So, what are MPs FOR?
This chap was selected by around 90,000 people out of a population of 66 million – whyy does HE get to decide?
Monthly Archives: August 2019
“England school places shortage ‘made worse by academies’ “
“Councils are warning that a looming shortage in the number of school places across England is being made worse by academies, as last decade’s baby boom enters secondary schools over the next five years.
The Local Government Association (LGA) is calling for the government to restore powers to councils enabling them to open new maintained schools if residents support them, and for new powers for councils to require academies to expand to meet local demand.
Anntoinette Bramble, the chair of the LGA’s children and young people board, said that without such changes children were at risk of not having a secondary school place.
“Our secondary school places crisis is now just one year away and this will be the reality for thousands of families without action,” Bramble said.
Last year, about 20% of families in England failed to gain a place at their first preference school, with the rate rising above 40% in several London boroughs including Lambeth and Lewisham. One in eight families in London failed to gain a place at any of their choices.
Councils say their position is made impossible by conflicting rules, which place a legal duty on them to ensure adequate school places for local children but allow only autonomous academies and free schools to be opened to provide more places, other than in rare circumstances.
With most state secondary schools in England now academies, the problem is made worse because local authorities cannot direct them to expand their intake or offer more places to meet forecast high demand, as they can with maintained schools.
“Councils need to be allowed to open new maintained schools and direct academies to expand. It makes no sense for councils to be given the responsibility to plan for school places but then not be allowed to open schools themselves,” Bramble said.
“The government needs to work closely with councils to meet the challenges currently facing the education system.” …”
Make your voice heard on climate emergency – Exeter, 20 September 11 am
What can we believe about Clinton Devon Estates and bats?
The blog of August 24th – THE FIGHT TO PROTECT EAST BUDLEIGH BATS explains the determination of CDE to develop a barn in East Budleigh, home to 14 species of bats, some very rare including the Greater Horseshoe Bat.
On the other hand we see an employee of CDE receiving the Beer Bat Friendly Community Award in the Midweek Herald:
Why? Easy!
Beer Quarry Caves: no hope of using for housing development.
East Budleigh: every hope of using for housing development.
“The town with no centre: Will new town Cranbrook ever realise its potential and finally be completed?”
The fight to protect East Budleigh bats – but no need to fight in Beer
Owl says: And, of course, our old friends, Clinton Devon Estates is involved …
“Quiet, quaint and colourful, East Budleigh is a picture-perfect Devon village.
But behind the beautiful, flower-lined streets and cottages with thatched roofs and statue of world-famous explorer Sir Walter Raleigh, there is a simmering row which has enveloped much of the community.
It is a classic David-versus-Goliath story of concerned local residents against a major land developer, and revolves around bats, a barn and a new building.
Hidden behind some trees just off Middle Street sits The Pound – an old, dilapidated barn which apparently acquired its name as a shelter for stray animals in the area.
Ironically, it is the presence of animals there today which is causing the problem: it is believed to house at least 14 different species of bat.
Among their number are grey long-eared bats, which are known to be exceptionally rare in the UK. One estimate puts their number at just 1000 in the UK, while the Bat Conservation Trust claims they are ‘extremely rare’.
The barn is also believed to be home to at least one live badger sett, as well as hazel dormice.
Sitting on a pretty, grassy patch of land and shaded by horse chestnut trees, The Pound is a popular spot where East Budleigh residents can enjoy the wildlife. There is a bench were locals can sit and chat, while next to it is a trailer said to have been left by American airmen after World War Two which is now full of bright flowers in full bloom.
But The Pound’s prime spot also makes it ripe for developement.
East Budleigh – Raleigh’s birthplace – is an affluent town – according to Rightmove.com, the average value of each house sold this year was just under £480,000. It is little wonder then that landowners Clinton Devon Homes have ear-marked the area for major work. They applied for planning permission which would see The Pound’s barn knocked down and a large, modern house built in its place.
Local residents were furious, mounting stiff opposition to the move and appealing to keep the barn in order to protect the bats.
An initial East Devon District Council development management committee meeting saw councillors defer a decision pending additional information from Natural England about wildlife mitigation on the site. Various concessions were made – including a separate ‘bat barn’ for the barn’s current inhabitants – and, at a subsequent meeting in April, the green light was given by eight votes to five.
A ‘licence to kill’ was how one councillor described the decision.
Upon hearing the result, one member of the public shouted: “The bats will all be dead within six months.”
Many East Budleigh residents, though, are not giving up that easily. “It’s heart-breaking,” said Kathy Moyle. “We have so few natural areas around here. As well as the rare bats, there is also a badger set here, as well as hazel dormice. “We are battling with our hands tied behind our backs. “We have certainly put a thorn in their flesh but I am not sure it is enough. We all just want it to be left alone.”
In a remarkable act of defiance, when the plans were first announced Kathy set up the the East Budleigh Parish Nature and Wildlife Conservation Group to try and find out just what – and how many – animals call The Pound their home.
Now, every Friday night, a dedicated group go out to monitor the comings and goings.
Their findings included three grey long-eared bats, with evidence to suggest a maternity roost. In theory, this would strengthen their claim that the barn should not be knocked down, although Kathy is sceptical.”
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/village-being-sent-bat-shed-3242036
MEANWHILE, IN BEER:
“... Beer has been officially named a ‘Bat Friendly Community’ – only the second place in Devon to achieve the accolade.
The award is for the community’s work to conserve the endangered greater horseshoe bat. …
Polling station review
Is your polling station too far away (eg some Seaton people who now have to travel to Beer to vote)?
Is it inaccessible or has other disadvantages that make it difficult to cast your vote?
Have your say now:
and, if you haven’t registered to vote, you can do it here in less than 5 minutes:
The “new” EDDC “independent” vision
From a disillusioned correspondent:
“The “new” East Devon District Council has submitted their plan covering the next four years. Like the previous tory council it is interesting what has been left out. We are left reading between the lines.
EDDC is to “immediately start preparatory work on the next East Devon Local Plan” but no mention of the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan and of course the former will have to conform to the latter. We must also remember EDDC will be represented by Philip Skinner (conservative) and Susie Bond (independent). Councillor Skinner represented the council when EDDC was prepared to take the lion’s share of the housing for the GESP growth area. I hope that he may have changed his mind but I very much doubt it. This new council must come clean on its strategy. It is of the greatest importance and influence on all our lives.
I applaud the aspiration to provide “300 new affordable homes per annum including an increase of Council housing stock” but once again there is no clue how this is to be achieved. To put these 300 affordables into perspective. The average annual dwelling completions in East Devon between 2007 and 2017 were 469 of which 108 (23%) were delivered by Housing Associations and the Council. (Some of the residual 360 may have been bought through the “Help to Buy” scheme but the majority would have been “market housing”). The annual average housing target in the local plan is 950. To get 300 affordables the Council will have to up its game with developers and increase its affordable delivery achievement to 32% of target or increase its annual housing delivery to a whopping 1,304 a year. However you look at it, 300 affordables a year is nearly three times the historic delivery rate.
At the election I voted Independent in the expectation that we would have transparent, evidence based policy making and not one which plucks numbers out of the air.”
PM keeps Devon visit secret
Announcements are happening only AFTER visits – so far Torbay Hospital and Brixham Harbour.
Extraordinary! Well, maybe not – after all, he was “elected” by 0.18% of the population!
And we all know Devon’s proud history of dissent!
Which country has the most hospital beds per 100,000 population?
When is an NHS leaflet NOT an NHS leaflet? When Dominic Cummings says it isn’t
EDDC Tory councillor has plan to take people out of poverty
Overview will discuss Councillor Mike Allen’s report:
” … The report proposes that the East Devon District Council should have two basic aims – no one in East Devon is destitute without immediate help, and nobody is in poverty for more than two years duration.
To achieve this, the council should try and boost incomes and reduce relative housing costs, work with partners to deliver an effective benefit system, deliver actions with Business and Public Sector to improve education standards, raise skills and improve work placements, strengthen families and communities to help those at risk of poverty and promote long-term economic growth to reduce dependency on agriculture, tourism and catering industries, the report says. …”
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/action-plan-proposed-help-tackle-3237472
Owl just more than a bit annoyed that his party’s austerity cuts caused most of these problems in the first place! And that now, pre-general election, there seems to be a magic money tree after all … maybe.
