EDDC Leader Cllr Paul Arnott writes for the local press:

THIS is the most challenging article I have had to write in the last two years, and as with all difficult stories it is best to begin at the beginning. In the dying years of the last century an underage male was sent from Exmouth Community College for ‘work experience’ with a man called John Humphreys, who ran a gardening business and was eager to offer such opportunities.

Before long, the underage male (who I will refer to as DE) was sexually abused by Humphreys. This went on over a prolonged period of time. Eventually DE’s mother could see an awful change in her son.

She challenged him, and he told her about Humphreys’ abuse. In 2001, she took DE to the police.

From 2001 until the day Humphreys was sent to jail in August 2021 for an unprecedented 21 years, DE’s suffering was compounded by the way he was treated by the authorities. To DE, Humphreys was a living monster, seemingly untouchable.

He boasted of being a town councillor in Exmouth, and eventually its mayor, an East Devon District Councillor for Exmouth, and a swaggering bully in meetings about the development of the seafront. He was a mason of the highest lodge and, beyond parody, was sent by the Conservative party to be East Devon’s representative on the Police and Crime Panel. He was adored by the MP, Hugo Swim, whose wife Sasha couldn’t praise him enough in her indiscreet political diaries published last year.

One cannot find a Conservative today who will admit that they knew that Humphreys had been arrested back in 2016. If asked why they didn’t wonder what possible reason there was for such a powerful man not to stand for re-election to district in May 2019, they look the other way. It took them SIX months after he had been sent to prison to admit that Swire’s successor, Simon Jupp, had for months in the lead up to the December 2019 election been a guest in a property owned by Humphreys, where he’d committed his offences. The defence for Humphreys made much of what a great public servant he was, belittling DE’s evidence. At the trial, DE stated that Humphreys had traded on his social and political connections both to offend and then to evade prosecution for twenty years.

The council I lead was one of those organisations that leant him credibility – DE was owed a hearing. Over the ensuing months I met with DE, along with his mother, his victim support worker, a current officer in the police sex crimes unit, and eventually four other female councillors, who all saw that DE is a damaged but heroic man, now in his late thirties, paying the mental price for what Humphreys did to him every day of his life.

Last week, five months after EDDC voted to ask for an independent investigation, an experienced company called Verita was finally appointed to draw together what had happened to DE.

It is the least the people of East Devon can do for him.

In the debate last week I prayed that the Conservatives would not stoop low enough to describe this as ‘a waste of public money’ or ‘a political witch-hunt’, even as they either abstained or voted against (or just didn’t show up for) the vote. But of course they did

One of them even managed to twist his argument to accuse me of bullying the council into appointing Verita, when the idea and the motion to do so came from an entirely independent group of councillors. DE contacted me a few days before the debate; he wanted to speak at last. My job was to guarantee his anonymity on the day. Even as the Tories ranted against any investigation, and laid into me as well, he smiled at me across the room where he was safe. None of it came as any surprise to him

In response to this post “South West Water boss trebles pay with huge bonus as beaches are shut due to raw sewage in sea”, and others, a Correspondent writes: 

I do not understand how Ms Davy, chief executive of South West Water’s parent company Pennon with a base salary of £456,000 has any bonus payments for SWW’s results for last year. These amount to an extensive £1,144000!

What are the criteria for these bonus payments? It is obviously not inclusive of the waste water spills and sewage into our rivers and onto our beaches.

The Environmental Performance Assessment of the water industry name the two worst performers as Southern Water and SWW.

SWW has sunk from a 2 star rating to 1 star. This after, she committed in 2020 to work closely with the EA to target 4 stars by 2024.

£13.3 million has to be paid back to us users.

 In July 2022 she wrote

“for the first time ever, we’ve achieved 100% bathing water quality,” 

What world does she live in? Not where I live on the coast in East Devon.

I would have thought she should fall on her sword and resign. Not take any bonuses.

Years of waiting for a town centre in Cranbrook will be over by the end of 2023 after a turf-cutting ceremony officially marked the start of the building work.

Becca Gliddon eastdevonnews.co.uk

The diggers have moved onto the site, and at the end of September East Devon District Council (EDDC) leader Councillor Paul Arnott officially broke the ground with spade in a ceremony, held at the junction of Tillhouse Road and Court Royal.

Construction work will take around a year and once built, the town centre is expected to have a Morrisons supermarket, children’s day nursery, retail shops, residential apartments and a new market square.

The new town centre is expected to be ready by the end of 2023.

Cllr Arnott said the turf-cutting brought months of negotiations to a close and the town centre deadlock to an end.

