A partially-built development of up to 40 flats in Cornwall will be demolished before it’s even completed. Work ceased at what was previously known as Trennick Villas in Truro over a year ago when contractor Midas went bust.

Lee Trewhela www.cornwalllive.com

After demolition started in 2021, the retirement living scheme, known as Lowarth Morbies, on Malpas Road was due to offer 40 “independent living one and two bedroom apartments within a community setting for people over the age of 55, available for rent and shared ownership”. Housing 21, the company behind the scheme, which overlooks the river at Malpas, says damp has got into the partially built homes meaning they will now have to come down.

Work stopped a year ago when building giant Midas went into administration. Thousands of people and businesses all over Cornwall may end up out of pocket after it was revealed that construction firm Midas left a whopping £22m debt behind after going bust.

A spokesperson for Housing 21 said: “Our development, Lowarth Morbies in Truro, has been severely delayed because the contractor we were working with went into administration. Works ceased and it has taken several months to work through the contractual position. Consequently, when work stopped, the site was open to elements which may have resulted in water ingress.”

The spokesperson added: “To ensure we have a quality building that provides much-needed and affordable accommodation for older people in this fantastic location, we have made the decision with our newly appointed contractor to take down previous works and build from foundations up.”

Due to the delays, the apartments are now expected to be completed in Spring 2025. The work was originally expected to be finished this year. Housing 21 says anyone who has expressed an interest in living at Lowarth Morbies is being kept informed of progress

The development will now have to start from scratch after water got into the partially built flats (Image: CornwallLive)

Residents of neighbouring Carew Pole Close have received letters from the demolition company, Demolition South West Ltd (DSW), informing them that the work will take place between May 9 and June 9, by order of Classic Builders. Nick Southall, contracts manager, says in the letter: “We will do our best to limit the amount of noise or disruption to you throughout our works.” Residents are asked to contact DSW’s office if they have any concerns during the demolition period.”

A neighbour of the development told CornwallLive: “At least something is actually happening. I’m sick of seeing it.” Another said online: “I live at the top of the hill past this site, it’s been derelict for a very long time. I will be really pleased if they do complete the development as it’s such a superb site for housing.”

The original Trennick Villas retirement home had been vacant for several years and was boarded up to stop people breaking in and causing damage. In August 2020, a large part of the building was extensively damaged in an all-night blaze which saw eight fire engines from Truro and surrounding towns called to the scene.

In 2018, Housing 21 announced plans to refurbish the site and, after several attempts, was granted planning permission for the apartment development. However, work came to a halt in March 2022 after Midas went bust the month before.

Is that £84,000 salary not enough? Details made public this week have revealed just how much money Jacob Rees-Mogg has made from presenting shows on GB News – and the bank-busting figure is causing outrage online.

Tom Head www.thelondoneconomic.com

How much money does Jacob Rees-Mogg make from GB News?

According to the financial documents, the MP for North Somerset is currently raking in £32,083 PER MONTH from the fledgling broadcaster. That makes his hourly rate a rather healthy £802, and puts him on course for extra annual earnings of roughly £385,000.

Rees-Mogg is a senior stalwart of the Conservative Party, and he’s become a divisive figure in British politics. Critics have accused him of ‘being out of touch with the public’, over comments he has made about dealing with the cost of living crisis.

Who’s paying Jacob Rees-Mogg £800 an hour?

Given that most of us can’t just stroll onto the set of GB News and spout whatever we like, his methods of building-up the bank balance certainly differ from ours. The channel itself is largely funded by a Dubai-based investment firm.

Local Elections 2023: Critics revel in Tory turmoil

With Mr. Rees-Mogg currently projected to lose his seat as an MP at next year’s General Election, perhaps it is rather astute of him to already have a Plan B in place. In fact, if his local council results are anything to go by this week, a career change could occur sooner rather than later.

The constituents of North Somerset and Bath shunned the Tories, who failed to make any significant gains in a stronghold territory. They retained 13 councillors out of a possible 50, with Labour and the Greens substantially increasing their number of local representatives.

Carol Vorderman has essentially done a ‘Reverse Rees-Mogg’ over the past few years, and the TV presenter-turned-political-activist was overjoyed with these results. She says that the Conservatives have been the architects of their own downfall.

“Looks like Jacob Rees Mogg won’t be around after the next General Election. The Nasty Conservative Party vote has TANKED. This is because they try to put us down by bullying, mocking, and stealing. Think again.” | Carol Vorderman

The local election bell has sounded

Cabinet ministers will be “looking nervously over their shoulders” after Labour and the Liberal Democrats made huge gains in the local elections, according to a Lib Dem source.

Archie Mitchell www.independent.co.uk

The Lib Dems scored a significant win in levelling-up secretary Michael Gove’s Surrey Heath constituency, taking control of the council from the Conservatives.

The party declared it a “Michael Portillo” moment, in reference to the former cabinet minister who lost his Enfield Southgate seat during the 1997 general election. Mr Portillo’s defeat was seen as a pivotal result and an indication that New Labour would win the election by a landslide.

And deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden’s Hertsmere constituency, where he has a 21,313 majority, also fell victim to Labour and the Lib Dems. The Conservatives lost control of the council for the first time since 1999, with Labour and the Lib Dems picking up 13 seats between them.

Other senior Tories who came under pressure included former prime minister Theresa May, whose constituency of Maidenhead in Berkshire is covered by Windsor and Maidenhead council, where the Conservatives suffered heavy losses.

The Liberal Democrats took control of the council for the first time in 16 years, gaining 13 seats while the Tories lost 16.

In chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s South West Surrey constituency, the Lib Dems gained five seats, Labour picked up two, and the Conservatives lost eight.

And in a further sign of trouble brewing in the so-called blue wall of solidly Tory-backing areas, the Conservatives lost eight seats in Bath and North East Somerset, where former business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg is the local MP.

The Lib Dems claimed to be ahead on vote share in North East Somerset, with 39.5 per cent, compared with the Tories on 26.3 per cent.

Other top Tories who saw their party lose control of councils in their constituencies include former party chair Nadhim Zahawi and justice secretary Robert Buckland.

And the Lib Dems gained six seats while the Tories lost four in Elmbridge, which is in former deputy PM Dominic Raab’s constituency.

A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: “Conservative MPs across the blue wall will be petrified at these results,” while a party source added: “Senior Conservative ministers are now looking nervously over their shoulders at the Lib Dems.”

Rishi Sunak came under pressure from senior Conservatives to deliver on his flagship pledges after his own party chair described the disastrous local election results as a “wake-up call”.

The prime minister was dealt a major blow in his first election test as the Tories lost dozens of councils to Labour and the Lib Dems, leading to comparisons with the dire days of the mid-1990s.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer claimed the results mean Labour is on course for a majority government at the next general election.

The Conservatives lost more than 1,000 seats in total, exceeding even the most pessimistic forecasts for the party. And Labour is now the biggest party in local government, having gained more than 500 seats.

Cathy Gardner vindicated once again – Owl

Distress and heartbreak for millions could have been avoided if the government had not missed opportunities to prepare social care for a pandemic, according to a big investigation into how the first wave of Covid hit care homes.

Robert Booth www.theguardian.com 

A review of events in spring 2020, when almost 20,000 care home residents died with Covid in England and Wales, found it was the result of “letting one of our most important public services languish in constant crisis for years”.

A two-year study by the Nuffield Trust health thinktank and the London School of Economics found successive governments failed to respond to risks already exposed by cross-government pandemic planning exercises, didn’t have enough civil servants working on social care, and failed to appreciate the sector’s fragility when sending patients into ill-prepared care homes.

The study is the latest independent assessment to undermine the claim by the former health secretary, Matt Hancock, to have thrown “a protective ring around social care”. It comes before the Covid-19 public inquiry’s investigation into the care sector, the timing of which has yet to be announced.

One social care representative told the study about a meeting hosted by the then prime minister Boris Johnson and Hancock in February 2020 at which “[we] … could not get air time for social care’s issues” unless it was about the NHS’s requirements.

Natasha Curry, deputy director of policy at the Nuffield Trust, said: “Those early months exposed … weaknesses within social care that impacted the shape, speed and effectiveness of the response. Many of these difficult challenges could have been eased had warnings been heeded. Governments of all hues have failed to make social care and those who need it a priority.”

The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group said the report showed “our loved ones might still be with us if care homes had been properly prepared for and protected during the pandemic”.

The study found:

• The government excluded social care from pandemic-planning exercises such as Exercise Alice and after problems were identified by Exercise Cygnus, which did include the sector, action was not taken.
• Social care leaders felt invisible at the start of the pandemic because there had been no dedicated director general for social care in government since 2016.
• No adult social care representatives sat on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) and people leading the UK pandemic response lacked “deep understanding” of social care.

“Had the sector had the tools it needed then some of the confusion and delays that led to so much distress and heartbreak that millions of people faced could have been avoided,” said Curry. “Despite the pain endured during the pandemic, we now have the ominous sight of reforms being yet again delayed.”

The analysis was part-funded by the UK government, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research. No officials at the Department of Health and Social Care agreed to be interviewed.

“The social care sector was underresourced for years and … my mum, who had worked her whole life, needed help but was left with a system woefully unprepared to protect her,” said Deborah Doyle, a spokesperson for the Covid bereaved families group whose mother, Sylvia Griffiths, died in a care home in April 2020. “We cannot allow horrific scenes like this to happen again, and we don’t have time to wait.”

Adelina Comas-Herrera, an academic at the LSE and a report co-author, said: “The evidence suggests that some countries were able to cope better than others. We are seeing how countries such as Ireland, Finland and Spain are using lessons from the pandemic to reform their care systems. Our research shows that social care in England needs a system-wide reform.”

The care minister, Helen Whately said: “During the pandemic we supported social care with £2.9bn in specific Covid funding, sent out more than 230m Covid tests to care homes and prioritised social care for Covid vaccinations. We are committed to learning lessons from the pandemic and are investing up to £7.5bn over the next two years to put social care on a stronger financial footing, help reduce waiting lists and alleviate workforce pressures.”

Here is a summary of the local election results in the rest of Devon (Plymouth and Exeter already reported)

• Mid Devon District Council (whole council)

The Liberal Democrats have won control of Mid Devon, in a big boost to local Lib Dem MP and by-election winner Richard Foord.

From Devon to Dacorum and Stratford to Surrey, Lib Dems say they are winning big right across the country.

• North Devon Council (whole council)

The Liberal Democrats have expanded their control of North Devon Council, now holding 23 of the 42 seats, having won one extra member.

The Greens also made a gain, moving from two to three seats, with the Conservatives losing one seat and dropping down to seven, while there are now nine Independents, down from 10.

• South Hams District Council (whole council)

The Liberal Democrats have gained enough seats to take overall control of South Hams District Council.

• Teignbridge (whole council)

The Liberal Democrats gained in Teignbridge and so now have overall control of the council. Before the election, no party had overall control.

• Torbay (whole council)

The Conservative Party have won enough seats to gain a majority in Torbay.

• Torridge (whole council)

Independent candidates won the most seats in Torridge, taking 16 of 36 available. The Liberal Democrats took eight seats, followed by the Conservatives with six, but no party has overall control.

• West Devon (whole council)

The election results in West Devon mean no one party has overall control of the council. The Conservative Party previously had the majority.

But which is which?

The Lib Dems have now just pipped the Conservatives to the post to become the largest party, ousting, along the way, Tory group leader Phil Skinner.

Despite the spin, see below, from Simon Jupp and yesterday’s man Phil Skinner, this is the third electoral cycle in a row in which the local Tories have lost ground. In 2011 the Tory councillors numbered 43 (in a council of 59). In 2015 this had fallen to 36. In 2019 (when the council was enlarged to 60) it had fallen further to 19, though they picked up three wards in by-elections. Now in 2023 they have fallen back to 17.

The council is now split three ways: Independents, Lib Dems and Tory.

[Independents 19, Lib Dem 18 there is now also 1 Liberal, Conservatives 17, Labour 3, Greens 2]  Full results here

Worth mentioning that the three Independents running on a combined ticket in Axminster: Paul Hayward, Deputy former Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder Economy and Assets; and Sarah Jackson, former  Portfolio Holder Democracy, Transparency and Communications plus their like minded running mate Simon Smith; swept the board ousting two Tories. Sarah was a lone Independent in the Ward

Many of the Independents (see above) and the greens were part of the outgoing inclusive coalition. Owl hopes that this “rainbow” coalition will continue, no doubt intensive negotiations are taking place.

Questions: will the Tories now take stock of their failed vested interest policies? 

Who will now become Blue Leader given that nine of the old stagers “retired”? Those left include: Helen Parr  and Ben Ingham ? – Owl.

Local elections 2023: Lib Dems make gains as East Devon stays hung

www.bbc.co.uk

East Devon District Council remains under no overall control, with the Lib Dems making the biggest election gains.

The party gained 11 seats, with 18 overall, including former council leader Paul Arnott’s re-election to Colley Valley. [Fact check – Owl thinks the Lib Dem total is 19 – there are 60 councillors in total]

The Independents lost eight, making their total 19, while the Conservatives won 17, conceding five, Labour won three and the Greens two.

It is likely the Democratic Alliance, a cross-party group, will retain control.

Mr Arnott, leader of the last administration, has been re-elected as a Liberal Democrat, having been elected as an Independent in 2019.

He said the result was “indicative that the Lib Dems are really bedding in now in East Devon and it promises a lot more to come”.

Violet Bonetta, one of Labour’s three winning candidates, became the youngest-ever councillor in East Devon at the age of 18, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Ms Bonetta said she wanted to encourage more young people into politics.

“This is the first election I’ve been involved in, let alone run for an election, so I would encourage anyone thinking about running as a councillor to go for it,” she said.

Philip Skinner, the former Conservative group leader on the council, was ousted from his seat by Liberal Democrat Richard Jefferies by a couple of hundred votes.

Mr Skinner told the BBC he was “really surprised” by the outcome and hoped it was a “bump in the road” for the Tories.

Simon Jupp, Conservative MP for East Devon, said he was “disappointed” in the net loss of five councillors but that gains in Sidmouth and Exmouth were “positive”.

East Devon District Council results May 2023 – Declaration of results for East Devon District Council Tale Vale ward 4 May 2023 – East Devon

eastdevon.gov.uk 

25. Declaration of results for East Devon District Council Tale Vale ward 4 May 2023

Tale Vale

Electorate: 2174
Ballot Papers Issued: 1050
Rejected Ballot Papers: 2
Turnout: 48.3%

Jake Bonetta (Labour) who switched from defending his seat on East Devon, fails to oust Tories in St Loye’s

Labour is still the dominant force on Exeter City Council but experienced a mixed night in the local elections.

Ollie Heptinstall, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk

For the second year running, it gained a second seat in the former Tory stronghold of Topsham, but lost a seat in St Thomas to former Lib Dem council leader Adrian Fullam.

Meanwhile, in the only other seat to change hands, the Greens won in Newtown and St Leonard’s, which had previously been occupied by an Independent who didn’t seek re-election.

Only a third of the 39-seat council was up for election – in line with the usual cycle.

Labour still holds 25 seats, the same as before the election, although its tally is one down on the 2022 election result due to one of its councillors then becoming an independent.

The Greens are up one to six councillors – now the largest outright opposition party on the council – but they are expected to continue working with the Liberal Democrats as part of the ‘Progressive Group’.

Meanwhile, it was another poor night in Exeter for the Conservatives, who now have just four councillors after losing another in Topsham. However, the party successfully fought off a strong Labour challenge to retain St Loye’s.

And after gaining a seat in St Thomas and defending their existing one in Duryard & St James, the Liberal Democrats now have three councillors.

FULL RESULTS

ALPHINGTON

Yvonne Atkinson (Labour): 1,187 – HOLD

John Bowman (Green): 306
Jamie Horner (Liberal Democrat): 150
Katherine New (Conservatives): 653

DURYARD AND ST JAMES

David Blagden (Labour): 791

Simon Egan (Green): 278
Harry Johnson-Hill (Conservatives): 213
Michael Mitchell (Liberal Democrat): 938 – HOLD

EXWICK

Joanne Giencke (Liberal Democrats): 117
Kayleigh Luscombe (Conservatives): 333
Susannah Patrick (Labour): 1,145 – HOLD
Frankie Rufolo (Independent): 263
Mark Shorto (Green): 268

HEAVITREE

Carol Bennett (Green): 1,308 – HOLD
Alfie Carlisle (Conservatives): 278
Lucy Haigh (Independent): 301
Gemma Rolstone (Labour): 1,020
Rod Ruffle (Liberal Democrat): 100

MINCINGLAKE AND WHIPTON

David Luscombe (Conservatives): 352
Mike Payne (Liberal Democrat): 184
Alex Stephan (Green): 198
Ruth Williams (Labour): 1,191 – HOLD

NEWTOWN AND ST LEONARD’S

Julian Gallie (Conservaties): 213
Andy Ketchin (Green): 1,373 – GAIN FROM IND
Vanessa Newcombe (Liberal Democrat): 104
Carol Whitton (Labour): 1,035

PENNSYLVANIA

Will Aczel (Liberal Democrats): 199
Robert Sheridan (Conservatives): 423
Martyn Snow (Labour): 1,194 – HOLD
Lizzie Woodman (Green): 882

PINHOE

Rory Jack Clark (Liberal Democrat): 183
Ann Barbara Keen (Green): 227
Cynthia Thompson (Conservatives): 778
Mollie Miller (Labour): 1,251 – HOLD

PRIORY

Jane Begley (Labour): 1,062 – HOLD
Ben Hawkes (Conservatives): 469
Joel Stobart (Green): 278
Philip Thomas (Liberal Democrat): 237

ST DAVID’S

George Baker (Conservatives): 230
Diana Moore (Green): 1,322 – HOLD
Andrew Soper (Liberal Democrats): 85
Ellen Miriam Stuart (Labour): 752

ST LOYE’S

Jake Bonetta (Labour): 980
Phil Brock (Liberal Democrat): 164
Alison Sheridan (Conservatives): 1,127 – HOLD
Jack Vickers (Green): 189

ST THOMAS

Ashley Carr (Conservatives): 167
Deborah Darling (Labour): 1,109
Adrian Fullam (Liberal Democrats): 1,217 – GAIN FROM LAB
Natasha Jane Hannaford (Reform UK): 57
Johanna Korndorfer (Green): 210

TOPSHAM

Christine Campion (Liberal Democrat): 230
Jonathan Mills (Green): 259
Rob Newby (Conservatives): 1,098
Matthew Williams (Labour): 1,394 – GAIN FROM CON
 

Labour have taken control of Plymouth council – weeks after a “massacre” where 110 mature trees were felled under the cover of darkness as part of a regeneration project.

Are we surprised? – Owl

Chay Quinn www.lbc.co.uk 

Labour won 15 of the 19 seats being contested – to take full majority control of the local authority which was under No Overall Control.

A fortnight ago, Plymouth City Council contractors felled more than 100 trees in the city centre before a court injunction won by protesters forced them to stop.

Former council head Richard Bingley sparked outrage when he ordered the felling of 110 healthy trees in Plymouth city centre last week.

He ordered over 100 trees to be chopped down in the middle of the night to make way for a £12.7 million redevelopment project.

He was set to face a vote of no-confidence by the opposition Green party over the incident after swathes of criticism, but announced his resignation before the vote was brought.

In his resignation speech, he said: “I’ve always said I’m not a full-time politician, I don’t seek to be, I’m just an individual who is passionate and ambitious for Plymouth.

“If others feel they can run our glorious Ocean City better, then that’s great with me. ‘Over to you’, I say.”

Nick Ferrari called out the council at the time for lying, stating there is “no defence” for the decision.

Nick said: “You’ve got men and women climbing ladders, using chainsaws and those giant chipping machines, and you do it in darkness, at night because of ‘safety concerns’.

“What a load of cobblers! What a blatant lie by Plymouth City Council. How many times have you walked down the street… where a certain area is taped off because they’re bringing trees down? It happens all the time.

“This was so there was no way that the people could stop it because this council knew that it was wrong. I hope every councillor who voted in favour of this is kicked out on their well-remunerated backside. There is no defence!”

Nick continued his rant: “Trees that have been there since the 1960s felled at night because of the fury of local residents… and mostly for cyclists. What is it with cyclists? Dear God, they’ve taken most of our roads now, they’ve got some of our pavements, now we’ve got to chop down trees to support these people.”

The trees are being cut down in Plymouth city centre as part of a regeneration scheme that would see the planting of 169 new semi-mature trees, the local authority has said.

Later, Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, a caller, Mick in Titchfield said that the report made his “stomach churn”, arguing that the council’s decision was “absolutely disgusting”.

Another caller, Richard in Marlborough, branded the move a “typical bureaucratic nightmare run by a bunch of little Hitlers”.

He went on to say, “It’s appalling what they’ve done in Plymouth”.

Jeremy Craig-Weston, who is standing as a Tory candidate in Thursday’s council elections in Oldham, said he ‘loathes’ the PM, who he has branded a ‘backstabbing scrote’

Dave Burke (Extract see  www.mirror.co.uk for more)

A Tory probe has been opened into the online comments

Rishi Sunak has been branded a “moron”, a “wretched little man” and a “back-stabbing scrote” by one of his party’s own election candidates.

Legal & General is to halt new production at its loss-making modular housing factory near Leeds while it reviews the future of the business, putting 450 jobs at risk and casting doubt over the pioneering sector’s prospects.

Julia Kollewe www.theguardian.com 

The factory, one of the biggest in the UK, manufactures homes in prefabricated modules that are put together on site, which is faster than tradition construction and has been hailed as a possible solution to the housing shortage.

However, amid long planning delays and weak demand, the insurance and pensions group has told staff it is ceasing the construction of new modules and will let the majority of them go.

The company will begin a consultation with employees about redundancies, retaining a number to build modular homes for existing projects in Bristol, Selby in North Yorkshire and Broadstairs in Kent.

Strategic options for the factory include a sale, merger, fundraising from third parties or eventual closure.

L&G’s modular housing business has made slower progress than expected, running up cumulative losses of £176m since it was established in 2016 by the insurer’s outgoing chief executive, Nigel Wilson. Its parent has injected £182m into it over that period.

Several other modular housing firms are also in the red; three went bust last year. One of the few profitable firms is the Bedford-based Vision Modular Systems.

Bill Hughes, chair of the L&G modular homes board, said: “We are reluctantly proposing to reduce business activity and cease production of new modules at the factory.

“We recognise this will be a challenging and uncertain period for our staff and we will be actively exploring redeployment opportunities and supporting them during this difficult time.

Hughes said L&G remained “deeply committed” to the UK housing sector, after building 15,000 homes overall over the past three years.

“As such, we are continuing to actively explore all options available to us and will retain a select workforce to ensure high quality delivery and aftercare services for our existing customers, whilst engaging with each of our partners regarding ongoing modular projects.”

Local authorities in England have not been given the funding or powers to fulfil the government’s strategy on air pollution, and air quality in English towns and cities is likely to suffer as a result, local governments and charities have said.

Fiona Harvey www.theguardian.com 

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) published its latest plan late on 28 April, just before the UK bank holiday weekend. It followed a consultation earlier that month that was only days long, which local authorities said was not enough time for them to contribute properly.

The strategy requires local authorities in England to improve air quality, through measures such as traffic restrictions and clamping down on wood-burning stoves. No new funding is on offer, and measures such as traffic calming are often controversial and difficult for local governments to implement, while experts have said regulations on wood burning are inadequate to reduce pollution from this rapidly growing source.

The Healthy Air Coalition, made up of dozens of health and pollution charities and local governments, called for a change of direction from ministers, saying progress on air pollution had “plateaued” since the Covid pandemic.

Anna Garrod, policy director at Impact on Urban Health, said: “Air pollution is, right now, devastating people’s health across the country. It’s a public health crisis that costs the economy billions of pounds every year. Not only that, but time and time again, research shows air pollution is a social justice issue which disproportionately affects people who often contribute the least, like children.”

Local governments are especially frustrated that the consultation on the strategy, which opened on 11 April, closed on 21 April.

Liz Clements, a councillor and cabinet member for transport in Birmingham, said: “The government provided just nine working days to respond to a strategy that seeks to address the biggest environmental risk to public health. The strategy makes clear the essential role that local government has in delivering cleaner air for communities. Yet in the time provided to develop an informed response to such a key document, there has been no recognition of the need for local government to assess potential impacts on a significant number of service areas.”

She called for Defra to give local authorities more time to respond, and to work with them on the issues.

Some local authorities also fear the government is not speaking with a unified voice. Some of the measures called for in the new air quality strategy are the same ones that a number of Conservative politicians, at local and national level, are campaigning against or complaining about before local elections on 4 May.

These include low emission zones, low traffic neighbourhoods, systems to filter buses from traffic, and other measures often clumped with “15-minute cities” that have become the target of conspiracy theorists, whose messages Conservative politicians often amplify on social media.

Christopher Hammond, a former leader of Southampton city council, said: “A vocal and growing lobby that views any attempt to get people out of their cars as restricting freedom has heightened the sense of controversy and genuine fears over a minority of violent threats, which risk eroding the political will to implement bold but effective measures.”

The Healthy Air Coalition has examined the effect of some existing measures on air quality. Local air quality management areas are supposed to enable local government to take urgent measures to reduce air pollution in hotspots and should be revoked when air pollution goals are met.

The group analysed measures in force across the UK and found that 68.5% of UK local authorities still have one or more such areas. The first one introduced in Westminster 24 years ago is among those still in place.

The group said the persistence of these management areas showed that air pollution was not being solved.

Jason Torrance, interim chief executive of UK100, a group of local authorities working together on environmental issues, said much more action was needed, and the latest plans for Defra were inadequate.

“The latest statistics reveal the worrying scale of the government’s air quality failures,” he said. “Hard-working councillors will be left gasping for breath, as the government is asking them to take on all the political risk for traffic reduction and wood burning, without offering the necessary policy support or funding.”

He called for a rethink. “Defra officials have done well in the circumstances, and we welcome the commitment to help councils with air quality communication, but it’s hard to see this strategy delivering clean air without putting in place significant improvements to a national and local government partnership,” he said.

The political chaos of 2022 could prove fruitful for independent candidates in Thursday’s local elections as they aim to offer an apolitical alternative to those alienated and frustrated by the main parties.

Eleanor Langford inews.co.uk

A Conservative Party source told i in the run up to the local elections that they expected many of their voters to stay at home, as they’d become “depressed” by the churn of prime ministers and the party’s poor standing in the polls. But others are turning to candidates with a more local agenda.

Samantha Harvey, a councillor in Rutland, East Midlands can understand their frustration. After winning her seat in 2019, she resigned from the Conservative Party alongside two colleagues in May 2022, just over a month before the resignation of Boris Johnson.

“It wasn’t what had been done, it was the lying that had got to me, and the covering up of the lies,” she told i.

“I still have Conservative leanings, there’s no doubt about that, I’ve not suddenly become a massive socialist. But, I think if you remain [in the party] then you condone the behaviour. I’ve got an 18-year-old son – what values am I then teaching [if i stayed]?”

She has now joined the around 2,500 councillors currently sitting as independents in England and Wales. That total has grown rapidly in recent years. In 2017 there were less than 1,600.

Independent councillors are fairly clear about why their cohort has been growing – they offer their communities an apolitical, locally-focused alternative to those disillusioned by national politics.

“As a country, we’re very disenfranchised by our national political system at the moment,” said Noel Ovenden, a councillor in Ashford, Kent and leader of the Ashford Independents.

“I think that there’s a lot of unrest out there, and a lot of people on the doorstep breathe a sigh of relief when they find that there is another option for them.”

His party – which bears the strapline “no national politics in local government” – has proven popular in the area and enters Thursday’s elections with 18 candidates, including 10 incumbent councillors.

Ashford Independents is one of dozens of non-partisan local parties operating across the UK, which act as a support network for independent councillors without requiring its members to vote or campaign in a certain way.

Marianne Overton, is the leader of a similar group, the Lincolnshire Independents, and is also chair of the Local Government Association Independent Group. She told i that much of the support for independent candidates is borne from a sense of being failed at a local level by the national parties.

“I think people are very disappointed and angry at the impact of the national Conservative’s actions, that they’re having a significant adverse impact. They’re making their lives miserable people,” she said.

Ms Overton added that issues like the cost of living crisis, access to housing, stretched NHS services and crime had led many in the area to turn to local politicians who were “independent and prepared to stand up for their communities”.

Keeping the “local” in local politics was what led Geraldine Mathieson, an independent councillor on East Riding of Yorkshire Council, to quit the main parties long before the recent political chaos.

She first stood as a Conservative, but soon realised that “all the politics of the group really got in the way of doing the job properly and serving residents”, and was successfully re-elected in her ward as an independent candidate in 2015.

“I’ve done two elections, and got much higher votes as an independent, which was really nice, because that was a personal vote,” she told i.

“Sometimes if what was best for my residents and for my ward wasn’t what was best for the ruling group, then there was scope for disagreement. And as far as I was concerned, my residents came first.”

Ms Mathieson said that many people “don’t want to get involved with politics” anymore and the main political parties “have ruined a lot of it”.

“People don’t join political parties anymore, so they’re scraping the bottom of the barrel for candidates in many ways. It’s definitely time for independents to come forth and put their head above the parapet,” she added.

For John Whittle, a fellow independent on East Riding of Yorkshire Council, the fact that unaffiliated candidates are growing in number shows that they offer more local voice than the mainstream political parties.

“The proof of the pudding is in the eating. If they didn’t want independent representation, they wouldn’t actually vote for it,” he said.

“I’ve always felt that political counsellors have to serve two masters – they have to serve both the political party and the residents of their area. An independent counsellor has the freedom to represent people as they should be represented.”

(Apologies, a little later than usual. – Owl)

• Raising of roof, conversion of roof space to habitable space including front and rear dormers and balcony; creation of new vehicle access 29 Poplar Tree Drive Seaton Devon EX12 2TWRef. No: 23/0890/FUL | Validated: Fri 21 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed loft conversion with rear dormer 78 Midway Exmouth EX8 2PHRef. No: 23/0882/FUL | Validated: Fri 21 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed two storey extension with associated landscaping works to provide accessible lift access to the dwelling Heatherleigh Coreway Sidford Sidmouth Devon EX10 9SDRef. No: 23/0887/FUL | Validated: Fri 21 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of rear extension and roof replacement 4 Barn Hayes Sidmouth EX10 9EERef. No: 23/0888/FUL | Validated: Fri 21 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey front flat roof extension 26 Durham Close Exmouth Devon EX8 5QURef. No: 23/0889/FUL | Validated: Fri 21 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of single storey rear extension measuring 5.25m in length, 2.81m to eaves and 3.72m in total height 51 Meadow View Road Exmouth Devon EX8 4ETRef. No: 23/0874/GPD | Validated: Thu 20 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed painting, signage, tiling to ground floor, exterior walls and reinstate existing awning. 43 The Strand Exmouth EX8 1ALRef. No: 23/0875/FUL | Validated: Thu 20 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed painting, signage, tiling to ground floor, exterior walls and reinstate existing awning 43 The Strand Exmouth EX8 1ALRef. No: 23/0876/LBC | Validated: Thu 20 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single storey rear extension and creation of detached auxiliary 2 storey accommodation along with rear parking and bin/bike store. 33 Salterton Road Exmouth EX8 2EDRef. No: 23/0865/FUL | Validated: Thu 20 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Internal alterations and changes to the rear southwest facade fenestrations, including the creation of dormer balcony. Silver Birch Apartments 2 Portland Avenue Exmouth Devon EX8 2BSRef. No: 23/0866/FUL | Validated: Thu 20 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 and T2: x2 Cordyline Australis – complete removal, including rhizome and roots. 8 Fore Street Hill Budleigh Salterton Devon EX9 6PERef. No: 23/0872/TCA | Validated: Fri 21 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• The construction of an agricultural storage building. Towhill Farm Westwood Broadclyst Devon EX5 3DJRef. No: 23/0843/FUL | Validated: Tue 18 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed 6 bay extension to existing shed Land At Ridge Cross Ridge Stockland EX14 9ENRef. No: 23/0840/AGR | Validated: Tue 18 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single storey rear extension. 23 Yallop Way Honiton Devon EX14 2GNRef. No: 23/0844/FUL | Validated: Tue 18 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use from the existing nursing home to a dwelling. Halstead Sea Hill Seaton EX12 2QTRef. No: 23/0845/FUL | Validated: Tue 18 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed 2 storey rear extension. 4 Ryll Court Drive Exmouth Devon EX8 2JPRef. No: 23/0848/FUL | Validated: Tue 18 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement dwelling and removal of existing garage roof with a low flat roof replacement. (re-submission of alterations and extensions scheme 22/1732/FUL as new build). Whitley Cottage Farway Devon EX24 6EHRef. No: 23/0834/FUL | Validated: Wed 19 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of buildings in yard and construction of single storey extension to shop with new pitched roof over to create new flat, part in existing building and part in new roof. 19 Harbour Road Seaton Devon EX12 2LXRef. No: 23/0831/FUL | Validated: Wed 19 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of condition 2 of application 21/3224/FUL (Demolition of existing 3 bedroom bungalow and erection of a single storey 3 bedroom dwelling including construction of plant room and car port) to change the roof finish from a natural slate to a profile metal sheet Stipperstones Brampford Speke Exeter EX5 5HJRef. No: 23/0836/VAR | Validated: Tue 18 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Prior approval for the proposed change of use of existing agricultural buildings in two self-contained dwelling and associated works under the provision of Class Q of part 3 of the general permitted development order Barton Farmhouse Village Way AylesbeareRef. No: 23/0825/PDQ | Validated: Tue 18 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Garage Conversion Into a mixed use garage/home office/guest area. Dunscombe Cottage Salcombe Regis Devon EX10 0PNRef. No: 23/0827/LBC | Validated: Mon 17 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Garage Conversion Into a mixed use garage/home office/guest area. Dunscombe Cottage Salcombe Regis Devon EX10 0PNRef. No: 23/0826/FUL | Validated: Mon 17 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of garage to study including glazed link, new garage Foxwood Combpyne Axminster Devon EX13 8SYRef. No: 23/0835/FUL | Validated: Mon 17 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed agricultural building The Cabin Every Hill Shells Lane Colyford EX24 6QERef. No: 23/0832/FUL | Validated: Mon 17 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of previously constructed extension and detached garage. Construction of replacement two storey extension, detached garage & feature entrance porch together with installation of new sewage treatment plant. 1 Ash Cottages Fenny Bridges Honiton EX14 3BLRef. No: 23/0818/FUL | Validated: Wed 19 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement rear extension and extension to front balcony, with alterations 100 Ashleigh Road Exmouth Devon EX8 2JZRef. No: 23/0820/FUL | Validated: Thu 20 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Birch : reduce by approximately 3m and shorten side growth by 1 – 2m to a suitable side branch to leave a natural form. 10 Heather Grange West Hill Devon EX11 1XZRef. No: 23/0823/TRE | Validated: Mon 17 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of 60 x 50 kw Solar panels in garden. Greendale Fortescue Road Sidmouth Devon EX10 9QGRef. No: 23/0813/FUL | Validated: Tue 18 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a building for implement storage Lower Southmoor Farm Brampford Speke Devon EX5 5DYRef. No: 23/0805/FUL | Validated: Tue 18 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of roof over existing manure store. Southdown Farm Common Hill Beer Devon EX12 3AHRef. No: 23/0807/FUL | Validated: Mon 17 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a front, side, rear extension and alterations. Longmead Combpyne Road Musbury Devon EX13 8SRRef. No: 23/0760/FUL | Validated: Tue 18 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single storey side extension to replace existing garage 66 St Johns Road Exmouth Devon EX8 4EHRef. No: 23/0754/FUL | Validated: Mon 17 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of 45 dwellings (including affordable housing), and all other associated development Land At Pinn Court Farm (Phase 4) Pinncourt Lane ExeterRef. No: 23/0747/MFUL | Validated: Thu 20 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of replacement garage and new timber shed. Swanbourne Hillside Road Sidmouth Devon EX10 8JFRef. No: 23/0757/FUL | Validated: Mon 17 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a single storey rear extension and installation of decking 3 Fir Tree Close Exmouth Devon EX8 4EURef. No: 23/0708/FUL | Validated: Thu 20 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Retrospective application for the erection of a timber shed The Old Orchard Whitford Devon EX13 7PDRef. No: 23/0702/FUL | Validated: Thu 20 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Hybrid application: Outline application for the erection of up to 140 dwellings, 0.8 hectares of Class-E employment land, public open space, drainage and ancillary works (all matters reserved except access). Full application for works to football training pitch including drainage improvement work, 4x 15m tall floodlighting columns and erection of 6m high ballstop netting on west side of football pitch and training ground Land Adjacent Cloakham Lawn And Chard Road Chard Road AxminsterRef. No: 23/0685/MOUT | Validated: Tue 18 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed 2 storey front extensions and internal and external alterations and installation of 16 solar panels. Shepherds Park Bungalow Woodbury Devon EX5 1LARef. No: 23/0621/FUL | Validated: Fri 21 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Oak tree – pollard to approximately 6 – 7m. Kilmar The Hill Kilmington Devon EX13 7SFRef. No: 23/0607/TRE | Validated: Wed 19 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of a multi-functional concrete wheeled sport facility and access path Land Off Tillhouse Road Exeter CranbrookRef. No: 23/0540/FUL | Validated: Mon 17 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replace 1no. window on ground floor front (north east) elevation St Giles Cottage Deepway Sidbury Sidmouth EX10 0SARef. No: 23/0499/LBC | Validated: Wed 19 Apr 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision

Government defeats move to tighten UK foreign donations law

Will this come to haunt Simon, just like when he helped to vote down the amendment to stop pollution?

Will his new mantra be: “I never voted to accept dodgy money”? – Owl

UK elections remain at risk from interference by hostile states after the government voted down a move to close loopholes on foreign donations to parties, campaigners have warned.

Ben Quinn www.theguardian.com 

The chair of parliament’s security committee was among those who backed an amendment to the national security bill that would have obliged political parties to carry out due diligence on the true source of donations from companies and individuals.

The amendment was sponsored by three members of the House of Lords including the former director general of MI5, Jonathan Evans.

After the government used its majority on Wednesday to whip Conservative party MPs into voting against the proposal, the campaign group Spotlight on Corruption described it as “a badly missed opportunity to protect the next election from malign influences”.

While parties are banned from taking money from overseas states, critics argue that the rules designed to prohibit foreign donations under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) are riddled with loopholes allowing money to be channelled to parties and MPs.

Those loopholes could include a UK-registered company which draws on profits from abroad, or Unincorporated Associations (UAs) which can donate money to parties that they receive from foreign sources. The UK’s main political parties were reported in 2021 to have accepted £12.9m in donations from UAs over the previous five years, none of which can be connected to the original donor.

Wednesday’s amendment would have required British parties to publish and keep updated a policy statement to ensure the identification of donations from foreign powers, whether made directly or through an intermediary, and provide an annual statement of risk management to the Electoral Commission.

Julian Lewis, the Conservative chair of parliament’s intelligence and security committee, said he firmly supported the proposed clause, warning MPs on Wednesday that the UK has previously “clearly welcomed Russian money, including in the political sphere”.

“The amendment is eminently reasonable, it shouldn’t be controversial for political parties to want to ensure the transparency of their foreign political donations,” he said. “We must protect against covert, foreign-state-backed financial donations if we are to defend our democratic institutions from harmful interference and influence.”

The security minister, Tom Tugendhat, said the national security bill was “now in a strong position” and had “effective tools and powers to tackle hostile activity taken on British soil”.

The Lords amendment in relation to political donations “is not needed”, he said, adding: “The law already makes robust provision in relation to donations to political parties.

“Foreign donations are banned, it is an offence to accept them and there are strong rules safeguarding against impermissible donations via the back door. Parties can only accept donations from permissible donors, as such the government will not accept this amendment.”

The Labour MP, Chris Bryant, asked during the same debate: “What would a party do if, for instance, they were offered a donation for, let’s say, £50,000 by somebody who lives and works in Moscow today?

“The law says they have to do nothing as long as they are on the electoral register. But surely, we would want to say I’m not sure that that’s quite right.”

The Lords amendment was voted down by 254 votes to 134 – a majority of 120. Lewis was the only Conservative MP who voted against the government to keep the amendment in.

It now returns to the House of Lords, where peers will decide whether to accept the government’s rejection of their amendment, or propose a different amendment.

Owl’s concern is that the Conservatives hope to gain seats by default.

By introducing the requirement for photo ID, they have smuggled dishonourable intent in a measure purporting to strengthen the rules.

They have skewed the election by making it harder for young voters to meet the ID requirements. Older voters are more likely to vote Conservative.

They may also be relying on general apathy. It seems to Owl that there are far fewer “Blue Posters” in evidence than usual. This could indicate a general loss in Tory morale, nearly half of existing Tory councillors are not standing, but thinks it more likely to be a deliberate policy designed to create a “low key” setting and low turn out.

Instead, the Tories seem to have used their ample party coffers to bombard electors with leaflets, including using mailshots.

Under our “first past the post” electoral system it is quite common to find a dominant party, such as the Conservatives, gaining power with only a minority of the vote. The outgoing EDDC coalition of LibDems, Independents and Greens (with tacit support from Labour) is a fragile exception.

To maintain this in East Devon, as Owl hopes it will be, requires careful consideration of how to vote. 

The danger is that the “anything but conservative” vote can become split amongst a wide choice of alternatives.

Martin Shaw, Chair of the East Devon Alliance, who played a significant part in helping Independent Councillors become the pivot in the formation of the coalition, gives an insight in the sort of reasoning one might apply to the candidates in the wards in his neighbourhood: Seaton and Colyton; and Beer and Branscombe.

Otherwise here is a common sense  “pecking order” of preferences:

Where they are standing, Owl suggests giving first preference to existing members of the coalition cabinet, portfolio and assistant portfolio holders. Then to those who are members of the coalition or who have supported them.

As mentioned previously, a vote for leaving the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan is a good test of who to vote for. Voting to stay is definitely a “Red Flag”.

Then it may be down to personal preference or, for some, a matter of voting tactically, for which candidate/s is/are perceived most likely to win. Where you have a number of votes you do not have to use them all. Tories will invariably block vote for their party.

The EDDC Humphreys investigation has not featured as an election issue because it has been withdrawn, pending evaluation of “new information”. If accurate, this information has the potential to materially affect some elements of the Verita Report.

The Commissioning Group for this report is led by Simon Davey, Chief Finance Officer, and, in the outgoing council, three councillors: Cllr Ian Thomas (Council Chair), Cllr Sarah Jackson (portfolio holder for transparency and democracy) and Cllr Jess Bailey.

Ian Thomas is standing down. If Sarah Jackson and Jess Bailey fail to be re-elected then all councillor collective knowledge of this investigation will be lost.

Jess Bailey has been the instigator and driving force behind the investigation. In answer to a question from her in a Devon County Council Cllr Leadbetter (Conservative member for  Wearside & Topsham) said: “I think you should leave this subject alone. You keep asking questions.”.

Worse, if the new Chair is a Tory, Owl thinks the Verita report will never see the light of day.

Finally, the 2019 election returned a number of younger councillors and it would be healthy for democracy to see that trend continue.

In a repeat of voting against the Lord’s amendment to stop sewage discharges, Tory MP’s are set to vote against further scrutiny of donations to UK political parties.

The Lords amendment to the National Security Bill aims to raise scrutiny of donations originating from foreign powers.

Our electoral system is vulnerable to foreign influence.

You can judge just how extensive the level of Tory misinformation has been in this election from this forensic analysis of the claims they have been making in Axminster.

Two of the authors are well qualified to lift the lid on this misinformation: Paul Hayward, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder Economy and Assets; and Sarah Jackson, Portfolio Holder Democracy, Transparency and Communications.

Interestingly, they have teamed up with Simon Smith to provide a genuine like-minded Independent Ticket for Axminster.