The Conservative’s promise to match EU funding post-Brexit has been exposed as a ruse after Cornwall Council said it has been left with a “devastating” shortfall that will communities reeling.

Jack Peat www.thelondoneconomic.com 

The money the council receives from the government to replace EU grants lost following the split with Europe is set to run out in under a month’s time, it has been reported, leaving more than millions of pounds worth of fund applications by communities and businesses unmet.

In 2021, the government confirmed that “total funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) will at a minimum match the size of EU funds in each nation and in Cornwall each year” and it was estimated that “no worse off” equated to an average of £100 million a year for the Duchy until 2025, with an additional three years to complete the spend of the investment.

In reality, Cornwall has received around £43 million a year.

“Devastating”

Speaking to the BBC, Tim Dwelly, Cornwall Council’s shadow cabinet member for economy, described the expected shortfall as “devastating”.

“The applications from Cornish community groups and businesses were for almost three times the amount Cornwall got”, he added.

Independent councillor and former leader of Cornwall Council Julian German said: “It’s very sad that this isn’t happening as it will harm people’s prospects and the vitality of our communities.”

Conservative councillor Linda Taylor, leader of Cornwall Council, said she had written to the government to highlight the importance of an extension to the SPF programme beyond 2025.

A Cornwall Council spokesperson said: “We await confirmation from the government of how and when the next tranche of funding after 2025 will be delivered, and we will continue to push for a fair deal for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.”

Council finances

Councils at large have warned that the risk of financial failure has increased due to the Government’s lack of support in the autumn statement, while others said they may not be able to fulfil their legal duties.

With Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove due to give evidence to MPs on council finances on Wednesday, two surveys of senior local government figures suggest the sector is on the brink of escalating operational distress.

A survey by the Labour-led Local Government Association (LGA) found one in five council leaders and chief executives believe it is very or fairly likely that their chief finance officer will need to issue a section 114 notice this year or next, in an admission that the annual budget cannot be balanced as required by law.

Half of respondents said they are not confident they will have enough funding to meet their legal duties after no further money was provided by the Chancellor.

This includes statutory services such as social care and support for the homeless.

The Seaton Hospital Steering Committee had a private meeting with NHS Devon yesterday

Martin Shaw seatonmatters.org /

Kirstine House, the CEO of the League of Friends, Cllr Paul Arnott, Leader of EDDC, Jack Rowland and I met with Dr Sarah Wollaston and her colleagues from the NHS Devon’s Integrated Care Board yesterday. 

• They are proceeding with the transfer of the wing to NHS Property Services on 31 December, but it may take up to 2 years for Property Services to come to a final decision, giving us time to work up our plans.
• Dr Wollaston accepted that they still have a “moral responsibility” for the future of the hospital and the threatened wing – I think all those letters you wrote had an effect.
• NHS Devon agreed an action plan with us in which, in addition to giving us the practical and financial information that we have asked for, they will work with us to facilitate our negotiations with Property Services. 

We presented our petitions to NHS Devon at their public Board meeting this morning:

We gathered an incredible 9,150 signatures in barely 3 weeks from a local population of under 15,000. I presented them to Dr Wollaston at County Hall today – Spotlight and ITV West Country News were there, so watch tonight! Thanks to all who signed and, especially, those who leafleted, collected signatures and gave their time to come to Exeter. Dr Wollaston acknowledged the huge community feeling which we have shown in recent weeks.

• I also asked questions and commented at their Board meeting: watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-NRi1_6f0M (first 4 minutes).
• Dr W publicly stated: “we will definitely be working with you as we work with NHS Property Services”.

Next steps: (1) Our Steering Committee will be meeting on Thursday 14th December to discuss how to develop our plan for the space in question. (2) Supporters are invited to a Christmas social evening at the Old Picture House, Harbour Road, at 6.30 on Wednesday 13th December – please email me if you are thinking of coming, so that we have an idea of the numbers. (3) The issue comes back to the Devon Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee on 24th January, which should receive reports from NHS Devon and Property Services.

On Monday Rishi Sunak suffered his first defeat in the commons with his attempts to delay compensation payments to victims of the haemophilia scandal who were given blood donated – or sold – by people infected with HIV and hepatitis C.

The Chair of the Haemophilia Society said the  government stance was “on the wrong side of history”; a ‘huge error’ and hailed the Commons defeat as ‘victory for democracy’.

Simon Jupp dutifully voted with the defeated government

(The Home Secretary has a succinct way of describing what he smelt)

A Conservative MP [Simon Jupp] from Devon has accused South West Water (SWW) of carrying out “potentially illegal sewage spills”.

Despite making this accusation, our brave MP failed to follow through. He did not support a LibDem amendment to the compensation bill for victims bill on Monday which would have allowed people who fall sick due to illegal sewage dumping to claim compensation.

It was blocked by 250 Conservative MPs, letting water companies off the hook once again. – Owl

Brodie Owen BBC News, South West

East Devon’s Simon Jupp said the firm released sewage into bathing waters at Sandy Bay in Exmouth and the River Sid in Sidmouth on Monday.

The Environment Agency (EA) confirmed there was a “non-compliant” sewage spill for 90 minutes following a power cut at a sewage plant near Exmouth, while an open inspection cover led to sewage being discharged into the River Sid.

SWW chief executive Susan Davy apologised for the impact on bathing waters.

Mr Jupp said the EA had informed him about “potentially illegal sewage spills in my constituency”.

“SWW have questions they need to answer urgently about these spills,” he said.

“The particular one of concern is into Sandy Bay … this is not good enough.

“We need to look into that and there needs to be a full investigation.”

‘Exceptionally wet’

In a letter to Mr Jupp seen by the BBC, Ms Davy said she was “deeply sorry” for the impact on bathing waters.

She said the incidents occurred during an “exceptionally wet few days” and they would be “thoroughly investigated”.

“The recent wet weather has put pressure on all infrastructure, including the electricity supply we receive,” she said.

“Whilst we have electricity generator back up, a power blip impacted the operational control system.

“The team immediately mobilised, and it took 90 minutes before we could rectify the system issue.”

The EA said a power cut at the Maer Lane Treatment Works, near Exmouth, prevented the normal operation of the plant and led to sewage discharge that “did not meet permitted conditions”.

It said a separate spill in the River Sid was caused by an inspection cover at Eastern Town being lifted in heavy rainfall.

The authority had warned swimmers against swimming in the two areas after the “non-compliant spills”.

“This advice has now been removed as two high-tide cycles have passed since SWW confirmed the sewage discharge has stopped,” it added.

“This is expected to provide sufficient dilution to reduce the potential increased risk.”

‘Difficult to comprehend’

Geoff Crawford, from End Sewage Convoys and Pollution Exmouth, highlighted that there had already been permitted discharges in the area outside of the two incidents.

Sewage companies are allowed to use overflow valves when systems become overwhelmed.

Mr Crawford said: “It means there was additional untreated sewage in the sea, but there is a much larger overflow taking place.

“To be permitted to [discharge] for well over 48 hours … is difficult to comprehend.”

Other comments on Simon’s twitter post include: