Posted by

Posted on

4 Jun 2018

Posted under

Accountability, Hinkley C, Local Enterprise Partnership

Hinkley C “never to be repeated mistake” to be repeated!

And yet another Local Enterprise Partnership will be subsidising yet another expensive nuclear power plant with OUR money.

“The government has confirmed it is considering putting taxpayers’ money into a project to build a new nuclear power station at Wylfa in North Wales.

It’s a decision that, if taken (and it almost certainly will be), will mark a significant U-turn in the government’s approach to procuring new nuclear power.

In 2010, the government was adamant that the UK public should never have to run the risk of lengthy and costly overruns that have become a hallmark of nuclear plant construction.

In the case of Hinkley Point C in Somerset, the government made much of the fact that come what may, the UK taxpayer would be insulated from the skyrocketing costs that the contractor, EDF, had incurred on a similar plant in France.

But there was a price to pay for that taxpayer protection: very expensive electricity.

In return for shouldering all the risk, EDF demanded a price for the electricity that Hinkley will (one day) produce that is double the current going rate.

The National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee were critical of that deal and there was considerable pressure to significantly reduce the cost of power from the Wylfa plant. It’s expected it will come in around £77 per unit, compared to £92.50 for Hinkley. …“

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

4 Jun 2018

Posted under

Accountability, Audit (EDDC), Austerity cuts, Dorset, Scrutiny, Transparency

“Two Dorset councils take out [allegedly] ‘fraudulent’ high-risk loans worth over £120m”

“Campaign group Debt Resistance UK revealed that Dorset County Council and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council have taken out £123m of Lender Option Borrower Option loans (LOBOs) in an effort to reduce their debts.
Dorset County Council took out £95.9m, while Weymouth and Portland Borough Council took £27m at the end of the 2015-16 financial year.
The LOBOs, which were uncovered on Channel 4’s Dispatches documentary series, allow private banks to propose or impose a new fixed rate on a pre-determined future start date.

This means that the borrowing party can either accept the new interest rate or repay the entire loan, paying a ‘breakage penalty’—the fee a client must pay its lender to break from the contract— incurring further costs on the local authority.

Last month the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) urged local councils to review their LOBO loans after auditing firms expressed concern at their impact on local authorities’ accounts. Channel 4’s Dispatches found that over 200 authorities had used the loans, totalling up to £15bn.

Cllr John Whitworth, chair of the Newham Council Scrutiny Committee, labelled the LOBO loans a “fraud on the people,” arguing that many local authorities took out the loans when they were struggling financially during the economic downturn in 2008. He added that the loans became “a very serious handicap” on councils dealing with austerity in later years.

Debt Resistance UK campaigner Joel Benjamin noted: “it is always cheaper for government to borrow than banks, and that PFI and by extension LOBO loans are therefore a fraud.”

Last week a merger between all nine Dorset councils was approved, creating the formation of Christchurch and Poole Council and Dorset Council. The deal is expected to deliver £6m in savings.”

http://www.publicsectorexecutive.com/Public-Sector-News/two-dorset-councils-take-out-fraudulent-high-risk-loans-worth-over-120m

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

4 Jun 2018

Posted under

Accountability, DCC, EDDC

“Council leaders ‘do not want to be town hall James Bonds’ “

Who says? I know one or two council leaders who think they ARE James Bond. CORRECTION: who ARE Ernst Blofeld – the villain in On Her Majesty’s Service, no less!

“Local authorities must not become a “replacement” for the security services under the government’s updated counter-terrorism strategy, council leaders have warned.”

https://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2018/06/council-leaders-do-not-want-be-town-hall-james-bonds

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

4 Jun 2018

Posted under

Accountability, DCC, East Devon Alliance, Hugo Swire, Ian Thomas, Martin Shaw, National Parks

DCC East Devon Alliance Councillor backs East Devon National Park

“I’m putting forward a motion to the next meeting in July for the Council to support a new park, which would include the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and prepare a case for submission to the review of national parks recently announced by the Government.

