Monthly Archives: May 2019

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29 May 2019

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Accountability, Affordable and Social Housing, Health and Safety, Housing (local), Inequality

“Kensington Council Made £129m From Selling Property That Could Have Prevented Cost-Cutting At Grenfell”

“Kensington and Chelsea council made £129m from selling property in the years leading up to the Grenfell fire tragedy – money which we can show for the first time could have prevented cost-cutting on the tower’s renovation works.

An investigation by HuffPost UK, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and the BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service can reveal the property deals overseen by senior officers and the council’s cabinet in the run up to the Grenfell disaster.

Evidence shows one of these deals was directly linked to the financing of the Grenfell Tower renovation and our investigation reveals that the council had far greater power over its funding of the works than it has previously admitted.

The council has previously claimed legal restrictions meant it could only use rental income from local authority housing to pay for renovation works. But this was not the case.

In fact, the council’s own documents show £6m of the Grenfell works was paid for with proceeds from the sale of council property – basement units in Elm Park Gardens in Chelsea.

The government has confirmed to us that councils are free to use money from the sale of property to fund improvements in housing stock.

This new information means the council had a far larger pot of money available to invest in its council housing than it has previously acknowledged – including on Grenfell Tower.

Our investigation also found the council had £37m in the bank, specifically from the sale of property, at the time when funding decisions over Grenfell were being taken.

But in 2014, cuts were made to the budget for building work by the tenant management organisation that was managing the project, including saving £300,000 by using cheaper, more combustible cladding.

The cladding was a key contributor to the speed with which the fire tore through the building on June 14, 2017, killing 72 people and leaving hundreds of families homeless.

The revelations have prompted fury over why spending on the Grenfell works was tight when the council had a significant income stream that could have been used to increase the budget. …”

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/kensington-chelsea-council-property-sales-grenfell_uk_5ced6003e4b0bbe6e3342f04?utm_hp_ref=uk-homepage&guccounter=1

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28 May 2019

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Accountability, East Devon Tories, Sleaze, Tax avoidance, Transparency

“UK and territories are ‘greatest enabler’ of tax avoidance, study says”

u”The UK and its “corporate tax haven network” is by far the world’s greatest enabler of corporate tax avoidance, research has claimed.

British territories and dependencies made up four of the 10 places that have done the most to “proliferate corporate tax avoidance” on the corporate tax haven index.

The UK ranked 13th on the list, which was published by the Tax Justice Network on Tuesday.

The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, said the findings showed the government’s record on tax avoidance was “embarrassing and shameful”.

McDonnell added: “The only way the UK stands out internationally on tax is in leading a race to the bottom in creating tax loopholes and dismantling the tax systems of countries in the global south.

“The rot has to stop. While Tory leadership hopefuls promise tax giveaways for the rich, a Labour government will implement the most comprehensive plan ever seen in the UK to tackle tax avoidance and evasion.”

A government spokesman said tackling tax avoidance was a priority and the UK had “been at the forefront of international action to reform global tax rules”. …”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/28/uk-and-territories-are-greatest-enabler-of-tax-avoidance-study-says?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

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28 May 2019

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Accountability, Hugo Swire

Swire’s pick for PM gets roasted for leadership video

Hope it wasn’t Swire’s idea!

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/dominic-raab-fairness-video-goes-viral_uk_5ced40a8e4b0bbe6e333945d?guccounter=1

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28 May 2019

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Affordable and Social Housing, EDDC, Exeter City Council, Greater Exeter, Housing (local)

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Design for new mini-village in Exeter

Is this an example of the level of design we can expect in Greater Exeter? Breathtakingly beautiful isn’t it (not!):

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/400-homes-pretty-village-green-2916444

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28 May 2019

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Accountability, Developers/ Development, EDDC, Housing (local), TiggerTories

“Oxfordshire’s Housing and Growth deal at risk after local elections”

Well, not much chance of this here now so many Tories stull continue to have great influence over East Devon and Greater Exeter development:

“THERE is concern a major deal with Government could be scrapped if a council decides it does not want to take part.

All Oxfordshire councils signed up to the £215m Housing and Growth Deal and it was officially agreed in March 2018.

It provides £150m for infrastructure improvements, including to roads and railways, and £60m for affordable housing.

But there is concern within other authorities after the new coalition led by Liberal Democrats and Greens at South Oxfordshire District Council said they planned to review its Local Plan.

Sources within the councils have said there are worries the Government could pull out of the deal if it is delayed. It ripped up a similar plan in Manchester in March.

But Ian Hudspeth, the leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We have got to wait and see what the councils say. It is entirely up to them but having £60m for affordable homes is a major issue to the councils. Losing that would be very upsetting for everyone.

“Everyone needs to be very careful about what they do and the consequences.”

When the Growth Deal was signed, the Government told the councils that they had to submit their Local Plans to an independent inspector by the start of April. They are outlines of where authorities plan to develop until the mid-2030s.

In South Oxfordshire, Lib Dems and Greens are opposed to the plan – although they appear to be against different parts.

It is understood the Greens would rather continue the project to build homes at Chalgrove Airfield and stop development on the Green Belt. But senior Lib Dem David Turner is wholly opposed to building on the airfield. He represents Chalgrove on the council.

Leigh Rawlins, SODC’s newly appointed cabinet member for planning, said the council would undertake a review over the Local Plan as part of ‘mature consideration’ following the election.

He said: “Clearly there has been a huge amount of concern about the Local Plan, the process and how it came together across the district.”

The uncertainty has left some residents furious, who are worried that Neighbourhood Plans they helped put together could be delayed or even scrapped as part of the Local Plan.

Justine Wood, who worked on East Hagbourne’s Neighbourhood Plan, said a delay to the Local Plan could mean speculative development.

She said: “There were 1,200 homes planned for East Hagbourne, which would have quadrupled the size of the village (through speculative development). It would have been catastrophic.

“But if they scrap the Local Plan they will get more than the 28,500 they are objecting to and they will have nothing they can do about it.”

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government cancelled a £68m deal for affordable housing with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).

GMCA said it would build 227,200 homes until 2034/5 – but then later committed to just 201,000 homes.

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/17650662.oxfordshires-housing-and-growth-deal-at-risk-after-local-elections/

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28 May 2019

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Accountability, Affordable and Social Housing, EDDC, Housing (local)

“Regulator warns housing stock-owning local authorities of application of consumer standards”

“The Regulator of Social Housing has written to the chief executives of all housing stock-owning local authorities to remind them that the watchdog’s consumer standards – in particular in relation to the health and safety of occupants – apply to them.

The move follows a letter sent by the Regulator after the Grenfell Tower fire to all registered providers of social housing to remind them of their obligations for their tenants’safety under the Regulator of Social Housing’s Consumer standards.

Since that first letter, the watchdog has issued regulatory notices to two local authorities in respect of compliance with the Home Standard (which is one of the consumer standards), and specifically a range of health and safety requirements. …

MacGregor noted that that obligation remained with the local authority where it is the stock-owning body, even if the management has been contracted to another body such as an ALMO.

She then cited an extract from the original letter saying, amongst other things, that meeting health and safety obligations was a primary responsibility for registered providers, and that boards and councillors must ensure that they have proper oversight of all health and safety issues.

The first letter stressed that contracting out delivery of services did not contract out responsibility to meet the requirements of legislation or standards, so providers needed systems to give boards assurance of compliance.

It also said that should any provider find that they have systemic failings in relation to internal control of health and safety, which indicate that they were not in compliance with the Standard, based on the co-regulatory approach, the Regulator expected them to notify it as Regulator and resolve the issues immediately.

Ms MacGregor said her latest letter was “a reminder to local authorities that the consumer standards apply to them and that while we currently only consider information that is referred to us, this does not diminish the obligation on local authorities to comply with the standards.

“Currently, legislation only permits us to take enforcement action where there has been a breach of a consumer standard, and that breach has, or could, cause serious detriment to current or future tenants. As can be seen from our various Consumer Regulation Review publications, we most commonly find breach and serious detriment in relation to the Home Standard.”

She added: “You may wish to seek your own assurance that your authority is complying with the consumer standards.”

https://www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/housing-law/397-housing-news/40654-regulator-warns-housing-stock-owning-local-authorities-of-application-of-consumer-standards

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27 May 2019

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Cranbrook, Developers/ Development, Help to Buy, Housing (local)

“Housing market ‘to be dealt a serious blow’ as most new home sales use Help to Buy scheme”

Many of the new homes in Cranbrook are bought using this scheme.