Thought for the day
“… In twenty years’ time, I dream all East Devon’s towns will be sustainable in their own right, offering jobs and careers across the district that, as schoolchildren, we did not dare to imagine possible.
I firmly believe we can do this.
If we talk, listen and think together, we can start a very exciting journey, creating a better life for future generations. …”
https://www.exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/east-devon-district-council-leader-column-1-6230688
Hhhmmmmm ……
PegasusLife still not listing Knowle as a futre development
“TiggerTories” outline their plans for the next 4 years (not unlike the plans for the last 40 years!)
Owl says: virtually identical to Tory “aspirations” for the last 4 years – or even the last 40 years!
And no mention of an overhaul of governance or a change to the committee system.
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/what-east-devons-independent-administration-3239119
Note the “independent leadership” includes the Independent Group and selected Tories, but only one East Devon Alliance member in a minor role – as Leader Ingham prefers to work with Tories rather than other independents.
May 2019 local elections: “Democracy Denied”
Electoral Reform Society:
“May’s local elections in England showed just how unfit-for-purpose the voting system is, as voters were left with restricted choices and random results.
For voters of all parties, the local elections saw democracy denied: the First Past the Post voting system meant that millions of voters were unrepresented.
In our latest report, Democracy Denied: The 2019 Elections Audit, we present new analysis of local, regional and national results. Councils across England saw the wrong party winning, hugely disproportionate results, and voters left voiceless as many seats were completely uncontested. …”
The report is here:
‘Democracy denied’ as report reveals how voters are left voiceless across England
EDDC Tory councillor apears to have removed debate about DBS checks from his Facebook page
Owl can no longer access the debate shown below on EDDC Tory Councillor Ian Hall’s Facebook page. Has it been removed or has Owl been blocked? What could be the reason for either action? Or is there another reason? Owl isn’t Facebook savvy enough to know. Curious!
Councillor Tom Wright said councillors who would not take the bait on checks (which are not required) were being non-transparent. If it has been removed is it an issue of non-transparency? Hhhmmmm …
“Rivers used as ‘open sewers’, says WWF charity”
As a district well-provided with rivers and estuaries, a worrying issue:
“Targets for 75% of rivers to be healthy by 2027 are “very unlikely” to be met in England, a charity has warned.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) says rivers are “used as open sewers”.
The Environment Agency predicts 75% of rivers in England and along the Scottish and Welsh borders will meet EU expectations by 2027, compared with just 14% now.
It is planning an autumn consultation on “challenges and choices” faced in cleaning up water. The agency said it would review the target based on “what can realistically be achieved”.
Sewage discharging into rivers has been one of the most common reasons for ecological health tests being failed, while water companies in England have been told their efforts to protect the environment were “unacceptable”. …”
New beach huts to slow cliff erosion?
“Wish you were sheer? These beach huts will be built into a 100ft cliff if plans get the OK.
The 28 “pods” will rest on stilts, with the top tier 35ft up, and are designed to help stop erosion at Poole, Dorset.
The prices of the huts have not yet been confirmed but it is likely to be tens of thousands of pounds.
Earlier this week a 6.5ft x 14ft one-room beach hut in Christchurch – just 12 miles along the coast from Swanage – went on sale for £80,000.
Each of the huts will have 140sq ft of floor space and balconies providing panoramic views of the beach and sea.
They will sit on stilts that will act as pile foundations and will be drilled into the ground to improve the stability of the cliff. …”
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/eco-friendly-beach-huts-built-18979551
“Fat-cat bosses still rake in 117 TIMES more than an average worker despite a pay fall – and former Persimmon chief earned more in a minute than most made in nearly three days”
“Bosses at Britain’s FTSE 100-listed companies are raking in 117 times more a year than a worker on the average salary of just under £30,000.
Chief executives at the UK’s top 100 companies were paid £3.46million on average last year, down 13 per cent from £3.97million the year before.
Former Persimmon boss Jeff Fairburn was the biggest FTSE 100 earner last year, trousering £38.97million.
Five biggest FTSE earners: Chief executives at the UK’s top 100 companies were paid £3.46million on average last year
Fairburn’s salary for 2018 was 1,318 times more than the median salary of a full-time worker in the UK.
It would take an average worker nearly three days to earn what Fairburn raked in during a single minute, according to Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and High Pay Centre analysis. …”
East Devon Watch 