I’m proposing that Devon County Council supports the creation of a Dorset and East Devon National Park

And EDDC Leader Thomas is … silent so far. And Hugo Swire is … silent so far!

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

4 Jun 2018

Posted under

Accountability, EDDC

East Devon: proud to be English, best years are past, things getting worse, most people can’t influence decisions

What a sorry state people think our country is in!

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

4 Jun 2018

Posted under

Economy, Environment (local), National Parks, Paul Diviani

“Rural businesses say the government’s review of national parks could fuel economic growth in the countryside”

This will be a REAL test of what EDDC councillors’ priorities: a clean, green environment (remember Diviani promising this years ago!)

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2015/03/30/from-the-archives-1-clean-green-and-seen-promise-east-devon-tories-in-2011/

or more concrete.

“… Country Land and Business Association president Tim Breitmeyer said boosting economic growth and productivity in designated landscapes should be at the centre of the review.

“Designated landscapes are crucial to the wellbeing of the nation, providing opportunities not only for visitors but most especially for those who live and work there,” he said.

The crucial challenge is to strike the right balance between ensuring designation that delivers natural beauty, alongside encouraging the right types of economic activity.

Together, this more positive balance will sustain these areas and create thriving communities, said Mr Brietmeyer.

“Most businesses within designated landscapes experience significant opposition and hostility to development of any kind.”

Success would see more landowners, users, park authorities and conservation boards working together to identify opportunities to deliver sensitive development, said Mr Breitmeyer.

This could help improve the use and enjoyment of these unique areas, he added.

Two-thirds of people in England live within 30 minutes of a National Park or AONB, with visitors contributing more than £6bn each year to the local economy.

Game-changing

Emma Marrington, senior rural policy campaigner at the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), described the review as “potentially game-changing”.

It was an opportunity to shine the spotlight on national parks and AONBs – and to consider whether there should be new additions to the current network of designated landscapes. …”

http://www.rsnonline.org.uk/rural-groups-react-to-national-park-review

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

4 Jun 2018

Posted under

Austerity cuts, Economy, Education (local), Inequality

Young people stuck in low-paid, insecure jobs

And that’s why “great employment figures” are not to be trusted.

“… The number of 21- to 30-year-olds working in precarious, often low-paid work has exploded, according to the report. In that 20-year period, numbers of young people working in private social care has increased by 104%, while in hotels and restaurants the figure is 80%. The generational pay gap has increased in real terms from £3,140 in 1998 to £5,884 in 2017 for someone working a 40-hour week. …”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jun/04/growing-gulf-between-pay-of-younger-and-older-people-says-tuc

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

3 Jun 2018

Posted under

Accountability, Hugo Swire, Sleaze

Comments

1 Comment

Beware the close pals of your close pals …

Swire is a 50% director of a company planning to invest in energy projects in emerging markets with Lord Barker:

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2018/05/20/swire-and-lord-barker-linked-to-russian-military-and-oligarchs-appear-to-be-in-business-together-a-business-apparently-not-on-his-register-of-interests/

Lord Barker is facing pressure to resign as chair of the Russian aluminium giant En+ owned by sanction-hit billionaire Oleg Deripaska.

Here is what the Sunday Times has to say about Mr Deripaska today in an article headed: ” ‘Dirty money’ probe targets oligarchs”:

” … aluminium tycoon Oleg Deripaska, who is worth more than £2.6 billion and whose company En+ Group is listed on the Lindon Stock Exchange … was accused of illegal wiretapping, extortion, racketeering, money laundering, and threats against business rivals. …”

Source: Sunday Times (pay wall)

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

2 Jun 2018

Posted under

Accountability, Clinton Devon Estates, EDDC, Health and Social Care (local), Newton Poppleford, NHS (local), Rural communities

Surprise, surprise – no new GP surgery in Newton Poppleford even after houses linked to its construction are completed!

