If you missed the latest government coronavirus briefing, and even if you didn’t, fear not – Larry and Paul have recorded a much more informative version. Watch and learn. We apologise for any shudders … 

Something to distract from elections – Owl

Monster zip wire plan to rejuvenate Ilfracombe’s fortunes

Ambitious plans for a zip line could bring thousands of visitors to Ilfracombe.

Lewis Clarke www.devonlive.com

Ilfracombe Town Council has agreed to apply for a zip line that would cross from Hillsborough down to the harbour.

The idea was put forward by Councillor Dan Turton at a meeting on Monday, April 12, and given backing by councillors to proceed at their meeting on Tuesday, May 4.

Cllr Turton said: “We’re looking to put a report forward so we can put something down on paper and get a planning application in. It’s to find if it’s for certain or a pipe dream rather than keep talking about it.

“I would favour putting it on the top of Hillsborough down to the pier. I know Hillsborough is an AONB which could be a sticky point, but I have never been told it would be a 100 per cent no and that it can’t be done. I have only been told it would be difficult.

“I have spoken to AONB, who told me it would go down to community consultation; it wasn’t a no.”

He said that the council would apply the more ambitious scheme but that as a plan B, they would also look at the possibility of a zip line from Capstone Hill.

He added: “It ticks every single box that we’ve been talking about for the last six years.

“It brings money to the town, it gives us an attraction, and it markets the town.

“Ilfracombe is going to be rammed this year and next, so we need to take an opportunity and give people visiting here an attraction tying in with the water sports centre and putting ourselves on the map as a destination where you can do this type of thing.”

He said any surplus income generated could be put back into the community.

He added: “The concept that any money raised on this put back in the community to fund things like toilets is a unique selling point, and we could have hundreds of toilets all dotted around Ilfracombe thanks to this attraction.

“I have had lots of businesses contact me telling me they want to do this and franchise it out. It proves it is a serious business proposition, but I would prefer if the council or One Ilfracombe ran it so we could keep any surplus from the attraction.

“If we are going to do it, do it properly and do it big and go for the biggest venue.

“There’s a derelict shelter on Hillsborough which is covered in beer bottles, graffiti and cannabis, and one of the things was to do something to that shelter.”

Councillor Paul Crabb fully supported the proposal.

He said: “I think it’s a marvellous idea,” he said.

“We have discussed it, and it’s been around the block a couple of times. I think it has come to a point where it needs testing.

“I know that when it comes to Historic England if you suggest as much as dropping a fag packet up at Hillsborough, they’ll go nuts. To suggest putting a wire on it, I think they will go double nuts.”

Despite a feeling it may not get approved, Cllr Crabb said they would gain nothing by not acting.

“To put a planning application in as a parish council would cost a few hundred quid,” he said. “It’s not a lot.

“If the first one gets turned down, you get a chance to put in an amended plan.

“For the sake of that money, where we can be in a position where we get a definite no and the reasons, at least Dan will be happy he’s tried.

“Most importantly, if you look at plan B, which is more than possible but less desirable, it may not be our land, but we can submit an application.

“I’ve been talking to the council surveyor about this, who are quite happy to look at proposals that come forward for areas at the back of the swimming baths and the top of Capstone.

“It would be huge turnover on this thing wherever you put it, so there is a deal to be done.”

However, Councillor Netti Pearson said: “Hillsborough is a scheduled ancient monument. You cannot build on it. It’s not the AONB that is the issue; it’s a scheduled ancient monument.

“The other hindrance would be that we have a working harbour.

“With Hillsborough and the harbour, it’s never going to happen in a million years.”

Councillor Rod Donovan added: “There’s no way you’d get it off Hillsborough. It’s an ancient monument, and you imagine if it’s really popular, the number of people who would be trampling over the ancient monument to get to the starting point.

“It’s a non-starter. It’s an absolute waste of time putting an application in for Hillsborough. Let’s put an application in for Capstone down to the back of the Landmark.”

Speaking again at the meeting on May 4, Cllr Turton added: “This proposal would be for Hillsborough as we are never going to find out if that’s possible unless we put a planning application in.

“Plan B would be Capstone, but we need to find out if Hillsborough is possible as it’s a lot more impressive, bigger, and I think it marketing it, it would go global.

“Ilfracombe has been called on a Which? report the worst seaside town in the country for attractions and visits to the seaside, so this would undoubtedly give them a kick in the teeth, and we certainly wouldn’t be bottom of the list then.

“I think we would be viral all around the world if we were to back it.”

news.sky.com

Boris Johnson is trying to focus attention on tackling crime and recovering from the coronavirus, despite a number of allegations against him that may damage his party’s election chances.

Is Simon Jupp doing the same?

There are many forms of scamming and this type of crime really angers me

Simon Jupp www.devonlive.com 

It seems not a day goes by without another warning to remain vigilant against those who attempt to scam us or commit some act of fraud. This type of crime really angers me as it is often targeted at the vulnerable or more senior members of our community.

Only yesterday, I received a text claiming to be from my bank asking for authorisation for a large payment to a name I don’t recognise. I deleted it straight away.

Sadly, there are many forms of scamming in existence. A most recent example was when the government’s successful vaccination programme had just launched. I know of some who received a call or a text message asking them to register to receive the vaccine.

As part of this process, they were asked to part with private information such as bank account details. Some messages claimed to have been sent by a local GP surgery or the NHS, but this was simply not the case. Nobody should receive a text message or email asking for bank details when arranging an appointment to be vaccinated. If in any doubt, you should check with your local surgery.

Sadly, there are plenty of other scams doing the rounds. These include messages from HMRC stating you are due a tax refund or an email from a delivery company about a mysterious package that could not be delivered. In these cases, you are asked to provide personal information which is another attempt at possible identity fraud or to gain access to your bank account.

The figures are worrying. UK Finance, the organisation that represents the finance industry, state that their members had managed to stop £1.6billion worth of fraud last year though criminals were still able to steal £1.26billion through their unscrupulous activities. The National Crime Agency says there are roughly 3.4million incidents of fraud a year.

Victims do not only face possible financial ruin, but also suffer trust and self-esteem issues if they have been successfully scammed.

