Two new support programmes have been launched by Devon County Council – one catering for those looking to start a new business or social enterprise in Devon, and another to help existing businesses to grow.

[Owl is confused. At least one of these help packages is being offered by Devon County Council through a support package already part of our Heart of the South West (HotSW) Local Enterprise Partnership. Are we doubling up on bureaucracy, doubling up on announcing “new money” or is HotSW ineffectual? – Owl]

Lewis Clarke www.devonlive.com

Devon Get Started has been established to help anyone aged 25 and over in the county to get their ideas off the ground. Start-ups or social enterprises in their first six months who are facing continuity challenges, are also eligible for support.

For businesses that are already up and running, the County Council is offering help through Thrive Devon which aims to support SME productivity and competitiveness, helping businesses to grow, create jobs and reach new markets.

Devon Get Started focuses on support prior to start-up, aiming to build confidence, managing start-up costs, and covering any skills gaps.

An assessment will help participants in the scheme through the various stages of business planning to discover their strengths, identify their goals and highlight opportunities as well as potential barriers to growth. It will also define what tools might be needed to implement their vision.

Led by qualified business coaches and advisors, the initiative offers a mix of workshops, peer support activities and one-to-one support.

– Workshops will help participants learn how to identify their resources, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to manage, organise, run, market, finance and grow a new business.

– Business advisors can offer one-to-one support on creating a sustainable business plan, accessing funding, and creating partnerships. They will also organise a follow up session after six months to overcome any issues which may arise in launching new products, breaking into new markets (both in the UK and abroad), developing a growth strategy, improving productivity and increasing profitability.

The programme is suitable for businesses operating in almost all industry sectors and will specifically aims to reach individuals in Devon within sectors hardest hit by COVID-19 such as tourism, hospitality, retail, food and drink. Support will be offered across the Devon County Council area, especially in the priority areas of West Devon, Torridge, Teignbridge and Mid Devon.

Thrive Devon will offer a free diagnostic and training service, with tailor-made support that will enable businesses to improve and grow, including specialist workshops on topics such as digital skills, finance, marketing, HR and business planning.

The programme works alongside the European Regional Development (ERDF) Thrive support and is available to Devon SMEs who may not be eligible to receive help under the ERDF funded programme.

Both Devon Get Started and Thrive Devon will continue until March 2023 and they are part of a wider package of support being delivered through Devon’s £6 million recovery programme, aiming to provide help and support in four key areas: small and medium enterprises, employment and skills, the green recovery and the hardest hit towns and communities.

Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Skills, said: “All potential entrepreneurs face different challenges before setting out on their self-employed journey and the Devon Get Started scheme can help address those challenges by creating a supportive and motivational environment. We want to enable everyone who takes part in Devon Get Started to be able to turn their idea into a successful and sustainable enterprise or business.

“Thrive Devon provides a great opportunity for existing businesses to improve and grow. The tailored backing offered through the scheme will help signpost businesses to the most relevant support, advice and training.”

For more information about Devon Get Started and to enrol, visit Devon-Get-Started.

To find out more about Thrive Devon and to enrol go to https://www.heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk/business-support-programmes/thrive/

Almost 800 medical graduates could be denied the chance to train as doctors in the NHS this year, despite the health service’s crippling shortage of medics.

Denis Campbell www.theguardian.com 

A total of 791 medical undergraduates who have applied to start training as junior doctors at the start of August have been told there are no places for them – the highest number ever.

The risk that young would-be doctors may not be allocated to start their training at a hospital in the UK has sparked concern among the medical students affected, as well as medical organisations.

Pressure is growing for action to close the gap between the number of training places available across the NHS and the number of graduates seeking one, so medical talent is not wasted and hospitals hire as many fresh recruits as they can to help tackle the widespread lack of medics.

Doctors are worried that the mismatch between demand for and supply of training places will lead to the NHS missing out on medics it sorely needs and that some of those denied a place will either go to work abroad instead or give up medicine altogether. The most recent official figures showed that the NHS in England is short of almost 8,200 doctors.

Dr Dustyn Saint, a GP in Norfolk, tweeted the health secretary, Sajid Javid, about the situation, saying: “Sajid Javid sort this out! You know how much general practice needs these people in a few years, standing by and doing nothing is inexcusable.”

Another doctor said: “It’s bonkers that 800 would-be doctors could be denied training places at a time when the NHS in England is short of 8,200 doctors.”

Half (393) the 791 will soon graduate from UK medical schools while the other half (398) are “eligibility applicants” – those with a medical degree from an overseas medical school who are entitled to work in the UK or who graduated from a British medical school before August 2020.

The UK Foundation Programme (UKFPO) ensures that aspirant doctors who have just graduated from medical school are able to start foundation one training, the bottom rung of the ladder that leads to medics becoming fully qualified. Training usually starts in the August after graduation.

But the UKFPO has warned that the foundation programme is “over-subscribed” to a record level this year, raising the prospect that some of the 791 may not be allocated a training slot.

While it has already filled 8,209 foundation training places, the 791 who have missed out so far have been put on a reserve list.

The UKFPO, which is run by Health Education England (HEE), has told them that: “We would like to reassure the applicants on our reserve list, who may be feeling anxious, that we are currently working very hard to find additional places for everyone who needs one.”

It works with the health departments in the four home nations to ensure that the NHS has as many new trainee doctors as they need and works with them to increase numbers if necessary.

The 791 is the largest number of applicants on record that the UKFPO has not placed by this stage of the year. In 2017 only 25 graduates were in that position, though that number has risen sharply in recent years and by last year had risen to 494.

HEE has blamed the situation on a record number of applicants and promised “pastoral support” to medical graduates on the reserve list, many of whom are anxious about their futures.

“There have been record numbers of applicants for the 2022 foundation programme. Although the statutory medical education bodies have increased the number of foundation posts available, we recognise that 791 students have been placed on the reserve list,” said Prof Liz Hughes, HEE’s deputy medical director.

It has sought to reassure graduates without a training place that they will get one somewhere in the UK by August. Places will be freed because historically about 7% of applicants withdraw between applying and starting their F1 training, it said.

The British Medical Association has voiced concern about the large number of unallocated medics. “Now we have a situation where a record number are left with unnecessary uncertainty about where they are headed this August,” said Khadija Meghrawi, the co-chair of its medical students committee. “In a time where student mental health is declining, this additional source of uncertainty and stress is particularly unfair.”

Prof Martin Marshall, the chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “It is important we get to the bottom of why this has happened and address it as soon as possible. It’s encouraging that we have so many people completing medical school and wanting to continue their training. This needs to be matched by capacity in foundation training schemes.”

Azeem Majeed, a professor of primary care and public health at Imperial College London, said: “It’s essential that workforce planning in the NHS is adequate, given that there are shortages of many health professionals, including doctors. This means having enough foundation posts for newly qualified doctors.

“It’s likely that most of the 791 people without foundation doctor posts will eventually be allocated one but it does create undue stress for them and they may be allocated a role in a part of England where it may be difficult for them to work due to family reasons.”

Lateral flow tests could cost care home visitors £73 a month, a leading UK charity has said, as it renewed calls to keep the devices free in such settings.

Nicola Davis www.theguardian.com 

The government has previously announced that free testing for the general public will end from 1 April, and that this will include care home visitors.

However, charities have warned the shift away from free tests could place a heavy financial burden on those visiting care homes, where testing is still advised.

Boots has announced it will offer the devices at £2.50 for one or £12 for a pack of five, or £17 for a pack of four with the extra option to send results to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

James White, the head of public affairs and campaigns at the Alzheimer’s Society, said the proposed charge on lateral flow tests for visitors to care homes was a cruel tax on care.

“Over the past two years, we’ve consistently heard many tragic stories from families struggling to visit their loved ones in care homes. For many people with dementia, this isolation has led to a significant deterioration in their condition and mental health,” he said.

“With infection rates rising once again, the government must provide free lateral flow tests for all visitors to care homes so that families are not put in an agonising position where they are forced to ration visits, leaving people with dementia once again isolated and alone.”

Dr Sam Royston, the director of policy and research at Marie Curie, which runs hospices, also raised concerns.

“Without the provision of free testing, many people living with a terminal illness and their families will face additional costs at a time when we know people are often struggling. This extra cost would put further strain and pressure on people’s lives at a time when their basic living costs are already rising exponentially due to the high cost of living and energy,” he said.

“For those who can’t afford the extra financial burden of paying for testing, this could lead to more people facing further social isolation towards the end of life.”

The Alzheimer’s Society is running a petition to keep testing free for care home visitors – which has been signed by more than 7,000 people – with the charity suggesting there are a number of options to do so, including providing tests to care homes or sending weekly tests to essential caregivers.

Caroline Abrahams, Age UK’s charity director, said: “No one should have to pay out of their own pocket for tests in circumstances where the expert advice is clear that testing remains an important safeguard against Covid,” she said.

“If care home visitors are going to continue to be asked to keep testing to protect their loved ones, it would be completely unacceptable to expect them to pay.”