Press Release:

“Statement From Coleridge Medical Centre and Clinton Devon Estates

To: Newton Poppleford Parish Council, District and County Council Representatives

Dear Paul

Please distribute to all Parish Councillors/add to Parish Council website/Newsletter

A statement from the Coleridge Medical Centre and Clinton Devon Estates regarding the proposed new medical centre in Newton Poppleford, near Sidmouth.

The Ottery St Mary-based Coleridge Medical Centre has withdrawn its interest in renting a proposed new GP surgery in the East Devon village of Newton Poppleford which was to be built by the landowner Clinton Devon Estates near to a development of 40 new homes at King Alfred Way.

A spokesman for the Coleridge Medical Centre said:

“It is with some regret that we have made a decision to withdraw from the intended move to new premises at King Alfred Way. Since 2012/2013, when this project first started, GP care and strategy for premises has evolved considerably across the country with much more emphasis on innovative ways of working and a broadening range of co-located staff to provide specialist support and in shared premises. Any changes to the existing premises landscape are referenced to move us towards, rather than away from, that deemed nationally as best practice for our populations.

We would like to thank the residents of Newton Poppleford for supporting the provision of a new branch surgery and to Clinton Devon Estates for committing to provide a building. We would also like to thank NHS England and NEW Devon CCG in assisting us reach this decision.

We are currently working with commissioners at NHS England and NEW Devon CCG to consider how best to meet the needs, not only of the people in the Newton Poppleford area but to our wider practice population. At this time we intend to continue to run the existing branch surgery within the village, while reviewing options for developing and integrating services in the longer term as the population grows and general practice continues to evolve.”

Planning approval for the GP surgery near to 40 new homes, 16 of which are designated as affordable housing for local people, was granted by the Planning Inspectorate in March 2017.

Leigh Rix, Head of Property and Land for Clinton Devon Estates, said: “As an organisation that has a very long association with this area we strive for sustainable development to help communities prosper for years to come. As well as providing a good mix of new open market and affordable homes, we had been very keen to provide a modern GP building for the village.
“After almost six years of jointly developing plans and specifications for a new surgery, it is understandably very disappointing that the Coleridge Medical Practice have felt unable to proceed in the current circumstances.

“Over the coming weeks, we will review the options available to us with our development partner Cavanna Homes.”

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

2 Jun 2018

Posted under

Accountability, Austerity cuts, Post-Brexit Adjustments

How to buy British nationality

Just be rich … doesn’t matter how you got rich, just have the moolah!

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/02/citizenship-by-investment-passport-super-rich-nationality

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

2 Jun 2018

Posted under

Accountable Care Organisation, Austerity cuts, Integrated Care Systems, NHS (local), Privatisation

A surgeon speaks on community hospitals and NHS privatisation

“David Halpin FELLOW OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS knows what is needed – see his letter………

LETTER sent by DAVID HALPIN FRCS to the WESTERN MORNING NEWS

Dear Letters Editor, 25th April 2018

I reply to the letter from B Gelder (WMN April 23rd) entitled ‘Cottage Hospitals ease strain on the NHS.’ I have written before on this vital subject and listed their functions.

Recovery from serious illness or major operations requires loving and professional care, good nutrition and sound sleep. These were provided in good Community Hospitals. The last thing patients might get in the District General Hospital is a good night’s sleep. The noise, the moving of beds and the distress of disorientated patients do not allow sleep.

This retreat, supposedly for economy, from past high standards is part of what I call the ‘atomising’ of all that we hold dear. The dogmas of capitalism win out all the time. ‘Private good, public bad’. So with the privatisation of OUR railways under the Major government, the wheels were stupidly separated from the tracks to meet EU competition rules. There are about 3000 separate contractors working on the permanent way. There are probably more ‘contractors’ working in OUR NHS.