“Almost all new homes in some parts of the country are funded by the Help to Buy equity loan scheme, raising fears about a house price slump when the programme ends.

The Government lends buyers up to 20pc of the cost of a new-build house, meaning the would-be homeowner only needs a 5pc deposit and a 75pc mortgage. In London users of the scheme can borrow up to 40pc of a home’s value.

More than 97pc of new homes in Northampton were funded by Help to Buy last year, according to modular housebuilder Project Etopia. In Burnley the figure was 93.1pc, in Derby 92.4pc and in Warrington 91.4pc. …”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/housing-market-dealt-serious-blow-new-home-sales-use-help-buy/

Research has shown it adds on average £33,000 to the cost of a new home:

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2019/04/14/help-to-buy-costs-first-time-buyers-an-average-33000-extra/

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27 May 2019

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Economy, Inequality, Poverty

“Number of over-70s still in work more than doubles in a decade”

“… Over three times more men aged 70 and above are working full-time compared with a decade ago: 113,513 up from 36,302 in 2009.

The number of women aged 70 and above who are still working has also more than doubled in a decade. Today, there are 175,000 women aged 70 and above in work: an increase of 131%.

In addition, the research found, there are currently more than 53,000 over 80s working in the UK, 25% of whom are working full-time.

But Catherine Seymour, head of policy at Independent Age pointed out that the rise in people working beyond 65 coincides with increases in pensioner poverty. “One in every six people – nearly two million – of pension age are now living in poverty and every day, another 226 people join that number,” she said.”.

“Many people who are now working in their late sixties and seventies are doing so out of necessity to pay the rent, heat their homes and afford their weekly shop,” she added. “Everyone who wants to should be able to retire from paid work at state pension age, and these figures suggest many people cannot afford that right.” …

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/may/27/number-of-over-70s-still-in-work-more-than-doubles-in-a-decade?

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27 May 2019

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Accountability, Hugo Swire

Swire’s choice for PM thinks feminists are ‘obnoxious bigots’

“Dominic Raab has defended his claim that feminists are some of the most obnoxious bigots and that men are getting a raw deal, saying he does not want “double standards” in the debate on equality.

The former Brexit secretary, a leading candidate to be the next prime minister, was challenged on BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show about his comments from 2011, when he said: “From the cradle to the grave, men are getting a raw deal. Feminists are now amongst the most obnoxious bigots.”

He stood by the position by saying it was “really important that in the debate on equality we have a consistency and not double standards and hypocrisy …”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/26/dominic-raab-defends-calling-feminists-obnoxious-bigots?

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26 May 2019

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Austerity cuts, Economy, Inequality, Transport (local)

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Bus services in England down 10%, fares up 32% since 2010

“… Nearly three out five journeys by public transport are on buses, but passengers are getting a poor deal say MPs as there are long-term funding plans for rail and roads, but not buses.

And the House of Commons’ Transport Committee is calling for a “national strategy” for buses to give passengers a better deal.

The strategy should make bus services more passenger focused and provide value for money, help to bring more people, especially young people, onboard.

The report says local authorities should be able to create new publicly-owned bus companies and encourage people to switch from cars to buses.

Labour’s shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said: ”The Tories have neglected buses, along with the people and communities who rely on them. …”

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/bus-services-services-plunged-damaging-16205852

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26 May 2019

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Inequality, Poverty, Universal Credit

“Destitute children unlawfully denied support by local councils”

“Local councils are unlawfully denying destitute children support because their parents’ immigration status is under suspicion, the Guardian can reveal.

Families whose immigration status becomes insecure can quickly become destitute because they lose their right to work and access benefits. Such families who have dependent children can seek support under section 17 of the 1989 Children’s Act, which states that local councils have a duty to provide cash or accommodation to ensure a child’s immediate needs are met.

Hundreds of these families have been unlawfully denied this support since 2010 because local authorities have focused on the parents’ immigration background.

Many of the children affected are either British or entitled to British citizenship, and campaigners say it has now become normal practice for them to threaten local authorities with legal action in an effort to ensure a fair assessment. …”

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/may/26/destitute-children-unlawfully-denied-support-local-councils-immigration-status?

