Another week begins – Owl

End the ‘psychodrama’ around Boris Johnson, says Tom Tugendhat (Lt. Colonel) 

David Bond www.standard.co.uk 

Tom Tugendhat, chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, is one of a growing list of Tory MPs who have criticised Mr Johnson as he has battled claims of lockdown busting parties in Downing Street. At the end of last month he became the first Tory MP to declare publicly he would be throw his hat in the ring for the leadership of the party if Mr Johnson was ousted or stepped down.

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement over the weekend that Cabinet Office Minister Steve Barclay had been appointed his new chief of staff and Guto Harri would take up the role of Director of Communications, the MP for Tonbridge and Malling said he should be given time to see “what the changes are”.

But, speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he added: “The last two and a half years….have been really really difficult on many, many people and we need to be offering a vision of the future that gives people options to rebuild their lives and to restart in new ways.

“This is a time when we need to be really focused on what politics is actually here for and that is serving others and not getting into some sort of personal psychodrama.”

Asked whether the easiest way to end that would be to remove Mr Johnson from office, he replied: “It depends how the reset goes…because going into a leadership election is hardly ending a psychodrama. He has just appointed a whole new team, let’s see how he gets on and I’m very much hoping that what we are going to see is the kind of Conservative administration that people voted for in 2019.”

Despite his attempts to reset his team at No 10, Mr Johnson could still be in danger if the chairman of the 1922 backbench committee Sir Graham Brady receives 54 letters from Tory MPs calling for a vote of no confidence.

Mr Tugendhat said: “The Prime Minister has just done his reset, let’s see what No 10 brings out. There’s an awful lot of talent going in, there’s a lot of talent coming out. Let’s see what the changes are.

“This is a decision for 360 or so members of Parliament and let’s see where it goes to. I think the point remains we have got to be looking at the future, we’ve got to be looking at what’s best for the British people and focused on how we achieve the results that we really need for this country.”

In a move which may help win support among colleagues in a future leadership contest, Mr Tugendhat also argued for the Prime Minister to rethink the looming National Insurance rise which will raise £36billion over the next three years to clear the NHS backlog and help reform social care.

Many Tory MPs oppose the 1.25 percentage point tax hike, insisting it is ‘un-Conservative’ and will place struggling households under even greater pressure as they face soaring inflation and a spike in energy bills from April.

As an alternative Mr Tugendhat said the Government should encourage the development of a private insurance market which could help people cover the cost of social care.

He said: “What we are seeing now is the state subsidising areas through taxing and spending. That’s a perfectly reasonable way of doing it but my suggestion is to look at other ways of doing it. We are relying an awful lot on today’s taxpayers to pay for today’s social care needs and the reality is on one level it’s fantastic we should be focused on that…what I am concerned about is that there are an awful lot of parts of the country – particularly those areas where we talk about levelling up – which are likely to find themselves paying the tax but not getting the benefit.”

“There are many ways in which the state can provide assistance to the private sector…there’s various ways in which you can create a market under which the insurance company, the insurance market to grow in and cover the risk.”

• Proposed erection of single storey rear extension4 Old Home Farm Rousdon Lyme Regis DT7 3YLRef. No: 22/0193/CPL | Validated: Fri 28 Jan 2022 | Status: Withdrawn
• Single storey rear extension 11 St Andrews Close Feniton Honiton EX14 3DZRef. No: 22/0190/FUL | Validated: Fri 28 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of barn for residential use. Fawnsmoor Farm Lyme Road Axminster EX13 5SWRef. No: 22/0197/FUL | Validated: Fri 28 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed 2 storey side extension and single storey rear extension. 10 Wordsworth Close Exmouth EX8 5SQRef. No: 22/0188/FUL | Validated: Thu 27 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension.2 Parkfield Cottages Pink House Corner Lympstone Exmouth EX8 5AHRef. No: 22/0187/CPL | Validated: Thu 27 Jan 2022 | Status: Approved
• Retention of storage container for storage of tools, machinery and equipment used in association with boatbuilding business. Land And Barn North Of Summerway Farm NorthleighRef. No: 22/0175/FUL | Validated: Thu 27 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Application for a Lawful Development Certificate (CLUED) for the use of the barn and surrounding land for boatbuilding and the storage of boats. Land And Barn North Of Summerway Farm NorthleighRef. No: 22/0174/CPE | Validated: Thu 27 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed front porch extension. 41 East Budleigh Road Budleigh Salterton EX9 6EWRef. No: 22/0160/FUL | Validated: Wed 26 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear and front extension. Highfield 12 Underhill Close Lympstone Exmouth EX8 5JERef. No: 22/0161/FUL | Validated: Fri 28 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T431, Birch : Fell T432, Scots Pine : Reduce crown height by 2 metres from existing 25 metres; maximum diameter cuts approximately 100mm Reason for Works: T431, Birch – Low quality stem within larger group showing areas of dysfunction and decay. T432, Scots Pine – To reduce risk of harm to neighbouring property. The Quest Bendarroch Road West Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1TSRef. No: 22/0171/TRE | Validated: Wed 26 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Improvements to and resurfacing of existing parking area associated with Axe Cliff Golf Course and provision of building for a mixed use ancillary to the golf course. Axecliff Golf Club Axmouth Seaton EX12 4ABRef. No: 22/0170/FUL | Validated: Wed 26 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey front extension and single storey side extension. 16 Springfield Road Exmouth EX8 3JXRef. No: 22/0167/FUL | Validated: Wed 26 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• The application is to extend the existing bungalow to the front, side and first floor to provide additional habitable accommodation in the form of a modern building. 16 Grange Avenue Exmouth EX8 3HURef. No: 22/0166/FUL | Validated: Wed 26 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Medium ash with heavy lean towards highway and property – it is requested that this tree be removed. Reason : limbs have fallen onto Mr Trail’s land. 34 Port Mer Close Exmouth EX8 5RFRef. No: 22/0159/TRE | Validated: Wed 26 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed side and rear extension and erection of an entrance porch 27 Summerfield Woodbury Exeter EX5 1JFRef. No: 22/0149/FUL | Validated: Tue 25 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Yew (T1) Prune branch on southern side of tree at approximately 5m height back to edge of property. Reason; to prevent it from hitting the property during high winds. 5 Widworthy Court Wilmington Honiton EX14 9JNRef. No: 22/0154/TRE | Validated: Wed 26 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of 31m section of hedgerowChelsea Farm Feniton Honiton EX14 3BERef. No: 22/0152/HRN | Validated: Tue 25 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single story rear extension to replace existing conservatory 4 Mayfield Drive Exmouth EX8 2HDRef. No: 22/0156/FUL | Validated: Tue 25 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Roofing over livestock yard area. Road Green Farm Colyton EX24 6DSRef. No: 22/0151/FUL | Validated: Thu 27 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Commencement of development by excavation of sewage trench in accordance with approved drawings. Hatway Stables Sidbury Sidmouth EX10 0QRRef. No: 22/0147/CPE | Validated: Thu 27 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Construction of external raised terrace to southeast elevation of hall The Manor Room Upottery Honiton EX14 9PLRef. No: 22/0141/FUL | Validated: Thu 27 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed side and rear single storey extension. 16 Claremont Field Ottery St Mary EX11 1NPRef. No: 22/0135/FUL | Validated: Mon 24 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of rear elevations ground floor windows, rear roofslope rooflight, masonry terrace and steps with metal railings to replace decking, steps and handrail, masonry wall with pantile coping to replace timber fence panels 11B Silver Street Ottery St Mary EX11 1DBRef. No: 22/0133/FUL | Validated: Mon 24 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Rear porch canopy, internal alterations, and installation of fire escape to first floor of garage The Old Vicarage Salcombe Regis Sidmouth EX10 0JHRef. No: 22/0132/LBC | Validated: Mon 24 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• The provision of 4 Mobile Homes, 2 Day Rooms and associated works for gypsies & travellers 2 Cherry Trees Greendale Lane Clyst St Mary EX5 1AWRef. No: 22/0140/FUL | Validated: Mon 24 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use from veterinary clinic to residential house. 64 Mill Street Ottery St Mary EX11 1AFRef. No: 22/0144/FUL | Validated: Fri 28 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of rear elevations ground floor windows, rear roofslope rooflight, masonry terrace and steps with metal railings to replace decking, steps and handrail, masonry wall with pantile coping to replace timber fence panels 11B Silver Street Ottery St Mary EX11 1DBRef. No: 22/0134/LBC | Validated: Mon 24 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Rear porch canopy, internal alterations, and installation of fire escape to first floor of garage The Old Vicarage Salcombe Regis Sidmouth EX10 0JHRef. No: 22/0131/FUL | Validated: Mon 24 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Prior notification for the flexible change of use from agricultural use to use classes B8 (storage) and E (business) under Schedule 2, Part 3, Class R of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 Devon Mushroom Farm AlfingtonRef. No: 22/0138/PDR | Validated: Wed 26 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Loft conversion to a habitable use, Changes to external elevation finishes with alteration to fenestration, Replacement of existing conservatory with a garden room and alterations to Garden Annex with front extension and relocation of front door. 3 Trefusis Place Exmouth EX8 2ARRef. No: 22/0120/FUL | Validated: Mon 24 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Erection of a new Garden Shed Mulberry Cottage Sid Lane Sidmouth EX10 9AWRef. No: 22/0116/FUL | Validated: Mon 24 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Extension to existing Machinery Store Blamphayne Sawmill Gittisham Honiton EX14 3ANRef. No: 22/0107/FUL | Validated: Wed 26 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a single storey rear extension, which would extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by 5 metres, for which the maximum height would be 3.8 metres, and for which the height of the eaves would be 2.7 metres. 51 Clyst Valley Road Clyst St Mary Exeter EX5 1DDRef. No: 22/0114/GPD | Validated: Thu 27 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Tree 1 Sycamore – remove the lowest branch that originates at 2m on the SE side of the stem. North East Edge Of Plot 84 Mountbatten Mews Ottery Moor Lane HonitonRef. No: 22/0113/TRE | Validated: Tue 25 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Infill to yard area outside of existing kitchen and bedroom 2 to extend the kitchen and dining space using a brick and glass structure 13A Waverley Road Exmouth EX8 3HLRef. No: 22/0110/FUL | Validated: Mon 24 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of air source heat pump to new dwelling Tichka 2A Raddenstile Lane Exmouth EX8 2JHRef. No: 22/0103/FUL | Validated: Wed 26 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of garages into accommodation, with alterations to fenestration. Riverside Willhay Lane Axminster EX13 5RWRef. No: 22/0085/FUL | Validated: Mon 24 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of single storey rear extension measuring 6m beyond original rear wall, 3m to the eaves and 3.45m in total height. 12 Broadpark Sandy Lane Brampford Speke Exeter EX5 5HPRef. No: 22/0084/GPD | Validated: Wed 26 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of render from front and side (east) elevation Money Glass Cottage Colestocks Honiton Devon EX14 3JRRef. No: 22/0087/LBC | Validated: Mon 24 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of a raised patio 4 Albert Close Ottery St Mary Devon EX11 1GRRef. No: 22/0056/FUL | Validated: Tue 25 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Siting of temporary rural workers dwelling (mobile home) in support of rural business (retrospective) Land North Of Clyst William Cross Plymtree Cullompton EX15 2LQRef. No: 21/3257/FUL | Validated: Wed 26 Jan 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

Shows how out of touch the “Conservative” EDDC “Old Guard” really was! – Owl

Robert Booth www.theguardian.com 

A majority of Conservative voters want their party to deliver more affordable housing and let councils buy up empty properties, according to new polling which suggests that public frustration with the housing crisis is now more evenly spread across the political divide.

Two-thirds of Tories in the UK want new-build developments to include more affordable homes and 68% want higher taxes on second homes and empty properties, according to YouGov polling shared with the Guardian.

The research comes after the levelling up white paper disappointed some housing campaigners in England by failing to set targets for increasing the supply of low-rent homes, which is seen by many as a key weapon in the fight against the cost of living crisis.

A large minority of Conservative voters – 39% – support giving private renters indefinite tenancies which can only be ended when a tenant wants to move or in cases of criminal damage or severe rent arrears. Such a policy would go much further than the ban on no-fault evictions that Michael Gove, the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, last week said he would deliver.

Matt Downie, the chief executive of Crisis, a charity for homeless people, said: “If there is clear cross-party support for making sure that people on lower or no incomes have somewhere stable to live, we’d urge the government to take action on that and start to unravel the enormous housing crisis facing this country.

“One of the most obvious ways we can tackle the cost of living crisis is to bring down housing costs.”

A study by Heriot-Watt University estimated that 90,000 more social homes needed to be built in England every year to meet demand.

But in the year 2020-21, housing associations built 26,010 new homes in England, which was the lowest level since 2016-17, while only 1,650 council homes were built – the fewest since 2014-15. The official figures mean affordable homes accounted for just 18% of new housebuilding. Home ownership among 25- to 34-year-olds has fallen from 51% in 1989 to 28% in 2019, according to the Resolution Foundation.

Downie said it was “heartening” that there was such support for increasing the amount of social housing built as part of new developments, which he said was “shockingly low despite there being an obligation [on developers] in theory”.

Many developers are able to argue that their schemes would not be financially viable if they had to build large numbers of affordable homes, meaning that local authorities are obliged to dilute their targets for cheap housing.

“There is support among both Labour and Conservative voters for almost all the policies we asked about,” said a spokesperson for YouGov. “While Labour voters tend to be more strongly in favour of these policies, foreign investment in the UK house market is more unpopular with Conservatives – 56% of Tory voters would support an end to non-domiciled property ownership, compared with 45% of Labour voters.”

Owl has been looking into the incentive scheme Ofwat has devised for water companies, or “Outcome Delivery Incentives”, as it’s called. This is a scheme whereby water companies are fined or paid a bonus for meeting targets.

It leaves Owl worrying about the prospect of the triple whammy as water companies charge us more to meet the targets and “guess who” underwrites Ofwat’s handouts for meeting them; justifying even greater Bosses’ Bonuses to boot.

It will need careful adjustment of the scheme to avoid this. But in a monopoly market you have to ask whether such schemes are ever likely to work to the consumers’ advantage.

The latest figures show Ofwat “in profit” to the tune of £67m to be applied during 2022 – 2023. This covers the 17 water and waste companies in England and Wales.

The biggest bonus payment is to United Utilities (operating in the North West) £20.5m, followed by Anglian Water £11.7m. The three biggest losers are: Thames Water -£53.2m, Southern Water -£46.0m and South West Water -£15.4m

Details of the scheme can be found here In-period ODI determinations.

Another example of a council not buckling under challenge from a developer to relax a Section 106 agreement – Owl

Amy Fenton www.lancs.live

A housing developer has been knocked back after trying to remove a condition requiring 78 new homes to be sold to the over 55s.

Taylor Wimpey was granted permission back in 2016 to build 1,040 new homes on land to the east of Clitheroe off Pendle Road.

One of the conditions in granting planning permission required 7.5 per cent of the new homes – 78, to be sold to the over 55s but the developer submitted an application to Ribble Valley Borough Council in November requesting that the condition, known as a Section 106, be varied.

The application has now been rejected with council officers stating Taylor Wimpey’s argument is “not acceptable”.

In a report explaining its decision the council said: “The applicant has explained that they have consulted with local market experts and when mortgage lenders take into consideration affordability they will consider the applicants age and the term that the mortgage can be taken out over. They consider that in the current climate the over 55s clause will severely limit the number of lenders willing to lend on the properties and the saleability of them.

This is not considered to be an acceptable argument. There is a clear need for over 55s housing in the borough and this strategic site is expected to make a significant contribution to this.

“This argument would suggest that persons over 55 would find it difficult to purchase a property in any scenario. Furthermore, the proposal seeks to remove the requirement to build homes to a lifetime standard which would also remove a contribution of this type of home to housing supply in the borough.

“The amendments proposed will affect the delivery of a significant number of lifetime homes and homes restricted to over 55s for which there is a demonstrated need in the borough. The justification offered is not considered to be convincing and as such the modifications are considered unacceptable.

“The proposal would be contrary to policies H2 and H3 of the Core Strategy, which aim to ensure that there is a suitable mix of housing to meet the housing needs and demands for the borough and ensure that properties are available to accommodate the changing needs of occupants. Therefore it is recommended accordingly.”

A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey said the developer “understood” the council’s decision.

“We recognise there is a need for housing for the over 55s in the area and we are committed to delivering new homes that meet local requirements,” the spokesperson said.

“We understand and accept the council’s decision regarding our proposed S106 amendment and will continue to deliver homes in line with the approved planning documents.”

Recent funding increases have not undone £15bn of cuts in central government grants to local authorities between 2010 and 2020.

Chaminda Jayanetti www.theguardian.com 

Levelling up secretary Michael Gove last week unveiled the government’s long-delayed plans to address regional and social inequalities, but cash-strapped councils across England are having to plan heavy cuts to frontline services after more than a decade of ongoing austerity. Recent funding increases have not undone £15bn of cuts in central government grants to local authorities between 2010 and 2020, and councils wrestling with the impact of Covid are set to pass a succession of savings measures plus widespread council tax increases. Several local authorities are facing votes on service cuts in the coming weeks.

Nottingham is planning cuts to youth services, with all play schemes axed and a move toward targeted rather than universal provision. Its Early Help service would see a reduction in staffing and early intervention for families. Funding for its Base 51 youth centre, which provides services including counselling and crisis support, would be axed. Six of the city’s nine children’s centres would close from 2023.

Sandwell in the West Midlands is reviewing the respite support it provides, to allow unpaid carers such as family members a much-needed break while the person they care for is looked after by someone else. Sandwell plans to halve this from 56 days a year to 28, which the council admits “will reduce the level of service offered”. It is also planning to increase the amount adult care users pay for non-residential care.

Kent is planning to cut more than £2m from subsidised bus services, with some contracts potentially terminating. The cost of a school bus discount pass will rise by £80 a year, and by £30 for children receiving free school meals. The council is also planning to cut travel concessions for those accompanying disabled people.

Liverpool is planning to cut funding for community organisations that run three libraries: they took these over from the council in 2015 to save them from closure.

Hartlepool is planning to end free home-to-school transport for 16- to 19-year-olds with special education needs and disabilities (Send). Support may be axed for current students or perhaps just for new starters.

Croydon is planning to save more than £1m a year through reviews of care packages for disabled and elderly people and those with mental health needs. Other councils are explicitly looking to save money by reviewing high-cost care packages.

A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said the government was increasing councils’ “core spending power” by 4% and “providing the largest cash-terms increase in grant funding in 10 years”.

Boris’ wasted call, the “Cream Tea Plot” looks to have gone full “Doom Bar” as Johnny Mercer gives his enthusiastic support to the hospitality sector. – Owl

www.independent.co.uk

Johnny Mercer had spent afternoon watching FA Cup and Six Nations contests, according to his partner

A Tory MP was “so p****d” following an afternoon watching sport he “couldn’t remember what was said” when Boris Johnson called him on the phone, according to his wife.

Felicity Cornelius-Mercer shared a photo on social media on Saturday of her husband, Plymouth Moor View MP Johnny Mercer, sitting on a sofa with his head thrown back, apparently in a deep sleep.

She said the prime minister had called Mr Mercer after he had spent the day following his local side Plymouth Argyle’s narrow defeat to Premier League side Chelsea and England’s rugby team loss to Scotland in the Six Nations.

“So..funny story…the Prime Minister rang tonight directly after an afternoon of FA Cup football and England rugby..and @JohnnyMercerUK was so p****d he can’t remember what was said,” Ms Cornelius-Mercer wrote.

She joked that she was thinking of “winding him up” the next day, and asked her Twitter followers for suggestions of what to tell him he had discussed with the PM.

Some people suggested that she should tell her husband he had agreed to do an early-morning round of media interviews.

Others suggested she say that Mr Johnson offered him a new job, whether in Downing Street or his Cabinet.

Earlier in the evening, Mr Mercer quote-tweeted Plymouth Argyle’s tweet about the match and wrote: “Heartbreak. So proud – of fans and team.”

A number of crises have embroiled the prime minister recently, but Mr Mercer has not said whether he would submit a letter of no confidence in Mr Johnson or not, according to PlymouthLive.

When asked by the local news outlet if he had plans to submit a letter of no confidence, Mr Mercer said he would not comment– and when asked why he would not comment, he replied: “Ha Ha.”

The “Levelling Up” White Paper puts great emphasis on recreating a modern day “Renaissance”.

 Owl quotes from the paper (page xiv):

“The Renaissance flourished in Italian city states that combined innovation in finance with technological breakthroughs, the cultivation of learning, ground-breaking artistic endeavour, a beautiful built environment and strong civic leadership. And the first Industrial Revolution in Britain came about through the interplay of innovative financial instruments, sharper rewards for enterprise, new institutions of learning, improvements in transportation and rivalrous emulation between local leaders and entrepreneurs. Those same concerted forces are needed to drive productivity, innovation and growth across the UK today. 

This contemporary Medici model, our twenty-first century recipe for a new Industrial Revolution, depends on harnessing an array of interventions and catalysing a range of sectors. Levelling up will require us to:

a. boost productivity, pay, jobs and living standards by growing the private sector, especially in those places where they are lagging; 

b. spread opportunities and improve public services, especially in those places where they are weakest; 

c. restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging, especially in those places where they have been lost; and 

d. empower local leaders and communities, especially in those places lacking local agency.”

Here are members of the Great South West Team presenting a regional growth prospectus to the Minister for Local Growth, Rt Hon Jake Berry MP, in January 2020. They then briefed him on ambitions to deliver £45 billion of economic benefit and 190,000 new jobs over the next 15 years. We’ve not heard much since.

Who, if any,  of our local leaders deserves the accolade of a contemporary Medici?

Here’s what you are looking for:

The role models: Cosimo and Lorenzo de Medici

Could it be Devon County Council Leader John Hart?

Devon County Council (DCC) has revealed that out of the 317 care homes in the county, currently around half have two or more linked cases of Covid among staff and residents.

Anita Merritt www.devonlive.com 

Last month, Devon Live reported how Covid outbreaks in Devon’s care homes had reached their highest level since the pandemic began.

Figures presented to the county council’s health and adult care scrutiny committee revealed that, as of 10 January, there were 160 such outbreaks in care settings across Devon.

The number was far higher than the previous peak of just over 90 a year ago, with the total number of active outbreaks tripling in less than a month.

Sadly the situation has not improved going into February. DCC has assured care homes are working hard to manage infection, mitigate risk, and to protect their residents and staff from coronavirus.

Where there are outbreaks – two or more linked positive cases – those care homes are said to be working even more closely with Public Health Devon to follow temporary additional measures to reduce risk.

Recently the government has changed its guidance over care home visiting rules to allow more visits.

Due to the high Covid numbers currently affecting Devon’s care homes, the relaxation of the rules is causing great concern to many care home providers in the region. It is feared that opening up to visitors right now will put residents and staff at greater risk of infection.

Under the new national rules, care home visitors are asked to make arrangements with care homes in advance of their visit, so that care home providers can manage the number of people attending at any one time, to ensure safety for residents and staff.

Steve Brown, Devon’s director of public health, said: “Visiting loved ones and friends who live in care homes is vitally important to the resident’s wellbeing.

“We want there to come a time soon when additional restrictions will not be needed, but while cases in Devon care homes remain high, we ask visitors to make arrangements with their care home in advance of their visit, so that the care home can manage risk of infection to residents and staff.

“We also ask that visitors follow the care home’s own policy, through careful hand hygiene, wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment, and using lateral flow device tests prior to visiting.”

“..lessons from previous efforts are not being learnt, claim critics. And the focus should be on people rather than “shiny new buildings”, says the former head of a flagship scheme in Newcastle.”

BBC News www.bbc.co.uk /news/uk-60154310

This week the government published its eagerly awaited White Paper, setting out plans to reduce regional inequality. Levelling up aims to revitalise communities in places like Rhyl, where BBC News has been tracking progress of this key policy.

But lessons from previous efforts are not being learnt, claim critics. And the focus should be on people rather than “shiny new buildings”, says the former head of a flagship scheme in Newcastle.

Florist Carol Parr clips the ends of flower stems on a bouquet as she explains the dilemma she faced. “I had a little battle with myself. Do I stay? Do I commit to Rhyl?” she says. “Not many people say good things about Rhyl, which I can understand based on crime, there’s a lot of trouble.”

Despite that, Carol opted to move into a larger shop on the high street three years ago. “I’m very optimistic and over the last two or three years I have seen a change in Rhyl. I think it’s an up-and-coming town again.”

Such optimism is not always evident in the seaside town, which was struggling long before its economy was pounded by the pandemic. But Carol’s act of faith may be repaid.

The local MP and the county council want to transform the town centre and recently prepared a £10m bid from the UK government’s levelling up fund.

Money from the £4.8bn fund aims to narrow the gap between richer and poorer parts of the UK. It will allow overlooked and undervalued communities to take back control of their destiny, the levelling up minister, Michael Gove, told parliament on Wednesday. But there are concerns that vital lessons from the past are being ignored.

Lessons from Newcastle

A generation ago, West Newcastle was undergoing a radical plan for change. It was one of 39 English communities that received funds under Labour’s New Deal for Communities (NDC). Within a few years levels of deprivation fell.

Graeme Williams ran the scheme and on a freezing cold January afternoon he gives us a tour of the area. We walk in shadows cast by the tower blocks of Cruddas Park, not far from the city centre. Twenty years ago “they looked awful”, says Mr Williams. “They were awful.”

Some of the blocks were refurbished, others demolished as part of the £55m spent in West Newcastle during a decade of regeneration. But most of the money didn’t go on capital projects, such as buildings.

His team appointed eight people who knew the area well to work with residents to prioritise what changes were needed. Decisions were taken by a management board made up mostly of residents.

The emphasis was “around training, education and supporting people to move into employment”, says Mr Williams. “People recognised they had agency where they could actually generate change.” It gave them hope.

An independent assessment of the New Deal for Communities by academics at Sheffield Hallam University concluded “in many respects these neighbourhoods have been transformed”. It said: “The biggest improvements were for indicators of people’s feelings about their neighbourhoods.”

Mr Williams still works in the city. He is now a director of the Centre West charity. And while proud of some of his achievements, he says a lot of work was “undone by austerity” which “hammered areas like the west end of Newcastle”.

“It’s massively disheartening and incredibly frustrating because we seem to take two steps forward and then two or three steps back as far as urban regeneration is concerned,” he says. “There’s an awful lot of really good evaluation work that’s been done to identify what works and how we can do things better and it’s not being used. “

Levelling up “might produce some nice shiny new buildings. But I don’t think it will necessarily improve the lives and prospects of people living in them communities”.

Supporters of what the Labour government policy achieved include a former Tory speech writer for Theresa May. Will Tanner, now director of the Onward think tank, assessed 60 years of regeneration projects by previous governments. “This isn’t a party-political point. This is just about the right policy based on the evidence,” he says.

He said putting power in the hands of communities worked best, “so they are pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps, rather than relying on a top-down government programme”.

He says the government is right to want to change the economic geography of the UK and is supportive of its plans. But adds: “The most important thing for the levelling up fund to do is to let go of power from Whitehall and to empower community organisations right down at the hyper-local level.”

The White Paper acknowledges the importance of local decision-making and promises more regional mayors. It isn’t yet clear what role will be played by people at a neighbourhood level.

Bricks and mortar

Back in Rhyl, we stroll around the town centre with Conservative MP James Davies, walking past boarded up and shuttered shops. He agrees. “Just building things, bricks and mortar is not the answer. It needs to be a cleverly thought through scheme that’s going to boost economic activity.”

We pause outside the derelict Queen’s Market, which is being bulldozed. It’s hoped a new food hall with flats and offices will be developed on the site through a mix of funding from the Welsh government, Denbighshire County Council, the levelling up fund and private businesses.

The plans would also see the town reconnected to the seafront. Incredibly, though an expansive sandy beach is just yards away, you can’t see it from the high street. Mr Davies says there is local backing. A master plan went out to consultation and has “the support of local councils, residents, businesses”.

But a potential obstacle is the number of high street shops owned by absentee landlords. A sample of Land Registry documents seen by BBC News show only five out of 25 High Street properties are owned by people local to Rhyl.

“That’s a real challenge,” Mr Davies acknowledges. “All you can do is invest in the areas that the local authority and willing partners own as a priority. And then you hope that economic activity will encourage others to follow over time.”

How do locals out and about on a beautiful, bright winter’s morning feel about their town centre and the plans to regenerate it?

“I’m not quite sure how to put this. It’s appalling,” says a man who moved to Rhyl seven years ago. “Shops closing, shutting arcades. Rhyl just isn’t what it used to be. I don’t think it will ever come back.”

But octogenarian former mayor, Diana Hannan, out on her mobility scooter, loves the town so much she moved back after emigrating to Australia. “We’ve got the best seaside resort in Wales,” she says.

“We get all this negative press about drugs and alcohol and all the rest of it, but we’ve got a lovely community living here. Rhyl is going to boom. You wait until all of these stores go up.”

On the road out of town we stop off at a food bank run out of the back of the Wellspring church. Amid shelves straining under the weight of tins of baked beans, pastor Mark Jones explains how Rhyl is full of “fabulous people”. But he says “there’s a lack of energy, a lack of enthusiasm”. “There’s this sense of hopelessness amongst the people. If you walk down the high street, you can just see it in people’s eyes.”

Mr Jones, who has lived in the town for more than 40 years, supports the levelling up plans but says the proposals “need to show the people of Rhyl that there is a hope and a future for them”.

“It’s OK to invest,” he says. “But you also need to inspire.”

Local leaders in Devon, including the boss of Torbay Council, have urged the government to help a struggling construction firm.

Joe Ives, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk

Last week Exeter-based Midas, one of the country’s biggest privately owned construction and property service companies, filed a notice of intention to go into administration.

Together with its construction arm Midas Construction and housing division Mi-Space, the group has a turnover of almost £300 million and 500 people working directly for it, with many more employed through subcontractors.

But the company recently posted a loss of over £2 million for its last financial year, blaming its troubles on the pandemic, ongoing shortages of materials and labour, and a significant rise in costs because of inflation.

Midas’ projects in the county currently include contracts with Torbay Council to build an £11 million Premier Inn, improvements to a school in Torquay and nine affordable homes in Paignton.

A spokesperson for Torbay Council said: “We are saddened to hear the news about Midas and their notice of intent to enter administration. We are continuing to work with Midas to identify issues and solutions and any further implications that might need attention in the future.

On the hotel, they added the council “remains committed to the scheme which will not only generate new employment opportunities but will complement existing hotel accommodation in Torquay that will attract thousands of guests each year, boosting our local tourism economy by more than £3 million.”

The Lib Dem leaders of Torbay, Teignbridge, North Devon councils have sent out a call to the secretary of state for levelling up, Michael Gove, asking for Westminster to step in to help the company.

Councillor Steve Darling, leader of Torbay Council said: “Midas filing it’s notice of intention to appoint administrators is a grave concern for us.

“We are becoming aware of the millions that are owed to subcontractors and are aware that this could significantly impact on thousands of jobs and businesses in the south west.

“If the government is serious about their levelling up agenda, then the secretary of state must step in to stop this engine of regeneration from collapsing and sending the south west’s economy in to reverse.”

While neighbouring Cornwall Council also has a number of contracts with the company for schemes which include homes, schools and workspace projects, Devon County Council said it has no current projects with Midas.

Exeter City Council and Mid Devon District Council say they currently have no live contracts with the firm, which has offices in Exeter and Newton Abbot as well as elsewhere in the south west.

However,  Midas is Teignbridge District Council’s main contractor for work currently taking place to decarbonise its Forde House headquarters.

A spokesperson for that council added: “While they are in the current phase of appointing an administrator, we are investigating alternative options to progress with the works.”

In a statement to confirm its intention to go into administration last week, Midas said: “the company continues to operate, while the directors work to explore all available options to achieve the best outcome for the business and our people, our customers, supply chain partners and all our stakeholders.

“Midas is committed to pursuing an outcome that will achieve continuity for our live contracts and asks all our valued stakeholders to remain supportive of the group at this time.”

Clyst St Mary Residents wait with bated breath for the recommendation by East Devon Planners  

On 40 four-storey apartments in Zone D at Winslade Park 

Many Clyst Valley Road residents, living adjacent to this inappropriate proposal, are holding their breath in anxiety, uncertainty and dread to see whether such an incongruous, urban design (which many have likened to an inner-city car park), opposite a historic Grade II* Listed Manor House in the rural village of Clyst St Mary, will be recommended for approval by East Devon Planners when the Reserved Matters Application (21/2217/MRES) is judged by the Planning Committee in the near future. 

This Zone D proposal by Burrington Estates (New Homes) Limited, (alongside a further 39 homes on a green field at the entrance to Winslade Park – Zone A) was approved by East Devon District Council (EDDC) Planners on 2^nd December 2020 merely in outline, under a hybrid application which included full planning permission for the refurbishment of the vast Winslade Park Office complex because the entire masterplan was deemed of significant economic value to East Devon but resulted in other pivotal planning issues being disregarded. 

In December 2020, EDDC elected Councillors were advised by their Development Manager that the outline approval was only permitting the basic, foundational principles for residential development in both Zones A and D and Burringtons’ subsequent Reserved Matters applications would provide the crucial details regarding design, height, massing, access etc, which would take into account consultations from professional consultees and local contributors and could be challenged and amended to ultimately achieve the most desirable design resolutions. 

Planning Committee Councillors (including the District Councillor for Clyst St Mary) recommended that the Zone D outline proposals for three-storeys should be lowered to two-storeys and that Burringtons should consult with local people, before their submission of Reserved Matters, to ensure that their designs were compatible with the Neighbourhood Plan and did not encroach on adjoining homes creating any local detrimental issues.(See the U-Tube recording on EDDC Planning Portal for Planning Committee on 2^nd December 2020 for Application No. 20/1001/MOUT). 

Unfortunately, Burringtons failed to provide a full consultation with the majority of the community (as advised by EDDC) preferring to restrict their consultation, at very short notice, to around 21 selected residents over a two day period! Sadly, this limited consultation has resulted in none of the comments made by any residents being included in Zone D amendments and to date no amended proposals for Zone A are published. However, instead of lowering the 40 apartment blocks to two storeys (recommended by Planners in December 2020), Burringtons increased them to four-storeys and also raised the entire ground level by approximately 2 metres for both the apartments and the access road (presumably to avoid potential ground-floor flooding in their proposed flats resulting from them building in a recognised flood-vulnerable zone)? 

Although Burringtons have named Zone D ‘Woodland Villas’ – the truth is that their proposals include significant felling/thinning of mature trees in a woodland protected by a Tree Preservation Order, with removal of up to 18m tall early mature oak, ash, lime and cherry and young holly, hazel, field maple, cherry laurel and sycamores in the under-storey, purely to facilitate the access road and additional parking necessary for these 40 four-storey flats. Furthermore this woodland is primarily deciduous and so will not provide sufficient screening for the existing traditional two-storey Clyst Valley Road homes during 6 months of the year – because the proposed raised four-storey flats will overlook and encroach on existing indoor home spaces and cause detrimental issues of noise, light and air pollution from the towering flats and the raised access road and boundary parking.  

Worryingly, the lack of safe pedestrian access at the bottom of Winslade Park Avenue for this entire Winslade Park development appears to have been ignored, despite extreme concerns from local residents that there are no pavements or lighting approaching a blind bend that seem crucial for 79 new homes and the commercial development to enable safe pedestrian access to the village amenities of the school, shop, post office etc? 

Although the Developers have agreed financial contributions towards a footpath (that is yet to be provided) between the Village Hall car park and the school, this footpath is on the other side of the A3052 from Zones A and D! The Development Manager emphasised (on 2^nd December 2020 at the outline planning meeting) the safety issues that were of concern in Winslade Park Avenue – but suggested that prospective residents of  Zones A and D could drive to the Village Hall car park to access a safe footpath to be provided there in the future. However, many residents would, surely, rather walk the short 100 metres distance from Zone A to access the village facilities? To date, there appears to be no plans to clarify this unsustainable situation?  

Surely, ‘the elephants in the room’ are the inappropriate design for 40 four-storey towering apartments in a small, rural village opposite a historic asset, the overlooking of local residents’ indoor home spaces, the lack of safe pedestrian access to and from two large residential sites, the loss of protected trees and the exacerbation of flooding in a vulnerable flood risk area? 

Hopefully these matters will be addressed before any further decisions have to be made by East Devon’s Planning Committee in the near future – but the public perception is that economic benefits should not override the social and environmental issues and perhaps the Developers should be encouraged to submit proposals that will work for the people and not just generate profits for themselves?  

The bottom of Winslade Park Avenue where there is no footpath or lighting 

Chairman Clyst St Mary Residents Association

Jonathan Pie has taken his unique brand of political comedy Stateside with a new video published in the New York Times.

By Redrow www.thelondoneconomic.com 

Pie, a fictional news correspondent portrayed by actor and comedian Tom Walker, kicked off his US segment by explaining the Patygate scandal that has rocked the Boris Johnson administration to viewers.

Dubbing the prime minister a “liar” – a term ‘banned’ in UK political discourse – he said “Trumpian is the ease with which he tells porkies”.

Discussing the Patygate scandal Pie said Downing Street hosted “16 separate p*ss-ups” in breach of its own lockdown rules, including two that happened the night before the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral.

The comedian said Boris’s lies “are no secret” as he listed off all the things he’s fibbed about.

“He essentially lied to the Queen when he illegally shut down parliament, he lied to the country when he said Brexit would be good for farming, and fishing, and trade deals, and the economy.

“He’s been fired twice for lying. He was fired as a journalist for the Times newspaper for simply just making stuff up, and he was fired for lying about shagging someone behind his wife’s back.”

Pie went on to explain what shagging means, as well as other unfamiliar terms such as ‘scotch egg’, ‘pub’ and ‘Eton’.

Watch the hilarious clip in full HERE or on twitter HERE

(self explanatory – no need for text)

Liberal Democrats are today [Tuesday] tabling a bill to force Boris Johnson to admit to any fines he receives for lockdown breaches – and they calculate the prime minister could be forced to shell out up to £12,300.

Will Boris need “help” in paying any fines? – Owl

www.independent.co.uk

In a swift U-turn on Tuesday, Downing Street agreed to inform the media if the PM received a fine as a result of the Metropolitan Police inquiry into 12 social gatherings at No 10. The climbdown came 24 hours after No 10 caved in to pressure over its efforts to keep Sue Gray’s final report into the Partygate affair secret.

But it remains unclear whether the size of any fine will be revealed, and Mr Johnson’s official spokesperson said there was no commitment to publicise penalties for any other ministers, officials or members of the PM’s family.

Scotland Yard is not planning to reveal details of any fines, as this is not normal practice.

Under the Ministerial Disclosure Bill being tabled by Lib Dem home affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael and seen by The Independent, any government minister issued with a fixed penalty notice would be required by law to make it public.

Because Covid FPNs can be increased for each subsequent office, Mr Carmichael calculates that Mr Johnson could face a total of £12,300 in fines if police penalise him in relation to six events which he is alleged to have attended.

These include the “bring your own booze” garden party on 20 May 2020 (£100); the celebration of Mr Johnson’s 56^th birthday on 19 June (£200); the leaving do for former communications chief Lee Cain on 13 November (£800) and the alleged party to celebrate Dominic Cummings’ departure in the Johnsons’ flat that evening (£1,600).

Later events for which the Lib Dems believe the PM could incur fines are another leaving do on 17 December 2020 (£3,200) and a gathering in Downing Street on the departure of two No 10 private secretaries on 14 January 2021 (£6,400).

At present, there is no legal mechanism to force Mr Johnson to reveal fines if he chooses not to do so. His official spokesperson said he would release information voluntarily because of the “significant public interest” in him.

Mr Carmichael told The Independent that the repeated flip-flops from No 10 showed that the prime minister “holds the British public with deep disdain and is taking them for fools”.

He challenged Tory MPs to back his bill or face accusations that they are assisting Mr Johnson and his ministers in covering up their misdemeanours.

“We’ve never needed a legal mechanism to force ministers to reveal if they’d received fixed penalty notices because we’ve never had a leader as shameless as Boris Johnson,” said Mr Carmichael.

“He not only flouts the laws he asked us all to follow, but then repeatedly lies about it.

“Conservative MPs have no excuse – they know that this man is not fit for public office. They should back my Bill so Boris Johnson is forced to come clean. If Johnson is found to have broken the law and fined by the police, he will surely have no choice but to resign.”

Mr Carmichael has also written to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, calling on them to rule out the possibility of the Prime Minister using taxpayer-funded expenses to pay any potential fines which Boris Johnson receives.

A tax cut for banks described as ‘sickening’ by one Labour MP was passed in the Commons last night.

Paul Jones www.sidmouthherald.co.uk

The Finance Bill had its third reading in the House of Commons and included a provision to lower the rate of a surcharge on banking profits of more than £25 million from 8% to 3% from next year.

Coming on the eve of an expected increase in the energy price cap which could see bills rise for millions of households, the tax cut provoked anger on opposition benches, but passed by 302 votes to 226.

An amendment, which would have seen the tax cut axed, was defeated.

Labour called on the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to scrap the tax cut and instead use the estimated £1 billion it raises each year to fund support for households struggling to deal with the cost-of-living crisis, amid rising fuel prices and energy bills.

East Devon MP Simon Jupp (Con) supported the bill, as did fellow Conservative Neil Parish (Con, Tiverton and Honiton). 

Did Devon MPs vote in support of the bill?

Ben Bradshaw (Lab, Exeter): No

Sir Geoffrey Cox (Con, Torridge and West Devon): Yes

Simon Jupp (Con, East Devon): Yes

Anthony Mangnall (Con, Totnes): Yes

Anne Marie Morris (Ind, Newton Abbot): Yes

Neil Parish (Con, Tiverton and Honiton): Yes

Selaine Saxby (Con, North Devon): Yes

Sir Gary Streeter (Con, South West Devon): No vote recorded

Mel Stride (Con, Central Devon): Yes

The cut was announced in last year’s Budget by the Chancellor.

Labour said the surcharge raised £8.3 billion since 2016, which could fund solid wall insulation for 110,000 homes, cavity wall insulation for a million homes, or 380,000 new gas condensing boilers.

And after the vote Richard Burgeon (Lab, East Leeds), said: “Sickening. I just voted to scrap a multi-billion tax cut for bankers.

“Not a single Tory MP voted to stop bankers getting even richer.

“How dare they do this when millions can’t even afford to pay their energy bills.”

Owl attempted to read the levelling up white paper. 

The reviewers are right: it lays out the problems in a number of academic style essays but offers no cures.

On page 96 we get to the nub of the issue:

Size the Prize 

Subject to some assumptions, it is possible to “size the prize” by unlocking places from their low-growth equilibrium. For example, consider if the performance of the bottom-performing quarter of places by productivity were to be “levelled up” to the median. The boost to productivity would be equivalent to a pay rise of around £2,300 for individuals in the poorest areas. For the UK economy as a whole, this would deliver a GVA gain of around £50bn per year. 

So we are going to invest in……………..? Owl tried following up the 192 references to “productivity” only to find generalities about improving this and improving that.

(We have been here before with our Local Enterprise Partnership, HotSW, haven’t we?)

Next Owl turned to Chapter 2 to try to learn something about plans for devolution:

Chapter 2 Systems Reform (yes this the place to look)

2.1 Introduction 

“Chapter 1 described the scale and source of the UK’s geographic disparities and the role public policy can play in counteracting them. It showed that there is no simple or singular solution to reversing spatial disparities because local economies are complex systems, shaped by cumulative and interconnected economic, social and institutional factors. Successful policy programmes need to act on the six capitals [See below] which underpin the prosperity of places to reverse these forces. 

This chapter starts by explaining why past attempts to promote spatial convergence in the UK have been unsuccessful and what lessons can be taken from that experience. In sum, decision-makers nationally and locally have typically lacked the information, incentives and institutions to act in ways which support the closure of spatial disparities in a signifcant and sustained way. 

Drawing on these lessons from the past, this chapter recommends wholesale changes to the information, incentives and institutions which underpin spatial decision-making in the UK. This transformation in the system of government, and in the governance of spatial policy, is supported by five pillars:

 a. a mission-oriented approach to setting policy;

 b. a reorientation of central government decision-making;

 c. greater empowerment of local government decision-making; 

d. a revolution in data and transparency at the subnational level; and

e. enhanced transparency and accountability of this new regime. 

These five pillars are mutually reinforcing. Each performs a necessary role in the new policy regime. But it is their combined effect that is necessary to reshape decision-making and deliver the long-term objectives of levelling up, as part of a new system of governance. That is why the focus of this chapter is the improved information, incentives and institutions underlying the new policy regime. “

By this time Owl had forgotten about the Six Capitals and had to return to the Executive Summary:

The Six Capitals 

Levelling up requires a focused, long-term plan of action and a clear framework to identify and act upon the drivers of spatial disparity. Evidence from a range of disciplines tells us these drivers can be encapsulated in six “capitals”. 

• Physical capital – infrastructure, machines and housing.

• Human capital – the skills, health and experience of the workforce. 

• Intangible capital – innovation, ideas and patents.

• Financial capital – resources supporting the financing of companies. 

• Social capital – the strength of communities, relationships and trust. 

• Institutional capital – local leadership, capacity and capability.  

County Deal

Apparently Devon will be one of the first invited to negotiate a “County Deal”.

Now where does the paper explain what such a deal might include and what the conditions might be?…………..

At this point Owl gave up, defeated.

Prime Minister thanks Simon Jupp for raising very important campaign – but will anything happen?

Lewis Clarke www.devonlive.com

The Prime Minister has been asked to help women in East Devon facing an 120-mile round trip to get to their nearest menopause clinic.

Speaking in Parliament, on Wednesday, February 2, Simon Jupp, the Member of Parliament for East Devon, asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson: “My constituent Jinty Sheerin has launched a campaign for a dedicated menopause clinic in Devon.

“Women in East Devon currently face a 120-mile round trip to get to the nearest specialist menopause clinic. It is not good enough, is it?

“Will my right hon. Friend outline what steps the Government are taking to improve access to menopause services in Devon and the south-west?”

The Prime Minister responded: “I thank my hon. Friend for raising this very important campaign. We are committed to improving menopause care so that all women can have access to the support that they need to manage the symptoms.

“Menopause will be a priority in our women’s health strategy, and we are committed to establishing a UK-wide menopause taskforce.”

Paul Millar www.exmouthjournal.co.uk

Exmouth’s need for a new police station has been a longstanding one, but its need for neighbourhood police officers is greater.

Seven years have passed since the station closed to the public, with not a whisper heard from the Conservative government, responsible for closing it.

Over the past two years since I was elected, I have written to the Police & Crime Commissioner on numerous occasions on behalf of local residents, many of whom contacted me appalled at the fact for a town of our large size, we don’t have enough officers to deal with local issues.

Commissioner Hernandez has said that she hopes the new station will improve ‘visibility’. She has suggested that her own officers may be frustrated that the station has been prioritised over new officers. I’m not surprised.

Being a good public servant requires the ability to order priorities according to the need of residents. For a town of Exmouth’s size, it is unacceptable not to have a public police reception with a ‘Lost and Found’ service and an enquiry desk. So this news is to be welcomed.

But it won’t on its own make our streets safer, and in that regard will not fully reassure the public.

What residents experiencing anti-social behaviour need are more neighbourhood police officers on the streets.

As a constituent and retired former Inspector was at pains to tell me, the new police officers announced does not go far enough to replace the frontline officers lost since the Tories came to power.

Indeed, since Commissioner Hernandez has been in post, there has been a drop in the number of police officers in frontline roles.

When Commissioner Hernandez refers to a ‘record number of police officers’, it is neither visible to my constituents, nor is it true.

Exmouth, like the rest of Devon and Cornwall, has much fewer numbers of police officers as a proportion of its population than the vast majority of other areas of England and Wales.

As such, police officers here are often under extreme pressure due to under-resourcing decided nationally, while my constituents suffer.

Demand in Exmouth is getting ever greater. Government policy on developments which so often lead to houses piled on top of each other, with no infrastructure, are also a problem as they create the ingredients for conflict.

If we are to be both tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime, central government must commit to greater devolution of its almost Stalinist planning regime to local areas so as to give local people with more local knowledge greater power to design their communities with more care and sensitivity than a civil servant (the Inspector) in Whitehall.

In addition, the police require clear and and proportionate strategic direction on how they prioritise their limited resources.

Neither our police force, nor our democracy, are served by the wicked attempt by the (still) Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel to outlaw peaceful protests which just happen to be ‘noisy’.

While the House of Lords rejected it a fortnight ago, Johnson and Patel appear determined to force through and it is coming back to the House of Commons.

Peaceful protests are a basic human right. While they’re more likely seen in Exeter than in Exmouth, the protests in opposition to the appalling treatment by East Devon District Council of local Exmouth families running businesses on the seafront in Exmouth was effective in raising the important issue of the Conservative run Council’s historic lack of empathy towards ordinary people.

A new law would effectively ban the only action some local citizens have to disagree with actions they, often rightly, perceive as unacceptable.

These days, the new rainbow coalition administration in control of the council ensures that local people are beginning to be treated with more dignity and respect, but much of the old guard still remain.

A new law to ban protest would undermine this work.

Tim Jones, chair of the South West Business Council, said: “There are no nuggets in this for the South West. It’s disappointing. They are taking a very complacent view of the South West being safe in Government circles.” (Today’s Western Morning News)

Edward Oldfield www.devonlive.com

Council leaders say they don’t want Devon to have a new elected mayor as the government unveiled its ‘levelling up’ plans for the UK.

The idea has come up under plans for a new combined authority for the county to take over government powers.

The new body could control cross-council issues like training, housing, transport and business support.

But Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors all say they don’t want to see a new mayor in charge.

The government announced that under its levelling up plans, Devon, Torbay and Plymouth are on a list of nine areas where devolved powers will be handed over to a mayoral combined authority.

The government says it wants to create more of the strong local leadership shown by regional mayors like Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester.

Council leaders in Devon say they are waiting for more details and support greater partnership working.

But they stress they don’t want to see the current system scrapped, and don’t want a new elected mayor.

Labour described the scheme as a “stunt” and said the money would not make up for the millions cut from local government by the Conservatives over 12 years of austerity.

Local government in Torbay and Plymouth is currently delivered by top-tier unitary authorities, in charge of all council services from licensing to waste collection.

In the rest of Devon there is a three-level system of parish and town councils for local issues like grass-cutting, district councils for services like planning and recycling, and Devon County Council for the rest including social services and highways.

A joint bid for a combined authority was submitted to government by all the Devon councils, but in talks with government they ruled out the need for an elected mayor.

John Hart, Conservative leader of Devon County Council, said: “What we have here is Devon having an opportunity to be in the forefront of what changes the government is going to make.”

He added: “It is about building on the strengths of the relationships we have.

“It is also having the government give us the powers to get on with some things, hopefully with a bit of money to give us the powers, to get us to be able to make decisions more locally than nationally.”

He said the new authority could focus on supporting the economy with skills and training, in partnerships with further education colleges like in Exeter, for example in the aviation and pharmaceutical industries, and in the care sector.

Cllr Hart said there were also huge opportunities in renewable energy and marine industries, such as building off-shore wind power generation, and developing the plans for a freeport at Plymouth and the surrounding area.

The Conservative leader said the councils in Devon had worked closely together during the pandemic and shown how support could be delivered effectively to local communities.

Plymouth City Council Labour group leader Tudor Evans, leader of the opposition on the Conservative-controlled authority, described levelling up as a “slogan” and the announcement as a “stunt”.

He said funding cuts over 12 years had seen the government grant to Plymouth drop from £106million 12 years ago to £10million now.

He said in real terms, without a cut, the grant should be £145million, and nationally local government funding had been cut by more than half, leading to the closure of hundreds of libraries, children’s centre, and police stations.

Cllr Evans, who used to be the city council’s leader, said: “The money that is on the table is dwarfed by the amount of money that has been taken from local government.

“The point is that this announcement is giving us a dance for a tiny bit of the money to be put back, forgetting the money that they have cancelled from local government over the last 12 years.

“Nobody must be under the illusion that this intervention will in any way make up for that, but more worrying than that, it won’t make up for the decades of underfunding in the South West.”

In Torbay, which is the most deprived area of the South West, the government has already allocated £22million of regeneration funding in Torquay and £13million in Paignton.

Liberal Democrat leader Steve Darling said all political parties in Devon were not interested in having an elected mayor.

The role was scrapped in Torbay in 2019 after a referendum in 2016 about whether to continue the system.

Cllr Darling said: “It should be about devolving powers to people, and then choosing the structures that work for them, rather than central government imposing what they think they should be.”

A mayoral combined authority is a legal body that allows councils to work together to make collective decisions across council boundaries, taking advantage of powers devolved to them by central government.

Nine mayoral combined authorities have been set up so far in England, with one covering the West of England, and there is one in the North East without a mayor.

The next nine areas to start talks over setting up the system are Cornwall, Derbyshire and Derby, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, Durham, Hull and East Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire and Nottingham, and Suffolk.

There had been speculation that Devon would be next for a shake-up of local government after the two-tier council system was replaced by all-powerful unitary authorities in Dorset and Somerset.

But it appears any change to the current set-up of county and districts in Devon would now be resisted during talks about setting up a new combined authority.