He said: “My administration is thrilled to have broken the deadlock over the future of a new town centre in Cranbrook.

“This has taken dedicated negotiations by our officers and the political will to invest.

“I was delighted to meet the construction team on a very well-run site and can’t wait to go shopping in Morrisons as soon as possible.”

East Devon District Council leader Cllr Paul Arnott breaking ground alongside (left to right) Acheson operations director Colin Johnson, HDD managing director Scott Davidson and Acheson Commercial manager David Green.

The town centre will be built by Henry Davidson Developments (HDD) and local building contractor Acheson Construction.

Scott Davidson, HDD managing director, said: “It is an important part of the wider Cranbrook development and with a great range of retail occupiers it will prove to be a real asset.

“There has been a lot of interest in its progress since the plans were announced, so it is very satisfying for construction to begin and deliver the much-needed town centre.”

The site of Cranbrook town centre. Image: Still Imaging

Attending the turf-cutting ceremony was Richard Harrison, for Taylor Wimpey Exeter, and Gareth Jones, for LiveWest.

Mr Harrison said: “We’re all very excited for what we’re about to see here in Cranbrook. A lot of time and hard work has been put into the making of this new town and we can’t wait for everyone to see what the town centre has to offer.”

Plans for Cranbrook town centre. Image: EDDC

Mr Jones said: “It’s fantastic to see the town centre being constructed and for LiveWest to play its part in supporting the delivery of the residential homes.

“It is just what Cranbrook and its residents need and adds an essential element to the new community.”

 

Only six affordable homes were provided in Exeter last year, a public inquiry has heard today. According to the Exeter City Council’s (ECC) housing register in September, there were 2,727 people in registered housing need in Exeter.

“Not financially viable” – usual old story, not much trickle down from profits except into pockets. – Owl

Anita Merritt www.devonlive.com 

To help boost its delivery of affordable housing in the city, the council is looking to gain contributions from developers who wish to build housing in Exeter. It is currently seeking £4.3m from Churchill Retirement Living, who have submitted a planning application to build 84 retirement apartments on the site of the former Royal Academy for Deaf Education campus on Topsham Road.

Construction work has already begun on the land to build 146 new homes. The plans also include a nursery and a 68-bed care home.

In December 2021, Churchill submitted its plans to the council and despite being recommended for approval at a planning committee meeting in April, councillors voted to defer the plan for further discussions due to uncertainty surrounding affordable housing provision and vast opposition against using Weirfield Road as an access road.

Churchill insists the affordable off-site housing contribution being demanded by ECC is not financially viable and the proposed scheme already makes a ‘significant contribution to housing and specialist housing need in a sustainable location’. A four-day public inquiry has begun today following a failure by Exeter City Council to reach a decision on the application within a designated period of time.

Sasha White, representing Churchill, told the inquiry the proposal complies with policies on meeting specialist housing needs and the use of land in urban areas. He argued that the scheme can only provide up to £862,253 for affordable housing payable through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a planning charge to help deliver infrastructure to support the development of a local authority’s area.

Mr White said in his opening statement: “The local planning authority’s (LPA) case utterly overestimates the monies consequently that will be available if the development is implemented.”

He continued: “Not one authority has sought the vast amount that the LPA say is available here. They are seeking £4.3m. It is striking that in the past three years of considering retirement developments where viability was a factor there are 33 Churchill schemes. There is not one example where the full policy compliant payment has been sought by any LPA.

“Exeter are unique in this regard. It is also noteworthy that irrespective of location, scale of development and local context not one has the agreed sum exceeded £608,000. That needs to be contrasted here where the LPA seek incredibly £4.3m.

“That figure is far far too high and again can be corroborated by the bizarre outcome that the actual off-site provision amounts to an equivalent of 54 per cent of the total number of units to be provided well in excess of the policy of 35 per cent. Additionally, the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) on which the calculation emerges is significantly out of date having not been reviewed or updated in the past nine years.

“Overall, the LPA’s viability evidence overstates the Gross Development Value (GDV) for the appeal scheme and unjustifiably reduces build costs. The appellant’s position is far more reliable, is properly evidenced, and should be preferred.”

The site plan

Arguing that the ‘much-needed, sustainable development’ should be granted approval, Mr White said: “Permission can only be refused where the adverse impacts of development significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits… The benefits of the scheme should be given substantial weight. In no way are these substantial benefits significantly and demonstrably outweighed by impacts.”

Timothy Leader, representing Exeter City Council, said: “There is nothing wrong with this scheme except the appellant is not delivering affordable housing they can afford which is what this city needs. It makes the scheme unsustainable.”