These days we are living in a more online and technologically reliant society which I believe can carry an increased risk of fraud. I have previously made representations on behalf of my constituents when their bank has announced permanent branch closures in my constituency, most recently in Exmouth.

One of the solutions always suggested is that online banking could be a possible alternative for these customers, but I know many who find the thought of this technology daunting and possibly frightening. If someone isn’t technically confident and forced into online banking, they could be more vulnerable when it comes to a sophisticated scam.

Thankfully there is plenty of good guidance available when it comes to battling those who wish to scam or commit an act of fraud against us.

Ofcom, the organisation that regulates the telecoms sector, has some very helpful information about the kind of scams to look out for and the tell-tale signs that a message or call is not genuine. Their website is ofcom.org.uk

Age UK also have a comprehensive website detailing the latest scams. Their site also outlines concerns regarding pension, postal, investment and cold calling scams. More can be found at ageuk.org.uk

If you want to report a scam, then you can contact Action Fraud which is the national fraud and cyber-crime reporting centre. Their number is 0300 123 2040 and their website is actionfraud.police.uk

The key to tackling this growing form of crime is to remain vigilant and to always question the information you are being asked to provide. Also, if you do receive something suspicious, then tell your friends and the organisations that I’ve listed.

By doing this we can all work to together to try and reduce cases of this nasty and pernicious criminal activity.

How “Future Proof” is Blackdown House?-Owl

Daniel Clark, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk

Teignbridge Council HQ, Forde House, Newton Abbot (courtesy: Daniel Clark/LDRS)

It will be more energy-efficient

Multi-million pound plans to decarbonise Teignbridge District Council’s headquarters and revamp the building towards more agile working have been backed.

Councillors have voted in favour of a £3m project at the Forde House HQ in Newton Abbot that will help deliver a net-zero local authority.

They’ll spend £672,000 of grant funding, and borrow £2.3 million on ‘Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme’ and ‘Agile Working’ projects, although questions were raised about whether the proposals were the best use of the finances given the state of the building.

Projects backed by the council include replacing the gas fired heating system with air source heat pump (£337,600), replacing the extract ventilation system with mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (£61,226), installing draught-proofing on window boxes to reduce heat loss (£25,955), replacing barrel vaulted skylights with an insulated flat roof structure (£112,605) and increasing capacity of incoming electrical supply (£134,708).

The building has had few upgrades since its construction in the mid-1980s and is largely heated by an inefficient gas boiler, which is due for replacement in the next 12 months at a cost of at least £229,900. The grant-funded projects could  cut deliver carbon emissions by 92 per cent.

Teignbridge will also explore making what they call ‘agile working’ resulting from the coronavirus pandemic more permanent.

Proposals include freeing up the ground floor currently occupied by Revenue & Benefits and Housing to enable the potential to rent the space to tenant, as well as optimising the use of the first and second floors by moving desks, developing what they’re calling ‘touch down’ spaces, and creating meeting rooms and staff break-out spaces.

Cllr Jackie Hook, executive member for climate change, said: “When we unanimously declared our aim to be carbon neutral by 2025, we committed to lead the fight to reduce our own carbon emissions within the district. This funding gives us a fantastic opportunity to reduce the carbon emissions by Forde House of over 90 per cent.

“It would be remiss not to look at agile working and home working post covid and it makes absolute sense to consider adaptations to the building to not only ensure lower emissions and energy use but also to ensure more flexible working space and take advantage of the relief of some office space to rent out and produce an income.”

Cllr Richard Daws said that while he was supportive of anything that the council does to reduce the carbon impact and it was a small step in the right direction, he wanted them to think bigger.

He added: “I want the council to commit to looking at the need for in person meetings and unnecessarily travel to meetings. There is a great utility in using technology that could have a massive impact on our carbon footprint as a council, and we can show a lead.  I support this but we need to go further in the future”, before suggesting whether Forde House was still the most appropriate venue.

Cllr Liam Mullone added: “We are looking at recovering the cost of doing this in about 320 years, so why will it take so long to recoup the savings and why is the price tag so large? Given we are in the swing of doing things remotely, has it been considered to knock the whole thing down and start again?

“It is not an attractive building,  not an efficient building, doesn’t have any sympathy to the listed building next to it, so why not start again for this kind of project so have something that is zero carbon and fit for the council and rental possibilities.”

Cllr Alan Connett, leader of the council, said:  “The choice is do we replace the gas boiler and carry on, or take the opportunity to hit some of the climate change targets and agile working possibilities and may attract more people to work for Teignbridge?”

The meeting heard that officers hadn’t considered the option of knocking down the building and to start again, but that due to the remedial and demolition costs, it was unlikely to be a viable proposition.

Will Elliott, the council’s climate change officer, added: “The reason for why the payback is so long is because a number of investments are needed to make it ready for low carbon technology and isn’t geared up for the heating system we want to put in.”

However, Cllr Robert Phipps was left concerned about the scheme viability depending on being able to rent out the office space, while Cllr Linda Petherick added: “We have declared a climate emergency so we have to practice what we preach, but we are saying we have a deficit and then borrowing money to get this work done, so we need to communicate why we are doing it.”

No details yet as to who any tenants for the ground floor space would be, or how exactly the building would be reconfigured to ensure public access to the revenue and benefits team would be maintained.

Councillors voted by 29 votes for three, with four abstentions, in favour of the plans.

A booze ban for Exmouth’s beaches may be backed by councillors next week.

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

The existing Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which covers a number of central streets in Exmouth, bans consumption of alcohol, urination in public, aggressive requests for money, or intimidatory behaviour, and allows officers to issue fixed penalty notices to those who don’t comply.

But the current order doesn’t cover Exmouth beach, which has sporadically over the last year seen incidents of alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour, and with the demand of staycation this summer set to rise, East Devon District Council is expecting to see a likely increased level of alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour linked to the beach area.

As a result, the council’s cabinet, when they meet on Wednesday, May 12, are recommended to carry out public consultation on proposals to vary the existing order to also cover the beach.

At the end of the five week consultation, a further report will come back to the cabinet around whether there is support for and a need for the urgent implementation for the order to be amended to be in place for the summer period 2021 – a period where an increase in related anti-social behaviour problems can be anticipated due to the staycation.