The concerns come as data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests infection levels in the UK are on the rise once more, with the proportion of those over 70 who had Covid in the most recent week the highest since the ONS survey began.

The Department of Health and Social Care currently advises that testing for visitors to care homes should continue, in line with the wider care home testing regime.

However the Guardian understands measures around testing as well as infection, prevention and control measures – including for care home visiting – are currently under review. The DHSC has said further details are to be set out by 1 April.

The DHSC is also soon expected to announce which at-risk groups will be eligible for free symptomatic testing. At present, it is thought this will include people over 80 or with compromised immune systems, as well as NHS and social care staff.

A DHSC spokesperson said: “As set out in the government’s Living With Covid plan, the approach to managing Covid-19 in adult social care services will continue to evolve in the coming months. We will continue to focus on providing care for those that need it and supporting people who are most vulnerable to Covid-19.”

More than a thousand NHS staff in Devon are currently off work due to “Covid-related problems,” a health boss has revealed.

Ollie Heptinstall, Local Democracy Reporter sidmouth.nub.news 

Dr Paul Johnson, clinical chair of the NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, warned a recent increase in Covid cases across the county is having an impact on the health service.

However, addressing a monthly Team Devon meeting of local leaders, he said it was not leading to an increase in the number of people seriously ill with the virus.

“We’re seeing a significant increase in the number of people who are testing positive for covid and the number of staff who are testing positive and having to absent themselves,” Dr Johnson said.

“So, what that means is that we have fewer staff available. And at the moment, there are over a thousand staff in the NHS in Devon who are off because of Covid-related problems.

He added: “On top of that, we are having to have people in cohorted wards [a ward where people with the same infection are put] because they test positive [for] Covid, and that means often they’ve come into hospital with something separate and so they are not on the specialist ward that they should be on.

“Rather, they’re on that general ward and it does mean that giving them specialist nursing and medical input becomes more difficult. It also means the number of beds that we have available is reduced because of infection contacts.”

“And lastly, it means that many people are delayed in their ability to be discharged, particularly if they need a care package or into a care home because they’re testing positive.”

Few patients need intensive care

The meeting was told that despite the number of people in hospital with Covid rising to more than 230, very few of them need intensive care.

“At the height of the pandemic, it was about 10 per cent needing intensive care, whereas at the moment we only have four in our intensive care units,” Dr Johnson said.

“So, the good news is that this particular variant doesn’t seem to be having the impact [in making people seriously ill] and it’s also testament to the effectiveness of the booster vaccine and the number of people within Devon who have actually got that booster.”

Despite the end of legal Covid restrictions, the public is still being asked to wear masks, keep hands clean and to maintain distancing in healthcare settings.

People are also expected not to attend hospital, for visiting or for outpatients’ appointments, if they have symptoms of an infection – whether Covid or not. Visiting may also be in a timed slot to control numbers.

New ERS research finds over two-thirds of councillors feel they lack the powers to represent the needs of their local community.

[“The yeast that lifts the whole mattress of dough, the magic sauce, the ketchup of catch-up”  Boris Johnson, remember his vacuous speech of last July? – Owl ]

Author: Jon Narcross, Acting Head of Communications www.electoral-reform.org.uk 

Local government is at the front line of our democracy. It’s the closest level of government to our communities and deals with many of the bread-and-butter issues that affect people in their day to day lives in the places where they live.

But for too long our local democracy has suffered at the hands of an over-centralised Westminster system where the ‘centre-knows-best’ mentality has left local democracy to wither – and councillors without the power to represent the needs of their local community.

In a survey of almost 800 local representatives from across England conducted as part of the research for our new report Democracy Made in England, the ERS found growing support for moving the balance of power away from Westminster and to communities across the country.

Exclusive new ERS survey research shows:

• Over two-thirds (68%) of local representatives feel they do not have sufficient powers to represent the needs of their community
• 70% called for decisions to be made in partnership between the national and local levels and implemented locally
• 65% of local representatives think citizens should be more involved in making decisions about their local area

It is clear that, for many who serve their communities at the coalface of local democracy, questions remain unanswered about how relations between the centre and localities can be better structured in favour of local decision making.

With so many local councillors feeling powerless to serve their constituents’ needs, we must find a better balance between those two levels of government that truly serves the interests of communities across England.

One of the basic ways to shift the balance of power between the local and the national is by creating genuinely empowered local government – real devolution that recognises the democratic, as well as economic, benefit of bringing power closer to communities.

Levelling up?

We’ve seen much talk recently of ‘levelling up’ and the need for devolution to English regions and localities. But as it stands England remains one of the most centralised countries in Europe and, unlike in the other nations, the balance of power has never deviated from the British political tradition of centralisation, power-hoarding and Westminster dominance.

Decisions around devolution have always been taken top-down, and there has never been an attempt from the centre at creating empowered alternative centres of power and a healthy democracy at the sub-national level.

The ERS are calling for parties to back new proposals for an overhaul of English local government – with a plan for genuine and democratic devolution underpinned by principles and values that put communities, not Westminster, in the driving seat.

But as well as radically overhauling our approach to devolution, we also need to shift the balance of power between the local and the national, and radically reform democracy in England.

Reform locally and at the centre

We too must tackle the warping effect of First Past the Post on our local elections – an undemocratic anomaly in the 21^st century. Proportional representation for local elections, as used in Scotland, would help reinvigorate democracy at the local level, ending the proliferation of one-party states and single-party domination of council chambers, and opening up councils to a diversity of voices.

And those voices must have a place in Westminster too – an elected second chamber that allows for the fair and equal representation of the UK’s nations, regions and localities could play a crucial role in improving the central-local relations.

Something must be done to address the lack of democracy across England. With this call, we are showing not only why but how devolution within England should be comprehensively reformed.

Because only when our local communities and those that serve them have the powers they need can we begin to address England’s democratic deficit.

Raw sewage spills into the sea more than 100 times during the bathing season at some blue flag beaches, according to water industry data that challenges official claims of excellent water quality.

Ben Webster www.thetimes.co.uk 

Campaigners are calling on councils to lower the flag when there is a spill to avoid giving swimmers and water sports enthusiasts false assurance.

Almost half of England’s 76 blue flag beaches were affected by sewage spills last year during the official bathing season, from May 15 to September 30, according to analysis by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) of discharge notifications issued by water companies.

There were 123 notifications at Sandown on the Isle of Wight, 108 at Tankerton, in Kent, 92 at Sheerness, also in Kent, and 28 at Scarborough North Bay, North Yorkshire.

Councils left the blue flag flying after notifications, prompting accusations that they prioritise tourism over bathers’ health.

Councils wanting a beach to have blue flag status pay £730 a year to the charity Keep Britain Tidy, which checks it meets minimum standards, including on water quality, cleanliness and information displayed.

On water quality, the sea must be rated “excellent” based on tests carried out by the Environment Agency once a week or more often at one location on the beach during the bathing season.

SAS said the testing gave results only for part of the beach at a specific time and therefore might fail to detect significant sewage pollution. It said there was also a loophole in bathing water regulations under which up to 15 per cent of samples can be discounted when pollution is “exceptional” or “untypical”.

SAS compared Environment Agency ratings for each bathing water location with the number of sewage notifications and found those rated “excellent” had on average twice as many discharge notifications as those rated “sufficient” or “poor”.

Hugo Tagholm, chief executive of SAS, said visitors to beaches could be misled by the blue flags.

“Blue flag status in the public’s mind is an absolute clean bill of health and they would never expect to encounter sewage pollution at one of those beaches,” he said.

He said blue flags should not be flown when there had been a spill because that “could be misleading and might subject people to health risks”.

The Environment Agency issues “pollution risk forecasts” for beaches based on its weekly tests and computer modelling of rainfall, tide, wind and other factors. Councils put up signs warning against bathing in response to these forecasts but SAS said that they were not based on sewage discharge information, meaning they might miss serious pollution incidents.

Testing by volunteers for Hayling Sewage Watch in Hampshire found potentially dangerous levels of faecal pathogens in the water on several days last August at Beachlands, a blue flag beach on Hayling Island.

The highest reading was taken the day before an Environment Agency test that detected no problem.

Southern Water issues online notifications via its Beachbuoy service about sewage spills affecting Beachlands and other beaches in Hampshire, Sussex and Kent.

However, Mike Owens, founder of Hayling Sewage Watch, said most beach visitors would be unaware of the notifications. He said councils should warn swimmers by displaying information on electronic signs and replacing the blue flag with a brown one.

But he said councils used blue flags to attract visitors and were more concerned with protecting tourism income.

Havant borough council, the local authority, said: “There is no evidence, from the data taken by the Environment Agency, that the releases [of storm or wastewater] affect the water quality in the bathing area. In the event of a confirmed pollution incident of the beach the flag would be lowered.”

It said there were signs directing beach visitors to the Beachbuoy service.

Scarborough borough council said there was no legal requirement to notify the public of legal discharges into the sea but that they did put up signs advising against bathing when advised to do so by the Environment Agency.

Canterbury city council said it displayed signs advising against bathing at Tankerton when it received a pollution risk warning but left the blue flag flying.

Sandown town council said its lifeguards flew a red flag when there was a pollution incident but kept the blue flag flying as it was not an indication that it was safe to enter the water.

Swale borough council said it used signs and a red flag to warn people “if swimming isn’t advised due to water quality”.

The Environment Agency said that 95 per cent of bathing waters were classed as good or excellent but there was “clearly much more to do”,

Live pollution tests for bathers

Will this be introduced to East Devon beaches, paid for by South West Water? – Owl

Ben Webster www.thetimes.co.uk 

Swimmers will be able to get live updates on water quality under plans for real-time monitoring of bacteria from sewage and other sources.

The first monitor will be trialled this summer off Beachlands on Hayling Island in Hampshire, which is visited by up to 7,000 people a day.

Beachlands is a Blue Flag beach, which means it is officially rated as having “excellent” water quality, but it is sometimes contaminated by raw sewage from storm overflow pipes.

The Environment Agency’s existing water quality testing system does not reliably warn swimmers of the risks on the day because it involves taking samples from one location off the beach no more than once a week from May 15 to September 30. The samples are tested in a laboratory and the results take several days to be published.

The new £40,000 Proteus monitor, funded mainly by Southern Water, will be fixed to a buoy around 1,300 ft (400 metres) offshore and will test bacteria levels every 15 minutes all year round. The information will be uploaded automatically to a website where results can be checked.

A second monitor will be installed off Tankerton beach in Kent — and the water company then plans to roll them out at other popular locations.

Mike Owens, the founder of Hayling Sewage Watch, welcomed the monitors, which he said would particularly benefit the growing number of people who swam in the sea all year round, as well as windsurfers, kitesurfers and paddleboarders.

“All bathing waters affected by sewage overflows should have accurate real-time monitors so people can see the quality of the water at the time that they plan to be in it,” he said. “All water companies that pollute bathing waters should fund these monitors.”

Alex Rennie, the leader of Havant borough council, said: “This is new, ground-breaking technology that will allow our residents and visitors to check the water quality at Hayling Island and swim with confidence.

“This will be the first time this system is used in this country and could be the first of many such monitors along our shorelines in the future.”

Surfers Against Sewage, a marine conservation charity, received 286 reports of people falling ill after swimming in the sea or rivers across the UK last year, almost double the previous year’s total. The charity said it was able to link a third of the cases to a notification of a sewage spill.

Woman who lost dad to Covid challenges Government

Chloe Parkman www.devonlive.com

Two women have begun a High Court fight after complaining of government failure to protect care home residents during the pandemic, after their fathers died from Covid-19.

Cathy Gardner – from Sidmouth – and Fay Harris have taken legal action against Health Secretary Sajid Javid, NHS England and Public Health England, wanting declarations that unlawful decisions were made.

Dr Cathy Gardner, 60, lost her father Michael Gibson, 88, in April 2020 with his death certificate claiming the cause was “probable Covid” as he had not been tested.

At that time, elderly patients were sent into care homes from hospital without being tested, leading to thousands of deaths.

And now, both Cathy and Fay want declarations that unlawful decisions were made.

Lawyers representing Mr Javid, NHS England and Public Health England are fighting the claim.

Two judges began overseeing a hearing – which is due to last six days – at the High Court in London on Monday.

A barrister representing the two women told Lord Justice Bean and Mr Justice Garnham that between March and June 2020 – when Matt Hancock was Health Secretary – more than 20,000 elderly or disabled care home residents had died from Covid-19 in England and Wales.

Jason Coppel QC said the fathers of Dr Gardner and Ms Harris were part of that “toll”.

“The care home population was known to be uniquely vulnerable to being killed or seriously harmed by Covid-19,” said Mr Coppel in a written case outline.

“The Government’s failure to protect it, and positive steps taken by the Government which introduced Covid-19 infection into care homes, represent one of the most egregious and devastating policy failures in the modern era.”

Mr Coppel told judges: “That death toll should not and need not have happened.”

He added: “Put together, the various policies were a recipe for disaster and disaster is what happened.”

Mr Coppel said other countries, particularly in the Far East, had shown the way to safeguard residents by stopping the virus getting into care homes.

“This claim is a legal challenge to the Government’s failure to protect care home residents and to the key policies and decisions which led to the shocking death toll,” he said.

“The most notorious of these policies is that of mass discharge of around 25,000 elderly or disabled patients from NHS hospitals into care homes – including the homes of the claimants’ fathers – without Covid-19 testing or ensuring that suitable isolation arrangements were in place.”

Dr Gardner, who has an academic qualification was at the hearing.

She said her father, Michael Gibson, had died at the age of 88 at a care home in Bicester, Oxfordshire, in April 2020.

Ms Harris was not at the hearing.

Sir James Eadie QC, who is representing Mr Javid and Public Health England, told judges, in a written case outline, that the women’s claim should be dismissed.

“This is a judicial review challenge to six specific policies made in the early stage of the pandemic,” he said.

“As the evidence demonstrates, the defendants worked (and continue to work) tirelessly to seek to protect the public from the threat to life and health posed by the most serious pandemic in living memory; and specifically sought to safeguard care homes and their residents.”

He added: “The lawfulness of the decisions under challenge must be assessed in the context of the unprecedented challenge faced by the Government and the NHS at that time, in particular March and April 2020.”

Eleanor Grey QC, who represented NHS England, also argued that the claim should be dismissed.

“(NHS England) wishes first to express its regret that Dr Gardner and Ms Harris have lost their fathers, and that others who have filed evidence in this matter, as well as others across the country, have lost loved members of their families in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic,” she said in a written case outline.

“Although it is necessary to respond to the factual and legal merits of this claim, nothing which follows should be read as detracting from this sincere regret.

“(NHS England) and its staff have sought throughout the pandemic to ensure provision of the highest quality care possible to all those who need it in England.”

A Government spokesman said outside court in a statement: “Every death is a tragedy and we worked tirelessly to protect the public from the threat to life and health posed by the pandemic, and specifically sought to safeguard care homes and their residents.

“We have provided billions of pounds to support the sector, including on infection and prevention control, free PPE and priority vaccinations – with the vast majority of eligible care staff and residents now vaccinated.”

Miss Grey said evidence did not show that Ms Harris’s father Donald died as a result of the “March hospital discharge policy”, and the death of Dr Gardner’s father could not have been caused by the policy.

The hearing continues.

Britons should brace for rising Covid cases, says Sajid Javid

But with testing becoming “unfunded“ and free testing stopping on April fool’s day, how will we know what is happening? – Owl

Rachel Hall www.theguardian.com 

Britons should brace for a rise in Covid infections after the easing of restrictions, the health secretary has said, as the latest figures show rates are increasing as people socialise more.

Sajid Javid said the UK remained in a “very good position” but rising infection rates were to be “expected”. To reduce the risk of serious infection, he urged adults eligible for a booster vaccine to have one, given that one in five had not yet received it.

The latest data from the Office for National Statistics Covid-19 Infections Survey showed an increase in cases across the whole of the UK. In the week ending 5 March, one in every 25 people in England, one in 13 in Northern Ireland, one in 18 in Scotland and one in 30 in Wales were estimated to have Covid-19.

Asked about the newly identified Deltacron variant, which contains elements of Delta and Omicron, Javid told BBC Breakfast a “handful” of cases had been identified in the UK but were “not of particular concern”. About 99.9% of infections in Britain were of the Omicron variant, he said.

Javid told Sky News: “We keep the situation very carefully under review. There’s no other variant of concern out there that is an issue at this point in time.”

Javid told Times Radio that officials continued to monitor infections, case numbers, hospital admissions and capacities. “We’re the most open country in Europe and that’s happened because of the country’s approach and the British people’s approach to vaccination,” he said.

“But also the support that we have from all the different treatments that the NHS is now able to offer and on our testing offer where we focus very much on the most vulnerable.”

There were 72,898 cases of Covid-19 reported in the UK on Friday. On 24 February, when most of the remaining Covid-19 restrictions in England ended, there were 38,933 cases reported.

There are also almost 12,000 people in hospital in the UK with Covid-19.

X

Britons should brace for rising Covid cases, says Sajid Javid

But with testing becoming “unfunde “, how will we know? – Owl

Rachel Hall www.theguardian.com 

Britons should brace for a rise in Covid infections after the easing of restrictions, the health secretary has said, as the latest figures show rates are increasing as people socialise more.

Sajid Javid said the UK remained in a “very good position” but rising infection rates were to be “expected”. To reduce the risk of serious infection, he urged adults eligible for a booster vaccine to have one, given that one in five had not yet received it.

The latest data from the Office for National Statistics Covid-19 Infections Survey showed an increase in cases across the whole of the UK. In the week ending 5 March, one in every 25 people in England, one in 13 in Northern Ireland, one in 18 in Scotland and one in 30 in Wales were estimated to have Covid-19.

Asked about the newly identified Deltacron variant, which contains elements of Delta and Omicron, Javid told BBC Breakfast a “handful” of cases had been identified in the UK but were “not of particular concern”. About 99.9% of infections in Britain were of the Omicron variant, he said.

Javid told Sky News: “We keep the situation very carefully under review. There’s no other variant of concern out there that is an issue at this point in time.”

Javid told Times Radio that officials continued to monitor infections, case numbers, hospital admissions and capacities. “We’re the most open country in Europe and that’s happened because of the country’s approach and the British people’s approach to vaccination,” he said.

“But also the support that we have from all the different treatments that the NHS is now able to offer and on our testing offer where we focus very much on the most vulnerable.”

There were 72,898 cases of Covid-19 reported in the UK on Friday. On 24 February, when most of the remaining Covid-19 restrictions in England ended, there were 38,933 cases reported.

There are also almost 12,000 people in hospital in the UK with Covid-19.

Covid cases in Devon have skyrocketed after weeks of consistent drops in infections.

Joe Ives www.devonlive.com

In the latest complete seven day period (to Sunday, 6 March) the county recorded 6,517 new cases, 1,899 more than in the previous week. The 41 per cent rise takes the infection rate across Devon to 556 per 100,000 of the population, higher than the national average of 459.

The Devon County Council area, which excludes Plymouth and Torbay, recorded 3,133 cases, 37 per cent (1,158) more than the previous week. The jump in cases takes the area’s infection rates to 529 per 100,000.

Plymouth has 532 cases per 100,000 of the population after a spike in infections. The city’s 1,399 new cases represent a 449 (39 per cent) rise on than the previous week.

Torbay’s 826 new infections represent a sharp, 55 per cent (292 cases) increase compared to the previous week. The Bay’s infection rate now sits at 606 per 100,000 of the population.

It reflects a national picture where, in the seven day period (to Sunday, 6 March), the UK recorded 307,679 cases, a 31 per cent increase on the previous week.

It follows the government’s decision to launch its “living with covid” strategy on February 24, which ended all restrictions in England, including the requirement to stay at home if infected. As things stand free lateral flow tests will no longer be available for most people from April 1.

Hospitalisations

As of the most recent data (from Tuesday 8 March) 216 patients were in Devon’s hospitals with covid, 48 more than the previous week. At 106 Plymouth has the highest number of infected people in hospital. Elsewhere, 62 infected patients are in the RD&E in Exeter, while Torbay has 31 and north Devon 17.

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Across Devon, five patients are on mechanical ventilation beds, four more than in the previous week.

Deaths

Deaths have risen in the most recent complete seven-day period (to Sunday 6 February). Ten people died within 28 days of receiving a positive covid test across Devon, three more than in the previous week.

Eight people died in the Devon County Council area, which excludes Plymouth and Torbay. One death was recorded in Torbay and another in Plymouth. Across Devon, a total of 1,620 people have now died within 28 days of a positive covid test.

Vaccinations

Eighty-nine per cent of people aged 12 and above have had their first dose of a vaccine in the Devon County Council area, which excludes Plymouth and Torbay, with 84 per cent receiving both doses. Seventy-one per cent have now had their ‘booster’ dose.

In Plymouth, 85 per cent have had one dose, while 80 per cent have had both. Sixty-one per cent have had the booster.

In Torbay, 86 per cent have received one dose, while 82 per cent have had both jabs. Sixty-six per cent have had their third vaccine.

The national rates are 92, 86 and 67 per cent respectively.

• Erection of a silage clamp on existing concrete base. New House Farm Membury Axminster EX13 7AARef. No: 22/0507/AGR | Validated: Thu 03 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of sand school The Smithy 9 Rewe Barton Rewe Exeter EX5 4EHRef. No: 22/0494/FUL | Validated: Thu 03 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• The proposal covers some minor internal alterations, the demolition of part of the rear storage and the erection of an outbuilding within the garden of Bruvs Bar Bruvs Bar 102 High Street Honiton EX14 1JWRef. No: 22/0496/FUL | Validated: Thu 03 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of metal slurry store Shermans Farm Gittisham Honiton EX14 3AURef. No: 22/0498/FUL | Validated: Thu 03 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of agricultural livestock building Chelsea Farm Feniton Honiton EX14 3BERef. No: 22/0499/FUL | Validated: Thu 03 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of 1st & 2nd floor and loft conversion from offices to 5no residential apartments. 8 Rolle Street Exmouth EX8 1HERef. No: 22/0502/FUL | Validated: Thu 03 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• The proposal covers some minor internal alterations, the demolition of part of the rear storage and the erection of an outbuilding within the garden of Bruvs Bar. Bruvs Bar 102 High Street Honiton EX14 1JWRef. No: 22/0545/LBC | Validated: Thu 03 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Fell three conifers to increase sunlight to garden Laurel Cottage Church Hill Musbury Axminster EX13 8BARef. No: 22/0491/TCA | Validated: Thu 03 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of existing conservatory and construction of single storey rear extension. 42 Claremont Field Ottery St Mary EX11 1NPRef. No: 22/0487/FUL | Validated: Wed 02 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 – Lime. Remove all epicormic growth on main stem up to a height of 5m, crown lift remaining to 6m above ground level. Maximum diameter of cuts 75mm T2 – Monterey Cypress. Remove major hazardous deadwood Reason for works: T1 is a repeat operation that was originally done in 2014, pruning is considered appropriate arboricultural management. T2 is exempt but thought it prudent to include in the application The Mount 199 Beer Road Seaton EX12 2QBRef. No: 22/0490/TRE | Validated: Wed 02 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• T7 Scots pine. Fell due to presence of decay and risk of failure (see attached covering letter) and replace. Species and location of replacement to be agreed” 7 Deans Mead Sidmouth EX10 8XPRef. No: 22/0488/TRE | Validated: Wed 02 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement of side extension, replacement of existing outbuilding, enlargement of driveway and associated landscaping. Moorside Woodbury Salterton Exeter EX5 1PTRef. No: 22/0477/FUL | Validated: Fri 04 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1- Sycamore – Re pollard to previous points. Reason: Continuation of previous management 25 Cranford Avenue Exmouth EX8 2PZRef. No: 22/0480/TRE | Validated: Wed 02 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Garage conversion to single storey side and rear extension and an infill extension. Inglemead Sidcliffe Sidmouth EX10 9QARef. No: 22/0478/FUL | Validated: Tue 01 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of internal stairwell, addition of first floor and raising of existing roof by 1m. Blue Ridge Elm Way Sidford Sidmouth EX10 9SYRef. No: 22/0479/FUL | Validated: Fri 04 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of a single storey detached granny annex with associated decking. Marwood House Offwell Honiton EX14 9RWRef. No: 22/0481/FUL | Validated: Tue 01 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Pinus Sylvestris (Scotts Pine) remove to stump Reason for work : Heavy lean embankment tree with previous indentification of heave (see attached report, Apex Survey). Basal holes undermining tensile side of tree. Recommend removal due to possible wind throw and hang up by main road side. Tanglewood Marley Drive Lympstone Exmouth EX8 5DYRef. No: 22/0475/TRE | Validated: Tue 01 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of single storey side extension, including demolition of conservatory and single storey garage 2 Warren Close West Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1XBRef. No: 22/0466/FUL | Validated: Mon 28 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Pittisporum : DBH 7 inches, located on the left hand side of the drive, fell. T2, Thuja plicata : DBH 32 inches, located at the NW corner of the property at the beginning of Bickwell Valley Rd, carry out highway regulations compliance, by raising the branches that are growing over the road to a height of 6m T3, Birch : DBH up to 12inches, located on the western side of the property fell due to customers concern over its lean T4, Thuja Plicata : DBH 34 inches, located on the western side of the property, remove all lower dead and live wood up to 6m over highway T5, Thuja Plicata : DBH 24 inches, (multi stemmed) located on the western side of the property next to the garage, dismantle to ground and remove from site. due to damage being caused to garage and concrete drive to garage, this is self evident Bickwell Lodge Bickwell Valley Sidmouth EX10 8RFRef. No: 22/0465/TRE | Validated: Mon 28 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single storey front extension to include a double garage, porch to front, first floor rear dormer enlargement and general elevation upgrades. 15 Pine Park Road Honiton EX14 2HRRef. No: 22/0472/FUL | Validated: Mon 28 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Certificate of Lawful Development for a Proposed single storey rear extension.6 Webbers Close Whimple Exeter EX5 2SQRef. No: 22/0470/CPL | Validated: Mon 28 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of Lawful Development for an Existing Unrestricted, residential use at 17 Drupe Farm Court. Heanton Cottage 17 Drupe Farm Court Exmouth Road Colaton Raleigh Sidmouth EX10 0LERef. No: 22/0469/CPE | Validated: Mon 28 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of single storey rear extension. Construction of rear dormer extension including balcony. Removal of front porch enclosure and provision of replacement porch roof. 8 Meadow Road Seaton EX12 2ASRef. No: 22/0468/FUL | Validated: Mon 28 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Refurbishment of existing lean-to barn, including integration of game food processing and chiller storage unit, remainder of barn retained as farm storage. Lower Watchcombe Farm Shute Axminster EX13 7QNRef. No: 22/0462/FUL | Validated: Wed 02 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Permanent agricultural workers’ dwelling. Land At Colwell Farm OffwellRef. No: 22/0459/FUL | Validated: Fri 04 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey side and rear extension to include creation of roof accommodation, widening of driveway and alterations to fenestration. 1 Birch Road Lympstone Exmouth EX8 5LBRef. No: 22/0445/FUL | Validated: Mon 28 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of 12 PV ground mounted solar panels. Bickwell House Stadway Meadow Sidmouth EX10 8TBRef. No: 22/0443/FUL | Validated: Mon 28 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use from retail to residential unit, installation of a new door and windows in the west elevation and replacement window in the south elevation with removal of security grill. 1 King Street Honiton EX14 1ABRef. No: 22/0440/FUL | Validated: Thu 03 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of timer shed and green house, extension to garage and new study. Runnymede Orchard Close Manor Road Sidmouth EX10 8RSRef. No: 22/0448/FUL | Validated: Mon 28 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Lawful Development Certificate for conversion of existing Garage into Dayroom46 Millhead Road Honiton EX14 1RARef. No: 22/0451/CPL | Validated: Mon 28 Feb 2022 | Status: Approved

