After five days we now have a “service recovery plan” to restore rail services!

[One more to add to the list of “recovery plans” – Owl]

Trains that were taken out of service after cracks were found will be reintroduced after “rigorous safety checks”, the Rail Delivery Group says.

BBC News www.bbc.co.uk

The industry body said Great Western Railway and London North Eastern Railway (LNER) will ramp-up services.

There has been disruption for passengers since Saturday after small cracks were discovered on the base frame of some Hitachi Class 800 trains.

The rail minister warned passengers to expect disruption for “some time”.

Travellers are being advised to continue to check with their operator before they travel.

In a statement, the Rail Delivery Group said Hitachi Rail, train operators and the government have agreed a “service recovery plan” to reintroduce more Class 800 and 385 trains after they were taken out of service on Saturday.

But it said trains on some routes may be less frequent than usual and train availability could vary.

The industry has put in place “suitable criteria for the trains to meet before they can re-enter service”, the Rail Delivery Group said.

Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said he welcomed the news that “many trains” can return following safety checks.

“Trains should begin to return to service after further inspections have been carried out, helping to safely restore the reliable and punctual services on GWR and LNER that passengers deserve,” he said.

“Safety is our absolute focus, which is why Hitachi will carry out a comprehensive daily testing regime on affected trains.”

He said the “next step” will be for Hitachi to present its long-term repair plan for the fleet, which he expects “shortly”.

“Whilst this long-term fix can partly be incorporated into the regular service pattern for these trains, we do expect disruption to services for some time to come, but hope passengers understand this work is essential to ensure these issues do not occur again,” Mr Heaton-Harris said.

Clearly we need a more representative voting system, but what can we do about it?

A view from East Devon Council leader Paul Arnott published in Exmouth Journal (and elsewhere)

So, good people of East Devon, this week I would like to set you an exam question?

Q: In last week’s County Council elections, Conservative candidates in our district polled a total of 22,265 votes across all 12 wards, and non-Conservatives polled a total of 29,654. The question is, how many non-Conservative councillors for the available 12 slots will now be sitting at County?

Even allowing for what one might imagine about the eccentricities of our electoral system, with its odd historical boundaries and so forth, you might guess that the Conservative representation would be perhaps 5, with the non-Tories being 7. Something like that.

In fact, I can report to you that the Conservatives now hold 10 seats at Devon county from our area, and the non-Conservatives just 2. This has caused blood to boil in some quarters, and I can understand that. But in my position, as leader of the Independent East Devon Alliance, I want to move on to the ‘what can we do about it?’ phase as soon as possible and beyond the anger.

To explain, as a small local registered political party we played nice. Where we were not sure that we were the most likely candidate to challenge the Conservatives we simply did not stand. But the Labour Party did and I believe they took a small but highly significant part of the non-Conservative vote, and our three lost by one or two hundred votes in all three wards.

Now, I feel really bad pointing this out. Those young candidates have every right to stand for what they want, where they want, and when they want, and I applaud their enthusiasm to enter politics. But this is local politics. This is the problem with democracy; it is not quite what we all think. It has been reported last weekend that in the coming weeks Home Secretary Priti Patel will change the way in which mayors for major cities and areas are elected.

The Conservatives don’t like the current system, where voters may express a first and a second preference. It’s fair and ensures that a perhaps divisive candidate of one party does not get in with just 40% if their two rivals have polled 30% each. The Conservatives fancy that as long as they can find a series of Borises, big characters who can attract a popular if not always well-informed vote, they can make a clean sweep of mayoral elections next time on the old past past the post system. That may be alright for national hunt horseracing, but it is no way to encourage true democracy in the 21st century. But doubtless it will sweep through Parliament. No more first and second preferences, a democratic reversal

Now, I must presume that about 45% of the readers of this column are Conservative voters – well, some of my best friends are Tories, even my son’s godfather (a former Winchester councillor). So I’m not doing you down; I am just pointing out that the best of you I suspect will agree that the representation we need on councils or at government level should reflect the numbers of votes cast, not the eccentricities of ward boundaries etc. But the real challenge is to those who do not wish to vote Conservative. Please look at those figures again. Nearly 30,000 of you voted non Tory, for 2 county seats. Just over 22,000 voted Tory for 10 county seats. So what are we, what are you, going to do about it?

Three new town councillors have been elected in Sidmouth.

Philippa Davies sidmouth.nub.news

Following the vote last Thursday, Richard Thurlow has been elected to the Salcombe Regis ward.

There were two seats vacant in the Sidmouth South ward, and they have been filled by Hilary Nelson and Rachel Perram.

All three of the new councillors are Independents.

After the best part of a week, GWR services from London to the south west are still are not running, following safety concerns about new trains.

Radio Exe www.radioexe.co.uk  

The Hitachi engines were introduced with much fanfare in 2018, but after small cracks were found in them, they’re being checked to see what precautions need to be taken to protect passengers.

Major disruption is the result. GWR is advising people to put off their journeys to a later date, in the hope they’ll be able to sort things out. In the meantime. they’re operating some separate shuttles in place of the fast service. It means previous direct trips may now need several changes.

Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw, who sits on the transport committee in parliament, describes the situation as “a shambles.” Whilst safety is paramount, he says: “so is getting around the country when you want to see loved ones you haven’t seen for more than a year. There will be many people in the south west who will have made plans for next week so it needs to be sorted out as quickly as possible.”

The ‘Super Express’ trains were introduced to take advantage of electrification of the Great Western railwayline, but that’s not coming to the south west any time soon. They were late going into service after being announced. According to Private Eye, the 866 carriages being used nationally are costing £7.7 billion in ‘train usage prices’ over nearly 30 years.

David Cameron bombarded government ministers and officials with scores of texts, calls and emails over a four-month period, telling them that the failure to provide financial support to Greensill Capital was “nuts” and “bonkers”, it has been revealed.

www.independent.co.uk 

A cache of messages released by the House of Commons Treasury Committee showed that the former prime minister and his office contacted ministers including chancellor Rishi Sunak – as well as senior officials at 10 Downing Street and the Bank of England – on 27 separate days between 5 March and 26 June 2020, with multiple contacts on some days.

And Mr Cameron’s messages also revealed efforts to lobby Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove. But there was little indication that Gove – a former close friend who fell out with the ex-PM over Brexit – gave much of a response to his contacts.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that Mr Cameron will face two grillings from panels of senior MPs on Thursday this week, facing the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee at 5pm, just after concluding a previously-announced interrogation by the Treasury committee at 2.30pm.

Signing his messages “Dc” or “De”, the ex-PM begins with requests for talks and offers of lunch, but the pleas for help become increasingly lengthy and detailed after it was made clear that Greensill’s application for inclusion in the multi-billion pound Covid Corporate Financing Facility had been rejected.

In all, at least 25 texts, 12 WhatsApp messages and eight emails were sent, and 11 calls are recorded in a timeline supplied by Mr Cameron to the committee, which is conducting an investigation into the affair with company founder Lex Greensill giving evidence this afternoon.

At one point, Cameron tells the Treasury’s top civil servant Tom Scholar he will “see you with Rishi’s for an elbow bump or foot tap”, as he assures him that Greensill are eager to “help” with the government’s response to the Covid crisis.

As the decision on CCFF got nearer, Cameron became more persistent, at one stage even telling Scholar: “One last point, then I promise I will stop annoying you”.

After the application was refused, he stepped up his contacts, telling the Treasury permanent secretary on 3 April he was “genuinely baffled” by the decision and asking for a phone discussion on what he said was a “bonkers” decision.

(Gov.UK)

The same day, he texted Sunak himself to brand the Treasury decision “nuts” and asking him to “call any time on this number”. 

He also fired off texts and emails to Treasury ministers Jesse Norman and John Glen, as well as 10 Downing Street special adviser Sheridan Westlake, who he told there was “a looming problem you can help solve”.

And he emailed the deputy governor of the Bank of England Sir Jon Cunliffe, telling him Greensill had been rejected despite having “dealt with every objection”, and adding: “I think I must be missing something here, Am obviously talking to HMT but would be grateful for any light you could shed on this.”

In a text that day to Gove, Cameron wrote: “I know you are manically busy – and doing a great job by the way (this is bloody hard and I think the team is coping extremely well). But do you have a moment for a word? I am on this number and v free. All good wishes De.”

Follow-up emails showed that Mr Cameron spoke with Mr Norman and Mr Westlake that day. And he texted Mr Sunak to say he looked forward to speaking the next morning.

After speaking to the Chancellor on 4 April, Mr Cameron was pushing for more meetings for himself and Lex Greensill, which took place later that week.

(Gov.UK)

After amendments were made to Greensill’s proposals, Cameron texted Sunak again on 22 April, urging him to “give it another nudge over the finish line” and insisting it was “clearly in the national interest.”

Over the following weeks, he was repeatedly in touch with the chancellor by text message, assuring him on 23 April that “goodwill and common sense can fix this” and thanking him on 29 April for “huge progress” which he suggested meant that supply chain finance suppliers like Greensill could be included in the facility.

By 15 May, he was telling Mr Sunak “think we are there” and adding: “Happy to talk any time, but hope this can now get the green light!”

The messages also reveal that in June, Mr Cameron contacted both Mr Sunak and vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi pressing for the maximum loan Greensill could make under the Treasury’s CBILs scheme to be increased from £50m to £200m, describing the difference as “rather crucial”.

The contact came to an end on 26 June with a text to Mr Glen stating: “Thanks for your help with this. Sorry the answer is a No, but we appreciate the engagement. All good wishes. De.”

A dramatic loosening of planning laws to create a housebuilding boom will damage local democracy and destroy swathes of countryside by granting property developers a freer hand to build over green fields, planning experts have warned.

[Likely to prove controversial with backbenchers with backbone – would that include Jupp and Parish? – Owl]

Robert Booth www.theguardian.com 

The new laws, part of the government’s “Project Speed” to accelerate infrastructure projects, are intended to increase the number of homes being planned by more than a third, and were announced in the Queen’s speech. But critics described them as “an utter disaster” which would return the country to “a deregulated dark age of development”.

Ministers are expected to enact a radical shift in the way decisions are made on new developments by zoning land either for growth, where developers will be allowed to build homes and related infrastructure such as schools and hospitals without individual planning consents, or protection where development will be restricted.

It wants to boost home ownership in areas of increasing Conservative support in northern England and the Midlands and will use post-Brexit freedoms to “simplify … environmental assessments for developments”.

It said there will be stronger rules on design – but countryside campaigners warned the changes would lead to the “suburbanisation” of the countryside and “rural sprawl” without delivering much-needed affordable housing.

The councils body the Local Government Information Unit said the changes would “leave local government with the political liability on planning whilst depriving them … of the powers to manage it effectively”.

The Queen’s speech did not include a bill to improve regulation of social housing despite a government white paper last year. Grenfell United, which represents the bereaved and survivors of the 2017 council block disaster, said it was “deeply let down” at the failure to “redress the balance of power between social housing tenants and landlords”.

Plans to reform leaseholds went as far as a new bill so leaseholders of new, long residential leases cannot be charged a financial ground rent for no tangible service. But there was no plan for helping current leaseholders pay up to £10bn in fire safety costs from faults discovered after Grenfell.

Announcing a planning bill that is expected to be the most radical since the 1948 Town and Country Planning Act, the government promised “simpler, faster procedures for producing local development plans, approving major schemes, assessing environmental impacts and negotiating affordable housing and infrastructure contributions”.

But Fiona Howie, the chief executive of the Town and Country Planning Association, said: “It is disappointing that the government’s narrative has focused, once again, solely on housing numbers. If we are truly committed to building back better, we need the built environment to support communities to thrive.”

She also said the bill must “ensure planning radically reduces our carbon emissions”, describing the legislation as the “last chance”.

The moves were described as an “utter disaster” by the Lancashire, Liverpool city region and Greater Manchester branch of the CPRE charity, which lobbies to protect the countryside.

“We will see a lot more houses on greenfield land and in areas of outstanding natural beauty,” said Debra McConnell, the chair of the branch. “The people in the north of England need these green spaces for their wellbeing.”

The CPRE also warned the bill, which will largely apply only in England, ran counter to the proposed environmental bill and would “take us back to a deregulated dark age of development”. It fears most of the new homes are unlikely to be low-cost or affordable.

A useful summary – Owl

www.politicshome.com 

Boris Johnson has laid out his plans to “create a stronger, healthier and more prosperous nation” after the coronavirus pandemic with more than 30 new pieces on legislation unveiled in today’s Queen’s Speech.

As part of a strong focus on enacting the Prime Minister’s manifesto commitment to “level up” the country, there are a number of bills on improving skills and education, as well as around housing and the environment.

But crucially there is once again no concrete plan on how to reform social care, despite Johnson pledging to make it priority when he entered Downing Street almost two years ago.

Reading out the government’s legislative programme in the House of Lords this morning, the Queen simply said: “Proposals on social care reform will be brought forward.”

Explaining the bills included in the speech, the PM said with the help of the vaccination programme allowing the country to exit lockdown, “we cannot simply return to the way things were”.

Johnson said as the UK gets back on its feet “we will turbo-charge our economic recovery in every part of our country, increasing and spreading opportunity” with the publication of a Levelling up White Paper.

He promised to “make the most of our new found Brexit freedoms”, as well as “turn Britain into a science superpower”, protect the union and strengthen democracy and free speech.

The PM added that the pandemic “has shown – if there was any doubt – that deep wells of talent, kindness, ingenuity and resourcefulness exist in every village, town and city of the United Kingdom”, and his government’s task is now to mobilise that and unleashing the country’s full potential.

Here are the bills included in the Queen’s Speech:

Health and Care Bill

The bill will “lay the foundations for a more integrated and efficient health and care system”, which the government says will enable staff to “focus on delivering the best possible treatment and care for their patients and giving the NHS and local authorities the tools to level up health and care across England so people can live healthier, longer and more independent lives”. It will also put the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch on a statutory footing to deliver a fully independent national body to investigate healthcare incidents, and will form part of the wider NHS Catch-up and Recovery Plan.

Social care

Despite repeated claims there would be a plan to enact longterm reform to adult social care since Johnson became PM in 2019 (and several governments before that), there is once again no concrete legislation on the issue. The government simply says: “We will bring forward proposals for social care reform in 2021 to ensure that every person receives care that provides the dignity and security they deserve.”

Prevention

The creation of a new Office for Health Promotion will work across government to improve health with an increased focus on delivering greater action on prevention, as well as tackling obesity, air quality, smoking and drug misuse.

Mental Health Act Reform

Following the White Paper on reforming the Mental Health Act published in January, the government plans to give people greater control over their treatment “and receive the dignity and respect they deserve”, as well as reforming the process for detention, change the law around how people with a learning disability or autistic people are treated under the act and make key improvements to how offenders with acute mental disorders are managed. The government adds that “these reforms also seek to address the disproportionate number of people from black and minority ethnic groups detained under the act”.

Levelling Up White Paper

A key plank of this government’s election campaign, there are again no firm legislative proposals to back it up, and the MP Neil O’Brien has recently been appointed as an advisor to oversee this process. The white paper will “set out bold new policy interventions to improve livelihoods and opportunity in all parts of the UK as we recover from the pandemic, grasping the opportunities of Brexit”, with a focus on improving public services, giving more access to skills, and increasing infrastructure spending.

Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill

The brainchild of Johnson’s former adviser Dominic Cummings, the new ARIA agency will fund “high-risk, high-reward research”, to enhance the UK’s research and development offer and “help cement the UK’s position as a global science superpower”.

National Infrastructure Plan

The Spending Review 2020 committed £100billion of capital investment in 2021-22, and the new UK Infrastructure Bank will launch later in the spring to help deliver these ambitions. Headquartered in Leeds, it will be able to deploy £12billion of equity and debt capital and £10billion of guarantees, and is expected to support more than £40billion of infrastructure investment overall.

Skills and Post-16 Education Bill

The government says this legislation will “transform access to skills across the country to ensure that people can train and retrain at any stage in their lives”, as part of a plan to get people into higher quality, higher-skilled jobs. It will enable people to access flexible funding for Higher or Further Education, deliver the PM’s new Lifetime Skills Guarantee and strengthen the powers of the Office for Students.

Turing Scheme

The replacement for the Erasmus programme, which allows students to spend a year studying abroad, the government says this new international educational exchange scheme will have a worldwide reach, unlike its EU-focused predecessor, and “will give young people across the UK, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, the opportunity to work and study globally”.

Subsidy Control Bill

This will implement a domestic subsidy control regime to “reflect our strategic interests and particular national circumstances”, to provide a legal framework within which public authorities make subsidy decisions now the UK is out of the European Union.