This is a sign of these shabby and confused times. Walking to Paddington Station past St Mary’s Hospital where I qualified as a doctor in 1964, I saw an ambulance – ‘NHS working in partnership with DHL.’

I understand that Teignmouth Community Hospital is likely to be closed completely. That catch phrase ‘not fit for purpose’ is being applied – ‘going forward’. The Philistines who order this will know that the original hospital was bombed by the Luftwaffe. Seven patients and three nurses were killed. They do not ‘remember them’. The first hospital to be built by the NHS, when the UK was on its uppers, was Teignmouth Hospital. Patients were treated for acute illness there by good GPs, nurses and physiotherapists, and others taken for further care from the big hospitals. It is being bombed again.

When this good hospital, with its views over Lyme Bay, becomes a 5 storey block of ‘luxury’ flats and second homes, the capital from the sale of the site will disappear in a puff of smoke. Taxpayers money is being burned in the NHS. The non-clinical staff in one Devon hospital now outnumber the clinical staff – nurses, physios, doctors etc. Watch BBC’s ‘Hospital’ from Nottingham as a quart fails to be squeezed into a pint pot. The proliferation of managerial personnel with unusual titles is excruciating and the distress of patients likewise.”

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

1 Jun 2018

Posted under

Accountability, Conflict of interest, Scrutiny, Sleaze, Transparency

Standards, what standards?

“Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will not face any sanctions after apologising twice for the late reporting of his interest in a property company.

Parliamentary standards commissioner Kathryn Stone ruled that although Mr Hunt had breached the MP’s code of conduct, his offence was “at the less serious end of the spectrum”.

The MP took “full responsibility” for his misinterpretation of the rules.

She decided against referring him to the Commons Committee on Standards.

Her inquiry followed a complaint by Labour MP John Trickett.

Mr Hunt was criticised in April for failing to record his involvement in Mare Pond Properties in the MPs’ register of interests within a 28-day time limit.

Watchdog investigates Hunt’s conduct

The Conservative cabinet minister apologised at the time and then did so again in person after admitting to Ms Stone he was a day late in registering the company’s purchase of seven luxury flats in Southampton.

According to her report, Mr Hunt said Mare Pond was initially “a shell company with no assets or value”.

While declaring his involvement to his department and the Cabinet Office, he wrongly believed it was not necessary to register his interest until it became operational with the purchase of the flats

In a letter to Mr Trickett, Ms Stone said: “I consider Mr Hunt’s acknowledgement of his breach of paragraph 13 of the code and his apology to be an appropriate outcome. This matter is now closed.”

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

1 Jun 2018

Posted under

Accountability, DCC, Health and Social Care (local), Integrated Care Systems, NHS (local), Sarah Randall Johnson, Scrutiny, Transparency

DCC Health and Social Care “Scrutiny” – Claire Wright continues her battle

“Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee meeting: A PACKED AGENDA….

I asked for several items, including the future of our community hospitals, the plight of local carers, the local NHS deficit and what is being done to reduce it.

Also, on the agenda is how the local NHS coped with winter pressures (something I have asked for, for months and even resorted to a Freedom Of Information request on – it was refused, I have issued a formal complaint)……..

I have been really disappointed in recent months and years at what I see as a systemic lack of accountability in the NHS. As a Health Scrutiny Committee member, I would expect to get straight answers to straight questions at meetings, but unfortunately this rarely happens, which is why I was forced to submit a Freedom of Information request about a basic set of data tables relating to winter pressures.

I will not hesitate to do this again.

The report on carers starts on page 55 of the link below. This came about after I read a detailed survey and saw that local people who are caring for loved ones may not feel very supported.

I subsequently had a meeting with senior officers and saw the raw (anonymised) data from local focus groups. It was disturbing and it appeared to me that many local carers are having a really hard time managing, because of the government’s austerity agenda. I asked for the report to be referred to the Health Scrutiny Committee, but was told this wasn’t possible as consent had not been given by the participants of the focus group.