• T1: Lime tree. The trunk is rotted out at ground level and hollow. Tree and roots to be removed. The tree is part of an area where there are many other trees so replanting of a replacement tree is not practical. Flat 2 Highbury 235 Exeter Road Exmouth EX8 3EDRef. No: 22/0436/TRE | Validated: Fri 04 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• 5T1- Ash Tree Crown reduce by approximately 0.5m and reshape ensuring the tree retains a balanced and uniformed shape. Hillcroft Church Road Whimple Exeter EX5 2SURef. No: 22/0432/TCA | Validated: Tue 01 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey first floor rear extension with alteration to fenestration, rebuilding garden room from conservatory & conversion of garage to a granny annexe. Three Oaks Higher Marley Road Exmouth EX8 5DTRef. No: 22/0428/FUL | Validated: Tue 01 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey rear extension Calluna 1B Beech Park West Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1UQRef. No: 22/0408/FUL | Validated: Wed 02 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of existing hedge, restoration of low retaining wall beneath hedge and erection of timber fence along boundary with highway. Heathers Knowle Drive Sidmouth EX10 8HWRef. No: 22/0390/FUL | Validated: Fri 04 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Outline planning application for up to 1,435 new residential dwellings, a neighbourhood centre with a maximum of 750 sqm gross ground floor space (use classes E and sui generis (Hot food takeaways and pubs/bars)), a three form entry Primary School (use class F1) with associated nursery provision (use class E) and community room (Use class F2), a 50 place Special Educational Needs School (Use Class F1), public open space, allotments, Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space, drainage basins, landscaping, place of worship (Use class F1), parsonage, cemetery, 10 serviced pitches for gypsies and travellers, demolition of 4no. barns, and associated infrastructure with all matters reserved except for principal vehicular access off London Road to the south, connection to Phase 1 to the west, and vehicular access to the serviced pitches for gypsies and travellers off London Road to the south east Land At Cobdens North Of London Road East Of CranbrookRef. No: 22/0406/MOUT | Validated: Wed 02 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Alterations to fenestration. 1 East Croft New Road Beer Seaton EX12 3HSRef. No: 22/0339/FUL | Validated: Wed 02 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Re-plaster walls in lounge and replace lathes (where required); replace skirting; refurbishment of door between lounge and bedroom and replace floor in lounge Threshing Cottage Dalwood Axminster EX13 7HWRef. No: 22/0336/LBC | Validated: Mon 28 Feb 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Alterations to existing drop kerb. 154 Hulham Road Exmouth EX8 4RBRef. No: 22/0286/FUL | Validated: Thu 03 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Re-slate roof The Cabriolet The Old Coach House Upottery Honiton EX14 9PNRef. No: 22/0287/LBC | Validated: Tue 01 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Partial demolition of existing agricultural building and erection of new silage clamp adjoining existing buildings Bagley Hill Farm Lodge Lane Axminster EX13 5RTRef. No: 22/0283/AGR | Validated: Thu 03 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Remove conservatory on west elevation; relocate soil pipe, remove airing cupboard partitions and construct new partition wall Starre Cottage Causeway Beer Seaton EX12 3JURef. No: 21/3241/LBC | Validated: Wed 02 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replace 1no. door and 4no. windows on south elevation; replace 1no. door on west elevation; block door into bedroom; removed 1no. door and wall in passageway; remove 1no. door and wall in shower room; remove wall in kitchen area; raising floor level; remove (mezzanine) ceiling; replacement flat roof and removing timber roof scissor braces and replacing with timber ties Starre Barn Causeway Beer Seaton EX12 3JURef. No: 21/3181/LBC | Validated: Thu 03 Mar 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

Huge plans have been submitted to build more new homes in Cranbrook, along with a primary school, neighbourhood centre, a site for gypsies and travellers and a cemetery.

Anita Merritt www.devonlive.com

The proposals also include the creation of public open space and allotments.

The application for outline planning permission has been submitted this week by Persimmon Homes. It is hoping to build nearly 1,500 homes on land at Cobdens bounded to the north by the railway line, to the south by the existing ‘old’ A30 and now B3174 London Road.

The proposal includes:

• Up to 1,435 new homes
• A neighbourhood centre with a maximum of 750 sqm gross ground floor space (with uses including hot food takeaways and pubs/bars
• Primary School with nursery provision, community room and a 50-place special educational needs school
• Public open space
• Allotments
• Suitable alternative natural green space
• Place of worship
• Cemetery,
• 10 serviced pitches for gypsies and travellers

Huge plans for news homes at at Cobdens in Cranbrook (Image: Still Imaging)

The application includes the demolition of four barns and associated infrastructure. Principal vehicular access will be off London Road. The precise mix of homes is yet to be confirmed.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) has launched a consultation on the plans which form an important part of the planned expansion of Cranbrook and its ‘masterplan’.

In the Cobdens design and access statement it states: “The proposed expansion of Cranbrook will increase demand and footfall for the town centre facilities when they are built out.”

It added: “5km to the west of the site, is the adjacent Redhayes development site. The site follows similar built street principles to Cranbrook, albeit with a more contemporary building appearance.”

Regarding its impact on the landscape and environment it said: “It will create a distinctive and high-quality place which respects and enhances the character and assets of Cranbrook while ensuring connectivity with the existing community

“A ground-up approach that retains and protects the landscape framework of existing trees and hedgerows, and places them within public green Infrastructure for their longevity.

The site plan at Cobdens in Cranbrook

“The creation of complimentary new habitats will build upon the existing landscape framework and enhance site wide biodiversity. This will include new structural native species woodland planting, species rich hedgerows, native species trees, as well as a matrix of long meadow, wet meadow, and amenity grassland.”

For more details on the application – reference 22/0406/MOUT – please click here.

www.transparency.org 

In the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the international community is scrambling to deter President Vladimir Putin and his cronies – and to help end the military aggression as soon as possible.

Among other measures, European Union member countries, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States have all announced targeted sanctions against Kremlin-linked individuals and businesses – many of whom are suspected of large-scale corruption.

In a kleptocratic system such as today’s Russia, going after the elites can be meaningful. The vast wealth that Russian kleptocrats have amassed – and continue to enjoy – has helped President Putin tighten his grip on power and exert illicit influence over the affairs of other nations, as well as emboldened his geopolitical ambitions.

And while forceful and hard-hitting, such sanctions do not always hurt as much as they’re meant to, considering that targeted individuals usually conceal their money and influence. So these measures will achieve little unless authorities are able to track down the assets purchased with dirty money – that they should have never welcomed in the first place.

It should not have taken the tragedy of this scale to prompt governments in the West to wake up to the dangers of enabling kleptocracy; we are seeing its devastating consequences now in Ukraine. To prevent future suffering, decision-makers in advanced economies need to urgently fast-track key anti-corruption policies. Many of these should have been adopted a long time ago.

Russian kleptocrats and their yachts

Corrupt officials and business people usually don’t own yachts and luxury goods in their own names. Instead, they make such lavish purchases through anonymous companies which are often registered in secrecy jurisdictions.

This week, Financial Times reported that Credit Suisse – Switzerland’s one of largest banks and subject of the recent Suisse Secrets investigations – tried to avoid information leaking out about loans to oligarchs who were later sanctioned by asking investors to destroy documents related to their assets, including yachts and private jets.

It is then not surprising that German authorities have yet to seize the Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov’s super yacht, reportedly worth US$600 million. Officials stated that its ownership needs to be clarified as the yacht is registered in the Cayman Islands and owned by a holding company with a complex ownership spanning different jurisdictions.

Some progress has been made in France, however. On 2 March, customs officers seized a yacht reportedly belonging to Igor Sechin – former deputy prime minister and CEO of state-owned oil company Rosneft, who was included in the EU sactions list. The authorities in France confirmed that Sechin had been identified as the main shareholder of an entity that owns the yacht. This connection was originally exposed by a Russian investigative journalist, Roman Anin in 2016. Last year, as the Russian authorities scaled up their crackdown on civil society and independent media, Roman was interrogated for his reporting about that very yacht.

How countries in the West enabled kleptocracy in Russia

Corrupt officials prefer countries with strong rule of law and good governance to park their ill-gotten gains. This is especially true for corrupt officials and businesspeople from Russia. Transparency International Russia found that in the years 2008 to 2020 current and former officials have had 28,000 properties in 85 countries, including in EU member states.

The vast majority of Russian-owned foreign assets, however, are shrouded in secrecy. It has been estimated that the offshore wealth owned by Russians is equal to the country’s entire household wealth.

Thanks to financial data leaks, courageous investigative journalists and civil society activists have been able to track down some of this money and follow its movement across borders. Investigations such as the Panama Papers, the Russian and Troika laundromats, and the Pandora Papers have helped expose the extent of kleptocracy in Russia. The Pandora Papers investigations, in particular, have shed light on the alleged riches of Russian President Vladimir Putin – believed to be held for him by his inner circle.

These scandals have laid bare Russian kleptocrats’ reliance on the global financial system and intermediaries, such as banks based in leading democracies, to sustain and increase their illicit wealth.

The revelations from the past decade have helped Transparency International and other advocates to advance crucial anti-corruption policies in key countries and globally. But the speed of progress has been unacceptably slow.

Law enforcement authorities and courts in Western countries – where money is most often laundered, invested or parked – often do not have the technical resources, access to the right type of information, or lack rigour in clamping down on dirty money.

No checks or balances

Corruption is endemic in Russia. With a score of just 29 out of 100, Russia is the lowest-ranking country in Europe on Transparency International’s 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index.

Public institutions in Russia are almost completely captured by the executive government, failing to hold power accountable. State-sponsored propaganda shapes the public discourse as independent media and civil society exposing corruption and other abuses face increasingly harsh measures of repression – further limiting social checks on power.

Amendments to Russia’s “foreign agent law” have extended its use to target journalists and activists investigating government corruption. The government also used the COVID-19 pandemic to further tighten control and ban protests.

Kleptocrats should have nowhere to hide, no one help

The disregard to the rule of law and international norms demonstrated by Russia is an important reminder of the need to keep power in check. Transparency International and our national chapters across the world have been repeating, year after year, that the loopholes of the global financial system enable abuse of power and are a threat to democracy. Today, more than ever, this is a reality.

It is about time that countries in the Western fast-track important policies and finally act on issues where they had been dragging their feet.

We urge them to prioritise the adoption of key policies and strengthen enforcement in the following areas:

1. Identify and freeze the assets of corrupt officials and complicit elites. The recently established Transatlantic Task Force is a step in the right direction. The Task Force should consider broadening its membership to include other key financial centers, map networks of nominees, proxies and family members and utilise and share available data on company and asset ownership, suspicious transactions reports, among others to trace assets. In the future, the task force should evolve into an effective model to deal with cross-border corruption and hold kleptocrats to account everywhere.
2. End anonymous companies. Establish central, public registers with verified information of the real owners of companies, including on foreign companies.
3. Increase transparency of trusts. Require the registration of trusts, requiring all parties to the trust to be disclosed and recorded in a register accessible to authorities as well as to the public.
4. Improve transparency and checks in the real estate sector. Companies investing in the real estate sector should be required to disclose their beneficial owners and this information should be available in a publicly accessible register. Businesses and professionals involved in real estate deals, such as real estate agents, lawyers, notaries, should be required to identify the beneficial owner of customers, screen for politically exposed persons, and report suspicious transactions to authorities. Supervision should be the responsibility of independent and well-resourced public agencies instead of self-regulatory bodies.
5. Open the black box of hedge funds, private equity and other investment funds. Investment fund managers should be required to undertake checks on customers and report suspicious transaction to authorities. All beneficiaries of investment funds, the real natural persons who are the end-investors, should be accurately identified, disclosed and recorded in registers.
6. Increase transparency in luxury goods ownership. Information about the real owners of yachts and private jets should be recorded by governments and disclosed to the public. Luxury good dealers should conduct anti-money laundering checks.
7. Ban EU golden passports and regulate golden visas. Citizenship-by-investment schemes should be phased out and passports issued to Russian oligarchs under these programmes should be revoked. Residency-by-investment schemes should be regulated and adequate checks should be put in place.
8. Hold professional enablers to account. Banks, corporate service providers, lawyers, accountants and real estate agents that have been enabling Russian oligarchs and other kleptocrats to set up companies, move suspicious funds and purchase assets should be held to account. Dissuasive sanctions should apply to firms and senior management.
9. Stronger mechanism for seizing, confiscating and returning assets. Going beyond sanctions, countries should ensure they have civil and criminal mechanisms to seize and confiscate assets, including, for example, unexplained wealth orders or non-conviction based forfeiture. Confiscated assets should be returned to the victims of corruption.
10. Support civil society organisations, independent journalists, activists and whistleblowers. Especially in countries facing democratic decline or suffering from authoritarian kleptocracy, the support to civil society and whistleblowers is essential to turn the tide. Countries should invest in programmes combining investigative journalism with civil society advocacy for systemic change and provide support to anti-corruption fighters through learning exchanges, improvements to security protocols and use of diplomatic leverage to deter threats against them.

In 2020 Covid caught us ill prepared, with no stockpile of PPE and no functioning test track and trace system. These had all fallen victim to “cuts” (as had our strategic gas reserves).

Johnson’s cavalier approach to serious matters and inability to grasp detail, is sending us down the same path again, penny wise and pound foolish.

Covid hospital cases in Devon are rising – Owl

James Tapper www.theguardian.com 

If anything about the UK’s response to Covid-19 was world-beating, it was our surveillance system. From the World Health Organization to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), public health teams around the world have praised the UK’s infection-tracking capability, and used our data to plan their own pandemic measures.

Despite this health ministers have cancelled future funding for the React-1 study and other research projects. The decision has been met with dismay among leading scientists and researchers worldwide, who have questioned the UK’s ability to respond to future Covid threats.

Last week, researchers from Imperial College London revealed the latest turn in the pandemic with the finding that infections had begun to rise in people aged 55 and over. Imperial’s scientists work with Ipsos Mori to analyse PCR test results from more than 100,000 people a month .

The results from React-1, alongside the weekly Covid infection survey from the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) have given precise snapshots of how many people are infected and which areas are worst affected. The surveys are much more reliable than self-selecting community testing data, which misses many asymptomatic cases.

Yet Professor Paul Elliott, director of the React (Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission) study at Imperial, said last week its future depended on funding from the Department of Health and Social Care – and that funding would cease this month.

“We have one more round,” he said, at the announcement of the 18th set of findings last week. “So we’re going to be in the field from now till the end of March, but we’re not funded beyond that.”

Other research, including the Zoe Covid app, which tracks people’s symptoms and has cost £5m over the past two years, is also being defunded. Professor Tim Spector, who leads the research, said they had received “only a few weeks’ notice” of the “disappointing news”, after being assured by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) that it was almost certain that funding would continue. “We strongly believe that decision is a really bad mistake,” he said, adding that it cost only 1% of the funding needed for the ONS study.

The UKHSA’s own Siren study, which tracks infections in health workers and found that vaccine protection begins after two weeks, is ending recruitment on 31 March, although the body’s chief medical adviser, Susan Hopkins, said in a blogpost it would “continue to answer the most important questions about Covid-19 infection, reinfection and antibodies”.

University College London’s £4m Vivaldi study, tracking infections in care homes since May 2020, runs only until April 2022, according to UCL’s website.

And the CoMix social contacts survey, run by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, which asks people how many direct contacts they have had with other people, stopped collecting data on 2 March and has published its final routine report.

The ONS weekly survey is to continue, after Sajid Javid, the health secretary, reportedly lobbied to keep it, in the face of Treasury cuts.

Professor Marc Lipsitch, director of science for the CDC’s Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics, visited the UK last month to speak to researchers at the ONS and Imperial with a view to setting up a similar system in the US.

“I think the UK can be justifiably proud of the system that it had, and it would be wise to try to build on that for future preparedness,” he said. “From a scientific perspective, React, together with the ONS Covid infection survey, provided the UK with a level of awareness of the pandemic that was really exceptionally good.“A proper random sample of the population is a very much superior way to understand the number of people who have the virus and the number of people who have had the virus, which are the two most critical things in understanding the progress.

“[It] is a gold standard for how to understand the pandemic. And certainly one way to be prepared for future waves or other viruses is to keep some capacity going.”

The UKHSA itself praised the work of the React-1 team in a blogpost in December, describing its work as “crucial in helping the government’s response to the pandemic”. It highlighted as one of React’s “key achievements” the discovery that a third of cases are asymptomatic.

Professor Sylvia Richardson, president of the Royal Statistical Society, said: “These two studies, the ONS survey and React, are unique in the world in my opinion. We should be proud of them. React picked up very early, in December 2020, that infections in the London area were not decreasing as expected. Now they’re picking up that cases are rising in the older population. They are picking up trends and we can trust those trends because of the robust way the study is done.

“The government says we have to learn to live with Covid, but to learn to do that we need data which is agile enough and trustworthy enough. The ONS survey and React have been very good examples of agile and trustworthy programmes.

“We know immunity is going to wane and health authorities have to decide how to deal with that, with recommendations for boosters, for example. So they need reliable information about what is going on to target their strategy.

“React has given very good information about the effectiveness of vaccines and can monitor the waning of immunity. The pandemic is not yet in a stable equilibrium. Many factors are still changing and we need to keep monitoring basic epidemiological quantities such as prevalence in a reliable way.

“I would like to see a strategic plan for preparedness in terms of what type of studies and resources they are going to keep. So far, myself and other experts at the Royal Statistical Society haven’t been consulted, and there seems to be a lack of strategy – we don’t know how they are going to monitor new variants, for example.”

From today’s Western Morning News:

Wales’ plans to increase tax for second-home owners should be implemented in Cornwall, some residents have said.

The Welsh government announced last week that it would change the maximum council tax premium which local authorities can charge on a second home, putting it up from 100% of the usual charge for full-time residents to 300%

The change comes into force in Wales from April 2023.

The premiums, which are an additional charge on top of council tax, will mean second home owners can be charged up to four times the amount that a regular, year-round resident would pay.

The idea, brought in by the Labour-Plaid Cymru coalition which runs the Welsh Assembly, is designed to curb second-home ownership and prevent locals from being priced out of their home town or village.

Many people in Cornwall have since described the measure as a “good idea” and said the county should follow suit.

Taking to the WMN’s sister website, CornwallLive, on Facebook, Rose Lankston wrote: “Best thing that could ever happen. Need that to happen everywhere.” Fiona Davie added: “Cornwall should do the same”, while John Arthur said: “Well done Wales.”

Loveday Jenkin, a Mebyon Kernow Cornwall councillor, said there needs to be a rise of council tax on empty or under-utilised properties, including places rented out on the global website Airbnb.

Landlords who have been evicting full-time tenants and then selling their houses for a substantial profit or turning them into Airbnbs to cash in on the staycation boom are contributing to the county’s housing emergency, she explained.

“We need to do something in Cornwall,” she said. “That would be one tool. Other tools would be having a change of use from residential letting to holiday letting.

“Cornwall Council doesn’t have the power to increase the council tax either, that’s central government. We need to have more power.”

Landlords currently do not need to submit a planning application to turn a home into a holiday let, but Ms Jenkin said that could be one option to reduce the loss of homes for full-time residents to either rent or buy at a reasonable cost.

And she said it was ridiculous that people were challenging the measure in Wales. “If you can afford to buy a second home in Cornwall you’re likely to be able to pay a bit more council tax,” she said. “Just factor it into your budget.

“Wales is in a similar housing emergency as Cornwall.

“I’ve been dealing with people being evicted, this week actually a whole family who’s been living in the same home for 15 years are now in temporary accommodation in a caravan. What about the right of people in Cornwall to have a first home? What about the right not to be driven out of their home land?

“People are having to move away from Cornwall and are put in temporary accommodation. That’s wrong. It’s against their human rights.”

Second-home owners defend themselves pointing out the boost they and their holiday renters bring to the local tourist economy.

A majority of voters still want to see Boris Johnson resign despite the crisis over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the latest Opinium poll for the Observer.

[Not surprising as the Prime Minister presides over a weak cabinet and is incapable of backing up his booster blusters by subsequent delivery. – Owl]

Michael Savage www.theguardian.com 

There has been a significant fall in the proportion of voters who want the prime minister to stand aside. However, the new poll showed that 53% still wanted to see him go – down 10 points since January.

On the Ukraine crisis, a majority (52%) think the government has not gone far enough on accepting Ukrainian refugees into the UK. When asked whether they would take in Ukrainian refugees themselves, 9% of people said that they would, while a further 20% said they would consider it. About 63% said they were not in a position to do so, while 8% said they were, but wouldn’t.

Fourth-fifths (78%) of the UK support sending arms to Ukraine. Similarly, almost seven in 10 (68%) support donating western fighter planes for the Ukrainian air force to use in the country’s defence.

Voters are divided over a potential no-fly zone over Ukraine, with 40% saying they support western air forces enforcing a no-fly zone, and the shooting down of Russian aircraft that breach this, but 39% disagreeing.

There are clear concerns over the cost of living at home. There was a 15-point increase in those who now expect the economy to get worse over the next year (71%), while 57% expect their personal finances to worsen – up 12 points.

Johnson’s net approval ratings have improved from low levels. Those approving of the job he is doing make up 27%, with 54% disapproving. That gives him a net approval rating of -27, a 6-point improvement on the last poll a fortnight ago. Keir Starmer’s ratings remain largely unchanged, giving him a net approval rating of -2.

Overall, Labour’s lead has fallen marginally to 2 points over the Tories. Starmer’s party has 37% support, with the Tories on 35%. When people were asked who they preferred as prime minister, “none of these” remained the clear leader. However, when forced to choose, people would still prefer a Labour government led by Starmer (44%) over a Conservative government led by Johnson (35%).

Joe Curran, senior research executive at Opinium, said: “While most European countries are granting fleeing Ukrainians visa-free refuge, the UK has so far opted to require visas, to much outrage from certain quarters. Our polling finds that over half (52%) of the British public think that the government hasn’t gone far enough in accepting refugees.

“As for Boris Johnson, a cynic would say that the crisis in Ukraine offers both a distraction from domestic controversies and also the opportunity to act the statesman. Indeed we have seen a small uptick in his approval ratings, although we can’t say for certain that this is related to the war in the east. Whether this trend continues depends on many factors including the deepening cost of living crisis.”

Opinium polled 2,007 people online between 9 and 11 March.

A washing machine brimming with fake bank notes and surrounded by union jacks sits on the pavement of one of London’s most exclusive streets.

www.independent.co.uk 

Its provocative presence in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea on Friday morning is intended to symbolise the laundering of dirty money in the British capital.

Since Vladimir Putin launched his bloody invasion of Ukraine last month, Britain has come under increasing pressure to clean up its act by introducing new legislation to aid transparency and tackle corruption.

It has taken the first step by introducing an Economic Crime Bill and by freezing the UK assets of some Russian oligarchs linked to the Kremlin. However, campaigners believe such moves are only a start.

Rachel Davies, head of advocacy at Transparency International UK, speaks of the unquantifiable scale of the issue.

“Because of the layers of secrecy, nobody really knows how much dirty money there is – not even the National Crime Agency (NCA),” she says.

Through open-source research, Transparency International found that at least £6.7bn of British property had been bought with “suspicious funds”, £1.5bn of which is Russian-owned.

Almost £300m in potentially fraudulent Russian money has been invested in bricks and mortar in Kensington, the most unequal borough in England, the group claims.

A washing machine is stuffed with fake money to protest against money laundering, in Kensington, London (Rory Sullivan)

“It’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Ms Davies says. “There’s almost certainly much, much more here in London and across the UK.”

Another group, Kensington Against Dirty Money (KADM), launched this week and staged the washing machine stunt in Thornwood Gardens to highlight the need to combat corruption.

“The awful war in Ukraine has shone a light on our responsibility to take action against dirty money in London,” Flo Hutchings, a co-founder of the movement, explains.

“We’re a campaign taking local action but making a national point, a global point. It’s not right that there are 6,000 anonymous foreign-owned properties in this borough where thousands are on years-long waiting lists for social housing.”

Joe Powell, KADM’s other co-founder, describes Kensington as “the epicentre of Britain’s dirty money problem”, adding that empty kleptocrat-owned properties have had an insidious effect on the borough, eroding the local community and its businesses.

Kensington residents have long understood the problem, but the war in Ukraine changed something, Powell believes. “There’s a moment now to say that this is not how we want our capital city to be. We also need to look at ourselves.

“It’s not just about autocrats and kleptocrats, it’s about our legal services, our banks, our accountants, our public relations firms, who have for a long time enabled dirty money to wash through our systems. A moment of introspection is needed.”

Powell says the government’s Economic Crime Bill, which will make it mandatory for shell companies to declare who owns property purchased in their name, is neither sufficient nor watertight. Under the law, kleptocrats will have a six-month grace period in which they can conceivably sell their homes.

“One piece of legislation this week is not enough to solve this problem, especially given that it is full of loopholes,” Mr Powell says.

To Mr Powell’s mind, greater transparency must be accompanied by greater enforcement. The NCA and other enforcement agencies have had their budgets slashed by ministers in recent years, making it almost impossible to effectively target dirty money, he notes.

On the borough level, he says the council, which already raises a tax levy on empty properties, must update its list of homes that are not occupied. “If you spoke to any resident, they’d say the real number was much higher.” Kensington and Chelsea should also invest more in social housing, he adds.

In response to Kensington Against Dirty Money’s comments, Cllr Kim Taylor-Smith, the council’s housing lead, said it was “absolutely not right” that there are empty properties while 2,100 households are in temporary accommodation.

The borough will continue to lobby the government “for stronger legislation to help councils bring empty homes back into use”, he stressed.

Sam Dodgson, a resident and aspiring Lib Dem councillor, has seen the detrimental effects empty properties have had on the area.

“We’re supposedly a village in the heart of London, but we’re a village with no one here. We’re becoming a dormitory town for investors. It’s upsetting.”

Monica Press, a local Labour councillor who has lived in the borough for 25 years, shares this view. Looking at the property behind the washing machine, she says: “My son went to Holland Park School. These were their playing fields. It’s now just a development that’s half empty.”

A government spokesperson said: “The government moved quickly in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to bring forward the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill, which will allow us to move more quickly with sanctions, prevent criminals from laundering their money in UK property, and strengthen unexplained wealth orders.

“This is part of a wider package of legislative proposals to tackle illicit finance, which will be introduced to parliament in the coming months, including reform of Companies House and new powers to seize crypto assets.

“We continue to lead the way in our fight against corruption, working closely with the private sector, international partners, and the crown dependencies and overseas territories, to ensure there are no safe havens for criminals to hide their dirty money.

“UK law enforcement has good existing information-sharing mechanisms with the crown dependencies and overseas territories, including on beneficial ownership information.”

There’s a warning that “a tsunami of poverty” will hit rural communities if more help isn’t provided to the 14% of British households living without access to mains gas. (In Cornwall, 47% of homes are off the gas grid.)

Dan Whitehead news.sky.com 

Many homes in the countryside which rely on oil, bottled gas, coal and wood to heat and cook are facing rapidly rising bills, made worse due to the volatility caused by the war in Ukraine.

Those alternative fuel sources are not covered by Ofgem’s increased price gap coming into force next month and are often far more expensive than mains supply.

SNP MP Drew Hendry has tabled the Energy Pricing (Off Gas Grid Households) Private Members Bill in parliament to try to provide extra help and protection for households which are off-grid.

He told the Commons last month that those households are forced to pay about four times more for their energy bills than the average home.

The problem mainly affects rural parts of the UK, where mains gas pipes do not reach.

In Cornwall, 47% of homes are off the gas grid.

Lorraine Baker-Lynch and her husband Robert from St Austell use oil and bottled gas, and say their bills are increasing so much they may need to rely on their log burner instead: “If all else fails, or if prices go so high that we can’t afford, we’ve got the log burner and on that there’s a kettle ready to boil… what else do you do? Because oil is going through the roof.”

And with prices increasing, they can only afford to fill half the oil tank.

Lorraine says: “You have to constantly check – has the oil gone down? How much can we afford? It’s going up monthly. We live here day in, day out. We love it. But it’s hard and challenging. You have to second guess. You can’t just turn on a gas fire. This is life. I wouldn’t swap it, but it would be nice if it was a bit easier. It would be nice if the government looked out for us.”

At the tip of Cornwall is the town of St Just, which Sky News data identifies in the worst 10 places in the country out of 7,201 areas for home energy efficiency.

Holly Whitelaw lives in an old granite miner’s cottage in the centre of the town.

Her only source of power and heating is electricity, and rising bills means she can’t afford to heat her home.

She says: “It’s damp. It’s like living in a cave basically. You get lots of condensation, you get the sea mist. Mould becomes a bit of an issue, so you just have to blast it with bleach quite regularly.”

Holly says she is keen to keep her carbon footprint as low as possible – but even then, heating her whole house is impossible.

“I can’t afford to heat my home. Not properly. Not to keep the mould at bay. Not to keep my feet from going numb so I can’t sleep at night,” she says.

“It is worrying and getting into debt is debilitating. I’ve been there with electricity providers. I’m tough, but many aren’t. We’ve really got to look after the vulnerable here.”

The rising cost of energy bills is also having a direct impact on the way charities are helping the most vulnerable.

At the Churches Together Foodbank in Penzance, manager Michelle Brown says they are having to help people with their bills, as well as changing the types of food they supply.

She says: “There’s a tsunami of poverty that’s going to sweep over us. It’s been a choice for some time, especially during COVID, that people are having to choose to pay their rent, whether to put food on their family’s tables or whether to heat. There’s no point us sending out food to people who can’t heat it.

“Because a lot of people live off grid down here, they’re relying on the more expensive alternatives. Things like gas cylinders, oil, microwaves… it’s a vicious circle as that bumps up their costs as well.”

The impact of more expensive fuel sources is compounded in rural parts of the country, which often have an older population, lower wages, poorer public transport links and an ageing housing stock.

Who wins from these spats – the Conservatives! Owl

Lewis Clarke www.devonlive.com 

A split between independent members of Mid Devon District Council, over an ‘unjust proposition’ has led to changes on committees and the cabinet.

Seven independent councillors have split into two groups, the New Independent Group and the Non-Aligned, following a fallout over a proposal by the independent leader Councillor Bob Deed (Cadbury, New Independent), to remove fellow independent Councillor Ashley Wilce (Cullompton North, Non-Aligned) from their group.

Councillor Barry Warren (Lower Culm, Non-Aligned), who is the leader of the non-aligned group explained to council on Wednesday, February 23, that the request to remove Cllr Wilce was ‘contrary to common requirements of justice that the condemned man should at least know what he is accused of and this is not the case.’

He added: “Four of the seven members present would not support this unjust proposition.

“The outcome was that the leader and two other independent councillors formed the new independent group, which left five elected independent members ungrouped.”

The two other independent councillors in the group are Councillor Wally Burke (Westexe, New Independent), and Councillor Dennis Knowles (Lowman, New Independent).

He added: “I was asked to act as group leader so representations could be made, and the information obtained and shared as appropriate.

“We are currently all independent councillors, but we formed as a non-aligned group in order that we are open to others who feel they do not wish to be constrained by the dictates by a particular leader or system.

“If anyone wishes to join us you would be welcome. Each member would be free to act as his or her conscious dictates, to best represent those who have elected them. You make your own decisions and answer for your own actions. All that is asked is that we treat one another with respect and accept there are alternative views to our own.

“As the current leader I work on the basis that I am not my brother’s keeper.”

Last week, Councillor Graeme Barnell (Newbrooke, Non-Aligned) announced he would be leaving the Liberal Democrats to take up Cllr Warren’s offer of joining the non-aligned group.

This week, it was announced that non-aligned member Councillor Nikki Woollatt (Cullompton North, Non-Aligned) was removed from her cabinet position with Councillor Clive Eginton taking the role of cabinet member for the working environment and support service.

In an email to members she said: “Cllr Deed informed me that in light of recent events he considered my allegiance to the cabinet and the cabinet system was in question and that there were two ways of dealing with this. I could either resign or be removed.

“I told him that I would not be resigning and if he wanted rid of me that he would need to sack me.

“I also told him that it was his prerogative as leader, but I was not surprised as he had threatened it on numerous occasions throughout the last few years by insinuation and I was aware of occasions in the past when he had offered my portfolio to other members. It will be a relief to no longer have to work within that unhealthy environment.

“Cllr Deed was well aware of my views on the cabinet system when he appointed me. Despite those views I have always been pragmatic and professional enough to work within the system we currently have.”

She added: “As regards my allegiance to cabinet – despite at times not always agreeing with the leader’s actions within cabinet – I have continued to carry out my role and behave professionally.

“Though at times it has been difficult I have continued as I found that by being a cabinet member I was far better informed and had more influence than I had as a back bench member. I felt it was in Cullompton’s and my constituents’ best interests to stick with it.

She added: “I’m disappointed that having nominated and supported Cllr Deed to become leader in 2019 on the understanding that he would try to appoint a politically balanced cabinet we now have have a cabinet with very little diversity. Who is the disloyal one? That may be politics but it’s not my kind of politics.

“But every cloud has a silver lining. Now I have been released from collective cabinet responsibility I will have more freedom and shall return to what my dear friend, the late Councillor Jenny Roach, myself and others used to affectionately call ‘the naughty corner’.”

The changes mean that the independents have lost a seat on the scrutiny committee. At a vote at the council meeting, it was awarded to the Conservative Party.

The move was divisive with Cllr Deed saying the seat should have been given to the independent group. Councillor Elizabeth Lloyd said it should be awarded to the non-aligned.

Cllr Warren added: “The non-aligned group seek to take the scrutiny seat to retain the balance of six Conservatives, three Liberal Democrats, one Green Party and two independents.

“Given to the Conservatives, this will give them more than half of the seats on scrutiny when they already have more than half the seats on cabinet. To control the cabinet and scrutiny committee is hardly creating confidence in the openness and transparency of the council.”

However, Conservative group leader, Councillor Bob Evans (Lower Culm, Conservative) said: “This is a consequence of the independents having a disagreement and forming to separate groups.

“I object to being told by a group of five what we shall or shall not have, so to conclude, given this is a choice, I will move that the new scrutiny position be awarded to the Conservative group.

“I find it very disturbing that this council has in the past debated how we talk to each other, and treat each other, and nobody has mentioned the way our monitoring officer has been treated, and I put it on record that I think it is questionable. Members need to take a long hard look at themselves.”