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26 May 2019

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Accountability, Hugo Swire, Post-Brexit Adjustments

Swire’s choice for PM – a match made in …

Seems like a great fit for Swire!

“If MPs did block Boris, Mr Raab could prove popular with the Tory membership – a group of 160,000 true-bluers who’ll pick from two choices to choose our next PM.

So who is the MP, and why has he stirred controversy?

He sparked fury in 2017 by saying most food bank users are not “languishing in poverty”. When a disability activist told him “people are dying” under Tory austerity, he described her calls for cash as a “childish wish list”.

He branded feminists “obnoxious bigots”. And he put out a pamphlet in 2011 that suggested exempting small firms from minimum wage laws for workers under 21.

Here’s a profile – and 15 things you should probably know.

Former grammar school boy Mr Raab, now 45, was born to a Czech Jewish father who fled to Britain as a refugee before the Second World War.

The Oxford and Cambridge graduate was a City lawyer with Linklaters before joining the Foreign Office in 2000, helping bring war criminals to justice in The Hague.

He once found himself defending Tony Blair from being summoned to the international criminal court while working on the trial of Slobodan Milosevic.

He left the civil service for hard politics in 2006 becoming chief of staff to Tory shadow home secretary David Davis.

He was elected MP for Esher and Walton in 2010 and joined government in 2015, quickly rising through the ranks.

During his time as a junior minister in the Ministry of Justice, Mr Raab tried to get prisoners with sentences of longer than a year deported.

He also led debates against a European Court of Justice decision giving at least some prisoners the right to vote.

In July 2018 he replaced David Davis as Brexit Secretary – probably the most crucial and stressful job in government.

But he lasted just five months in the role, resigning in November 2018 in protest of Theresa May’s Brexit deal.

He stepped down just hours after Theresa May published her 585-page Brexit deal, accusing the Prime Minister of betraying “public trust”.

He lives in Thames Ditton, Surrey, with his wife Erika and two sons Peter and Joshua and his heroes include right-wing US President Ronald Reagan and Gandhi.

15 things you should probably know (see article for details)

1. He’d crash us out with No Deal
2. He didn’t rule out working with Farage
3. He wants MORE government cuts
4. He became Brexit Secretary without realising how important Dover is
5. And he didn’t read the full Good Friday Agreement either
6. He’s raised the idea of a Brexit tax haven
7. He said foodbank users aren’t ‘languishing in poverty’
8. He branded calls for NHS cash a ‘childish wish list’
9. He had some worrying views on workers’ rights
10. He branded feminists ‘obnoxious bigots’
11. He was in a Facebook group calling for NHS privatisation
12. He branded Brits ‘the worst idlers in the world’
13. He got embroiled in a row about housing stats
14. He revealed he had faced a claim of bullying, which he added was ‘false’ and ‘unsubstantiated’
15. And of course, there’s his diary secretary – with her clams about his lunch

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/who-dominic-raab-tory-leadership-12882420

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26 May 2019

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Health and Safety

1,700 more buildings in England may have defective cladding

“Fire safety experts have warned that 1,700 buildings in England are likely to fail a new round of tests into cladding and building materials.
Hospitals, schools, nursing homes and tower blocks are among buildings which could be “at risk”, BBC 5 Live Investigates has learned.

The government said it will monitor the test results this summer to decide if any immediate action needs to be taken.

It comes almost two years after 72 people died in the Grenfell Tower fire. …”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48387380

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25 May 2019

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Bovis, Developers/ Development, Linden Homes

Two big developers consider merge

“Two of the UK’s biggest housebuilders have kicked off secret talks about ‎a tie-up just two years after a previous set of merger discussions broke down.

Sky News has learnt that Bovis Homes Group has approached Galliford Try in the last few weeks about a combination of a large chunk of their operations.

If consummated, a ‎deal would represent a fresh catalyst for consolidation in Britain’s housebuilding sector.

Bovis has a market value of just over £1.3bn, while Galliford Try, which owns the Linden Homes housebuilding brand, is worth roughly £550m.