A version of the report has been submitted instead. I am pleased that a number of measures have been put in place by officers to try and improve matters, however, I have already told senior officers that leaving out the comments has meant that the voice of carers has been lost, in my view.

I believe that there should have been an attempt to secure retrospective consent for the publication of the report, as without a proper voice, the government will simply carry on ignoring carers’ plight – and they deserve better.

If you want to read the reports – and if you care about our NHS I would urge you to! The link is here
http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx

Members of the public are permitted to address the committee in the 15 minute slot at the beginning of the meeting, but need to register four days ahead to do so. Email Gerry.rufolo@devon.gov.uk

The meeting starts at 2.15pm on Thursday 7 June. It will be webcast from this link:

https://devoncc.public-i.tv/core/portal/home

and archived afterwards.

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

1 Jun 2018

Posted under

Accountability, Developers/ Development, EDDC, Fords of Sidmouth, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury, Transport (local)

Sidford residents say resounding no to new industrial zone in village

“Residents and representatives blasted fresh plans for a business park between Sidford and Sidbury this week.

The reduced outline application failed to win over civic leaders and members of the public as it was unanimously opposed by Sidmouth Town Council’s planning committee on Wednesday.

Access, inadequate roads and flooding risk were among the reasons.

More than 150 residents, as well as town, district and county council representatives packed into Sidford Social Hall.

A change of use is being sought for the agricultural site, in Two Bridges Road, to provide 8,445sqm of employment floorspace.

District councillor Marianne Rixson said there was ‘zero requirement’ for the development and that the A375 was not wide enough to cope with traffic. She claimed the ‘only beneficiaries’ from the scheme would be the applicants, not ‘the people of the Sid Valley, nor the local economy’.

“It’s all about greed, not need,” added Cllr Rixson.

John Loudoun, of Sidbury, said it was ‘laudable’ for the applicants to promote alternative transport to the site, but the details were vague.

He added: “This is the wrong development in the wrong place. I support the need for local infrastructure – but not there. It will not be good for Sidford and I can assure you it will not be good for Sidbury.”

David Addis backed the application and said: “The Sid Valley needs to have a future supporting our families and the families that come after us. It should not just be a place for retired people or a holiday destination – we need a diverse economy.”

Joseph Marchant, agent for the applicant, said concerns from the previous proposals, submitted in 2016, had been listened to, adding: “It is quite substantially different, there is a huge reduction in volume. It represents 37 per cent of what was previously submitted. The volume of buildings would provide for 250 jobs and that is important in terms of providing the need identified in your allocated Local Plan as a district.”

Councillor Ian McKenzie-Edwards, who represents Sidford, said: “We know how busy that road gets. Putting this employment site where it is projected is going to exacerbate traffic. It’s going to lower the quality of life. The village of Sidbury; the traffic there is horrendous sometimes.”

Cllr Ian Barlow recommended that the council did not support the plans over the same concerns expressed about the 2016 application.

He said: “It is in the Local Plan, we know it is, and we fought to keep it out. Mistakes were made and we have seen it already. The Local Plan is a massive document and no council, however good or bad, can get it all right. If it is wrong, change it and have the guts to admit the mistake was made. It is a stupid place to put it. It’s expensive to build, it’s not required, certainly not the size of it – there has been no demand proved.”

A public meeting over the plans is due to be held in Sidford Social Hall on Tuesday, at 6.30pm.

The fate of the application will be decided by the district council.”

http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/resounding-no-for-sidford-business-park-proposal-1-5542075

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

1 Jun 2018

Posted under

Accountability, Developers/ Development, Scrutiny, Transparency

“Town council ordered to disclose contract with developer for sports complex sale” [for housing]

“The First-tier Tribunal has upheld a decision by the Information Commissioner’s Office that required a town council to disclose a contract entered into more than five years ago with a developer over the multi-million pound sale of a sports complex.