David Whelan, the council’s community safety coordinator, in his report to the meeting, said: “In June 2020 on Exmouth Beach we saw a significant disturbance observed over a weekend exiting from Lockdown, these issues continued sporadically over that summer with a significant increase in anti-social behaviour and littering linked to the alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour. It was felt at the time this was likely to be an isolated occasion/period of time.

“This however reoccurred over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend when the ability for groups to meet was released. Again alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour was seen on Exmouth beach with littering, urination and defecation occurring where the use of toilets has been restricted.

“It is considered that during this summer and the demand of the Staycation we are likely to see an increased level of Alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour linked to the beach area.”

He added: “The PSPO is already in existence in a number of central streets in Exmouth and allows authorised officers to deal with individuals by way of fixed penalty notices. The proposal would be for a variation of the existing order in order to simplify understanding and enforcement of the PSPO.”

The proposed changes to the order would also see it cover the beach area from Sandy Bay via Orcombe Point, to past the coastguard look out station, past the Beach Gardens The Esplanade, The Maer, Queens Drive, and also round past the Sailing Club, Camperdown Yard and the Imperial recreation Ground, all the way to the half-moon field.

Map of proposed variance. Blue is the current PSPO, red is the considered area of the variance for the Exmouth PSPO

Mr Whelan added: “It can be anticipated that we may receive a number of challenges from the consultation if social media and press messaging is sensationalised that Exmouth has an alcohol ban in place for its beach. This will have normal members of the public airing their concerns that they will have police turning up and routinely just seizing their picnic drinks.

“The Police are going to need to be proportionate and sensitive around its enforcement, where it is linked as a precursor to anti-social behaviour. occurring or as a result of anti-social behaviour. occurring and use their discretion when to engage, when to educate, when to encourage and when there is a need to enforce.

“Consideration for inclusion of other coastal area’s for an anti-social behaviour.PSPO was discounted at an early stage, as there has been limited reporting of historic problems and the transport infrastructure does not give the same level of access to the other coastal towns

“A period of consultation would need to be undertaken but this period could be kept to a minimal timeframe of five weeks as other councils have done, early indications from Police and Exmouth Town clerks are they are supportive of the extension of the PSPO.”

The Cabinet are recommended to carry out public consultation on proposals to vary the Exmouth anti-social behaviour. Public Spaces Protection Order 2020 -2023, which could include addition of beach areas in Exmouth, as well as other locations identified as anticipated displacement, before any final decision would be taken later this year.

Plans to go ahead with the restoration of mud flats have been put back after concerns were raised by campaigners about the effect on nesting birds. [Story starts with Tweet]

www.bbc.co.uk 

See: Tweet

Chris Packham@ChrisGPackhamBreaking News . @EnvAgency have sanctioned the destruction of breeding birds tomorrow at the Lower Otter Restoration Project . This is #HS2 part 2 . PLEASE THINK AGAIN @ClintonDevon@kiergroup@NESouthWest Please follow @WiseBirding and RT

The project involves the removal of vegetation on the River Otter estuary in Devon

The project would have involved the removal of vegetation on the River Otter estuary in Devon, starting on Tuesday.

The Environment Agency (EA) said the start of work was “being reviewed”.

The rescheduling followed involvement from the RSPB and wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham.

The RSPB said it supported the restoration scheme, but it was the wrong time of year.

In a video post on Twitter, Packham said: “You can’t just start destroying birds’ nests when they are protected.

“What sort of signal does that send out to developers.”

The Cetti’s Warbler is among species that would have been affected say campaigners

An EA spokesperson said the delay had been agreed so “that timings reflect the balance of ecological risks”.

The flood plains project is expected to create 55 hectares (136 acres) of wildlife habitat on the river, estuary and floodplain.

Tony Whitehead from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said it had been “very concerned” about work being carried out in May, “in the middle of the nesting season”.

He said species like the rare Cetti’s warbler were at risk and the RSPB had “repeatedly” asked for the work to be moved to another time of year.

“It is good to hear that the works have been paused today and for the remainder of this week,” he said.

“We hope this will give time for the works to be rescheduled for after the bird nesting season, which in our view would be after the end of August.”

.

A cross-party group of MPs has pushed for formal action against Boris Johnson for allegedly misleading the Commons over the transparency of Covid contracts, saying the cabinet secretary, Simon Case, incorrectly cleared the prime minister of wrongdoing.

Peter Walker www.theguardian.com

In a letter to Case the three MPs, who are working with the Good Law Project, said it was “abundantly clear” Johnson had breached the ministerial code by telling parliament on 22 February that details of multibillion-pound Covid-19 government contracts were “on the record for everybody to see”.

Three days earlier a high court judge had ruled that the Department of Health and Social Care acted unlawfully by failing to publish the government contracts within the necessary 30-day period, after a challenge led by the Good Law Project.

In March the Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, Layla Moran of the Liberal Democrats, and the Greens’ Caroline Lucas first wrote to Case, the most senior UK civil servant, to ask him why Johnson had said contracts had been published when at that time they had not.

The final judgment in the contracts high court case, on 5 March, noted that of 708 relevant contracts, only 608 had been published.

In a letter to the three MPs, sent last week, Case said: “The information required to make that judgment was provided to the courts in advance of that final judgment. It is therefore incorrect to assume that the judgment reflects the status on that particular day.”

Case referred the MPs to comments by the junior health minister Edward Argar, who told the Commons on 9 March that when Johnson had spoken the previous month, “the details for all the contracts under scrutiny were published”.

Case added that it was, anyway, not his role to enforce the ministerial code, as ministers were “personally responsible for deciding how to act and conduct themselves in the light of the code, and for justifying their actions and conduct to parliament and the public.”

But in a new letter to Case, sent on Tuesday, Abrahams, Moran and Lucas expressed “serious concern regarding the inaccuracies in your response”.

They wrote: “What the prime minister told parliament was not true. A large number of contracts – and details of those contracts – were neither ‘there for everybody to see’ or ‘on the record’. Unlawfully, their publication had been delayed.”