He compared the scheme to being like a three-legged stool with ‘one leg missing’ which would make it fall over. Mr Leader claimed the site was purchased for £4m, but since lodging an appeal the benchmark land value given by Churchill is £1.74m. Regarding contributions ECC has received from other developers, he argued some were ‘significant’ such as land at Pinhoe Road.

Mr Leader said: “The council’s case is straightforward. Its assessment of the appellant’s scheme is that the difference between the gross value of the development for which permission is sought, less the cost of the development leaves headroom for a policy compliant financial affordable housing contribution of £4,382,876.”

The hearing is being conducted by inspector John Wilde, a chartered civil engineer who has been appointed by the Secretary of State. The location of the public hearing has moved from Exeter Corn Exchange to the Civic Centre in Paris Street to provide a bigger space for participants to meet.

A decision is expected to be issued by the planning inspectorate before November 25, 2022. When planning permission for the site of the former Royal Academy for Deaf Education campus on Topsham Road was first granted, a 61-bed assisted living complex was also in the original permission.

The south elevation of the proposed retirement homes

The chair of Churchill is said to have confirmed the company will implement that proposal if the appeal fails. The original permission also states that access via Weirfield Road was granted and Devon County Council Highways Authority raised no objection to the scheme.

Although local residents have been supportive of the need for housing for the elderly, vast opposition has been raised about the impact of Weirfield Road – a steep, quiet and narrow cul-de-sac is used by many pedestrians and leads down to Exeter Quay – being used as an access road.

Nearly 1,000 people signed a petition that stated the ‘detrimental impacts’ would include unsustainable traffic congestion and reduced safety for pedestrians and vehicles.

Weirfield Road resident Helen, who started the online petition, was given an opportunity to raise her concerns about access onto the proposed development at the planning inquiry. They included the increase in the proposed number of homes on the site being a ‘fresh threat’ to the parking system in Weirfield Road with residents having lost a total of 12 spaces, the impact of increased traffic on residents and pedestrians.

She added Weirfield Road had been dug up five time for utility repairs of power cables since 2018 with works ranging from three days to three weeks, and future works could leave Churchill residents without emergency vehicle access.

Helen said: “It is not practical or safe. A certain level of planning permission was granted four years ago and I believe your hands are tied over this decision, but I hope we will not have lost this battle.”

Exeter city councillor Tess Read, who represents St David’s. also voiced her concerns about access via Weirfield Road. She said: “The residents of this area are not against this redevelopment of a brownfield site or the need for housing provision in Exeter, but it must not come at their expensive when other solutions are available.”

She added she had attempted to contact Churchill to engage in ‘constructive discussions, but had only received a ‘stock email’ response.

Ms Read said: “It shows the developer does not appear to be interested in engaging with the community to serve the whole of the city of Exeter. We are left to feel the city and its residents are unimportant.”

She continued: “Exeter is in dire need of affordable housing for a lot of people… Churchill says it is not in a position to provide or contribute to this vital need.”

The public inquiry continues.

Apparently, this “anti-growth coalition” includes all opposition parties, “militant unions” and the 15 million member environmental campaigners who have joined forces to oppose Trusses “attack on nature”.

[Didn’t Labour unveil a “Green Growth Plan” at its conference though?]

Think she could be in a minority on environmental concerns. – Owl

Green charities urge millions of members to oppose Tories’ ‘attack on nature’

Environmental charities are mobilising their millions of members to take on the UK government over what they say is an attack on nature in the push for growth.

Sandra Laville www.theguardian.com 

Groups including the RSPB, the National Trust, the Wildlife Trusts, and Wildlife and Countryside link are encouraging supporters to put pressure on Conservative MPs over proposals that they say strike at the heart of environmental and wildlife protections.

The main charities involved have a combined membership of more than 15 million.

Their concerns include:

• The removal from the statute books of 570 laws derived from EU directives that make up the bedrock of environmental regulations in the UK, covering sewage pollution, water quality and clean air. These include the habitat regulations, which have protected areas for wildlife for more than 30 years.
• The ending of the moratorium on fracking.
• The creation of low-tax investment zones from Cornwall to Cumbria where environmental protections would be relaxed to encourage development.
• The feared scrapping of the post-Brexit environmental land management scheme (Elms), which pays farmers to enhance nature.

The charities’ campaign asks members to contact their Conservative MPs to leave them in no doubt of their opposition to the proposals.

Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s chief executive, said: “We are gearing up to fight the biggest attack on nature in a generation and the immediate outpouring of support from all quarters has been overwhelming.