The case of Hemsworth Town Council v Information Commissioner & (Dismissed : Freedom of Information Act 2000) [2018] UKFTT 2017_0120 (GRC) involved conjoined appeals as the separate requests for information were materially identical.

The requests centred on the contract between Saul Construction, the developer, and Hemsworth Town Council in respect of the sale of the Hemsworth Sports Complex.

Entered into in early 2011, the development was to consist of more than 150 homes. It was agreed that the town council would take over a new community centre and new football facilities. That has happened.

Planning permission was sought for the site but was quashed by the High Court. Permission has been re-granted but is the subject of another judicial review.

Because of the hiatus caused by the judicial reviews, Saul Construction has refused to complete the contract. Title therefore remains with the council. The developer has paid £360,000 pursuant to a section 106 agreement and paid part of the contract price. Some £1.4m remains outstanding from the purchase price. The council and the developer are seeking to renegotiate the contract.

The requesters are local residents who have expressed concern about various environmental issues resulting from the sale and loss of open space.

The town council refused their request, arguing that the documents were exempt from disclosure under s. 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which covers commercial interests. This was upheld on review.
When the solicitors to one of the requesters cited the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (“EIR”), the council relied on the exemption in regulation 12(5)(e) (legitimate economic interests). It did not however explain why.

On review, the council maintained its decision and argued that the public interest favoured withholding the requested information.

After receiving a complaint, the ICO concluded that the EIR, rather than FOIA, applied.

The ICO decided that the town council had failed to discharge the burden on it of establishing that regulation 12(5)(e) was engaged. “With regard to legitimate economic interests, under Tribunal caselaw it had to be shown that, on the balance of probabilities, adverse effects would accrue.” [Tribunal’s emphasis]

The authority had failed to identify any specific adverse effects arising from the disclosure of the disputed information (or parts of it), the ICO found. It concluded therefore that it did not need to apply the public interest test.

Hemsworth Town Council appealed, but this has now been rejected by the First-tier Tribunal.”

http://localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35511%3Atown-council-ordered-to-disclose-contract-with-developer-for-sports-complex-sale&catid=59&Itemid=27

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

1 Jun 2018

Posted under

Accountability, Conflict of interest, Lobbying

Dirty money?

“Tories take Putin’s pal £50,000… on the day Theresa May blamed Russia for Skripal poisoning”

… On the very day Mrs May was firmly pointing a finger at Vladimir Putin over the Salisbury murder bid, a former Kremlin aide’s wife ploughed the cash into the Tory party’s coffers.

And Lubov Chernukhin gave a further £50,000 to the Conservatives as police investigated the assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia – bringing the total donated in the two weeks after the poisoning to £100,000.

Lubov’s husband Vladimir is Putin’s former deputy finance minister.

Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable branded the payment “sheer hypocrisy”.

He said: “The Conservatives should have returned the money straightaway.

The very least they can do is return this now.”

Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery added: “It smacks of hypocrisy for Theresa May to accept tens of thousands of pounds from a donor with links to Putin’s regime on the same day she denounced the Kremlin over the Salisbury attack.

“The Tories need to come clean with the public about what checks they have made on the wealth amassed by their super-rich donors.”

It comes after we revealed two Tory peers – Lord Hague and Lord Barker – are both earning thousands of pounds a year from firms slammed by MPs over links to the Kremlin.

Lubov’s gift was on March 12, according to official records seen by the Mirror.

… When she took office in July 2016, the PM said it would not be “business as usual” with Russian donors amid growing tensions between Moscow and the West. But her party has since received more than £800,000 from Russian-linked supporters.

Banker Lubov alone has donated more than £600,000 since 2010.

It is understood she has lived here for many years and is a British citizen. There is no suggestion she has no right to donate to the Tory party. …”

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tories-given-50000-kremlin-aide-12630498

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: