Dear Owl,
I thought you and your readers may not be aware of this fact about second homes and holiday lets.
Real estate firm Colliers estimate that in Cornwall 12,065 holiday let properties DO NOT PAY either business rates or council tax.
Local authorities miss out on millions as holiday let crackdown backfires (telegraph.co.uk)
You can bet that Devon figures are not far behind!
Simon Jupp urges South West Water to move swiftly on their £30 million investment plans for water infrastructure in Sidmouth & Tipton St John.
Owl suggests a re-read of:
More hand wringing from Jupp on Sewage
Richard Foord: Tory fanfare sewage announcement with two faces
“Trusted source” throws doubt on Jupp and Skinner sewage claims for Sidmouth
Adam Manning www.sidmouthherald.co.uk
The MP for East Devon met with South West Water’s Chief Executive, Susan Davy, in Sidmouth on July 26.
Visiting their Wastewater Treatment Works (STW) site and storm overflow at The Ham in Sidmouth, Simon Jupp MP welcomed South West Water’s investment plans which were signed off for acceleration by the government earlier this year to reduce storm overflow spills and improve water quality in the area. Prior to the announcement of these plans, the East Devon MP had called for further investment from South West Water during a debate he led on the company’s performance in Parliament.
As part of the investment package, sites in Sidmouth and Tipton St John are set to receive £30 million from South West Water for infrastructure upgrades. On top of this, the Axminster-Kilmington water treatment site is set to receive £7.3 million from South West Water. This work is to help reduce nutrient pollution to further protect East Devon’s waterways.
During the meeting, Simon Jupp MP also raised his concerns over the ongoing Ofwat investigation into South West Water’s wastewater treatment works and leakage reporting as well as the company’s overall performance. Whilst its performance has improved, South West Water’s Chief Executive acknowledged that there is more to do moving forward.
This followed a meeting between the East Devon MP and Chief Executive of Ofwat, David Black, on July 19th in Parliament to discuss the stronger powers granted to regulators by the government to hold water companies to account. Ofwat has enforcement powers to fine up to 10 per cent of company turnover for breaches of its license or other relevant requirements of the law.
Simon Jupp, MP for East Devon, said: “We are so lucky to live in East Devon’s beautiful environment and I am passionate about protecting it. I am working hard to get South West Water to go further and faster in cleaning up our water. The multi-million-pound accelerated infrastructure investment in Sidmouth, Tipton St John and Axminster announced earlier this year was a positive step towards this, but I urged the Chief Executive to get works completed as swiftly as possible during my meeting in Sidmouth. In the meantime, I will continue to work with regulators – now armed with additional enforcement powers by this Conservative government – to protect our precious countryside, coastline and waterways.”
The families of those who died during the Keyham shootings have spoken of their disappointment that the police force which gave the killer his shotgun certificate back weeks before the massacre continues to place the public at risk.
[IOPC has: “Concerns about the force’s backlog of applications for licences, which had been caused by inefficient processes, inadequate IT systems and the force not taking legitimate opportunities to reduce demand. And they highlighted the force’s inappropriate use of temporary permits, which should only be used in exceptional circumstances.
They found temporary permits were being used to help manage volumes, which they said is against statutory guidance and must stop.”]
See: Hernandez tells Police and Crime Panel gun licensing department “working safely”
Sarah Elmes www.plymouthherald.co.uk
In just eight minutes, Jake Davison, 22, killed his mother Maxine, 51, and then shot dead three-year-old Sophie Martyn, her father Lee, 43, Stephen Washington, 59, and Kate Shepherd, 66. He then turned the weapon on himself as he was confronted by an unarmed police officer on August 12 2021 in Keyham, Plymouth.
A review by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services said improvements have been made to Devon and Cornwall Police’s firearms licensing unit but concerns remained over a backlog in processing applications and the improper use of temporary permits.
Lawyer Patrick Maguire, who represents the Martyn, Washington and Shepherd families, said: “We are extremely disappointed that, despite the jury at the inquest concluding that there were catastrophic failures within the firearms licensing unit of the Devon and Cornwall Police, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary flag issues that the force continues to place the public at risk.
“When the descriptors used by HMIC include words such as ‘inefficient, inadequate, improper and inappropriate’ it should be obvious to everyone that more work needs to be done to prevent anything like this happening again. We are disgusted that Devon and Cornwall Police have not implemented all of the coroner and Independent Office for Police Conduct’s recommendations.
“How many more people need to needlessly die before they do things properly?
“We had hoped that our loved ones’ deaths would not be in vain and that the force would do absolutely everything they could to prevent future deaths from happening. This does not appear to be the case.
“Nobody should be reassured by vague indications of progress having been made by Devon and Cornwall Police. The public want actions and not words. Until then, firearms licences will continue to get into the hands of unsuitable people.
“As families, we are united in calling for more fundamental change to the way firearms licences are granted in this country so that no other family has to endure the torment and grief we have been and are still going through.”
The police inspectorate was commissioned in April to undertake an urgent review of the force’s progress in implementing recommendations made by the IOPC and comments made by a coroner in their prevention of future deaths report.
Earlier this year an inquest jury criticised failings within the force’s firearms licensing unit, which handed the apprentice crane operator his shotgun back. Meanwhile, Ian Arrow, the senior coroner for Plymouth, called for a “root and branch” reform of the UK’s gun laws to protect the public.
He said the 50-year-old Firearms Act was at “odds with public safety and the fundamental principle that owning a gun is a privilege and not a right” and called for the legislative distinction between Section 1 firearms – such as rifles – and shotguns to be ended.
Inspectors said the force had made positive changes in several areas to improve its ability to assess a person’s suitability to possess firearms, including introducing a new management structure, hiring more staff and delivering extensive training. They said the force had implemented four of the five IOPC recommendations and made substantial progress on the comments made by the coroner.
But they had concerns about the force’s backlog of applications for licences, which had been caused by inefficient processes, inadequate IT systems and the force not taking legitimate opportunities to reduce demand. And they highlighted the force’s inappropriate use of temporary permits, which should only be used in exceptional circumstances.
They found temporary permits were being used to help manage volumes, which they said is against statutory guidance and must stop.
Devon and Cornwall Police have invested £4 million in the firearms licensing unit since the tragedy, with 100 staff handling the highest number of gun licence applications of any force in England and Wales.
Assistant Chief Constable Jim Pearce, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “I am pleased the review recognises that the force has now fully implemented four of the five recommendations and highlights positive areas such as leadership, a clear governance structure and decision making and investment in training and new systems. I acknowledge that there is still work to do, particularly in our backlog of renewal of firearms licences and our use of temporary permits.
“The safety of our communities across Devon and Cornwall remains our priority and we are absolutely focused on delivering a safe, efficient and sustainable firearms licensing service.”
Luke Pollard, Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: “To prevent a tragedy like Keyham and Ford’s from ever happening again, we need root and branch changes to gun laws.
“I welcome the progress made, but it is unacceptable that Devon and Cornwall Police have such a large backlog and a high reliance on issuing temporary permits. Temporary measures do not build confidence.
“The government must review gun laws and make licence holders pick up the bill for the full cost of firearms applications so that the police have the resources they need.”
Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez has told councillors the force’s gun licensing department is “working safely.”
BBC News www.bbc.co.uk
(Not the usual selfie – Owl)
Ms Hernandez was briefing the Devon and Cornwall police and crime panel on Friday as the force was told it still needed to improve following the Keyham shootings.
“We have invested large amounts of money and have challenges, still, around efficiency – but I am reassured that it is now much safer,” she said.
She said she would support a rise in gun license application fees.
Labour councillor Chris Penberthy asked the commissioner to provide data to show the extent to which gun licensing is being subsidised by taxpayers in Devon and Cornwall.
He said the current difference between income generated and the cost of processing each licence meant money was being diverted from other areas of policing.
Mr Penberthy added: “People have a choice of owning a gun, and if they choose to have a gun they should be covering costs.”
Ms Hernandez said she would provide the data after the meeting, adding: “The fees issue is a really interesting one – it has been one of my upsets – I’m very happy to get that data.”
The commissioner said she supported an increase in gun licence application fees, but did not support so-called full cost recovery.
She said: “The challenge we’ve got is how can it still be £79.50 for five years when the gun costs more than that.
“I think gun users accept that it’s time for change…but I’m not into full cost recovery, because that drives inefficiencies and puts all of the burden on the applicant.”
While the BBC does not have figures for Devon and Cornwall, Freedom of Information data showed that some forces are spending up to £500 processing each licence.
Ms Hernandez also told the panel she will support Plymouth City Council with its attempts to get the government to pay its costs for holding the inquest in to the Plymouth Shootings.
Labour councillor Sally Hayden told her it had cost the council £400,000.
A police and crime commissioner has blamed “jurisdictional issues” for delays in suspending a chief constable who is accused of a serious criminal offence.
(Owl feels none the wiser.)
Will Kerr was suspended by Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez following allegations of misconduct.
The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has also launched a criminal investigation into “serious allegations of sexual offences“.
Mr Kerr has “strenuously” denied any allegations of criminality.
Ms Hernandez told the Police and Crime Panel on Friday she first referred the allegations made against Mr Kerr to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) on 23 March.
On April 20 the IOPC closed the referral saying it did not consider it had jurisdiction over the issue.
The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has been investigating serious allegations of sexual offences since 16 June.
Ms Hernandez told the panel that on 19 July, after new information came to light, the IOPC told her that it had reviewed its position and asked her to submit a referral.
On 24 July Ms Hernandez suspended Mr Kerr.
The commissioner said her decision-making had been hampered by a “distinct lack of clarity” about which board was responsible for overseeing a complaint of this nature.
Ms Hernandez said she was “frustrated” that she had not been “presented with any evidence to support the case made against Mr Kerr”.
The ombudsman said it “would not, however, share evidential material pertaining to an investigation” and that it was aware Ms Hernandez had been briefed of the allegations in March.
An IOPC spokesperson said there were complications in situations that involved two jurisdictions but that it had “regularly and appropriately” briefed and updated Ms Hernandez from the outset.
The IOPC said that when the initial referral was received from the commissioner it was limited to the allegations of criminal conduct, which was something it did not have the authority to investigate as it was alleged to have happened outside its jurisdiction.
It said it subsequently requested a second referral from the commissioner so it could investigate the alleged misconduct issues which did fall under its remit.
Ms Hernandez added: “The delays caused in this case are less than ideal for all concerned. I hope now that all agencies will move swiftly to bring this case to a resolution.”
On Wednesday, Mr Kerr said: “In relation to the statement from the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland… I strenuously deny any allegations of criminality.
“I recognise and respect the fact that accountability and due process are vital to any investigation, regardless of rank or position,” he continued, in a statement reported by PA.
“I will continue to co-operate with any investigation. I hope that all matters will be expedited so that they will be concluded without delay.”
East Devon Watch 