“The economy, food security and our own health and well-being is wholly reliant on a healthy natural environment, yet this government appears intent on amending or scrapping crucial environmental laws. As we hold urgent talks with our partners across the sector, we are calling on all nature lovers to stand up for wildlife, contact their MPs, and make their voices heard.”

Craig Bennett, the chief executive officer of the Wildlife Trusts, said: “Nature is under attack from a raft of dangerous decisions by government and we know people are furious at the new threats.

“Vital legal protections for wildlife are at risk, fossil fuel extraction is being favoured over renewables, and the government is going back on plans to reward farmers for managing land in a nature-friendly way.

“The government wants deregulation that will lead to yet more poo in rivers, less wildlife and land that’s unable to adapt to climate change.

“We are calling on the public to contact their elected representatives and share just how concerned they are. These actions will affect us all – the communities where we live, our wild places, food security, and our futures.”

Hilary McGrady, the director general of the National Trust, which has 5.7 million members, said environmental protections were being dismissed as burdens, while investment and growth were pitted against nature and climate action.

Mark Lloyd, of the Rivers Trust, called for the government to meet environmental NGOs to work in collaboration. He said: “We urge the government to discuss urgently with environmental NGOs and others how we can develop collaborative plans to achieve sustainable economic growth while restoring the health of our natural environment. Each is dependent on the other.”

The campaign comes as the former environment secretary Michael Gove and ex-environment minister Rebecca Pow signed a letter in the Times calling for the retention of payments that reward farmers for environmental improvements such as cleaner water, improved soil and more pollinators.

A government spokesperson said: “Claims we intend to go back on our commitment to the environment are simply not right. A strong environment and a strong economy go hand in hand. We have legislated through the Environment Act and will continue to improve our regulations and wildlife laws in line with our ambitious vision.

“We want every corner of our country to prosper too. Bureaucratic processes in the planning system do not necessarily protect the environment so, by making sure we have the right regulations for our nation, we can make this happen.”

PS Then there are the 40,000 members of CPRE not happy with Jacob Rees-Mogg’s gung-ho attitude to fracking.

The government must rethink its plans on fracking – our petition – CPRE www.cpre.org.uk

“Fracking is a huge threat to our countryside and wildlife. It industrialises our landscapes and fuels climate change. Rural communities have already endured a host of disturbances from the minimal fracking operations that have taken place in the past decade – no wonder it’s the least popular form of energy generation.”

Liz Truss was given more than £500,000 for her leadership campaign, with about half of it coming from donors linked to hedge fund bosses, venture capitalists and other City financiers.

Rowena Mason www.theguardian.com 

The prime minister, who has made a virtue of being pro-business and cutting taxes, saw a further round of donations declared on the register of MPs’ interests on Wednesday.

Since she was chosen by party members last month, Truss and her chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, have embarked on a programme of deregulation, promising reform to financial services regulation and looser planning rules.

More than £230,000 of her funding has come from people linked to the world of finance, while £200,000 came from those linked to the property and construction sectors.

The second tranche of donations takes the amount she has received to more than £500,000 – way above the campaign spending limit of £300,000.

The donations included £50,000 from Graham Edwards, the millionaire cofounder of Telereal Trillium, a property investment firm owning 6,000 commercial sites.

He is also on the board of the rightwing thinktank the Centre for Policy Studies, and wrote a paper for it two years ago proposing long-term fixed rate mortgages to first-time buyers to help them deal with high interest rates.

Truss was also given £5,000 by Lord Vinson, a Tory peer who contributed to the Global Warming Policy Foundation, the climate science-denying thinktank.

The largest single sum, declared last month, came from Fitriani Hay – the wife of James Hay, who has a construction and luxury goods empire and is a former BP executive. She gifted Truss £100,000.

Other supporters included the Tory peer Greville Howard, whose Westminster townhouse was used by her campaign team as a headquarters.

Michael Spencer, founder of the interdealer broker Icap, also gifted £25,000 to Truss at the start of August, one week after giving the same sum to Sunak and two weeks after doing the same for another failed candidate, Penny Mordaunt.

Truss accepted £20,000 from Jon Moynihan, a former prominent member of the Vote Leave campaign who has called for the Electoral Commission to be abolished.

He has also written paper for the Institute of Economic Affairs, a rightwing thinktank, called “Removing the barriers to enterprise”.

This argued for regulators to be trained to favour “light-touch” approaches, for fewer people to be required to be “auto-enrolled” into pensions and to reduce employer auto-enrolment contributions to zero.

She also accepted £10,000 donated by a smoked salmon firm run by the former Brexit party MEP Lance Forman.