Procurement Bill

This will consolidate and streamline the 350+ EU-derived regulations and make the UK’s procurement regime “quicker, simpler and easier to use, allowing more freedom for suppliers and the public sector to innovate and work in partnership with the private sector”.

Professional Qualifications Bill

This will create a new “bespoke framework for the UK to recognise professional qualifications from across the world” which will make sure employers can access the right professionals where there are shortages in particular industries.

National Insurance Contributions Bill

This will provide a relief for employers of veterans and for the self-employed who receive NHS Test and Trace Payments, as well as help deliver the government’s commitment to establish a number of Freeports in England.

Planning Bill

The bill will create a “simpler, faster and more modern planning system” to replace the current one that dates back to 1947, as part of plans to build more homes and deliver infrastructure projects more quickly. The government says it “will bring forward reforms to deliver a fairer and more effective private rental market in England”, but the Renters’ Reform Bill from the last Queen’s Speech appears to have been quietly dropped.

Rail and Bus Reform

The government will publish a White Paper containing proposals to transform the railways with “new contracts that will get trains running on time”, as well as introduce modern ways to pay and “end the complicated franchising model”. The government will also table a High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill to provide the powers to build and operate the next stage of HS2. The National Bus Strategy for England “will deliver better bus services for passengers across England outside London”, and £120million will be spent this financial year on the commitment to introduce 4,000 zero-emission buses.

Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill

The bill will support the installation, maintenance, upgrading and sharing of apparatus that enables better telecommunications coverage and connectivity, such as extending 5G mobile coverage and gigabit-capable broadband. It will also ensure that “smart consumer products, including smartphones and televisions, are more secure against cyber attacks”, by requiring manufacturers to meet minimum security standards and create powers to investigate cases of non-compliance.

Draft Downstream Oil Resilience Bill

This will address threats to the security of the UK’s fuel supply by providing the government with tools to build resilience in the downstream oil sector, identify risks of disruption to the market and implement effective and proportionate contingency plans, as well as ensure if a key asset is sold, the “new owners are financially and operationally capable of keeping fuel supplies flowing”.

Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

The controversial legislation introduced earlier this year is being carried over, with measures including tougher sentences by ending the automatic release at the halfway point for serious sexual and violent offenders. But it will also include proposals “balancing the rights of protesters with the rights of others to go about their business unhindered”, which led to widespread protests of their own. The government says it will also refresh the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy to “better protect women and improve outcomes for rape cases”.

Draft Victims Bill

This will place the “simplified and stronger set of rights for victims” set out in the new Victims’ Code on a statutory footing, and set expectations for the standard and availability of support for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

New Plan for Immigration Legislation

The government says this will “increase the fairness and efficacy of our system” to better protect and support those in genuine need of asylum, while deterring illegal entry into the UK, breaking the business model of criminal trafficking networks, and enabling “those with no right to be here to be removed more easily from the UK”.

Counter-State Threats Bill

This will give the security services and law enforcement agencies the tools to tackle the evolving threat from hostile activity by foreign states and foreign actors, and will see the Official Secrets Acts of 1911, 1920 and 1939 reformed to keep pace with modern threats. The UK will have a Foreign Influence Registration Scheme to help combat espionage, and the government is considering updating treason laws to criminalise other harmful activity conducted by and on behalf of states.

Telecommunications (Security) Bill

This will give the government new powers to boost the security standards of the UK’s telecoms networks, ensure their long-term security and resilience and minimise the threat of “high risk vendors”.

Draft Online Safety Bill

Ministers say this “will make the UK the safest place in the world to be online” whilst simultaneously protecting freedom of expression. They will introduce “ground-breaking laws to keep people safe online” and build public trust by making companies more responsible for their users, and designate Ofcom as the independent online safety regulator.

Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill

This will ensure leaseholders of new, long residential leases cannot be charged a financial ground rent for no tangible service. Instead these will be set in law as a ‘peppercorn rent’ level (the legal term), meaning nothing more than a literal peppercorn can be sought from leaseholders, and fines of up to £5,000 for freeholders who try and charge for ground rent.

Building Safety Bill

The long-awaited bill off the back of the Grenfell Tower disaster will strengthen the regulatory system for building safety, change industry culture and introduce rigorous standards by establishing the Building Safety Regulator and implementing the recommendations made in the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, led by Dame Judith Hackitt.

There will be a new stringent regime for buildings of 18 metres or seven storeys or more, a system of Accountable Persons and Dutyholders to make and keep a building safe, a new homes ombudsman and simplifying the complaints process, and most importantly make “provisions to support the removal of unsafe cladding”, though campaigners say the moves do not go far enough to protect tenants.

Dormant Assets Bill

This will expand the existing Dormant Assets Scheme into the insurance and pensions, investment and wealth management, and securities sectors, and potentially unlock around £880million of additional investment for social and environmental initiatives across the UK.

Charities Bill

This plans to address a range of issues in charity law “which hamper charities’ day to day activities” by implementing the majority of the recommendations in the Law Commission’s 2017 report ‘Technical Issues in Charity Law’.

Catch up plans

In the wake of the pandemic the government is seeking to help pupils catch up on lost education, get through the backlog in the courts and judicial system, and reduce waiting times for those who missed out on hospital treatment for diseases other than Covid-19.

Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill

This plans to ensure equal treatment for all members within each of the main public service pension schemes, after the courts ruled the government’s plan to allow those closest to retirement to remain in “final salary schemes” discriminated against younger members. It will also increase the mandatory retirement age for the judiciary and put judicial allowances on a firmer legal footing.

Environment Bill

This will set legally-binding environmental targets, restore nature and biodiversity, tackle air pollution, establish an independent Office for Environmental Protection, cut plastic use and revolutionise how we recycle. It will secure long-term, resilient water supplies and wastewater services, and ensure companies undertake due diligence to protect ecosystems such as the rainforest from illegal deforestation.

Animal Welfare Legislation

There are three pieces of legislation coming on this issue; the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill, the Kept Animals Bill – which will end the export of live animals for fattening and slaughter, tackle livestock worrying, prevent the keeping of primates as pets, improve standards in zoos, crack down on puppy smuggling – and the Animals Abroad Bill which will ban the import of hunting trophies from endangered animals abroad and end the advertising of “low welfare experiences abroad”.

Armed Forces Bill

The Armed Forces Act 2006 will be renewed, including enshrining the Armed Forces Covenant in law, and continuing the programme of modernisation to make “them fit for the threats of a more competitive age and the opportunities of a Global Britain”. The government is also investing over £24billion more in defence in cash terms over the four years from 2021-22, and is pledging to implement the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.

Conversion therapy

The government has committed to “ban conversion therapy, ensuring abhorrent and coercive practices are prohibited”, but will disappoint those hoping the measure would come in shortly as they are launching another consultation to “hear from a wide range of voices on how best to protect people”.

Electoral Integrity Bill

One of the most controversial pieces of legislation in the speech, the government say the bill fulfils its “manifesto pledges to tackle electoral fraud, prevent foreign interference and to make it easier for British expats to participate in elections”. But the plans to make voter ID compulsory at polling stations has been widely criticised for potentially leading to vote suppression.

Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill

This is meant to “strengthen academic freedom in higher education in England”, and will include “ensuring that academic staff feel safe to question and test received wisdom and put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions, without being at risk of losing their jobs, privileges or promotion”. They will create a new role of Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom at the Office for Students, with a remit to champion freedom of speech and academic freedom on campus, and responsibility for investigations of infringements of freedom of speech duties in higher education which may result in sanctions and individual redress. Individuals will also be able to seek compensation through the courts if they suffer loss as a result of breach of the freedom of speech duties.

Judicial Review Bill

This will “protect the judiciary from being drawn into political questions and preserve the integrity of Judicial Review for its intended purpose”.

Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill

This will repeal the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, “reinstating the constitutional principle that the Government of the day has the confidence of Parliament and is able to seek a fresh democratic mandate when it is needed”, prompting speculation Johnson may look to call an early election before the next scheduled one in 2024.

Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concerns) Bill

This is meant to strengthen Northern Ireland’s institutions, making them more sustainable and resilient by implementing aspects of the New Decade, New Approach deal. These include reforms to the sustainability of the institutions, updating the Ministerial Code of Conduct and reforming the Petition of Concern mechanism.

Legacy Legislation

The government said they “will introduce legislation to address the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland”. But there is anger that no specific bill has been brought forward, with former veterans minister Johnny Mercer – who resigned over the issue last month – tweeting that his  successor promised legislation would be in the Queens Speech. “At some stage, we must fulfil our promises to our Veterans,” he added.

Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions

These plans “will stop public bodies from imposing their own approach or views via boycott, divestment or sanctions campaigns”, such as the one imposed against Israel. The government has argued this is “divisive behaviour that undermines community cohesion”, and there are “concerns that such boycotts may legitimise anti-Semitism”.

Mirror headlines (in sixteen words)

• Reserved matters application (landscaping only) for the landscaping of the site in relation to the construction of a High-Voltage DC converter station with associated infrastructure pursuant to the outline planning permission 16/2997/MOUT. The discharge of condition 3 of the outline planning permission 16/2997/MOUT Land East Of Antiques Complex Harrier Court Industrial Estate Long Lane Clyst HonitonRef. No: 21/1232/MRES | Validated: Fri 30 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of front porch, single storey rear and side extension, and replacement of existing two garages with single garage and workshop and alterations to fenestration. South Oak Higher Metcombe Ottery St Mary EX11 1SQRef. No: 21/1222/FUL | Validated: Thu 29 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey side extension and conservatory with internal remodelling Homedown Cottage Chapelcroft Road Membury Axminster EX13 7JRRef. No: 21/1218/FUL | Validated: Wed 28 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Oak : Prune back the lowest 4 limbs to the main trunk or major branch structure where the tree overhangs the maize store Chelsea Farm Feniton Honiton EX14 3BERef. No: 21/1215/TRE | Validated: Wed 28 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Oak T1: Reduce eastern and southern canopy by 2m crown only and remove hazardous deadwood. Copper Beech T2: Reduce eastern canopy by 2m. 11 Drakes Avenue Exmouth EX8 4ABRef. No: 21/1206/TRE | Validated: Wed 28 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey front extension; single storey side extension with pitched roof and porch to front. Home Cottage Burridge Axminster EX13 7DFRef. No: 21/1211/FUL | Validated: Wed 28 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of a platform lift to provide wheelchair access 24 Ivydale Exmouth EX8 4JXRef. No: 21/1193/FUL | Validated: Tue 27 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 – 4 Lawson cypress – fell. The trees have out grown their position. T5, horse chestnut – cut to a six foot stump. To allow more light into the garden. T6, beech – reduce by approximately 0.5m to allow more light into the glasshouse. 16 Eastfield West Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1XNRef. No: 21/1201/TRE | Validated: Tue 27 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• 1843, Scots Pine: Section Fell. Reason: Tall leaning tree with reduced vitality, has the potential to fall onto road or drive. G1.1, Scots Pine: Remove all dead wood greater than 100mm in diameter. 1839, Scots Pine: Installation of through bolt unit with 12mm threaded bar. Reason: poor branch union between stems at bifurcation at approx. 16m. See attached tree survey. Re-planting: The garden is heavily wooded and there is a high number of trees planted within the last twenty years therefore replacement planting is not necessary to maintain tree coverage at this site. Pine Bank Warren Close West Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1XBRef. No: 21/1191/TRE | Validated: Mon 26 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conservation of Habitats & Species Regulation 77 6 Church Street Sidmouth EX10 8LYRef. No: 21/1184/R77 | Validated: Mon 26 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• T1, Eucalyptus : Pollard down to roof height Cherries Sid Road Sidmouth EX10 9AQRef. No: 21/1179/TCA | Validated: Mon 26 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1-Monterey Cypress: Reduce declining stem to live growth at 12m. Remove broken branch over drive. Reason: See attached individual tree risk survey. The Seagulls 235B Exeter Road Exmouth EX8 3EDRef. No: 21/1192/TRE | Validated: Wed 28 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a porch to front, single storey detached double garage and installation of a rear dormer with general arrangements 15 Pine Park Road Honiton EX14 2HRRef. No: 21/1153/FUL | Validated: Fri 30 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of conservatory and erection of a balcony Treetops Lodge 6 Birch Grove West Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1XPRef. No: 21/1144/FUL | Validated: Fri 30 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side/rear extension 11 Pine Park Road Honiton EX14 2HZRef. No: 21/1123/FUL | Validated: Fri 30 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of two detached dwellings and private driveway on land to rear of Trow View Land To The Rear Of Trow View Two Bridges Road Sidford Sidmouth EX10 9PLRef. No: 21/1132/FUL | Validated: Wed 28 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed dwelling (Outline application with all matters reserved) The Old School Clyst Honiton Exeter EX5 2LZRef. No: 21/1125/OUT | Validated: Fri 30 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of conditions No. 2 (in accordance with plans) and No. 6 (parking) of planning permission ref: 20/1169/FUL Upcott Farm Broadhembury Honiton EX14 3LPRef. No: 21/1111/VAR | Validated: Tue 27 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Addition of cladding to front rear and side elevations 14 The Green Exmouth EX8 2QRRef. No: 21/1118/FUL | Validated: Mon 26 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side extension and rear dormer Wellhayes Harcombe Lyme Regis DT7 3RNRef. No: 21/1120/FUL | Validated: Wed 28 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Part single storey, part two storey rear extension Annexe Woodhouse Farm Hawkchurch Axminster EX13 5UFRef. No: 21/1119/FUL | Validated: Fri 30 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• New single storey rear extension with internal structural alterations. 25 Vinnicombes Road Stoke Canon Exeter EX5 4BBRef. No: 21/1116/FUL | Validated: Wed 28 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of garage to habitable use with alterations to fenestration 26 Great Orchard Cranbrook Exeter Devon EX5 7GDRef. No: 21/1117/FUL | Validated: Thu 29 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of two-storey side extension, single-storey rear and side extension including roof terrace and loft accommodation (resubmission) 21 Phillipps Avenue Exmouth EX8 3HZRef. No: 21/1106/FUL | Validated: Tue 27 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Addition of a conservatory to the south/side of the property 37 Granary Lane Budleigh Salterton EX9 6EPRef. No: 21/1090/FUL | Validated: Mon 26 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of condition on application: 18/2203/MFUL (Conditions C2 & C10) Raleigh Manor Care Home 13 Drakes Avenue Exmouth EX8 4ABRef. No: 21/1085/VAR | Validated: Tue 27 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of the rear of 113 High Street from commercial offices into two dwellings 113 High Street Sidmouth EX10 8LBRef. No: 21/1083/FUL | Validated: Tue 27 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of conditions 2 and 10 of planning permission 19/1801/FUL (Demolition of Highcliffe Bungalow and Highcliffe Mews, and construction of one replacement dwelling) to allow alterations to correct boundary position, amended fenestration arrangements, repositioning of balcony, alterations to the front boundary wall and widening of entrance Highcliffe Bungalow Sowden Lane Lympstone Exmouth EX8 5HBRef. No: 21/1075/VAR | Validated: Fri 30 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of building and construction of new dwelling McBains Antiques Mcbains Business Units Exeter Airport Clyst Honiton Exeter EX5 2BARef. No: 21/1068/FUL | Validated: Fri 30 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use of land to form extension to domestic curtilage and construction of detached ancillary annexe building The Oaks Awliscombe Honiton EX14 3PHRef. No: 21/1061/FUL | Validated: Mon 26 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Semi detached dwelling 1 Brook Road Budleigh Salterton EX9 6LZRef. No: 21/1054/FUL | Validated: Mon 26 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replace external door with window on north west elevation; reconfigure bedroom to create bedroom with ensuite and rooflight and a kitchen including the removal and construction of walls and doors; reconfigure bathroom to create separate w/c; new door leading into conservatory; block up existing door and create new door opening into living room and create opening from kitchen into living room Flat 2 Barton House Barton Close Sidmouth EX10 8NLRef. No: 21/1036/LBC | Validated: Thu 29 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of extension to existing barn Clarendon Farm Farringdon Exeter EX5 2JERef. No: 21/1037/FUL | Validated: Mon 26 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Roofing over open livestock yard areas. Smeatharpe Airfield SmeatharpeRef. No: 21/1033/FUL | Validated: Thu 29 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of bungalow, and erection of two storey dwelling Lloret Old Rydon Lane Exeter EX2 7JWRef. No: 21/0878/FUL | Validated: Wed 28 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• 17 metre long noise barrier 2 metres high along highway boundary to replace existing fence. Amberley Grange West Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1UXRef. No: 21/0874/FUL | Validated: Wed 28 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Retention of changes to planning permission 17/3034/FUL (rooflights omitted, changes in windows sizes and changes to external materials) and construction of first floor extension to existing annex. May House Dalditch Lane Budleigh Salterton EX9 7ASRef. No: 21/0880/FUL | Validated: Thu 29 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of an existing barn and construction of a 4 bedroom dwelling in its place Land And Buildings Opposite Hembury Close Broadhembury Honiton EX14 3LERef. No: 21/0811/FUL | Validated: Fri 30 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Oak: Fell one Oak as marked on plan. Reason: implicated in subsidence damage to property. Copse Behind Drakes Gardens ExmouthRef. No: 21/0812/TRE | Validated: Wed 28 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Siting of six shepherds huts with external decking, 3 boiler houses/log stores, one with decking area, and associated infrastructure (retrospective application) Lympstone Manor Hotel Courtlands Lane Exmouth EX8 3NZRef. No: 21/0751/FUL | Validated: Mon 26 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Prior approval for change of use of upper floors from offices to three flats (Use Class C3) 40 – 42 High Street Sidmouth EX10 8EBRef. No: 21/0778/PDO | Validated: Tue 27 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Retention of flue. 16A St Andrews Road Exmouth EX8 1APRef. No: 21/0667/FUL | Validated: Wed 28 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of replacement rear extension (revised scheme to approved applications 18/1211/FUL and 19/0435/FUL) to allow raise in height of extension in lieu of drainage works; erection of boundary fence to roadside elevation. 1 Lower Harefield Lodge Exmouth Road Lympstone Exmouth EX8 5LTRef. No: 21/0626/FUL | Validated: Thu 29 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Retention of CCTV pole and camera Sideshore Queens Drive Space ExmouthRef. No: 21/0202/FUL | Validated: Wed 28 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

(Despite being bitten by a dog whilst campaigning on election day)

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

Alison Hernandez has retained her role as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for the next three years.

The Conservative candidate was re-elected to the role with an increased majority on her 2016 win after counting on Monday.

Incumbent Hernandez was being challenged by Labour’s Gareth Derrick, the Liberal Democrats Brian Blake, and Stuart Jackson of the Green Party, and she came agonisingly close of a first round victory, scoring 49.97 per cent of the votes, just short of the 50 per cent required.

After the second round of voting, which concluded at 10.44pm, after counting for the first round started at 9.30am, she increased her majority to 65.2 per cent, up on the 51.1 per cent she won in 2016 with.

In her victory speech, she set out her stall for Devon and Cornwall to become the safest place in England and to get police officers back on the streets.

She said: “I am elated to get the opportunity for three more years. We have become the second lowest crime area since I came in to office and we want to get to number one, so I want to work with the communities to get there. We want to be so intolerant and create an environment so hostile to crime we stay at number one as well.

“We have to get the officers on the street. We have 317 of the 498 recruited and we want to get them out on the street and on foot patrol and the community needs to see that visibility and that investment on the streets where they live.

“We have had a promise from Government for more than the 498 coming so we have to make sure we get our fair share of that and we will do all we can to ensure we have a sustainable budget, so I am confident that we will be fine.”

She added: “The biggest thing is about reopening front desks and police stations. We already reopened Newquay last year, Tiverton is next in Devon, but I think a few stations in Cornwall are keen to see reopen again, with Penzance particularly and a few others waiting to see if there is support for them.

“Tiverton has a lot of community support and will reopen this year by the autumn and the next thing is to get those police on the street. Rural communities expect those police back on the streets and it will be the chief constable’s number one objective.”

And she continued: “I’ve got an ambitious plan to make us the safest place in the country – we’re already second but I want to get to number one. I need the community’s help to do that and you’ve started that journey this evening by voting for me and I want to thank everyone who took their time to go to the polling station.

“I am looking forward to addressing the community’s priorities and starting work on my next Police and Crime Plan. As we emerge from the pandemic I am heartened by the resilience that our communities have shown and how well Devon and Cornwall Police have engaged with the public, and I intend to build on this approach over the next three years.”

In the first round of vote, Hernandez received 247,173 votes (49.97 per cent), with Derrick on 99,894 (20.2 per cent), Blake on 88,318 (17.8 per cent) and Jackson on 59,242 (11.9 per cent).

Vote share for the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats was up on 2016, with Labour slipping back, while the Greens didn’t stand last time.

After the second round of voting, Hernandez had 275,217 votes (65.2 per cent), compared to Derrick’s 146,979.

Turnout was up on 2016 – 36.7 per cent compared to 22.1 per cent – although slightly impacted by the fact there were only elections in Exeter and Plymouth taking place at the same time five years ago.

The elections were due to take place in May 2020, but were postponed for a year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, meaning that Ms Hernandez will only serve a three year term to return to the usual electoral cycle.

Councillors are calling for a law in the Queen’s Speech to allow them to continue online meetings and “serve the best interests of our people”.

By Matt Cole and Jennifer Scott www.bbc.co.uk

Local authorities adjusted like most organisations during lockdown by moving their gatherings onto apps like Zoom.

But the emergency legislation allowing the move ran out on 6 May, leaving councils with Covid safety concerns.

The government has launched a consultation on remote meetings to look at potential “next steps”.

But it said there had not been time to bring in legislation to extend it past the local elections – held last week – so it is not expected to feature when the government lays out its plans for the next Parliament in Tuesday’s Queen’s Speech.

A number of councils applied to the High Court to see if existing law would cover them continuing to meet online, but its bid was dismissed, with judges saying MPs would need to pass a new law.

Local online meetings hit the headlines in February after the fractious gathering of Handforth Parish Council, in Cheshire – featuring Jackie Weaver – went viral.

But there is a serious side to the meetings too, with many local representatives saying video conferencing opened up democracy to more people.

Chairman of the Local Government Association, Councillor James Jamieson, said the process was “more sustainable and easier to access” and had “allowed people who work during the day to participate”.

He has the support of Mumsnet, with its chief operating officer, Sue Macmillan, saying the technology had made it more attractive for mothers to get involved.

“Parents of young children don’t put themselves forward to be councillors,” she said.

“The services that councils are responsible for are ones that affect local parents, and we want councils to be reflective of the communities they serve.”

‘Impossible situation’

Justin Griggs, from the National Association of Local Councils, said the decision by government had left local authorities in an “impossible situation”, having to “navigate through changing guidance and rules” to make meetings safe, while continuing with business.

As a result, some councils will be suspending their meetings going forward and delegating decisions to officials, despite the democratic implications.

“While the government was right to praise councils for playing their part in the pandemic, it is wrong not to legislate to allow online meetings to continue,” said Mr Griggs.

However, some councils have pledged to continue Zooming anyway – even without the law supporting them.

media captionViral moments like this Handforth Parish Council meeting could come to an end – but there are more serious reasons for concern too

Woughton Parish Council in Buckinghamshire has seen turnout increase from a handful of residents to upwards of 200.

Councillor Jordan Coventry said: “As a council we have decided that we are going to continue to meet online and serve the best interests of our people the best as we can.

“Why should we spend public money to rent a live space, when we are already one of the most deprived areas in our our local area, in order to comply with a frankly silly law?”

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokeswoman said they recognised that “in some cases remote meetings have widened access to local democracy and enabled councils to conduct essential business throughout the pandemic”.

But she said the government “also has an important role in ensuring meetings continue to have arrangements in place that strengthen scrutiny and transparency in councils”.

She added: “That’s why the we have launched a call for evidence on remote meetings and their use during the pandemic.

“This will inform any potential next steps on legislation or guidance regarding their use in the future.”

Despite the grandiose productivity and growth aims of our LEP see “Don’t count your productivity Unicorns before they hatch” Devon CC area economic score card is rated by the CBI as below average and losing ground (as is much of the South West though some areas are ranked as below average and improving). See details of the Devon scorecard at the bottom of post.

A sorry record of Conservative economic management both nationally and locally. Despite the analysis, Owl remains underwhelmed by the CBI recommendations.

Building on the CBI’s 2020 report Reviving Regions, the CBI is pleased to share its latest data analysis, providing readers with insights into the economic and social health of their region and its sub-regions.

Hannah Richmond Principal Policy Adviser www.cbi.org.uk

The UK has a longstanding productivity challenge

Productivity growth has stagnated since the financial crisis, and this has had a knock-on impact on wage growth and living standards.

Within the CBI’s 2020 report Reviving Regions we set out a series of recommendations to close productivity gaps, and level up the country. These recommendations focused on how to build vibrant local labour markets, how to transform local physical and digital infrastructure to facilitate new ways of working, and how to inspire world-class, innovative businesses to invest in all regions.

These recommendations were underpinned by the idea that interventions must reflect local needs, and that regions should be further empowered if we are to level up the country. This becomes increasingly important given the impacts of the pandemic could affect regions differently.

The CBI’s regional scorecards and growth priorities

In order to support policymakers and businesses understand the unique strengths of regions, and areas of focus for interventions, the CBI has developed a series of scorecards. These provide insights into the economic and social health of the nine English regions, alongside a more detailed picture for sub-regions.

The scorecards include 20 different indicators, focused on a region’s productivity and some of the factors that can influence it. As well as this we have considered metrics such as deprivation and life satisfaction, recognising that productivity alone is not the only factor we should consider in order to level up the country.

Sitting alongside the scorecards for the nine English regions are a series of growth priorities. These have been developed in consultation with local businesses, reflecting both the recommendations within Reviving Regions, as well as the data within the scorecards. These set out top priorities for the local business community and indicate their commitment to work with local and national government to level up their region.

You can find a link to the following nine regional scorecards below: East of England, East Midlands, London, North East, North West, South East, South West, West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber. Within each scorecard pack you will find a series of sub-regional scorecards which will provide local insights, as well as the growth priorities. You will also find details of the regional policy lead, should you have any questions, or would like to get involved in the implementation of the growth priorities for your region.

Labour accuses minister of ‘catastrophic blunder’ over freeports

ITV Newswww.itv.com

Manufacturers based in Boris Johnson’s new freeports will not be able to enjoy the full benefits if they are exporting to a series of countries with which the UK has signed post-Brexit trade deals.

The Prime Minister and Chancellor Rishi Sunak have championed freeports – special economic zones offering tax breaks and lower tariffs – as a part of the Government’s “levelling up” agenda to spread economic growth and jobs across the country.

But Labour said a “catastrophic blunder” means manufacturers operating within freeports could face tariffs on their exports to key markets including Switzerland, Canada, Norway and Singapore, despite the UK’s free trade agreements with those countries.

Officials insisted there has not been an error and businesses will not be shut out of markets in countries the UK has negotiated deals with.

The Opposition suggested that exports to 23 countries with which the UK has signed agreements to roll over deals those nations had with the European Union would be affected.

Labour said trade ministers failed to remove wide-ranging “duty exemption prohibitions” contained in 23 of those agreements.

The prohibitions state that any business which has not paid duty on its imports cannot benefit from reduced tariffs on its exports.

A Government spokesman said: “There is no error and it is not uncommon for free trade agreements to have these provisions.

“Businesses will not be shut out of markets we have negotiated free trade deals with.

“They will benefit from both our free trade programme, and also from freeports, which provide tax breaks, simpler planning restrictions and cheaper imports.”

Where the provisions apply, firms will be able to opt for either “duty drawback” – the refund of import duty when goods are re-exported – or from the preferential rates under the free trade agreement, providing they comply with the deal’s rules of origin tests.

Exports of goods to the 23 countries concerned were worth £35.56 billion in 2019, almost 10% of the UK’s total goods exports, Labour said.

Shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry has written to International Trade Secretary Liz Truss to ask her to clarify the situation.

Ms Thornberry said: “Last November, when the Treasury invited applications for its new freeports scheme, the small print warned potential bidders of the prohibition clauses contained in several continuity trade agreements the Department of Trade had signed in the previous two years.

“But, despite that warning, Liz Truss went on to sign trade agreements with 10 more countries containing the same clauses, including key markets like Canada, Singapore and Mexico.

“It would have taken an hour of discussion and the stroke of a pen to explain the UK’s freeports policy to negotiators from these countries and remove the prohibition clauses from those agreements, and I cannot understand why Liz Truss failed to do that.

“On the surface of it, this looks like a catastrophic blunder by a minister stuck in her silo, and, as a result, I fear that manufacturers in towns, cities and regions across our country who have succeeded in bidding for freeport status risk missing out on access to key markets.”

At the Budget in March, the Chancellor announced freeports at East Midlands Airport, in Felixstowe and Harwich, Humber, Liverpool City Region, Plymouth, the Solent, the Thames and Teesside.

He promised “eight new freeports in eight English regions, unlocking billions of pounds of private sector investment, generating trade and jobs up and down the country”.

The UK home secretary, Priti Patel, has already unveiled plans for change.

Government to change English voting system after Labour mayoral victories

Jim Waterson www.theguardian.com 

Ministers are pressing ahead with changes to electoral law that could make it easier for Conservatives to win future mayoral elections, as Labour claimed 11 of the 13 posts being contested across England.

The UK home secretary, Priti Patel, has already unveiled plans to switch all future English mayoral elections from the existing supplementary vote system – in which the public ranks their two favourite candidates – to the first past the post system used in elections to the House of Commons.

Prof Tony Travers, of the London School of Economics, said analysis of Thursday’s polls suggested this change could open a potential route to victory for the Tories in cities such as London.

“It’s likely that first past the post would make it somewhat easier for the Conservatives to win if they could come up with a really good candidate,” he said.

Labour’s Sadiq Khan won the London mayoral contest comfortably against his Conservative rival, Shaun Bailey, once voters’ second preferences were taken into account. But Khan beat Bailey by only 40% to 35% on first preference votes, as some leftwing former Labour voters shifted to the Greens and other smaller parties.

Travers said Labour faced the joint challenge of finding a message that lets them take on the Conservatives at a national level while also stopping leftwing voters in major cities moving to the Greens.

“We’re back to the usual problem of the fragmentation of the left, while the centre-right vote is much better at holding itself together,” he said.

Despite Labour’s dominance in London, there are signs that the decades-long Conservative decline in the capital may have been arrested or gone into reverse. In some areas of the capital, Bailey outperformed Khan on first-preference votes, while the Tories have also been buoyed by growing support from Hindu and Sikh communities.

The government will have to pass fresh legislation to change the voting system, which would also affect elections for police and crime commissioners. Labour has pledged to oppose the changes but the Conservatives have a large majority in the Commons and the party is expected to rely on a vague manifesto commitment to the first past the post system as a justification to push it through the Lords.

Although Labour won most mayoral elections across England easily – with Andy Burnham receiving a landslide 67% of votes in Greater Manchester – under the new voting system it would be likely to lose others such as the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayoralty.

There is evidence that voters are confused by the use of the supplementary vote system. Almost 5% of ballots cast in this year’s mayor of London election were rejected, mainly because voters had voted for too many candidates.

Conservative candidates won two of the mayoralties that held elections on Thursday: Andy Street in the West Midlands and Ben Houchen with a landslide in Tees Valley.

Street and Houchen narrowly won against the odds in traditional Labour-voting areas when their positions were first contested in 2017. However, this week both candidates were reelected with substantially increased majorities, having trumpeted their ability to win funds for their local area from a central Tory government in Westminster.

Elsewhere, the incumbent Labour mayors Steve Rotheram, Marvin Rees, Norma Redfearn, Paul Dennett and Ros Jones retained their respective roles in the Liverpool city region, Bristol, North Tyneside, Salford and Doncaster respectively. The party’s Tracy Brabin also won the first-ever West Yorkshire mayoral contest.

Full steam ahead for “Build, build, build”, pity no one’s making land anymore – Owl

www.newschainonline.com

The Queen’s Speech will feature a planning bill targetting home ownership in the Midlands and north in a bid to further strengthen the Tory position in traditional Labour heartlands, it has been reported.

Conservative leaders believe the number of people who owned their homes was the key to the party’s gains in last week’s local elections, according to the Times.

Labour received a drubbing in some parts of the country, losing control of a host of councils and suffering defeat at the hands of Boris Johnson’s Conservatives in Hartlepool, with the North East constituency electing a Tory MP for the first time since 1959.

The party also lost control of Durham council for the first time in a century, saw its local leader deposed by the Greens in Sheffield and witnessed heavy defeats in Rotherham and Sunderland authorities.

According to the paper, the planning bill is aimed at expanding the rates of home ownership across small cities and towns in areas which have historically voted Labour.

The reforms will reportedly simplify the planning process to make it more difficult for existing homeowners to block new housing schemes, with the country to be divided into “growth” or “protection” zones.

It is believed automatic planning approval will be given to homes, hospitals, schools, shops and offices in growth areas, while development in protected areas will be restricted but not ruled out.

The Times also reported the Government is set to trial a “first homes scheme” in the former Labour bastion of Bolsover, Derbyshire, which will give discounts of at least 30 per cent to first-time buyers in their local area.

The Queen’s Speech may also feature a long-awaited overhaul of the social care sector, with Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove’s prediction of having the reforms passing through Parliament within the next seven months a possible indication the proposals could make it into Tuesday’s announcement.

Mr Gove, asked whether the social care overhaul would form part of the Queen’s Speech, told Times Radio: “We’re working to make sure that we have an effective social care plan at the moment. That work is going on.

“So, by the end of the year you will have a specific social care plan that is heading for the statute books at the very least.

“We want to make sure that we can get cross-party support for it. That is critical.

“That’s the point the Prime Minister has always made. The more support we can get for it across parties, and I hope we do, the quicker we can be.”

Labour shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “The test of whether this Queen’s Speech genuinely delivers for the people of Britain is if it brings forward a proper rescue plan for the NHS and delivers a social care solution as Boris Johnson promised on the steps of Downing Street almost two years ago.”

Downing Street has signalled that the Queen’s Speech on May 11 – when the monarch sets out the Government’s legislative agenda – will place renewed emphasis on Mr Johnson’s ambitions to “level up”.

Officials said as well as supporting the nation’s recovery from Covid-19 and backing the NHS, the speech will include draft laws designed to “spread opportunity across the UK”.

Downing Street has confirmed its programme, due to be revealed during the State Opening of Parliament, will see the return of both the controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill and the Environment Bill, which they said will set legally binding environmental targets in the run-up to the international Cop26 summit in Glasgow later this year.

The former Bill was shelved during the last parliamentary session after it sparked violent protests in some places across the UK.

If approved, it would hand greater power to police in England and Wales to shut down protests deemed overly noisy or disruptive, with those convicted liable to fines or jail terms.

Usually one of the most colourful events of the parliamentary year, the Queen’s Speech this year will be a scaled-back affair due to coronavirus restrictions.

The visit of the Queen to the Palace of Westminster will see significantly fewer MPs and peers, a reduced royal procession into the House of Lords where the speech is given from and no diplomatic or non-parliamentary guests to be permitted.

From another Correspondent concerning the County election results:

Before we all get too excited about the Green Party’s Henry Gent winning in Whimple, where Sarah Randall Johnson came second (also elected as the area gets 2 County Councillors) let us not forget he is somewhat less green and somewhat more blue than others of his party and flag up this EDW report of his recent somewhat controversial land dealings:

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2019/11/11/east-devon-green-party-candidate-who-is-selling-farm-land-to-big-developers-says-climate-change-is-his-priority/

The co-leader of the Green party has said voters have finally come to accept his party as a credible electoral force as he marked gains from both Labour and the Conservatives in local elections.

Jim Waterson www.theguardian.com 

Jonathan Bartley said the party’s strong performance in areas such as Bristol – where it is now the joint-largest party, forcing the Labour mayor Marvin Rees into a run-off vote – showed it could no longer be dismissed as a wasted vote.

“We’re moving from being the biggest small party to being one of the big parties,” he said. “We’ve been polling ahead of the Lib Dems and we’ve seen in this election that there are no no-go areas for the Greens.”

He said the Green party was gaining support from Labour voters who felt disillusioned with the “authoritarian Blairism” of Keir Starmer, and winning over Tory voters coming to the party through environmental concerns raised by the likes of David Attenborough.

In Bristol, the Greens more than doubled their seats on the city council. Both they and Labour won 24 seats: Labour was down from 33 and the Greens were up from 11, while the Conservatives remained on 14. One of the new Green councillors is 18-year-old Lily Fitzgibbon, a founding member of Bristol Youth Strike 4 Climate, who helped organise the 2020 climate-emergency protest in the city which was attended by Greta Thunberg.

Bartley said: “Who does Labour represent any more? Who do the Conservative party represent any more? Neither of those two parties have a vision for the future. We want re-localised economies where people can work from home, we don’t want to shift hundreds of thousands of people a day on the daily commute.”

The party’s other co-leader, Siân Berry, finished a distant third as a candidate in the London mayoral election, but once again increased her vote share. The party was also pleased to win 12% of the capital-wide vote for the London Assembly.

Although their overall elected representation remains small, by Sunday evening the Greens had gained 82 councillors in England, giving them new representation in traditionally Labour-voting urban areas such as Sheffield as well as on rural Tory-dominated councils such as Suffolk.

Caroline Lucas has been the party’s only Westminster MP since winning Brighton Pavilion in 2010. The Greens now hope that Bristol West, held by Labour’s Thangam Debbonaire with a 28,219 majority, could show they are more than a one-city party.

Bartley dismissed the suggestion that the party should revive its 2019 electoral pacts with the Liberal Democrats, saying that related to the single issue of attempting to force a new EU referendum: “We’re a very different party to the Lib Dems.”

Instead, in an approach similar to traditional Lib Dem campaign tactics, the party will take advantage of the expected lull before the next general election by hiring campaign coordinators to target a handful of Westminster constituencies by promoting candidates as local champions. Breakthrough seats could include Bury St Edmunds and Sheffield Central.

The party once again failed to win any seats in the Welsh Senedd election, however, where it has traditionally struggled.

The Scottish Greens, which is a separate organisation from its counterpart in England and Wales, celebrated after winning a record eight seats in the Scottish parliament where it is likely to exert substantial power over the SNP after Nicola Sturgeon’s party fell short of a majority.

Headline says it all – Owl!

www.theguardian.com 

Colyton has long since been known as the most rebellious town in England – and its residents are rebelling again against any future unwanted development.

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

The East Devon town gained that moniker all the way back in 1685, when the Catholic James II was crowned king. Shortly after his coronation, his nephew, the Duke of Monmouth, travelled to the south west to build an army to overthrow the king.

Colyton was becoming increasingly influenced by Catholics, which led to religious dissent in the area, and as a result, 105 Colyton men chose to follow the Duke of Monmouth – more than any other Devon town.

It’s long history of rebellion has continued, and now the residents of the town have the chance to have their say on plans that would shape developments in the area for the next ten years and beyond with the Neighbourhood Plan now out for consultation.

The Plan outlines how the town and the parish wishes to conserve its historic heritage, protect its ‘green wedge’ between it and Seaton, and to improve links in and around the village, as well as with the Seaton Tramway.

Residents will now be able to share comments and views on the document for a consultation until June 22, 2021, and the plan covers a variety of topics including the natural environment, the built environment, heritage and housing, the local economy, transport and travel, and community and recreation.

The thrust of the plan is to ensure the unique and special attributes of the parish are protected and enhanced, and that any change is sensitively planned for.

Caroline Collier, chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, said: “After a process that has involved public consultations, surveys and workshops and with excellent independent professional guidance we have eventually produced this Submission Version of the Colyton Parish Neighbourhood Plan, which we believe represents a fair and worthy vision for the future development of the Parish.”

THE PARISH OF COLYTON

Colyton Parish is a relatively large parish of 2,573 hectares, some two miles to the north of the coastal settlements of Seaton and Axmouth. The two main settlements are Colyton, a small town with a population of circa 2,300, and Colyford a village (population circa 800) both towards the south-east of the Parish.

While only a proportion of the Parish, in the north and west, is within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and thus receives the highest level of protection under national planning policy, it is the opinion of many parishioners that the quality of much of the rest of the Parish’s countryside merits inclusion in the AONB and warrants all the protection that can be given to it.

Colyford is an ancient village that straddles the main coastal road (the A3052), which has often acted as its lifeline, but also carries with it several problems. Colyford was a ‘borough’ in its own right, in medieval times, during which it had a significant trading base. Colyford is now largely residential and home to the well-respected Colyton Grammar School (an Academy Trust).

Colyford and Colyton are connected by road and the Tramway, which runs along the discontinued railway branch line from Seaton to Colyton.

Colyton has long been known for its markets and manufacturing, while traditional businesses such as the Tannery and the Wheelwright with a Royal Warrant remain proud working symbols of its ancient past.

While the nature of and balance between its products and services may have changed, the Parish still retains a relatively healthy local economy, although it did take a significant knock recently with the closure of Ceramtec after almost 50 years, which employed 80-100 people.

The Tannery, Wheelwright and the Tramway are just three of the many heritage features of a Parish that is steeped in history, with some unique facets, with most notable being the town’s reputation as the most rebellious town in England, because of the town’s non-conformists and dissidents supporting the Duke of Monmouth’s attempt to take the Crown in 1685.

THE VISION

The neighbourhood plan sets out a vision for the future of its neighbourhood, with Colyton parish aiming to be a uniquely characterful and caring place to live and work

The plan adds: “The vision statement could hardly do other than remind everyone that Colyton holds a distinctive place in the county’s history and long should our Parish continue to be regarded as unique. While our Plan may not be unique, it does have to conform to the strategic context provided for us, its policies are aimed at ensuring the many attributes that contribute to making us different and special are protected and enhanced, and any change is sensitively planned for.”

THE GREEN WEDGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The Green Wedge areas are fundamental to retaining and protecting the special character of the neighbourhood area, the plan says.

The green wedge between Colyford and Seaton extends to the south of the Parish, while there is a second green wedge between Colyton and Colyton, and the plan makes it clear that development proposals in the designated Green Wedge areas will not be supported, unless it can be demonstrated that no harm to the character or purpose of this area will occur.

It adds: “Green wedges are substantial areas of undeveloped land on the edge of settlements which are recognised as playing an important role in shaping the character and enhancing the appearance of the settlement areas. Its main purpose is to prevent ‘creeping development’ that could lead to ‘the coalescence of adjacent or neighbouring settlements, villages or towns’.”

Policies in the plan make it plain that isolated new development or incursions into the green wedge area will be resisted, adding: “We recognise there may be a need and justification for small-scale development in the interests of ensuring that existing properties and businesses within the Green Wedge can continue to function properly. Any such development should be subservient to other buildings within the curtilage, sympathetic in character to its setting and not visually intrusive.”

The plan adds that proposals for new development on designated Local Green Spaces will also not be supported unless ancillary to their existing recreation or amenity use, or exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated.

The sites are Bridge House Garden, Colyford Play Park, Colyton Community Woodland and Picnic Site, Cuthouse Meadow Play Area, Road Green and Play Area, St Andrews Churchyard and St Andrews Garden, The Elms Amenity Area and St Michael’s Churchyard, Colyford.

Any designated area of local green space lost due to exceptional circumstances must be replaced by equivalent or better provision, in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location, the plan states.

And with ancient woodland sites evident throughout the Parish, especially the 22 hectares of Holyford Woods, development proposals that would result in the loss of, or which would create unacceptable harm to, wildlife sites and other areas of ecological or geological importance, and which cannot be suitably mitigated, will not be supported.

Public rights of way in the Parish are also to be protected from development, with measures to improve and extend the existing network of public rights of way supported, so long as their value as wildlife corridors is recognised and protected, and efforts are made to enhance biodiversity as part of the ‘development’ work wherever appropriate.

The plan adds: “The area is a popular walking area. The countryside and its footpaths attract visitors to the Parish. Many people take advantage of the tram to visit the area and use the established footpath network. There are over 40 public rights of way (footpaths and bridleways) around Colyford and Colyton. In addition, and importantly, the East Devon Way passes through the Parish including touching the edge of Colyton.”

DEVELOPMENT

The plan says that development within the Built-Up Area Boundary will generally be supported provided it makes an appropriate use of a brownfield site, is infill and predominantly surrounded by existing development; and there is no harmful impact on the Conservation Area and/or listed buildings.

For all developments in the neighbourhood area, including extensions and alterations to existing properties that require planning permission, buildings should be designed to a high level of energy efficiency aiming towards zero carbon, should be appropriate to its setting in terms of scale, height and massing and choice of materials, and opportunities should be encouraged to integrate bee bricks, bat and swift boxes in a suitable position within the development.

Proposals for housing development outside the built-up area boundary will only be supported if it is demonstrated that it is a small development of up to 15 dwellings, to provide affordable housing for local need, that is evidenced, and it will not have a harmful visual impact on its setting or the landscape.

Where relevant, proposals to bring redundant or vacant historic buildings back into beneficial re-use may be supported, and a small number of market homes may be permitted where this is essential to enable the delivery of affordable units.

ECONOMY

The local economy benefits from being a tourist destination, with visitors drawn because of the area’s natural beauty, its heritage, and its unique reputation, the plan says, such as the Colyford Goose Fayre and the Beating of the Bounds, as well as the Seaton Tramway, which in the summer months, travels between Seaton, Colyford and Colyton and is one of Devon’s major tourist attractions, carrying over 100,000 passengers a year.

The plan seeks to develop the Parish’s tourism offer further through sustainable development that takes advantage of the existing assets of the area, and adds that proposals for the change of use of existing business premises away from employment activity will be resisted, unless it can be demonstrated that its existing use is no longer economically viable, and all reasonable steps have been taken to let or sell the site or building for employment purposes for a period of at least 12 months.

Support is also given for measures to improve pedestrian links between the tramway stations and the centre of the settlement areas of Colyford and Colyton. The Terminus in Colyton is located on the edge of the town and, although the town centre is signposted, it involves using lanes without footpaths and is seen as ‘a walk too far’ for many visitors, the plan says.

It adds: “There has long-been a desire to create a dedicated and more direct footpath to and from the Tramway Terminus, which we have been reminded about in recent community consultations. At Colyford too, the tram station is on the edge of the village, which also has inadequate safe footpath links alongside the A3052.

“Development proposals specifically to maintain and enhance existing public transport provision within the area will be supported provided the proposals would not have significant harmful effects on the amenity of residents and other neighbouring uses and the local landscape, including environmental features and assets.

“We support the more general use of alternative transport modes to the private motor car. We are planning for an ageing and growing population and so public transport should remain an important service to the Parish. It will only be so if it is well frequented by local people and suitable public transport services are provided which go to places that residents want to go or need to visit.”

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Colyton Parish Council has submitted its Neighbourhood Plan to East Devon District Council and residents will now be able to share comments and views on the document for a consultation until June 22, 2021.

After the consultation the plan will go before an independent examiner, who will inspect the plan against a series of ‘basic conditions’ that the plan must meet.

If the examiner is happy the plan meets the requirements then it will proceed to a local community referendum.

If more than half of the electors vote in favour of the plan it will then be adopted and will become part of the statutory development plan for East Devon.

Once adopted, the plan will be used to help inform future decisions about development and planning applications in the Colyton area.

The plan and all the supporting documents are now on the EDDC website, along with a comments form for residents to share their views, while hard copies of the plan will be available on request and to view at Colyton Library.

Anyone wishing to comment should send their comments by email to planningpolicy@eastdevon.gov.uk, or by post to Angela King, Planning Policy Section, East Devon District Council, Blackdown House, Border Road, Honiton, EX14 1EJ.

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A Seaton Correspondent write:

Is it possible that Marcus Hartnell, the Conservative who took the Seaton county seat from Martin Shaw, had a secret ally? The day after the election, a Twitter account calling itself the ‘Seaton Information Centre’ tweeted ‘We now have a new County Councillor in #seaton #Devon Let us hope he is better than the last one’. The handle for this account is @SeatonTIC, where TIC means Tourist Information Centre. This unofficial account was set up by former Seaton mayor Peter Burrows. He notoriously used it to libel the innocent owner of a Seaton micro pub two years ago, after which he had to resign and the Town Council asked him to stop using the account.

Now the account is being used to express its owner’s pleasure at Shaw’s defeat. Burrows, who had come a weak third in the 2013 County election [as Lib Dem candidate], was very displeased when Shaw came from nowhere to win in 2017, pushing his own vote lower still. He might be expected to take satisfaction in Shaw’s failure.

A complaint has been made to Seaton Town Council about the new use of this account to attack Shaw. The more interesting question, however, is the light it throws on the Tiverton and Honiton Lib Dems’ unexplained dropping of their offer to withdraw their candidate in Shaw’s favour, which he revealed this weekend (the Lib Dems haven’t commented). Was this because Burrows, or someone close to him, objected to this move? 

While the tweet is cautiously worded, it suggests that the owner thinks Hartnell could hardly be worse than the man he replaced. Until now, it seemed that the shrinking of the Lib Dem vote had benefited Shaw, even if the votes for their candidate were greater than Hartnell’s majority. Now the question being asked is: Did Peter Burrows and some of his supporters actually vote for  Hartnell, rather than the official Lib Dem candidate Martyn Wilson? Even Tiverton & Honiton Lib Dems might feel that was a step too far.