An example cited in the letter was a £23m contract given by the health department to Bunzl Healthcare, which was not published before 8 March. As such, the letter said, it was “abundantly clear” that Johnson had breached the ministerial code, which sets out that ministers must be accurate when addressing parliament.

In a separate statement, Abrahams said: “It is absolutely clear that not only has the prime minister misled parliament about when PPE contracts were published, breaking the ministerial code in the process, but that he has presided over appalling cronyism in the awarding of these contracts.”

Jo Maugham, the director of Good Law Project, said Case “has no answer because the simple truth is that the prime minister misled parliament. What is surprising is that a senior civil servant should participate in an attempt to disguise that simple truth from the people.”

Owl has collated the following information from a couple of sources and believes it to be correct, if unsure please double check.

If you’re voting in person at a polling station, East Devon District Council has asked the public to make sure to do the following:

1. Bring a face mask

You will need a face mask in order to enter, unless you are exempt.

2. Use hand sanitiser

It will be available at the entrance and exit, for use before and after voting.

3. Bring your own pen/pencil

It’s a good idea to bring your own pen or pencil, but there will be clean pencils available if you forget.

4. Keep your distance

Social distancing is key to help stop the spread of the virus. Just follow the signs and be prepared to queue – and factor this into your trip.

Just one more thing…

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, such as a new, continuous cough or fever, you should stay at home and self-isolate.

You can name an emergency proxy to vote for you if you are unable to go to the polling station.

This service will be available until 5pm on the day, and your proxy should be someone you trust.

Click here to access the emergency proxy forms on the Electoral Commission website.

Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm.

Polling Stations

Due to social distancing and other safety measures there may be a change in your polling station.

The changes are to ensure everyone can use a polling station in a Covid-secure way. 

Polling cards have been sent out showing your polling station address.  Please call our helpline 01395 571529 if you are unsure. 

List of changed venues below:

A reason to vote on Thursday.

From a recent post by Martin Shaw, EDA county council candidate for Seaton and Colyton. seatonmatters.org 

In the last County Council elections in 2017, the Conservatives gained 44 per cent of the vote in Devon – 56 per cent went to other parties and Independents. Yet because of the first-past-the-post electoral system, they gained 70 per cent of the seats. This has given them an overwhelming majority on the Council and all its committees, which they use ruthlessly – even to ditch Seaton’s hospital beds a couple of years ago.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, this system has been replaced by the Single Transferable Vote system, which enables voters to rank all candidates (thus voting for the individual as well as the party), and leads to second preferences being distributed so that you get a more balanced representation – with more encouragement for cooperation between councillors of different parties.

It also means that instead of most votes being cast for unsuccessful candidates, and thus wasted, ALL votes count towards the election of councillors. This encourages more people to vote.

This year, the Welsh Assembly has voted to allow local councils to choose this system for their elections, too. Only in England are we forced to stick with first-past-the-post. At yesterday’s Council meeting, I asked the Council to request legislation for England, too, so that Devon could choose its own system.

In response, the Conservative Cabinet produced a meaningless amendment, which simply removed all references to the voting system for Council elections from the motion. They then used their large majority to force this through. We must hope the new Council is more favourable to democracy and reform.

The government has now launched a consultation on the tax increase, which it hopes will raise £2 billion over the next decade. The measure, first floated in February, will be joined by a new levy on future tower projects.

By Will Ing www.architectsjournal.co.uk

It comes as MPs voted through the Fire Safety Bill, which clarifies responsibility for reducing risk in multi-occupancy residential buildings in England and Wales, last week. The government was criticised for voting against an amendment which would have protected leaseholders from the crippling costs of making their homes fire-safe.

The consultation has not suggested what the increased rate of tax for residential developers’ profits should be but seeks views on whether the tax should be levied solely on residential development activity, or on all profits of companies that are substantially involved in building homes.

The UK’s largest housebuilders make significantly more than £25 million a year, with Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Homes reporting pre-tax profits of £784 million, £430 million and £264 million respectively for 2020.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said the tax would ‘strike the right balance between developers making a contribution and ensuring fairness for the taxpayer’, while consultation documents note that developers are benefiting from public investment in cladding remediation.

Jenrick added: ‘We’re making the biggest improvements to building safety standards in a generation, investing over £5 billion helping to protect leaseholders from the cost of replacing unsafe cladding on their homes and ensuring industry is held to account for the wrongs of the past.’

However, the government is facing growing calls to fully protect leaseholders from the costs of removing unsafe cladding from their homes – something which it has previously said it supported in principle.

Last week, the cross-party Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee said the government should establish a Comprehensive Building Safety Fund, with finance provided by the government and the building industry.

Clive Betts, the committee’s chair, said: ‘While the extra funding for cladding removal is welcome, it will be swamped by the sheer scale of fire safety issues in multi-occupancy buildings.

‘In the years since the Grenfell tragedy, we have been shocked by the reality of the danger that flammable cladding poses, by how pervasive these materials are in modern buildings and by the frequency with which fundamental fire safety measures, including fire breaks and sprinkler systems, are simply not there.

‘£5 billion in funding is significant, but just cannot match the ongoing legacy of these fire safety failings […] the government’s recent proposals fail to adhere to the fundamental principle that leaseholders should not have to pay to fix these problems.’

Responding to the consultation on increasing taxes on residential developers, Labour’s shadow housing secretary, Thangam Debbonaire, accused the government of ‘dragging their feet at every stage since the Grenfell tragedy’ and noted that ‘hundreds of thousands of people still live in dangerous flats’.

‘Even with this levy, the burden would still overwhelmingly be on blameless leaseholders – while many of those that caused this crisis will get off lightly,’ she said. ‘Labour will keep fighting to protect leaseholders form unfair costs. This fight is not over.’

The government has also pledged to introduce The Gateway 2 Developer Levy, which will charge developers seeking planning permission for new towers. The levy will be brought forward as part of the Building Safety Bill.

A Conservative candidate running for North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner has been reported to the returning officer for a second time.

Jez Hemming www.dailypost.co.uk 

Pat Astbury, who is one of five people in the running for the PCC post, was reprimanded by Police Area Returning Officer for North Wales Colin Everett last week for an “inaccurate” statement and for having “privileged access” to Police Minister Kit Malthouse MP.

She had mistakenly called herself “your local Police and Crime Commissioner” rather than PCC candidate in a video discussion with the Minister.

The video was later edited to remove the reference and Mr Everett advised Police Minister Kit Malthouse to “extend the opportunity for an interview to all other candidates” or otherwise ask for it to be withdrawn.

Now it has emerged Mrs Astbury, a former Ruthin town councillor and Mayor, was referred to as a “local councillor” in Conservative communication to electors.

There is no suggestion Mrs Astbury was aware of the error before being contacted by Mr Everett, who is chief executive of Flintshire county council.

She made it clear she had no input into the election material, which had been produced by the Conservative Party.

She said: “It’s the second complaint and the first error (involving Kit Malthouse) was mine. The second one I haven’t seen, as it was in a constituency paper – I don’t even know which one it was.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has since discovered the reference was made in a Conservative paper sent to electors in Clwyd West.

In a Facebook post on her campaign page she said: “An error has appeared in print, describing myself as a councillor, when in fact I am a former councillor.

“I apologise if this has been misleading in any way, and hopefully, this explanation will address the matter. There has been no intent to deceive whatsoever, and I trust this explanation will serve to clarify.”

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Mrs Astbury added: “Colin Everett said he was drawing a line under the first complaint and he was doing the same under this one too.”

A spokeswoman for the Welsh Conservatives, said: “Pat made a genuine error, for which she has apologised.”

A spokesman for the Police Area Returning Officer for North Wales, Colin Everett, said the matter was now “closed”.

The campaign to find the next PCC is underway in earnest as all the candidates fight for the vacant role left by Arfon Jones, who announced he was stepping down earlier this year.

The vaccination rollout is an undoubted triumph for the UK. It stands out in stark contrast to all the lack of preparedness and blundering we were subjected to in the early part of the pandemic.

The Government obviously likes to bask in the glory of this success, especially at election time. But how much of this glory is deserved and how much simply reflected?

The general lack of preparedness for the pandemic from: out of date and insufficient PPE stockpiles, through lack of ICU beds and general NHS cutbacks, to centralisation and disinvestment from locally based communicable disease control; is down to Government. Despite it being a risk that had been identified and “war-gamed” quite recently,

The emergency Government reaction to this lack of preparedness, was to turn to a VIP list of those with connections and the employment, at vast expense, of “consultants” e.g. to procure PPE and to create a “track and trace” system and “Moonshot” programmes. It did not fully mobilise the public resources at its disposal across central government. How long did it take to use the statistical sampling expertise of the ONS to direct our limited testing capabilities? Why were the local authority public health services sidelined?

According to the National Audit Office, the government response to the coronavirus pandemic is on track to cost the public purse £210bn for the first six months of the crisis. Equivalent to almost a quarter of the government’s annual budget for running the public sector.

Frankly, the general consensus is that this has been a costly and not very effective exercise.

Boris Johnson’s dithering and delays in ordering lockdowns is estimated to have cost 21,000 lives in the spring and up to 27,000 lives in the winter of 2020.

In contrast, the vaccine rollout programme has been run by public sector bodies: the NHS, the General Practice Service with the Military responsible for the logistics.

The choice of “well connected” venture capitalist Kate Bingham to lead the vaccine task force to identify the most promising candidate approaches and then spread the bets, was not without controversy. (£670K PR bill and allegations of sharing sensitive documents at a private conference). But she did pull the right expertise together.

The fact that there are any vaccines at all is down to the dedicated scientific teams who did react at an early stage as information emerged that something alarming was happening in China.

Locally this post says it all:

• 1687 – Pine Reduce eastern crown spread by 3m and remove split limb. Existing crown spread 6m, MDC 100mm 1688 – Pine Fell. 1689 – Oak Fell. 1690 – Pine Fell leaving standing deadwood at approximately 4m 1691 – Pine Reduce eastern crown spread by 3m. Existing crown spread 8m, MDC 75mm. 1692 – Chestnut Reduce height of all 4 stems by 3m. Existing height 21m, MDC 75mm. 1693 – Pine Fell leaving standing dead wood at approximately 4-5m T1 – Pine Remove two dead/split limbs in western crown overhanging garden. Reason for works: Appropriate Arb Works The Warren Woodbury Exeter EX5 1EZRef. No: 21/1174/TRE | Validated: Fri 23 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1) Sycamore group of 4 + 1. Small crown reduction to remove shoots that have grown above cuts from previous reduction leaving trees at 26 feet height. Crown lift group of 4 from no.7’s side to reduce shading by removing a 5″ thick stem; 2 co-dominant stems furthest down bank, 5″ and 6″ diameter; removing lower 2″ stems and 2 of these at 10 and 14 feet height. Aim to get overhang back to nearer edge of border beneath. T2) Holly inside house garden gate – reduce crown by 3 feet height and 6″ width T3) Bay opposite front door – crown reduce all over by up to 2 feet off longer branches to keep size in check, keep it dense and away from house. T4) Crab apple opposite back door – crown reduced to 2 feet above phone wire and free this up where possible. Cut back from house behind. T5) Pears x 2 – Crown reduce by up to 3 feet by reducing water shoots and thinning by 25%. 7 Cliff Terrace Budleigh Salterton EX9 6JYRef. No: 21/1175/TCA | Validated: Fri 23 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of condition No. 2 (approved plans) of planning permission ref: 17/0864/FUL Heatherdale Cooks Lane Axminster EX13 5SQRef. No: 21/1154/VAR | Validated: Thu 22 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Pinus Sylvestris T615 indicated as such on sketch plan: Grainge Architects Proposed Site Plan (Drawing no. 1060/102 Rev B) – felling due to extreme level of needle drop and the high likelihood of loss or damage to the Applicants’ property due to a stress fracture Oasis Toadpit Lane West Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1TRRef. No: 21/1159/TRE | Validated: Thu 22 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of conditions 2 (lighting hours) and 3 (hours of operation) of planning permission 20/0259/FUL Mercedes Benz Unit 2 Jacks Way Hill Barton Business Park Clyst St Mary Exeter Devon EX5 1FGRef. No: 21/1131/VAR | Validated: Tue 20 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of conditions 3 (lighting hours) and 4 (hours of operation) of planning permission 14/2650/FUL Unit 2 Jacks Way Hill Barton Business Park Clyst St Mary Exeter Devon EX5 1FGRef. No: 21/1130/VAR | Validated: Tue 20 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of condition No 3 (revised hours) of planning permission ref: 18/1666/COU Heaver Brothers Station Road Broadclyst Exeter EX5 3BSRef. No: 21/1136/VAR | Validated: Tue 20 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Unrestricted residential use Stantyway 18 Drupe Farm Court Exmouth Road Colaton Raleigh Sidmouth EX10 0LERef. No: 21/1128/CPE | Validated: Tue 20 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of two dormers to the south east elevation. Alterations to the existing windows and doors. Change of roof material to slate. Upwey West Hill Road West Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1UZRef. No: 21/1122/FUL | Validated: Mon 19 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Retrospective application for putting hardcore on existing track Land East Of Sunnyside MemburyRef. No: 21/1107/FUL | Validated: Mon 19 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• T5 – Monterey Cypress: remove low decayed branch back to main trunk 1 Sidleigh Sid Road Sidmouth EX10 9DERef. No: 21/1110/TRE | Validated: Mon 19 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension and conversion of roofspace to habitable use to include a rear dormer and 2 x side dormers. 114 Elmfield Crescent Exmouth EX8 3BPRef. No: 21/1103/FUL | Validated: Fri 23 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed loft conversion with front and rear dormers and single storey home office in garden Flat 2 Stanmore 36 Beer Road Seaton EX12 2PGRef. No: 21/1101/FUL | Validated: Fri 23 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of existing ATM and night safe and infill to match existing stonework 12 Rolle Street Exmouth EX8 1HDRef. No: 21/1098/FUL | Validated: Fri 23 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey garage 1 Highfield Sidmouth EX10 8XARef. No: 21/1096/FUL | Validated: Fri 23 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of 2 x non illuminated fascia signs The Range Liverton Business Park Exmouth EX8 2NRRef. No: 21/1093/ADV | Validated: Fri 23 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of adjoining garage into living space. 2 Albert Close Ottery St Mary Devon EX11 1GRRef. No: 21/1088/FUL | Validated: Wed 21 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Retrospective animal shelter, tack room & gravel access path Land Adjacent To Faraway Otterton Budleigh Salterton EX9 7HHRef. No: 21/1080/FUL | Validated: Tue 20 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of raised outdoor decking to side. The Nightjar Village Way Aylesbeare Exeter EX5 2BXRef. No: 21/1082/FUL | Validated: Fri 23 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of five dwellings and associated infrastructure (outline application seeking approval for access and scale, with matters of appearance, layout, and landscaping reserved) The Jack In The Green Inn London Road Rockbeare Exeter EX5 2EERef. No: 21/1077/OUT | Validated: Tue 20 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Demolition of stables and construction of one unit of holiday accommodation Roselow Broadclyst Exeter EX5 3BXRef. No: 21/1070/FUL | Validated: Thu 22 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Underfloor heating and new limecrete slab flooring in living/dining room and kitchen; install rooflight in north elevation extension and revised fenestration; replace 2no. windows at first floor east elevation; replace 4no. windows at ground floor south elevation; revisions to replacement 1no. door on west elevation and 1no. door on north elevation; underpin existing cob wall along north elevation Copplestones Ridgeway Sidbury Sidmouth EX10 0SFRef. No: 21/1062/LBC | Validated: Mon 19 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of open fronted general storage barn. Rose Farm Wyke Axminster EX13 8TNRef. No: 21/1058/FUL | Validated: Thu 22 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Alteration to Approval 19/0364/LBC for slate covering to lower slopes of outshot, amendments to windows and doors. Great Barton Farm Whimple Exeter EX5 2NYRef. No: 21/1048/LBC | Validated: Tue 20 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension, involving demolition of existing conservatory Ferndale The Strand Lympstone Exmouth EX8 5JSRef. No: 21/1052/LBC | Validated: Thu 22 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension, involving demolition of existing conservatory Ferndale The Strand Lympstone Exmouth EX8 5JSRef. No: 21/1051/FUL | Validated: Thu 22 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of single storey extension to provide annex New House Farm Clyst Honiton Exeter EX5 2HSRef. No: 21/1019/FUL | Validated: Thu 22 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of dwelling including demolition of existing garage and utility room, and construction of replacement garage and utility room extension, to no. 35 Northview Road 35 Northview Road Budleigh Salterton EX9 6DERef. No: 21/1005/FUL | Validated: Fri 23 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construct partition wall with door at first floor to create bathroom; re-position bedroom 1 door; remove modern balustrade/handrail to staircase and at ground floor reverse door opening into new utility/wc. Pennys Cottage Mounthill Lane Musbury Axminster EX13 8BERef. No: 21/0997/LBC | Validated: Thu 22 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of single storey extension Lower Buckley Bridge Street Sidbury Sidmouth EX10 0RYRef. No: 21/0980/FUL | Validated: Thu 22 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Reserved matters comprising layout, scale, appearance & landscaping for the erection of 5 dwellings, including the discharge of condition 8 (external lighting), condition 9 (landscaping), condition 10 (finished floor levels), condition 12 (refuse storage) and condition 14 (materials) in respect of subsequent outline application 18/0936/OUT Land To The North Of Southbrook Court Southbrook Lane WhimpleRef. No: 21/0983/RES | Validated: Mon 19 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of detached dwelling Sunny Slope Bicton Villas Exmouth EX8 1JWRef. No: 21/0953/FUL | Validated: Tue 20 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a single storey house in garden plot Sunbeams Rhode Lane Uplyme Lyme Regis DT7 3TXRef. No: 21/0970/FUL | Validated: Wed 21 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion and extension of outbuildings to create flat and part of ground floor to form office, store and integral lobby to proposed upper floor accommodation. Alterations to Chapel Street elevation to reinstate window 6 Church Street Sidmouth EX10 8LYRef. No: 21/0960/FUL | Validated: Thu 22 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion and extension of outbuildings to create flat and part of ground floor to form office, store and integral lobby to proposed upper floor accommodation and associated external and internal works. Alterations to Chapel Street elevation to reinstate window. Internal works at first and second floor levels in conjunction with conversion to form 2no flats 6 Church Street Sidmouth EX10 8LYRef. No: 21/0961/LBC | Validated: Thu 22 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use of part of garden to dog day care facility, including construction of kennel building, covered run, fenced enclosure and associated works. Hazel Cottage Farringdon Exeter EX5 2JZRef. No: 21/0913/FUL | Validated: Mon 19 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Extension of the caravan and camping site to provide serviced pitches for touring units (touring caravans, motor caravans, trailer tents and tents) with associated infrastructure including roads, hardstandings, low level lighting, security fenced caravan storage compound and landscape planting. Monkton Wyld Holiday Park Raymonds Hill DT6 6DBRef. No: 21/0932/FUL | Validated: Thu 22 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Provision of cladding 15 Isca Road Exmouth EX8 2EZRef. No: 21/0835/FUL | Validated: Thu 22 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement pump house/workshop with associated landscaping and access road. Axecliff Golf Club Axmouth Seaton EX12 4ABRef. No: 21/0813/FUL | Validated: Thu 22 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of garage with first floor annexe Harcourt Wiggaton Ottery St Mary EX11 1PTRef. No: 21/0736/FUL | Validated: Fri 23 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Demolition of existing property and construction of 3 residential dwellings The Cottage 11 Douglas Avenue Exmouth EX8 2EYRef. No: 20/2363/FUL | Validated: Mon 19 Apr 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

Local Conservatives have a nerve boasting about putting ‘meat on the bones’, when their government has both stripped funding and hoisted council tax

From the blog of Martin Shaw County Council Candidate https://seatonmatters.org/

Posted on May 3, 2021

MAJOR SLEAZE

The Conservative candidates for Seaton and Axminster, in a paid advert in the Midweek Herald, say they are working to put ‘meat on the bones’ on the services we need in the area. This is incredible hypocrisy after their government has spent over a decade stripping the same services back to the bone.

Devon County Council’s funding has been reduced by far more than £100 million per year. Highways and Libraries are on standstill funding, i.e. reducing in real terms.

Austerity is still with us

Lest you be fooled by loose talk about austerity being over, let me remind you that golden boy Rishi Sunak has made it very clear that most areas of public services will be on starvation rations for the foreseeable future. Even local NHS managers are expecting funding constraints to return with a vengeance once the Covid emergency is over. These are the Government’s political choices, while they spend lavishly in other areas.

Local cuts

When you vote, just remember that in the last few years, Seaton, Axminster and Honiton hospitals have lost their beds because of Conservative spending cuts. NHS Property Services, which owns the hospitals, spurred on my the government’s incentives for property sales, put the Seaton and Axminster hospital sites forward for housing development.

Colyton Fire Station was almost closed for the same reason. Colyton Health Centre faced possible closure because NHS PS hiked their service charges 5 times. The town’s public services could have been decimated for the sake of land sales.

Only vigorous protests by the local communities, with my support as County Councillor, have held the line in these three cases. On the other hand, Conservative councillors from East Devon voted through the cuts in hospital beds.

‘Cutting Council Tax’ – a pure lie

Local Conservatives’ nerve is almost on a par with that of the well-known liar Boris Johnson, who last week claimed that the Conservatives were ‘cutting council tax’. That will be the same Conservatives who have RAISED Devon’s council tax by 30 per cent in the last 6 years, at the same time as CUTTING services.

Boris Johnson does not necessarily have to resign as Prime Minister if he is found to have broken the ministerial code, according to foreign office minister James Cleverly.

Adam Payne www.politicshome.com 

Cleverly, the Conservative MP for Braintree, told Sky News on Monday that if Johnson is deemed to have breached the rules stipulating how ministers are expected to act when in office, it is not as “straightforward” as simply stepping down.

Cleverly said the ministerial code was “there for the guidance of the Prime Minister in appointing ministers” and that it was too “simple” to say Johnson himself should resign if an investigation finds he has breached it.

Douglas Ross MP, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, told the BBC’s Andrew Marr on Sunday that the Prime Minister should resign if is found to have breached the ministerial code.

“Of course, I think people expect the highest standards of those in the highest office of the land,” he told Marr when asked whether Johnson should step aside in those circumstances.

The Prime Minister continues to face pressure to explain who initially paid for the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat.

Johnson insists he has covered the cost of the work, which is believed to have come to £58,000, but has repeatedly dodged questions over who paid for the refurbishment in the first instance, amid claims that it was initially funded by donors to the Conservative party.

There are three investigations into the refurbishment, including an Electoral Commission probe.

However, Johnson as arbitrator of the ministerial code will get the final say on whether he has broken the rules, regardless of what the investigations looking at the refurbishment conclude.

Cleverly was reluctant to discuss what should happen if Johnson is deemed to have broken the code, telling Sky News he did not want to “speculate as to what the outcome of things might be”.

“The Prime Minister has already set out his explanation,” he said.

“He has answered the questions that have been put to him. I don’t know any more detail than what the prime minister has already said.

He added: “Until we know what’s in the report it’s pointless speculating about what actions might be taken. 

 “The way that they’ve drawn the boundaries is likely to deliver the best electoral prospects for the Tories, which literally means you’re rewarding failure.”

Jessica Murray www.theguardian.com 

Home to what was once branded the worst-run council in the country, local elections this week mark the start of a new chapter for Northamptonshire.

After years of council turmoil including bankruptcy, a corruption scandal and failing social services, when people head to the polls on Thursday they’ll be voting for the first time to elect two new unitary authorities hoping to start afresh.

It’s the first local elections in the area since 2017, after the vote was delayed first for the restructuring process and then Covid. “It’s been a long time coming, we haven’t had an election for years, so I think everybody is keen to see democracy in Northamptonshire again,” said Robin Burgess, the chief executive of the Hope Centre in Northampton, which works to address poverty in the town.

“I think there is a degree of willingness by politicians to break away from the rather tragic history [of the old councils]. They were very damaged entities and going forward, I think they all want to be seen to be new.”

Poverty has soared in Northampton, with the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the town more than doubling since the start of the pandemic, one of the sharpest increases in the country. And, with a lack of leadership and funding from local authority sources, charities and social enterprises have had to step up.

“The voluntary sector has been incredibly influential in terms of filling the void of leadership by politicians over the last couple of years because the system has been so broken locally,” said Burgess, whose charity now helps coordinate a network of 40 foodbanks across west Northamptonshire, many of which have sprung up over the past year as demand has increased.

But there is hope the two new unitary authorities, which have replaced the previous county and borough council system, will help improve services and get the area back on track again.

“We have all got a vested interest in making the new West Northants [council] successful because we’re all daily impacted by what has gone wrong,” said candidate Danielle Stone, leader of the West Northants Labour group. “I think it’s important that we renew our mandate, too. We’ve been without a mandate two years, and that’s very uncomfortable.”

But Stone is concerned the new setup means poorer urban areas such as Northampton are likely to be governed by a Conservative-majority council mainly made up of people from wealthier, rural areas. “Our concern is we’re going to be ruled by people who’ve got absolutely no understanding of our communities, and all the kind of inner-city pressures that we have to cope with on a daily basis,” she said.

Sally Keeble, a former Labour MP for Northampton North, said: “The way that they’ve drawn the boundaries is likely to deliver the best electoral prospects for the Tories, which literally means you’re rewarding failure.

“Also quite a number of the people who were responsible for what happened both in Northamptonshire [county council] and in Northampton [borough council] are standing for election again. It really beggars belief that the same people are able to sit and run the same authorities.”

In the town of Corby, which was previously the only Labour-led authority in the county and the only council to vote against the restructuring plans, there are also concerns about being incorporated into what will probably become a Conservative-controlled authority.

“Corby has got its own culture and traditions, it’s got its own needs. I think there are a number of towns scared their voices are going to be lost in this,” said Matt Keane, a Labour candidate and former mayor of Corby. Families in the town have already been hit with a council tax bill increase as reduction schemes across different council areas were brought together.

After an Ofsted report in 2019 which found child protection services in Northamptonshire were failing to keep children safe, these will remain under the control of an independent children’s trust, led since December by Colin Foster.

“It’s been the hardest few months of my professional life, if I’m honest; it’s been really tough. But we’re already making improvements and I feel quite hopeful about the future,” said Foster. “This is the best chance Northamptonshire has had in about eight years to be what communities deserve.”

Northampton Conservatives were contacted for comment.

Boris Johnson’s former top aide Eddie Lister was involved in discussions on a massive shake-up of planning laws despite being employed by two major property firms, it is claimed.

Pippa Crerar http://www.mirror.co.uk  (extract)

Industry insiders told the Mirror that the senior aide, who stepped down as No 10 came under pressure over conflicts of interest, had been advising on the proposals.

Whitehall sources also suggested that Lord Udny-Lister had been involved as the Downing Street policy team drew up the plans with Robert Jenrick’s Ministry of Housing last year……

But no parking spaces

“We cannot cram more vehicles onto the roads. Unless we blow up and redevelop the whole city, that won’t change, so the only way to support this is for developments that are car-free. This is the way forward, and these homes are badly needed so I will vote in favour.” – Cllr Rob Hannaford.

Daniel Clark, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk

All flats, no cars (courtesy: Eutopia Homes/LDRS)

Plans for 51 new apartments on vacant land at the former Exmouth Junction have been approved.

It is the second phase of the major development next to Exeter’s Morrisons supermarket to be approved after Exeter City Council’s planning committee gave the go-ahead for 400 new homes, a care home, and new green spaces in March.

The flats will be built on a brownfield site historically been a railway goods yard, rail sidings and coal concentration yard, before most recently being used for surface storage.

As part of the second phase of the development, Eutopia Homes asked for permission to add an L-shaped apartment block as a ‘gateway building’ into the main site.

The new apartment block will consist of 26 one-bedroom flats, 20 two-bedroom flats, and five three-bedroom flats, with the ground floor featuring a residents’ entrance and communal amenity area, lift to all floors, plant space and internal bike and bin store.

The flats would also have a ‘communal amenity’ on the ground floor, roof terraces, private outside space for some ground floor units, over 100 cycle spaces, and there would be improvements around the entrance to connect to existing cycle paths and widening existing footways for pedestrian access to Prince Charles Road. It will be a ‘car free’ development.

Cllr Richard Branston raised concerns over whether the scheme would be ‘over development’ and whether the car free nature would result in parking pressures in the surrounding areas. Cllr Yolanda Henson said that she didn’t think it was a high quality scheme and while there was a need for more housing, “this too big in an area and crammed in.”

But Cllr Rachel Sutton said that the council cannot get away from the fact there is a desperate need for new homes for people struggling to get on the housing ladder.

She added: “It is difficult as everyone says stop building in the suburban areas and the fringes of the city and when an application comes in for a brownfield site, people say they don’t want that either. If you don’t take brave decisions to put forward car-free development, you’ll never have car-free developments, and there is more to like than not to like.”

Cllr Rob Hannaford added: “We cannot cram more vehicles onto the roads. Unless we blow up and redevelop the whole city, that won’t change, so the only way to support this is for developments that are car-free. This is the way forward, and these homes are badly needed so I will vote in favour.”

And Cllr Ruth Williams added: “This will be ideal for people to rent properties and not to need their own transport. We have to build up rather than out as if we build out then we have to use green spaces. We are desperate to find more social housing for Exeter, and those who need homes would be welcoming this development.”

Recommending approval, the report of planning officers, said: “The proposed development is considered to be acceptable. It will be a car-free development, which is considered acceptable for the site by the Local Highway Authority, and it will therefore support the ambition of the city to be net-zero carbon by 2030. The design and scale of the building are considered to be acceptable.

“It will follow the same architectural approach as the main Exmouth Junction development and act as a ‘gateway building’ to this site. It will make effective and efficient use of the land in accordance with local and national policies. It will deliver housing helping the Council to achieve a 5 year land supply.”

Councillors voted by seven votes to four to approve the scheme.