Both are among the ten largest housebuilders in the UK. …

A Bovis insider‎ cautioned that it was unlikely to be interested in Galliford Try’s troubled construction division, which was responsible for a recent profit warning from the group.”

https://news.sky.com/story/bovis-approaches-rival-galliford-try-about-housebuilding-merger-11728118

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25 May 2019

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Accountability, Education (local), Inequality

Special needs child from London has to go to school in Scotland

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/may/25/rise-in-special-needs-children-forced-to-attend-distant-schools

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25 May 2019

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Accountability

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Why is Owl anonymous?

Owl is currently receiving very frequent emails asking why it is anonymous:

1. To ensure that harrassing and/or threatening emails are not sent to a personal email address – there are already enough of them clogging up the Owl’s email box. Some have been a touch in the scary side.
2. Because, as said before, Owl is legion – contributions come from many sources and many contributors, quite a few of whom wish to remain anonymous (see 1 above).
3. Owl flies away sometimes, when other owls watch over the district.
4. It means people do not make value judgments of person but of content
5. It is not illegal to blog anonymously – although recently Owl has been accused of the illegal act of defamation. (Owl has asked the emailer to be more specific and has promised to publish the reply – as long as it isn’t defamatory).

If condition (1) above was respected, Owl would love to do without anonymity.

Remember, JK Rowling wanted to be anonymous with her Strike books … and the great tradition of lampoonery and Private Eye couldn’t exist without it.

Oh, and Owl will not respond to any more … are you? … you are … emails.

If anyone is averse to the blog being anonymous, please feel free not to read it.

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25 May 2019

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Accountability, Climate crisis, DCC, EDDC

Where does EDDC now stand on climate emergency?

Owl is surprised there isn’t a lead councillor for climate emergency … Oh, wait, the CEO has already made the climate emergency policy himself:

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2019/05/08/eddc-ceo-puts-new-majority-in-their-place-about-climate-crisis-wants-very-slow-change/

Presumably, the job will be for new Councillor Sam Hawkins (Estates and Property Services) and Asset Management Group’s Geoff Pook to sort out between them.

Here is Devon County Council’s pathetic attempt to do something:

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/campaigners-question-speed-devons-response-2906352

taking the St Francis of Assisi approach – “make me a saint, but not yet”.

It’s going to get very warm EDDC’s new HQ in Honiton – especially in that long, narrow, dark Council Chamber; no opening the french doors in the Members Room next door, with the view out to the gardens and out to sea with a cooling breeze … just the noise from the slip road to the A35 or, if you are really lucky, a view of Aldi or Lidl – or possibly both!

But no worries – the climate cost and real cost of the air-conditioning in summer and heating in winter will not be as high as in the old HQ …..

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25 May 2019

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Misc

Greater Exeter Strategic Plan – further thoughts from a resident

I am the East Devon resident who now has answers to my question of May 24th on growth and the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan, thanks to Owl. Philip Skinner (conservative) and Susie Bond (independent) will represent EDDC.

So, East Devon’s future housing growth will still remain in the hands of Philip Skinner, he of the “22 ft extending mahogany board room table” fame. He who “put forward the idea of developing a regionally or nationally significant sports arena and concert venue within the GESP area.” (where?? more grade 1 agricultural land?)  He who has spent £285,305, and counting, of council tax money , as Chairman of Exmouth Regeneration Board , for the fun park in Queen’s Drive, Exmouth.

He, who is on the board of directors of the Exeter Science Park- a network of professionals experienced in a range of sectors, from finance to property, technology to business. His c.v. for that board boasts

“Councillor responsibilities include being portfolio holder to both the economy and development management and he also represents EDDC on the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan (GESP) steering group. He is Chairman of the Exmouth Regeneration Board and is very much at the forefront of place shaping for not only EDDC but for the region.”

Additionally, Mr Skinner’s other district duties stretch him in to other areas such as; A member of the Heart of the South West LEP Joint Committee, The Exeter and Heart Of Devon Growth Board, Joint Advisory Reference Group, and the Greater Exeter Strategic Sports Board” (unless he has been removed from any of these posts – they still remain on his Register of Interests).

Ms. Bond , EDDC councillor for Feniton, has fought tooth and nail for Feniton, its flooding issues and over- development problems over the years.

So whose view will be heard on the GESP?

I didn’t vote independent at the district election for the same old faces and with that the same old growth policies. And I am sure I am not the only one.