help-to-buy programme, which has lifted sales and supported house prices across the UK. …”

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/21/persimmon-profits-rise-housing-market-help-to-buy