Is, as a correspondent has pointed out, South West Water “on track to reach four stars next year”!

The Environment Agency has issued a sewage pollution alert for every beach in East Devon this morning, (Friday July 14).

Adam Manning www.sidmouthherald.co.uk

Exmouth, Ladram Bay, Sidmouth, Seaton and Lyme Regis all have warnings that ‘bathing is not advised due to the likelihood of reduced water quality.’

The warning has been issued after heavy rain fell overnight in Devon. The warning has been issued on the Surfers Against Sewage app, endorsed by the Environment Agency.

Surfers Against Sewage issues three warnings: a sewage discharge alert, which means there has been a sewage discharge from a combined sewer overflow within the past 48 hours; a pollution risk alert, which means bathing is not advised, and a pollution incident alert, which means there has been a confirmed incident at the location and bathing is not advised.  

For more information on discharges in the area, download the Surfers Against Sewage app on IOS or Android. 

Wonder what Ofwat (aka the “supplier of revolving doors”) will do about this, anything? – Owl

www.gov.uk 

A summary of the environmental performance of the 9 water and sewerage companies operating in England.

1. Chair’s foreword

The performance of many of the 9 English water and sewerage companies for 2022 is very disappointing: minimal improvement in star ratings compared to 2021. The sector only achieved 23 stars out of a maximum of 36 – albeit we did tighten the Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) again this year to drive improvements in standards across the sector.

The number of pollution incidents (from sewerage and water supply assets) worsened from 1,883 in 2021 to 2,026 last year. It is simply unacceptable to see a decline in this vital metric. 2022 was another missed opportunity for the companies to demonstrate they can improve their performance. Even worse, the early unconfirmed data for 2023 suggests that there has been no improvement this year either. I do hope this changes soon.

The disappointing results are surprising given that when I talk to the Chairs and CEOs of these companies, I get a real sense of their intent to do better. But why is this not happening yet? Primarily, I think, because of the time it takes for cultures to change in large organisations and because there are some deep-rooted problems which can only be solved by significant investment. Not just this year and next, but for some decades to come.

I am not universally gloomy though. Some companies are doing better and some metrics are improving. Credit to Severn Trent Water who retain a 4 star rating for the fourth year, and to United Utilities and Northumbrian Water who are not far behind. But all know they are at the top of a very poor league. We do see improvements this year in serious pollution incidents, down from 62 to 44, but nevertheless, performance is not where it should be.

Storm overflow discharges are under significant scrutiny, and rightly so. The data in this report briefly touches upon storm overflows, where we have seen some signs of improvement in 2022. But this should be expected. It was a notably dry year and storm overflows should be operated less in these conditions.

By the end of 2023, water companies will be required to monitor 100% of storm overflows, which will allow us to regulate using better evidence, and enable us to determine whether 2022’s improvements were the start of a trend. As we start our EPA review for the next period (2026 to 2030 data years) we will look to include this new information. In the interim, we will publish a spotlight report in autumn which will include more detail on the issue.

We know performance in recent years has seen trust in the water industry deteriorate. If it is to be rebuilt, we need to see profound, long-term change across the sector.

For all organisations which have a role to play in improving the water environment, this means stepping forward and taking collective responsibility. Water companies, regulators, government, NGOs and many others in general all want the same thing: better environmental outcomes, including cleaner rivers and seas.

Individually we have a clear responsibility to keep each other honest, not to allow for misinformation or to lose sight of scientific consensus. But more importantly, all organisations need to demonstrate that we can carry out our duties responsibly, and that we can work together.

First, we must treat the recent public apology from Water UK and the English water and sewerage companies as a signal of change. It is welcome and aligns with the sentiment shown through our annual performance meetings where all companies demonstrated a distinct shift in culture – towards improvement and better environmental outcomes.

Second, we must all play our respective roles to make sure we maximise the opportunities within the next 5-year price review. Together we can secure the greatest ever investment in our water environment. This will not fix all of the problems immediately, but it will enable significant long-term change and better environmental outcomes.

Third, the Environment Agency will play its part by transforming the way we regulate the sector. Over the next 2 years we will introduce additional specialist officers to focus solely on water company regulation while also introducing new tools which will turn huge quantities of monitoring information into regulatory intelligence.

This will give us the capacity to increase time spent regulating the water industry and enable our officers to focus on the highest risk sites and issues more easily. We welcome the announcement on unlimited variable monetary penalties which will also improve our enforcement powers and lead to better environmental outcomes.

The public, the environment and our waters demand change. If we can move forward together, not only will we demonstrate our individual delivery and contribution towards the government’s Plan for Water, we will also demonstrate our part in sharing collective responsibility in achieving better environmental outcomes. For people, the environment and our wildlife.

Alan Lovell, Chair of the Environment Agency

The Environment Agency recently released the  Water and sewerage companies in England: environmental performance report 2022.

This raises the performance of South West Water (SWW) from one to two stars. This still leaves SWW bumping along the bottom of the league table of nine alongside Southern Water. 

SWW  performed significantly below target (red) for the Supply Demand Balance Index metric.

A correspondent writes

The Times “Clean it up” campaign quotes, 13^th July:

“Susan Davy, the chief executive of Pennon, which owns South West Water, one of the former one-star companies, said the firm was on track to reach four stars next year.”

How in the world will she achieve this in a year?

The expanding new town Cranbrook has the main sewage treatment works at Countess Wear, adjacent to the Exe SSSI. SWW data for 2021 indicates that storm water was released on 72 combined occasions over a period of 230hrs +.  This plant cannot expand due to the SSSI. A new plant is not even in view.

So where will the sewage of the latest approved development of 870 houses go on a rainy day? The overloaded Exe? Then into Lyme Bay?  

What about  Honiton? The combined 2 waste water treatment plants had 226 discharge episodes of 2646 hours and if I add the nearby village of Gittisham (2021 census population 838)  the total from the Honiton area is 283 episodes and the colossal 3252 hours of pollution. All going to the small River Otter

How is Susan going to sort these two severe pollution incidents out by next year? Let alone the chronic case of Combe Martin in North Devon.,

I have not even mentioned our beaches. Are overflow tanks storage capacity being increased? When will we  be able to bathe pollution free after we have had a downpour like we have recently had? (And are having today?)

Perhaps we should not rely on the Star rating to solve our pollution incidents. It is clearly not worth the paper it is written on.   

A bike and car hire company that serves Exeter and parts of East Devon will cease operating this week. The business has been unable to cover costs and says it has been “severely affected” by the pandemic, cost of living crisis, high fuel prices and vandalism to bikes.

Mary Stenson www.devonlive.com 

Non profit company Co Cars and Co Bikes, which offered a short-term car and bike hire service, has confirmed its collapse. In recent weeks, users have reported to DevonLive that they have noticed fewer available bikes across Exeter and East Devon.

The business was first founded in 2005 with just one car but most recently was offering a fleet of 50 electric and low-emission shared cars and over 200 electric bikes. It is reported to have had a combined membership of over 10,000 people across the region, proving popular with people looking for convenient, low emission ways to get around. The scheme is also heavily used by people working in the gig economy, mainly delivery drivers for delivery apps such as Deliveroo and Just Eat.

In October last year, the company announced that Nic Eversett would be taking over as managing director from Mark Hodgson who went on a sabbatical and was due to return to the business this year as a senior consultant.

Today (July 13), Nic has said in a statement that Co Cars and Co Bikes will cease operation from tomorrow, July 14. He says the business has suffered from a turbulent few years, including the suspension of services during the pandemic, changes in travel habits and increased costs which has meant they have spent recent months fighting for additional funding but to no avail.

He also says that vandalism of bikes and supply chain issues have made it “impossible” to keep enough of the fleet on the roads. In February, they were forced to take a Co Bike station out of use in Cranbrook due to “thoughtless acts of vandalism”.

In a full statement, Nic said: “This is to inform you of the sad news that Co Cars and Co Bikes will shortly cease trading.

“Despite everyone working extremely hard to provide shared mobility services for Exeter and the wider South West, it has been increasingly difficult to generate sufficient income to cover our costs.

“Initially, we were severely affected by the suspension of our services for long periods of time during Covid. Post-Covid, changes in travel habits, exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis and drop in demand for business travel, have significantly impacted utilisation and revenue.

“These factors have been aggravated by high fuel prices and energy costs, contributing to greatly increased internal costs. Furthermore, vandalism of the bikes and supply chain issues (especially for e-bikes) have made it impossible for us to keep enough of the fleet on the road to make the business viable.

“During the last few months, the Board and management team have focussed on seeking additional funding to allow us to make the necessary changes to our business model to safeguard its viability. Unfortunately, we have been unable to attract the level of funding needed. Sadly, this means Co Cars and Co Bikes will cease to operate car and bike services by the 14th of July 2023.

“The Board has engaged the services of insolvency experts from Milsted Langdon LLP who have assisted the Board in seeking a purchaser for all or part of the business and who will be managing the process of taking the company, Co Cars Limited, into Administration. We expect that this will happen by the end of week commencing 17th July.

“The Board and I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has supported Co Cars and Co Bikes. You have helped Exeter and the Southwest experience the many benefits of using shared mobility services. We are devastated that Co Cars Limited won’t continue but we are proud to have helped reduce pollution and congestion on our streets whilst also increasing active travel.

“To that end, we are looking for potential new providers who could keep the cars and / or the bikes operating into the future as we passionately believe these services are an essential part of a low carbon, integrated public transport network.”

Exeter MP Sir Ben Bradshaw said: “[I am] gutted by the collapse of Co Bikes and Co Cars, Exeter’s brilliant not-for-profit e-bike and e-car sharing scheme. [They have] done so much to cut pollution, congestion, boost active travel and made access to e-cars affordable. Hope another provider comes in to save this vital service.”

Alison Stephenson www.devonlive.com

East Devon District Council (EDDC) has vowed to tighten up its safeguarding practices after shame was brought upon it when a councillor was able to remain on the authority despite being investigated for child sex offences. Councillors voted unanimously this week to approve the independent report into its actions following the arrest of John Humphreys, who is now serving 21 years for historic sexual offences on teenage boys. It has also backed the report’s recommendations to overhaul its safeguarding procedures to mitigate such a situation never happens again.

Former EDDC Conservative councillor of 12 years and an ex-mayor of Exmouth, Humphreys was jailed in August 2021 for offences in the 1990s and 2000s. The independent investigation into the council’s actions has revealed safeguarding failures that enabled him to continue as a councillor for three years after he was arrested in March 2016 and later be given the title of honorary alderman.

A company called Verita Consulting was asked to find out who at the council knew about the Humphreys’ investigation and his arrest before it became public knowledge, the processes involved in his appointment as alderman, and to delve into the safeguarding and governance practices of the council and find ways to improve.

The report concluded that a former monitoring officer became the only person to know of the police investigation when he was asked to attend a safeguarding meeting (LADO) in March 2016, but doubt was cast on this evidence when further details came out regarding a comment made in a meeting suggesting the CEO of the council might have also known. This, however, was fully investigated by Verita in a supplementary report, and dismissed, as they were unable to corroborate the statement.

David Scott from Verita told councillors at this Tuesday’s meeting: ‘We believe that with the exception of the former monitoring officer, no one at EDDC definitively knew that John Humphreys had been under investigation for these alleged sexual offences.

“No one who participated in the investigation brought forward to us any reliable information about Humphreys’ behaviour and his alleged offending, so we considered that in view of the strict confidentiality restrictions placed on the former monitoring officer by the Devon and Cornwall police, that he was unable to make anyone else aware of what he knew – and he didn’t do so. There was no action anyone else could have taken without that knowledge.

“We believe that being the only person at EDDC who knew about the allegations put the former monitoring officer in an extremely unenviable position. He was prevented from sharing the information he had with his line manager, the chief executive, with EDDC safeguarding lead and with other councillors.”

Mr Scott said it had been “a trial” to get EDDC officers to contribute fully and participate in the investigation, as they did not wish to be interviewed face to face, but said this was a “minor bump” on a long road and “we got as much evidence as we could in the end.” He also said getting documents from Devon County Council had been difficult.

He said no formal action could have been taken against Humphreys before he was convicted, and EDDC would have been obliged to rely on presumption of his innocence while investigations were underway.

Once the council became aware of the situation, officers worked swiftly to remove the alderman honour and “handled it very well” and this did something to mitigate the reputation of EDDC, added Mr Scott.

The report suggested there was a better way to recognise long service and assessment of merit, rather than positions on the council.

It also noted the lack of any safeguarding risk assessment or mitigation plans being developed and implemented across the three-year period that Humphreys, who did not formally work with children but did come into contact with them, was being investigated.

“Someone who allegedly committed serious sexual offences went on to hold positions of authority in EDDC,” said Mr Scott.

In its early interviews, Verita found a relatively limited awareness amongst some councillors about their safeguarding responsibilities. It was pleased, however, that training had been offered to all councillors.

Cllr Joe Whibley (Independent, Exmouth) mentioned the good work being done on safeguarding at the lower level in the authority but added: “I have found this whole thing really quite upsetting and really depressing that it has gone on this long.

“The problem here is that we have practices, but those practices couldn’t be actioned.

“Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility, absolutely everybody’s, and we cannot shirk from that responsibility. We can presume innocence until guilt is established, but safeguarding duties, because they are duties, not optional extras, demand that appropriate actions are taken and quickly.

“Criminal proceedings and safeguarding measures are two different processes that run concurrently and this is basic safeguarding and those actions have not happened here, it seems.

“We must no longer avoid taking actions that are appropriate, necessary and demanded by law and we need to ensure that every single one of us from the very top to the very bottom have the correct mindset when it comes to safeguarding.”

A call was made for enhanced DBS checking for all councillors and better recording of documents and meetings.

Cllr Peter Faithful (Independent, Ottery ST Mary) said: “It’s all very well having all this training, but councillors need to be sure that they can feel comfortable coming forward even if the information they have is quite small and trivial or seemingly so as that could be very important.”

Verita reported many of the councillors they spoke to said they found raising issues or asking questions of any nature to be difficult. Some of these councillors cited a difficult working environment marred by conflict and accusations of politically motivated behaviours.

Deputy council leader Paul Hayward (Independent, Axminster) said: “This goes beyond politics and beyond corporation of councillors. These recommendations make sure the council does the right thing and above all recognises the victims of these heinous crimes by a former councillor of this authority

“We must do the right thing as an authority to try and put it right.”

Council leader Paul Arnott (Lib Dem, Coly Valley) asked councillors to reacquaint themselves with the courage of the victim in this case: “Without the victim and his persistence between 2004 and 2021- seventeen years that destroyed his life – Humphries would be at liberty, we would not be here having this debate, we would not be reviewing our own safeguarding processes and I think it’s beholden on everyone to consider that as they go home.”

A detailed action plan following the report’s recommendations include enforcing mandatory safeguarding training, setting up a working group for training needs, designating safeguarding champions, and making sure anyone invited to a LADO meeting should not go unaccompanied, will be brought to the council’s cabinet urgently.

Additional financial support for the supplementary report of £8,000 on top of the £45,000 budgeted for the main report was approved.

The region’s beauty masks a forgotten electorate lagging behind the rest of the nation in education and social mobility.

Alice Thomson www.thetimes.co.uk (extract)

…. the 5.6 million who work in the region often feel abandoned. They are rarely mentioned in the government’s levelling-up agenda, yet by the age of 11 the children of the southwest are the furthest behind of any English region, with only 37 per cent of children from disadvantaged backgrounds reaching expected levels in reading, writing and maths. Fewer children than in any other region go on to higher-level apprenticeships or university. Instead, young adults are more likely to be in unskilled work than their peers elsewhere. In the constituency of Bridgwater and West Somerset, 42 per cent are in unskilled employment compared with 28 per cent nationally.

Last year I was asked to join the South West Social Mobility Commission, which brings together major employers, charities and public services with the University of Exeter. It was a 17-year-old girl called Bella Dash who convinced me of the need for change. Bella and her mother had been made homeless in Devon on three occasions by the time she was nine and she still couldn’t read or write as she struggled to attend classes. Now she is working as a cleaner but in lockdown, when given a computer by her school, she decided to teach herself GCSEs, discovered learning and excelled in her exams. In October she is taking up a place at Oxford to read geography. “Not all my friends want to become professors, but I don’t feel many of us are being given a chance to be anything other than hospitality and care staff or farm workers,” she said.

One of the biggest blocks on aspiration is transport. School absenteeism has increased since the pandemic to 7.9 per cent, the highest in the country, but attendance has been a problem for years as pupils struggle to reach their schools when bus routes have been eviscerated and trains are often cancelled. Transport investment stands at £308 a head compared with a national average of £474. Students living in Dulverton, on Exmoor, face a 12-hour day to reach their nearest higher-education college. Pupils run the daily risk of missed connections. The dropout rate at sixth form is 27 per cent. The area needs more accessible colleges and more inducement to get there. Under-18s in London and other cities don’t have to pay for their bus fare. They shouldn’t have to here.

Another issue is the lack of high-speed broadband, except in Johnson’s Exmoor holiday cottage where a crack team of engineers laid expensive cabling. Every rural child needs a connection for remote learning. The University of Exeter has developed a tutoring project for undergraduates to help hone the basic writing skills of 12-year-olds. Every pupil showed an improvement in accuracy. Students were given credits and gained teaching experience; pupils said it boosted their confidence and allowed them to hear about campus life. “It’s a win-win,” says Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the university.

Change can happen, but the Tories’ neglect of their far-flung shires shows in the polls. They lost Tiverton in a by-election last year and they’re about to lose Somerton and Frome. If the general election was held tomorrow, newly drawn constituencies such as Plymouth Moor View would be won by Labour with a huge swing. Electorally the West Country is up for grabs — neither Labour nor the Lib Dems are loved — but politicians of all parties need to concentrate on rolling out policy change, not just beach towels, in this idyllic but unequal land.

“The River Wye has basically turned into a green pea soup. It smells, and what used to be beautiful clean gravel on the riverbed is covered with green slime. The river is now very close to complete ecological collapse.”

Helena Horton www.theguardian.com 

A loophole in the UK’s pollution legislation allows farmers to pollute rivers by spreading excess manure, an investigation has found, with those acting unlawfully not facing any action in most cases.

The government introduced new farming rules for water in 2018, aimed at cleaning up England’s waterways. However, after lobbying from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), including at least two meetings with ministers, the guidance was watered down.

According to internal guidance revealed by the investigations website openDemocracy, polluting farmers may not even be informed of their rule-breaking.

Some farm businesses pollute waterways by spreading excess animal waste on their land. When it rains, this runs off into local rivers, causing nutrient pollution and in severe cases, ecosystem collapse. Natural England recently downgraded the status of the River Wye, a designated special area of conservation, due to a decline of key species. The decline is due partly to large quantities of manure being washed into the river from nearby farms.

In August 2021, the NFU met Lord Benyon, then the parliamentary undersecretary for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), to discuss the legislation. Four months later, it attended another meeting, this time with Victoria Prentis MP, then the minister of state for Defra, along with officials from the Environment Agency and the British Egg Industry Council and British Poultry Council, two trade associations representing farmers.

In response to a freedom of information request, Defra refused to release the minutes of this second meeting, claiming policymaking in this area was “still ongoing” and that releasing this information could “risk inhibiting officials from having full, frank and open discussions as part of the process of formulating policy”.

But in written evidence submitted to parliament’s environment, food and rural affairs committee, the NFU said it was decided in this meeting that an Environment Agency team tasked with implementing the legislation would have its terms of reference “rewritten” to “reflect our dialogue”.

The guidance now says: “Where a land manager has acted in accordance with the statutory guidance, we will not inform them that they are non-compliant with the FRfW (farming rules for water).” It allows manure to be spread in direct contradiction with the rules, as long as all “reasonable precautions” are taken to reduce pollution, or in circumstances when reducing manure use is not “reasonably practicable”.

“The regulations have not changed,” the document states, but goes on to say that enforcement action will not usually be taken providing farmers “can demonstrate that they are operating in accordance with the statutory guidance even if they are not compliant with regulation 4(1)(a)(i) and (ii)”.

These specific regulations are in place to limit how much poultry manure can be spread on farmland, ensuring that nutrients “[do] not exceed the soil and crop needs or give rise to a significant risk of agricultural diffuse pollution”.

Charles Watson, the founder and chairperson of River Action UK, said: “That loophole is why the soils are now overloaded several times above and beyond what they can take. It is cause and effect, black and white.

“The River Wye has basically turned into a green pea soup. It smells, and what used to be beautiful clean gravel on the riverbed is covered with green slime. The river is now very close to complete ecological collapse.”

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “The farming rules for water are one of a number of regulations we use as part of our advice-led regulatory approach with farmers, to protect water quality and nature. If we find pollution or significant risk of pollution occurring we will not hesitate to take further action – evidenced by the enforcement action being taken against 140 farms this financial year.”

The NFU deputy president, Tom Bradshaw, said: “Farmers are working hard, through a range of voluntary measures, to prevent valuable nutrients and soil from contributing to water pollution. We can and want to do more and are working with government, local authorities and regulatory bodies to find solutions to address farming’s impact, so that we can better maintain and protect the health of our rivers.

“With a growing population, there is a clear need for sustainable, affordable and environmentally friendly food. We will continue to work closely with partners and stakeholders across all sectors so that collectively we can drive improvements that benefit water quality in our rivers.”

Seems to confirm he is “uninterested” in the environment, maybe it doesn’t feature on the spreadsheet.

Build the houses first, the essential infrastructure such as upgrading sewage works (and schools, medical resources, transport links etc) can/may follow later.  – Owl

Rishi Sunak has given his backing to plans to lift a ban blocking the construction of tens of thousands of properties imposed by the government’s environment watchdog.

Oliver Wright, Adam Vaughan www.thetimes.co.uk 

The Times understands that the prime minister has intervened in a stand-off between Michael Gove, the housing secretary, and Thérèse Coffey, the environment secretary, over rules imposed by Natural England that have brought housing developments to a halt across large swathes of the country.

More than 70 councils have been forced to block developments of up to 120,000 new homes because of concerns about the potential additional pollution of local rivers.

Under so-called “nutrient neutrality” rules, developers can only get planning permission if they offset the impact of extra sewage from new homes by working elsewhere in the catchment area to balance out the additional pollution. That typically involves creating wetlands to strip out excess nitrogen and phosphate pollution in rivers.

In the longer term, water companies are due to upgrade their sewage treatment works to reduce the issue, but critics have warned that the government needs to take action faster to unblock developments ahead of a general election.

A senior government source said that Sunak was “minded” to support a move by Gove to change the law to allow developments to go ahead in advance of sewage treatment works being upgraded. The change is expected to be included in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill currently going through parliament.

The source said: “Exactly how the new law will work is still being worked through but, in principle, the prime minister is minded to act.”

Sunak’s intervention follows months of behind-the-scenes wrangling between Gove’s Levelling Up department, which is responsible for housing, and Coffey’s environment department, Defra.

One government source said: “It would be fair to say that Michael and Thérèse don’t see eye to eye on this.” The source said Defra did not want any breach of what it sees as “sacrosanct nutrient neutrality rules” and was worried about a “backlash from the environmental movement”.

They added: “But the reality is that unless we can come up with an allowable work-around, then we simply can’t build the homes in very large parts of the country that we’ve promised. The PM has now indicated that he is backing Michael.”

Defra is fiercely opposed to the change and The Times’ Clean it Up campaign has also urged the government to keep the rules.

Tony Juniper, the chairman of Natural England, said: “Nutrient neutrality is established in UK environmental law and has been tested in the courts. It rightly prevents wastewater from new housing developments adding to pollution in areas internationally protected because of their unique value to nature and wildlife.”

He said that scrapping the rules would endanger legal targets to turn around “terrifying declines” in species. Juniper added: “We simply cannot halt and reverse the decline in nature or improve the quality of our rivers — as the government has legally committed itself to doing and is rightly demanded by the public — if we don’t mitigate the impact of pollution sources.”

Water campaigners said that ditching the protections would be disastrous in areas already under pressure from sewage and farm pollution, with only 14 per cent of English rivers considered to be in “good” ecological condition.

James Wallace, the chief executive of River Action, a charity that supports community river groups around the country, said: “Our rivers are in crisis. Nutrient neutrality rules provide a glimmer of hope for some of our most protected rivers by ensuring development does not further add to pollution of rivers. It is absolutely absurd for the government to roll back on this.”

Professor Peter Hammond, of the environmental group Windrush Against Sewage Pollution, said that the regulations were also needed to improve monitoring of sewage spills and run-off from farms. He said that dropping the rules would be bad for “public health and biodiversity”.

However, a spokesman for the Home Builders Federation said that a failure to act would have a devastating impact on pressing housing needs, adding: “The government has allowed this situation to drag on for four years and a solution is desperately needed. Builders are going out of business and around 145,000 desperately needed homes are on hold, despite the fact their construction would have a negligible impact on river pollution.”

A government spokesperson said: “The government remains committed to delivering housing in areas impacted by nutrient neutrality and is supporting local authorities and developers. We recognise the urgency of this issue and have taken substantial steps to both unlock housing now and to address the underlying causes of nutrient pollution at source.”

John Humphreys: Sex abuse scandal sparks child safeguarding review

A council has voted unanimously to make improvements to child safeguarding in the wake of a child sex abuse scandal.

By Ewan Murrie www.bbc.co.uk

Members of East Devon District Council voted on Tuesday on a report into the council’s handling of abuse allegations against a former councillor.

Ex-politician John Humphreys is currently serving 21 years in prison for sexually abusing two boys.

The council’s safeguarding lead was not told about the allegations when he was arrested in 2016, the report found.

This meant Humphreys stayed in office for three years while under police investigation, without a safeguarding risk assessment.

Humphreys was made an alderman by East Devon District Council while under criminal investigation

Speaking outside the meeting, council leader Paul Arnott said changes were needed.

He said: “The key issue to me is that if a report comes into this council at a senior level that a councillor has been investigated, that it isn’t confined to just one officer to deal with.

“What we have just resolved is that our safeguarding lead must be informed as a priority. For whatever reason, and we do not understand that yet, in 2016 our safeguarding lead was not told.

“For me that is unsatisfactory and there will be further internal works to look at quite how that happened.”

Humphreys, a former Conservative councillor, was jailed in 2021 for 21 years for what a judge called “shocking acts of sexual violence” against two boys before he was elected.

• Humphreys was first questioned by police in 2005 but police did not find sufficient evidence for a prosecution.
• Humphreys was also an Exmouth Town Council member and became mayor of Exmouth in 2010.
• Following a complaint by a second victim, Humphreys was arrested in 2016 before being released on bail on suspicion of sex crimes against children.
• He continued to be an East Devon Council member until May 2019, eventually being awarded the honorary title of alderman by the council in December 2019.
• Following his conviction in August 2021, the council removed his title and said it was to review the alderman process.

Councillors also voted unanimously to press Devon and Cornwall Police for more information about who in the local authority was informed about the allegations.

Devon County Council, which has a statutory role in managing allegations against adults working with children, will also be invited by East Devon District Council to discuss questions about how the John Humphreys case was handled.

The report into the council’s handling of the allegations was carried out by management consultancy firm Verita.

The council has asked for government help to mend fractious relationships with its staff following its handling of the case.

From a correspondent:

An extraordinary meeting  of East Devon District Council was held on July 11th to approve  an independent report by respected investigations company Verita,  into how pedophile John Humphreys was able to continue serving as a Tory councillor for years while under investigation by the police for the sexual abuse of two boys.

Despite the emotive content, the meeting was conducted in a generally dignified manner as requested by the Chair. The report was unanimously approved by councillors and its recommendations welcomed.

The biggest surprise of the evening was the frank admission from David Scott, one of the Verita authors, that “it was a trial for us to get information“ from Mark Williams, the CEO  and four other senior officers.

In reply to questions from a member of the public and councillors, Mr Scott revealed:

• the CEO objected from the start to the appointment of Verita, questioning their competence to undertake the investigation, and suggesting they would  not be impartial. He told Mr Scott that he did not think proper procurement had been followed and “would intervene” by commissioning a report from external auditors, Grant Thornton.
• Mark Williams insisted that he and his senior officers should first meet the investigators  not individually but as a group.  This surprised Verita  who considered  it “not appropriate”
• subsequently the CEO and the other officers  declined to be interviewed face-to-face but would only reply to written questions. Mr Scott thought this “was very unusual for individuals not to accept to be interviewed” and was “frustrating for us as investigators”.

He concluded it was “odd” that it was so difficult to extract information from public bodies such as EDDC. 

Many readers of the Verita report would agree.

(A correspondent also writes separately – two heads are better than one)

This meeting was kept firmly on track and focussed by the chair, Cllr Eleanor Rylance. She said this was an emotive subject that needed to be treated in a dignified and sensitive way.

It turned out to be a highly constructive one.

[Wisely, the Labour Group decided to set aside, for now, their reported intention to table a “Vote of no Confidence in the Chief Executive”.]

The vote to accept the report’s recommendations was passed unanimously by all 45 members present, with a little tweaking to strengthen them, and with the addition of:

1.  a referral to the Audit and Governance Committee to review record keeping in the council; and
2. a request to the council to ask further questions of both the Police and DCC, 

EDDC should now be in a much better place with regard to safeguarding.

There are, however, still unanswered questions as exemplified by both the first and last speakers, former Cllr Cathy Gardner speaking as a member of the public and Cllr Jess Bailey who has been the inexhaustible driving force behind the inquiry. 

Cathy Gardner raised questions that the inquiry may have been frustrated by some members and officers refusing to cooperate, if so were further efforts going to be made to fill in the gaps?

At the end, Cllr Jess Bailey said there were still unanswered questions: there was a total lack of records, posing subsidiary questions regarding where they were, what happened to them, and what impact does this have on other council business?

The Verita Report and its recommendations

David Scott, lead author of the Verita reports gave a presentation and then took part in a Q&A session from members.

Notable topics discussed that caught Owl’s eye include:

Why didn’t the Safeguarding Officer attend the LADO meeting

 (Local Authority Designated Officers responsible for managing allegations against adults who work with children).

Why did the former Monitoring Officer go to the first LADO meeting at DCC when the Safeguarding Officer might seem more appropriate? This is unusual. DCC so far have refused to give an explanation.

Reference to a mysterious report

A mysterious report attributed to the auditors “Grant Thornton” is referred to by Verita (pages 9 & 17 supplementary report).  The CEO had advised Verita in May  that he reserved the right, before formally responding to them, to view this report from Grant Thornton.

Cllr. Christopher Burhop asked what this report was. 

From the Verita Supplementary report (see page 17 above) it is likely to be the one  referred to by the CEO when he wrote:

“A report from the Council’s external auditors (Grant Thornton) into my concerns about the procurement process the Council adopted with regard to this investigation.” 

So far this Grant Thornton report does not seem to have been released to the council.

Explanation for budget overspend

During questions it was also established that Verita were on budget when they delivered their first report but have incurred an additional £8K to review the further information from the Police. 

This information referred to the inclusion in the minutes of the 9 March 2016 LADO meeting at DCC of the following:

 “The Chief of East Devon District Council had been alerted to the situation.” 

Having been unable to corroborate this statement, Verita concluded that it does not constitute sufficiently reliable evidence that the CEO of EDDC was aware of the Humphreys situation.

(Though it does indicate that someone in EDDC, other than the former Monitoring Officer who attended the meeting, had been informed.)

Verita’s reputation queried

Cllr Paul Arnott asked for a response to comments that had been made during the inquiry regarding Verita’s reputation. 

Mr Scott replied that in the only face to face meeting Verita had with the CEO, the CEO made it clear that he didn’t believe Verita had enough background in Local Government to be competent to do the work and that he didn’t believe they would be impartial. 

Mr Scott also said the CEO “pushed back strongly” against their proposed approach. Apparently this criticism was repeated on several occasions, for example, to the commissioning group.

(This is an experienced organisation who have worked on previous safeguarding issues. Included in the team was a lawyer with 25 years experience of criminal prosecutions, investigations, public inquiries etc.) 

Why all interviews were carried out by correspondence 

It also came up in answers to questions that initially the CEO had wanted to sit in on all interviews with officers in group sessions. All officers declined to be interviewed and questions were put in correspondence, a procedure Verita described as “unusual in their experience”.

A Victim’s perspective 

In his closing remarks Council Leader Paul Arnott thanked everyone for the quality of the debate and said that everyone should read from a victim’s perspective printed on page 25 of the report 

Postscript

Owl was unable to see whether the CEO attended in the chamber.

The debate can be viewed here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNHQruge3LVI4hcgRnbwBw

Homelessness, affordability and second homes in Devon are among issues to be tackled by a new commission of experts, councillors and parliamentarians.

www.bbc.co.uk

The Devon Housing Commission has been given the task of “making a case to Government” on how to approach the “housing crisis” in the region.

The University of Exeter and local authorities across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay will manage and fund it.

Lord Best, commission chair, said it would be a “powerful voice”.

He added: “By bringing together those with a major role across the county the commission will be a powerful voice for the importance of good quality housing for health and the economy.

“The commission will allow us to fully understand the origins of current pressures and look for innovative solutions from collective local action or significant policy change.”

‘A clear picture’

In 2021, Devon County Council leader Councillor John Hart said rising house prices and a lack of rental properties had resulted in a housing crisis.

A “shortage of appropriate homes” is continuing to impact people’s health and the economy, a spokesperson for Exeter University said.

The commission has been tasked with making a case for how “decent housing” can have an impact on the county’s “prosperity, economic growth and social mobility”.

It will seek views from communities in Devon which the university said would inform the case it makes to government.

Also in its remit will be homelessness, housing affordability, how to create attractive communities, integrating housing with health and care, the impact of short-term letting, holiday accommodation, student housing and second homes, the university said.

The commission would also be looking at how to deliver affordable housing in rural communities while protecting the environment.

Councillor Mandy Ewings, leader of West Devon Borough Council and chair of the Devon Housing Task Force which has created the commission, said it was a “real opportunity” to bring together people and expertise.

Levelling up, an example of Whitehall’s grip on spending. – Owl

Michael Gove’s department is handing back £1.9bn to the Treasury originally meant to tackle England’s housing crisis after struggling to find projects to spend it on.

Kiran Stacey www.theguardian.com 

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has surrendered hundreds of millions of pounds budgeted for 2022-23, including £255m meant to fund new affordable housing and £245m meant to improve building safety.

Officials said the department was unable to spend the money, which accounts for about a third of its entire housing budget, thanks to rising interest rates and uncertainty in the housing market after the Covid-19 pandemic.

But experts warn the lack of investment is likely to exacerbate the housing crisis in England, where homebuilding is forecast to drop to its lowest level since the second world war.

Jack Shaw, a local government expert who uncovered the figures through a freedom of information request, said: “The government is experiencing significant challenges investing in housing because of a perfect storm in market conditions.

“But the decision to delay housing investment or withdraw it altogether as a result of lower than anticipated spending will mean fewer homes are built.”

Others blame bureaucratic inefficiency for the government failing to find the right schemes to spend the money on.

Lisa Nandy, the shadow housing secretary, said: “The Conservatives have simply given up trying to solve the housing crisis that they helped create.

“Not content with slashing housebuilding by scrapping housing targets, stalling on renters’ reform or rowing back on their promises to leaseholders, ministers are either too incompetent or too out-of-touch to consider it a priority to fix dangerous buildings or build new affordable homes in the middle of a housing crisis.”

Gove recently called Britain’s housing system “broken”, adding: “We desperately need more homes to bring ownership within reach of many more people.”

But his critics have accused him of exacerbating that crisis by dropping a mandatory target for councils to build 300,000 new homes a year, making it voluntary instead. That decision has been cited by several councils as a reason to pause or scale down their housing plans.

Analysis by the consultancy Lichfields has found new housebuilding is expected to drop to its lowest level in decades, while 580,000 extra people are likely to find themselves homeless, “sofa surfing” in the homes of friends or family.

Meanwhile mortgage costs continue to rise quickly. Earlier this week, two-year fixed mortgage rates rose to their highest levels since 2008.

Officials point to the funding allocated to schemes such as the Affordable Housing Programme as evidence that the government remains committed to increasing housing supply and helping more people get on the housing ladder.

A DLUHC spokesperson said: “Our target of delivering 300,000 homes a year remains and we are fully committed to funding and delivering our programmes that help us meet that target, including the £11.5bn affordable homes programme.”

But the figures released by the department show it is not spending its full allocation. In 2022/23, the department underspent on the affordable housing programme by over £600m. Of that, it has saved £363m in the hope of spending it this financial year and given a further £355m back to the Treasury.

It has also given back £245m meant for improving building safety after the Grenfell fire and £1.2bn in money allocated for Help to Buy.

The Help to Buy scheme, which George Osborne launched in 2013 as a way to help more young people get on the housing ladder, offers government loans to first time buyers.

Last year was the final year of its operation, but officials say demand for the loans proved much smaller than expected, in part because of the impact of the pandemic.

Officials say the government remains committed to spending the money on housing. But under Whitehall rules, anything that is being pushed back until the next spending review, which could come next year, has to be officially surrendered to the Treasury.

A spokesperson said: “These are multi-year funding programmes that are being spent flexibly – meaning some money can be moved into future years depending on demand and the wider economic climate.”

Experts however point out that once the money is back with the Treasury it is purely a decision for the chancellor over what to spend it on in the future. Jeremy Hunt is already under pressure to spend extra money to raise public sector pay and to offer voters tax cuts.

A recently updated sewage map by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) has revealed that 20 beaches across Devon currently have pollution or sewage warnings in place. Beauty spots such as Exmouth, Sidmouth and Salcombe are to name but a few of the areas where warnings are in place as swimmers are urged to avoid entering the water.

Chloe Parkman www.devonlive.com

It comes after the region was hit by heavy downpours of rain. Devon Live previously reported that the main contributing factor to polluted beaches is urban runoff, which sees fertilizers, pesticides, oil, and untreated human and animal waste all entering waterways, such as rivers. They then eventually end up at our beaches.

The contaminated water largely remains on the surface. This can make it dangerous to enter the water. According to Surf Today, some experts even suggest waiting 72 hours before entering the sea again after it rains.

Swallowing water that could be contaminated with fecal matter could lead to gastroenteritis, hepatitis, giardiasis, skin rashes, amoebic dysentery, nose, ear, and throat problems, pink eye, and other respiratory illnesses. Symptoms to look out for include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, inflamed stomach and intestines.

Below, Devon Live has listed all of the beaches which currently have a warning in place. The following information has been taken from the SAS interactive map.

Seaton – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. The Seaton Sewage Treatment Works discharges disinfected sewage into the River Axe Estuary two and a half kilometres from the bathing water.

Beer – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. Three sewer overflows surround Beer with one discharging from Beer car park, one discharging 600m North East and one slightly further to the South.

Sidmouth – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. Two sewer overflows are located at Sidmouth, one discharges through a long sea outfall some 600m out to sea while the other discharges into the River Sid, just under 400m to the east.

Budleigh Salterton – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. There are three sewer overflows in the area, one discharges directly onto the beach, another 400m east and another that discharges 1.3km away into the sea.

Sandy Bay – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Exmouth – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. There is a sewer overflow discharging through an outfall to the south east which may affect bathing water quality especially after heavy rainfall.

Dawlish Town – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours and bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality. There are five sewer overflows covered by the Safer Seas Service here within 650m off the beach which can operate in heavy rainfall.

Teignmouth Holcombe – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. A sewer overflow discharges into the Holcombe Stream 40m upstream of the beach.

Meadfoot – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Beacon Cove – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. The water quality at this bathing water can be affected by nearby CSOs, particularly after heavy rainfall.

Paignton Preston Sands – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. There is a sewer overflow that discharges at the northern end of the beach from the Preston Green Attenuation Tank.

Goodrington – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. There is one sewer overflow discharging directly onto the beach in the middle of Goodrington while another discharges 500m upstream in the Goodrington Stream that then meets the sea towards the southern end of the beach.

St Marys Bay – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Dartmouth Castle and Sugary Cove – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Mill Bay – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Salcombe South Sands – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. A sewer overflow discharges to the Combe Stream directly behind the beach while another discharges some 450m away in the Salcombe Estuary.

Hope Cove – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. There are two sewer overflows which discharge into the sea here which can lead to a temporary drop in bathing water quality especially after heavy rainfall.

Thurlestone South – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. There is a stream flowing across the beach to the sea.

Mothecombe Beach – Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours and bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality. There are no sewer overflows directly on the beach at Mothecombe however a number of urban areas (Ermington, Ivybridge etc.) can discharge into the River Erme whose estuary Mothecombe is located in.

Combe Martin – A sewer overflow discharges into the Umber River some 30m upstream of the beach with two more discharging further upstream. Other discharges from the surrounding urban area may also affect water quality particularly after heavy rainfall.

Richard Foord, unlike Simon Jupp, seems to know where his constituents live! – Owl

Proposals from the Rail Delivery Group that would see many ticket offices closed in one of the biggest changes to the railway network in a generation have been criticised.

Lewis Clarke www.devonlive.com

The proposals would see 153 of South Western Railway’s 190 stations changed, so that staff move out of ticket offices and onto platforms. Similar proposals have also been put forward by GWR, which services Tiverton Parkway.

The changes, including the creation of a single team of colleagues at each station and the closure of all ticket offices, are being put to a three-week public consultation.

However, local Tiverton & Honiton MP Richard Foord has warned these changes could leave people feeling cut off and further isolated – particularly for those who are elderly, who struggle to access digital ticket services or who do not feel able to use ticket machines at stations.

Commenting, Lib Dem Tiverton & Honiton MP Richard Foord said: “Local ticket offices like those in Honiton, Feniton, and Axminster are key for many people to get tickets and to get help with their journey. Ticket offices play a crucial role in helping people travel – particularly older and more vulnerable customers.

“These proposed changes are deeply concerning, particularly for rural communities like ours. Some railway stations are already poorly served; Feniton station, for example, is only staffed in the morning.

“This very short ‘consultation’ seems more like a foreclosure notice – one which will leave our communities poorer. We must avoid the same digital exclusion on our railways that we are already seeing wrought by banks and big businesses.

“This is unacceptable. I will be making the case directly with South Western Railway about why these changes could make rail travel more difficult for some of those people who already lack confidence in travelling by train.

“I am grateful to constituents who have written to me to make their feelings known. They can be reassured – I will continue demand that SWR maintains the availability of ticket sales at local stations.”

The man hoping to become the next MP for Tiverton, Conservative, Ian Liddell-Grainger has accused train operator GWR of engaging in a ‘sham consultation’ with the decision to shut them already taken.

The current MP for Bridgwater & West Somerset says stations at Taunton and Bridgwater are among those affected.

“GWR wrote to me about this under the heading ‘changing how we sell tickets at stations’” he said.

“The wording should have read ‘raking in more money while giving even less of a toss about travellers’.

“Many people, particularly the elderly, do not have home computers and therefore cannot buy online. And when they arrive at a railway station they often need more than a ticket: they need information – information which only a manned ticket office can provide.

“GWR has already made a complete mess of its refurbishment of Taunton station which thousands of my constituents use. The old main entrance has now been virtually de-manned and I have had reports of many instances when the automatic barriers have failed to work and travellers have had to use an appalling audio link with the ticket office on the other side both to gain access and to obtain the information they need about their journey.

“Every time GWR makes changes of this nature it’s dressed up as ‘improving customer service’ yet for as long as I have been monitoring its activities customer service at Taunton has steadily declined. I no longer trust anything GWR tells me.

“I would urge every local rail user to object to these changes even though the ‘consultation’ GWR has launched is a total sham. I shall also be writing to GWR to inquire how many jobs will be lost once the ‘consultation’ is over and it proceeds with the ticket office closures it has clearly decided to impose.”

Actions of EDDC following the allegations and criminal charges against John Humphreys

At last, this evening, councillors will get the opportunity to discuss the report prepared by Verita on their inquiry.

This has tried to establish the actions of EDDC following the allegations and criminal charges against John Humphreys.

It does not seek to apportion blame or censure anyone, but to learn lessons.

The following are the main elements of the terms of reference for the investigation:

1. establish what information was known by EDDC councillors and officers about John Humphreys and any investigations into the allegations against him.
2. understand the EDDC decision-making processes in considering John Humphreys’ continued position as a councillor after his arrest. 
3. determine the extent to which the EDDC considered whether John Humphreys presented any safeguarding risks to children in the context of his party political and councillor roles.
4. examine what, if any, safeguarding measures were put into place following the 2016 arrest and assess the effectiveness of their implementation and monitoring. describe the process by which the EDDC bestowed the honour of Honorary Alderman on John Humphreys. 
5. determine whether the EDDC complied with its own policies and procedures in making this decision. 
6. review the decision-making processes deployed by EDDC following Mr Humphrey’s conviction to remove his honorary title and to review its actions in the handling of this matter.
7. determine whether any improvements could be made to EDCC’s safeguarding and governance arrangements in light of the findings of the investigation.
8. report on any other significant issues that arise in the course of the investigation that bear on its terms of reference.

The purpose of the meeting is to consider and discuss Verita’s report, findings and recommendations; and the supplementary report issued after information from the Police was received that appeared to cast doubt on the accuracy of the evidence gathered originally.

It has been reported that the Labour Group might seek an opportunity to table a vote of “no confidence” in the Chief Executive. 

Owl can understand their frustration but thinks this would be a distraction from the purpose in hand. It would stray far from the formal agenda.

It has taken a long time to get here

It is worth recalling the sequence of events leading up to the formal commissioning and publication of these reports. The following chronicle has drawn heavily on previous posts such as the report of the council debate in September 2022.

Back in April 2022 the council voted unanimously, with one abstention, to conduct an investigation into how Humphreys continued in his council roles, with access to children, and then became an honorary Alderman after his arrest. The Chief Executive, Mark Williams, was asked to advise how this could be done.

In June 2022 Mark Williams was reported as saying he was awaiting legal opinion. He followed “So my advice to cabinet is that I will bring a report in July. Pushing the timetable earlier is inappropriate and you may well end up making an erroneous decision.”…..“Rushing something as important as this is, in my opinion, inappropriate.”

Yet three months after this, and five months after the unanimous vote to proceed, the Council met again in September last year to vote on whether or not to conduct an investigation. By then, Mark Williams had decided to advise the council against taking any such action because, in his opinion, all that was to be known was known and such an exercise would be a waste of taxpayers money.  

We now have the reports and seem to have learned a surprising amount that is new.

This “foot dragging” led Cllr Jess Bailey to take the unusual step of raising a ”requisition order” to appoint, after research, a specific independent investigation organisation, Verita, to conduct one (referred to below as Option A).

(For a requisition order to be put to the vote it has to be supported by nine councillors.)

Her move prompted Mark Williams to come up with an alternative (Option B) which would involve commissioning a legal practice to undertake the investigation. However, his first recommendation to the council was to drop the notion of conducting an investigation, but if the council rejected this advice then it should consider his Option B as an alternative to Option A.

After debate, the council voted to conduct an independent investigation by 27 votes to 9 with 5 abstensions. There were quite a few apologies.

The council then turned its attention to the two options put before it.

During this, in what seemed a surprising move to Owl, the Chief Executive suggested more options such as conducting an external audit or even getting asking the Secretary of State to conduct a review through a process whereby the council reported itself for misconduct!

During discussion even more options emerged such as using Ofsted, the option recently adopted by Devon County Council. 

When put to the vote, Council members voted:

22 votes to choose Option A, zero votes for Option B with 18 abstentions.

So the option produced by the Chief Executive was completely rejected. 

At this point one is left with the overwhelming impression that the council had been badly let down by Mark Williams, Chief Executive.

In April 2022 Mark Williams had been asked to advise how an independent investigation could be conducted. This was the moment when he could have come up with the idea, that Devon County Council came up with, of using Ofsted, or indeed any of the other options he suddenly threw into the pot at the September meeting. But he didn’t, he left a void and failed to give any constructive advice other than an investigation is unnecessary and a waste of money until he produced his surprise options during the meeting in September.

We know the September 2022 debate was watched by one of the victims. He very courageously gave an introductory speech as a member of the public. Special arrangements had been made so that he could do this anonymously. He spoke about how his life had been wrecked, how important it was for his rehabilitation to be heard and how an investigation would help him.

Who already seem to have forgotten that he is MP for Exmouth 

• Holm Oak – remove lowest primary branch back to main trunk (dia. of cut 200mm), on SSW side, overhanging 2 Fore St Hill. Remove 3 lowest secondary branches (dia. of two cuts 75mm and remaining 50mm), on ESE side, overhanging 25 Fore St. Fairlynch Museum 27 Fore Street Budleigh Salterton EX9 6NPRef. No: 23/1418/TRE | Validated: Fri 30 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of dormer window to rear. 3 Berry Close Exmouth EX8 2PTRef. No: 23/1414/FUL | Validated: Fri 30 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of condition no. 2 and 7 (replacement drawings), and removal of condition no 3 (archaeological work) and 4 (assessment of archaeological work) on plannaing permission ref: 23/0130/FUL Lavenders Branscombe Devon EX12 3BLRef. No: 23/1397/VAR | Validated: Fri 30 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of external materials 4 St Andrews Road Exmouth Devon EX8 1APRef. No: 23/1391/FUL | Validated: Wed 28 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of an earth lined slurry store Orchard End Colyton EX24 6DTRef. No: 23/1390/FUL | Validated: Wed 28 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of existing house and outbuildings and erection of a two storey detached house with habitable loft and ancillary double garage and relocation of existing main site entrance Merrivale Exton Devon EX3 0PPRef. No: 23/1377/FUL | Validated: Tue 27 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed 2 storey rear extension. Removal of existing mezzanine and associated structures, Removal of existing staircase, construction of new staircase. Internal walls removed to relocate kitchen and remove bathroom. Partial removal of rear wall to create access to new extension. Hard landscaping at rear to allow for new extension Brook Barn Maunders Hill Otterton EX9 7JDRef. No: 23/1385/LBC | Validated: Fri 30 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed additional dormer window to roof Red Willows Branscombe Seaton EX12 3DLRef. No: 23/1382/FUL | Validated: Fri 30 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a roof over existing cow yard Higher Uphay Farm Membury Road Axminster EX13 7JGRef. No: 23/1384/FUL | Validated: Wed 28 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of an agricultural fodder and straw storage building Higher Uphay Farm Membury Road Axminster EX13 7JGRef. No: 23/1383/FUL | Validated: Wed 28 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Repair works to old tracks, including resurfacing and provision of pull-in and turning areas. Heathayne Wood ColytonRef. No: 23/1374/AGR | Validated: Wed 28 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of rural workers dwelling Spurtham Farm New Road Upottery Devon EX14 9QDRef. No: 23/1376/FUL | Validated: Tue 27 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Application to modify the S106 attached to planning consent 09/1820/MFUL (Residential development consisting of 133 dwellings to include 1 & 2 bedroom apartments and 2,3 & 4 bedroom houses. Including associated parking, highways, landscaping, open space and drainage works) to facilitate a mortgagee exclusion clause Land At Stowford Rise SidmouthRef. No: 23/1408/V106 | Validated: Tue 27 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Application for the modification of S106 agreement relating to outline permission 15/1291/MOUT (Construction of 10 no. dwellings (6 affordable, 4 open market) and associated works with all matters reserved) to allow changes to a) the approved ecological mitigation requirements, and b) the timing of the reserved matters viability assessment Land Adjacent The Fountain Head Berry Hill BranscombeRef. No: 23/1375/V106 | Validated: Tue 27 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Application to modify the S106 attached to planning consent 12/2452/MFUL (Erection of 18 dwellings, associated access and landscaping) to facilitate a mortgagee exclusion clause Land West Of Combe Hayes SidmouthRef. No: 23/1409/V106 | Validated: Tue 27 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of earth lined slurry store Otter View Farm Luppitt Devon EX14 4TPRef. No: 23/1366/FUL | Validated: Thu 29 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• One non-illuminated board sign fixed to the existing boundary wall. Co-Operative Pioneer (Cws) The Underfleet Seaton EX12 2PQRef. No: 23/1372/ADV | Validated: Mon 26 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement of old conservatory with new room. Knapp Cottage Lower Broad Oak Road West Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1XHRef. No: 23/1369/FUL | Validated: Tue 27 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of condition no. 12 on planning permission 22/1635/FUL to allow extended delivery hours. Former Co-op Store The Underfleet Seaton EX12 2PQRef. No: 23/1371/VAR | Validated: Mon 26 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of condition 2 of planning permission 20/0630/VAR (construction of office building) to allow its use by businesses not associated with the landscaping business for a temporary period up to five years Dalwood Hill Nursery Burrow Knapp Way Dalwood Devon EX13 7ESRef. No: 23/1363/VAR | Validated: Mon 26 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed internal and external renovations with two storey rear extension 16 Raddenstile Lane Exmouth EX8 2JHRef. No: 23/1359/FUL | Validated: Tue 27 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed extensions at both ground and first floor levels on all elevations, raising and replacement of roof, demolition of single garage, construction of double garage and associated driveway (resubmission of 23/0457/FUL) Anchorage Barline Beer Devon EX12 3LRRef. No: 23/1370/FUL | Validated: Thu 29 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• To install wooden featheredge board corner fence along boundaries adjacent to Mount Pleasant Avenue and Swiss Close. [Retrospective] 13 Mount Pleasant Avenue Exmouth EX8 4QGRef. No: 23/1352/FUL | Validated: Fri 30 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Detached car port Bovetts Farm Sidbury EX10 0QNRef. No: 23/1345/FUL | Validated: Tue 27 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1: Oak tree – fell; T3: Strawberry tree – fell; T4: Bay tree – fell. 5 Cyprus Road Exmouth Devon EX8 2DZRef. No: 23/1354/TCA | Validated: Mon 26 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Planning permission for existing lawful development to establish the lawful use of land and buildings for a mix of uses classes E (g) class B2 and class B8 of the use classes identified within Town and Country Planning (use classes) regulations 2020. Sunnyfields Industrial Estate Yarcombe Honiton EX14 9NBRef. No: 23/1334/CPE | Validated: Tue 27 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of proposed lawfulness for a single storey rear extension127 Winslade Road Sidmouth Devon EX10 9EZRef. No: 23/1328/CPL | Validated: Mon 26 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed 2 storey rear extension. Removal of existing mezzanine and associated structures, Removal of existing staircase, construction of new staircase. Internal walls removed to relocate kitchen. Partial removal of rear wall to create access to new extension. Hard landscaping at rear to allow for new extension Brook Barn Maunders Hill Otterton EX9 7JDRef. No: 23/1309/FUL | Validated: Fri 30 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Remove existing capping on chimney on south east gable elevation and install flue liner and new chimney pot and flue. Batts Cottage Gittisham Honiton EX14 3AJRef. No: 23/1280/LBC | Validated: Fri 30 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of 42 residential units (14 affordable), new vehicular accesses from Meeting Lane and Strawberry Lane, pedestrian access onto Meeting Lane, associated internal roadways, SUDS features and landscaping Land South Of Meeting Lane LympstoneRef. No: 23/1269/MFUL | Validated: Thu 29 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• To demolish the existing bungalow and attached garage and replaced with new two storey residential dwelling. Ladymeade High Street East Budleigh Devon EX9 7DURef. No: 23/1257/FUL | Validated: Mon 26 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of new two bedroom dwelling with garden room/store Little Knowle Court 32 Little Knowle Budleigh Salterton EX9 6QSRef. No: 23/1261/FUL | Validated: Tue 27 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1: Eucalyptus – pollard to previous pollarding points at approximately 2m above ground level, cut size approximately 400mm. G1: Group of Ash – prune back to the fence-line, cuts no greater than 75mm. 3 Henry Lewis Close Whimple EX5 2UURef. No: 23/1213/TCA | Validated: Wed 28 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Remodel of existing dwelling, including partial demolition. Construction of garage, shed, and widened driveway Southernhay Lower Broad Oak Road West Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1XHRef. No: 23/1201/FUL | Validated: Wed 28 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement Dwelling Oak Tree House Old Ebford Lane Ebford Devon EX3 0QRRef. No: 23/1185/FUL | Validated: Mon 26 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of single storey flat roof extension to north and east elevations Garden Cottage 18 Little Knowle Budleigh Salterton EX9 6QSRef. No: 23/1165/FUL | Validated: Tue 27 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of condition No. 5 of planning permission ref: 22/2130/FUL to allow for additions and buildings within the curtilage. Oak Lodge Holcombe Lane Ottery St Mary EX11 1PQRef. No: 23/1141/VAR | Validated: Fri 30 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Repairs to southern chimney stack and rebuild northern chimney stack Church Cottage Farringdon EX5 2HYRef. No: 23/1109/LBC | Validated: Mon 26 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Formation of new access and associated development 21 Marpool Hill Exmouth EX8 2LJRef. No: 23/1100/FUL | Validated: Mon 26 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of existing restaurant and construction of a replacement restaurant (Use Class E(b)) with installation of 40 x solar panels on roof (retrospective application). Route 303 Yarcombe EX14 9NDRef. No: 23/1011/FUL | Validated: Fri 30 Jun 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision

Sewage alerts: Seaton, Beer and Budleigh, advisory at Ladram. 

Exmouth “under maintenance”

Rural England’s population of 9.7 million risk being left further behind after the next general election if the political system continues to ignore the systematic inequalities facing rural communities and businesses, warn leading rural organisations.

rsnonline.org.uk

The Rural Coalition, an alliance of thirteen national organisations who champion a living, working countryside, has set out an urgent appeal for all political parties to empower rural areas in election manifestos to improve the prospects and opportunities for rural businesses and communities.

With rural areas a key battleground at the next general election the Coalition urges politicians to address the needs and potential of rural areas and ensure they are treated fairly with the rest of the country.

The roadmap, ‘A better future for rural England: An opportunity for change’, sets out nine policy principles to address the structural inequalities and weaknesses facing rural areas and the people who live and work in rural England.

Rural areas have long faced the challenges of failing infrastructure, poor connectivity and unfair funding systems that do not take proper account of the additional rural costs associated with delivering essential services, including healthcare.

That is why the Rural Coalition is calling on the next Government to implement the Coalition’s vision for rural England, including:

• Produce a comprehensive rural strategy – create a cross-departmental strategy for rural England to deliver sustainable growth for communities and businesses.
• Ensure fairer funding – revise funding metrics used to allocate funds for public services to address the systemic gap between urban and rural public funding.
• Invest in rural infrastructure – upgrade capacity and resilience of the electricity grid; invest in reliable digital networks and create fit-for-purpose rural transport networks.
• Adapt and mitigate for climate change – launch a coordinated approach from government and agencies to address the challenges posed by climate change.
• Create a prosperous rural economy – invest in skills and retraining to increase economic diversity and attract new businesses.
• Rural proof the design of services – develop service plans that avoid a one-size-fits-all approach and ensure accessibility for rural communities and businesses.
• Deliver services locally – deliver services at as local a level as possible to ensure they meet local needs and are readily available to the community.
• Empower the voluntary and community sector – enhance support and funding for the voluntary and community sector to help deliver vital facilities and services.
• Devolve decision-making powers – devolve decision-making and responsibilities to the most local level, so services are tailored to rural needs.

Chair of the Rural Coalition, Margaret Clark, said: 

“Nearly 10 million people live in rural England, more than in Greater London. They should not be unfairly disadvantaged simply because of geography, but must have fair access to jobs, to housing and to basic services.

“Rural communities will play an important role in choosing who forms the next government. Addressing their needs and potential means a sea change in the way rural areas are perceived and treated. Achieving the economic and social growth envisaged will only prove possible with sustained effort across government to tackle the challenges of structural linequalities, fragile infrastructure and economic weaknesses which hold back rural areas.”