Author Archives: East Devon Watch

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6 Jul 2017

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Accountability, DUP, General Election, Lobbying, Post-Brexit Adjustments, Scrutiny, Sleaze, Transparency, Voting

DUP funding secrecy to be stopped – but not for massive Brexit loan

Owl says: Two parties working together, both using dirty money to buy votes and manipulate power – are East Devon Tory voters happy with this?

“When the law over political donations was overhauled (or rather, introduced – as it had previously been pretty much a secret free-for-all), an exception was made for Northern Ireland. The requirements for transparency of donations in the rest of the UK* was not applied to Northern Ireland as, still fresh from its years of bloody violence, it was felt by many that forcing political donors to be named was not yet appropriate.

That secrecy has, however, come under recent sustained criticism as it has opened up a loophole for secret donations to impact not only elections in Northern Ireland but also UK-wide contests. In particular, a secret £435,000 donation to the DUP went on campaigning in favour of Brexit across the whole UK.

Now, however, the government has announced that donations in Northern Ireland will be subject to the same transparency rules as in the rest of the UK.

One catch – up until now, the source of large secret donations has still had to be recorded even if not published. The government’s plan is for those records to remain secret despite the Electoral Commission’s calls for transparency over donations made in recent years too. So the full story of that £435,000 for the Brexit referendum may never be known.

* This transparency is not perfect, as continuing disputes over unincorporated associations in particular demonstrates, but it is pretty widespread.”

https://www.markpack.org.uk/150676/northern-ireland-political-donations-transparency/

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6 Jul 2017

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Accountability, Lobbying, Voting

Company Chairman stumps up cash when shareholders object to political donation

“After a shareholder revolt, the chairman of a City firm which made £25,000 worth of donations to Conservative candidates has agreed to reimburse the firm for the money given:

The chairman of City trading outfit NEX is paying back the £25,000 of shareholders funds the company donated to Tory election candidates in an attempt to keep out Remain backing Liberal Democrat MPs, including Sir Vince Cable.

Charles Gregson said he would refund the money from his own pocket following consultations with investors and governance groups…

NEX, run by former Tory Party Treasurer Michael Spencer, targeted seats where sitting Tories enjoyed narrow majorities over Liberal Democrat challengers, including Twickenham, which Sir Vince ultimately won back from the sitting Conservative MP Tania Mathias…

Pirc, which advises investors with billions of pounds under management, said it believed this to be an inappropriate use of shareholders cash in a critical report issued ahead of the company’s AGM.

[The Independent]

https://www.markpack.org.uk/150680/nex-conservative-party-donations/

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5 Jul 2017

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Accountability, DCC, Democracy, Health and Social Care (local), NHS (local), Scrutiny, Sustainability, Transparency

Councillors turn on head of NHS: claim too much top-down cost-cutting and secrecy

“Councils have turned on the NHS over “secretive, opaque and top-down” reforms that they say will fail patients.

Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, has staked his tenure on co-ordinating care more effectively and has said that local authorities are crucial to the process because they oversee public health and social care for the elderly.

However, only a fifth of councils think the plans will succeed amid widespread complaints that they have been shut out of the process by the NHS, according to a survey by the Local Government Association.

Not one councillor who responded said they had been very involved in drawing up plans and nine out of ten said the process had been driven from Whitehall rather than locally. Cultural clashes with a “command and control” NHS that did not trust elected councillors meant that more local authorities believed the process was harming social care than helping it.

Mr Stevens has created 44 “sustainability and transformation partnerships” (STPs) where hospitals and GPs are meant to plan with councils on how to improve care and help close a £22 billion black hole in the NHS budget. However, four out of five councillors said the system was not fit for purpose and criticised the NHS for prioritising cost-cutting and closing hospital units over preventing illness.

Izzi Seccombe of the Local Government Association said: “Many councillors have been disappointed by the unilateral top-down approach of the NHS in some of the STP areas. As our survey results show, the majority of local politicians who responded feel excluded from the planning process. If local politicians and communities are not engaged then we have serious doubt over whether STPs will deliver.”

Half the 152 councils with social care responsibilities responded to the survey and 81 councillors with responsibility for health contributed. “The way in which the STP has been handled (top down, secretive, lack of engagement) has harmed relationships between the council and some NHS colleagues,” one said.

The NHS simply does not understand the decision-making of local government
Another said: “It is entirely driven from the top, via budget pressures. The process has been overly secretive and opaque. It has got in the way of closer working between councils and health.”

Councillors criticised STPs as “complex and full of jargon”, saying “the NHS simply does not understand the decision-making of local government”.

Ms Seccombe said that in a centralised NHS, managers often did not want to share information with party political councils accountable to local voters, saying that the process was “trying to mix oil and water”.

Chris Ham, chief executive of the King’s Fund think tank, said: “This survey suggests worrying numbers of council leaders are still frustrated by the process and lacking in confidence in their local plan. A huge effort is now needed to make up lost ground.”

A spokesman for NHS England said: “By creating STPs we have issued a massive open invitation to those parts of local government willing to join forces, while recognising that local politics can sometimes make this harder. The fact that public satisfaction is more than twice as high for the NHS as it is for social care underlines the real pressure on councils. It should serve as a wake-up call to every part of the country about the importance of joint working.”

Source: The Times (paywall)

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5 Jul 2017

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Accountability, Democracy, DUP, East Devon Tories, Hugo Swire

Swire defends Tory/DUP deal – calls May and Foster a ‘feminist coalition’ and says Foster ‘a good woman’ who even drinks alcohol

Owl says: there is loads more of this twaddle on his website if you can bear to read it. If you voted for him, really you need to work out why.

“Sir Hugo Swire has defended the controversial Tory deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and called party leader Arlene Foster a “thoroughly decent woman”.

… Swire, the MP for East Devon and a junior minister in Northern Ireland under the first Cameron Government, says the DUP will “lie low” on issues such as same sex marriage.

He has hailed the parliamentary arithmetic of the minority government for allowing the emergence a new “feminist coalition” on women’s rights.

… He said he “knows and likes” First Minister Arlene Foster well and has urged people to give the deal a chance.

“I would count her as a friend as I do many of her colleagues,” Mr Swire added.

“The DUP under her is now much more socially progressive. It no longer represents the bigoted and sectarian Anti-Catholic sentiments of the Rev Ian Paisley. Arlene is not even a member of the Orange Order.

“In Belfast the DUP is increasingly reflective of the population that votes for it, which includes thousands of non-churchgoing Protestants. Arlene is an Anglican like Theresa May and a Lawyer, she has Catholic and gay friends and drinks alcohol. I have shared a glass or two with her myself over the years. She is patriotic and pro-monarchy like most Conservatives. She sees her place within the United Kingdom as her key to survival. She is a thoroughly decent woman.”

http://www.devonlive.com/mp-hugo-swire-says-dup-deal-could-allow-feminist-coalition-on-reproductive-freedoms/story-30425308-detail/story.html

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5 Jul 2017

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Accountability, Democracy, EDDC, Scrutiny, Spin, Transparency

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Local authorities must submit to robust scrutiny says Communities Secretary

… conveniently forgetting that it has always been his job to ensure that this happens!

“Local government needs to open up and raise its game, Sajid Javid has told the Local Government Association’s annual conference.

Delivering a keynote address to the gathering in Birmingham yesterday, Javid highlighted the “serious failings” that emerged in the aftermath of the Grenfell tower fire in west London and said he wanted to reflect on what had gone wrong in local government.

“If the events of the past few weeks have taught us anything, it’s that we have to raise our game,” he said. “The ties that bind local government to local communities have not snapped. But if we don’t act now, such a time may one day be upon us.”

Councils would not be able to rebuild and reinforce trust with local communities if they hid away from public scrutiny.

“If people are going to trust their elected representatives, they have to see them working in the harsh light of the public eye, not in comforting shadows behind closed doors.

“Not only must democracy exist, it must be seen to exist. It can’t be about decisions made in private meeting rooms… local government must show it is for the people – not just of the people.” …”

Words – so much easier than action, as we well know in East Devon.

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5 Jul 2017

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Accountability, Democracy, Hugo Swire

If only Swire stood up for East Devon in Parliament the way he does for Northern Ireland

Question in Parliament 3 July 2017:

“Is it not the simple truth that, whereas the Democratic Unionist party has managed to obtain £1 billion from the Treasury to spend on the people of Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin—Gerry Adams and those at Connolly House who are refusing to re-form the Executive—will be in no position to ensure that their constituents receive an equal share of that money, because there will be no Sinn Féin Minister in the Executive, and the money will be spent either by Ministers in this place or by civil servants in Northern Ireland?”

3 July
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-07-03a.898.7&s=speaker%3A11265#g905.5

Perhaps if he substituted “Local Enterprise Partnership” for DUP, Hinkley C for Northern Ireland and ” people of East Devon” for ” people of East Devon” for “their constituents” we might feel we had value for money from our MP – an MP who doesn’t think his post is even a full time job:

https://www.hugoswire.org.uk/news/blog-greed-george-osborne

Less time hitting back at the woman who fired him and more of his – one of his many jobs – time on us, perhaps.

Has he forgotten that he is no longer a Minister – when he said he couldn’t talk about East Devon constituency in Parliament – and isn’t it time he remembered he is just an ordinary constituency MP?

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4 Jul 2017

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, DCC, Education (local), Inequality, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

Sidmouth mum exposes the reality of education cuts at primary academy school

Received by Owl:

“I wonder whether you’re aware/ could draw attention to the fallout from the budget cuts in our local school.

Parents discovered today that at Sidmouth Primary School funding cuts are having a direct impact on the children and structure of the school. They have had to reduce the number of classes in the school so children are being taught in mixed Year classes: Years 3&4; 5&6. This cost-cutting exercise means that teachers will be teaching an incredibly broad spread of abilities within the same class: they will have to differentiate hugely to cater for the weakest Year 5 and strongest Year 6 pupil for instance. Classes are heading towards 30 so it’s not as if these mixed groups are resulting in smaller groups.

When the school became an academy parents were told that this would mean more autonomy and access to more funds. This clearly has not materialised yet the former headteacher now seems to be sporting the title of ‘Executive Headteacher’. I imagine that his salary could cover the cost of a couple of those disbanded classes…”

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4 Jul 2017

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Austerity cuts, Rural communities

Rural banks gone, now rural cash machines at risk

From AOL Money website:

“The supermarkets are warning that the days of free ATMs could soon be over – especially for those in rural areas. People living in less densely populated places tend to rely on free ATMs in shops, supermarkets or petrol stations – as the last bank in town is long gone. It means that if the retailers lose an appeal against the government, they could lose their fee-free access to cash.

The problem is that shops make money from their cash machines – even when they are free to use – and in 2013, the government decided it wanted a piece of the action. It issued a huge tax bill, and put the future of the network in jeopardy.

Tax

Retailers don’t run these cash machines out of the goodness of their hearts – they actually make money from them. They haven’t gone public with exactly what they make from their machines, but we know that the ATM operator will pay them either by paying rental on the space, paying a flat fee, paying a percentage of each transaction – or a combination of all three.

In 2013, the government noted that the network had grown dramatically and presented them with a new way to make money, so it started to charge business rates on cash machines attached to shops. It sent bills to the supermarkets that were backdated to April 2010. The cost for each machine comes to an estimated £2,800, so the total bill for Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Co-operative group runs to hundreds of millions of pounds.

To make matters worse, the recent revaluation of business rates has pushed the cost of operating ATMs even higher, so they will have to pay £206 million for the next five years.

The supermarkets didn’t take this lying down, and took the government to court in order to claw back the tax they had been forced to pay out on their cash machines. Unfortunately in April the courts decided in favour of the government – so the bills will have to be paid. They have now filed an appeal.

The impact

If this appeal fails, ATMs will become much less lucrative for the supermarkets, and for any petrol station or shop that currently offers a free ATM. It may put them off operating them altogether, and where they decide to continue providing the machines, it could mean they start charging a fee in order to cover their tax bills.

For many people, who have seen the last bank leave town, this could mean that aside from getting cashback in stores, they have no alternative to an ATM that charges a fee.

We will have to see whether the appeal succeeds, or whether for this group of people, the days of free ATMs are over forever.”

https://t.co/Mnrql9OdJC

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4 Jul 2017

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Health and Social Care (local), NHS (local)

Clinical Commissioning Group – a sinking ship taking us with it

“THE Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group and the Success Regime are both set to lose high ranking members of their teams.

Chief Executive of the Sustainability and Transformation Plan Angela Pedder and Chief Officer of the CCG Janet Fitzgerald are both set to leave later this year, while Chairman of the Eastern and Mid Devon Locality Dr David Jenner has already left his position after announcing his plans in January.

The CCG stress that the three resignations are unrelated and entirely separate cases.

Janet Fitzgerald asked to be released from her contract early due to ill health and will officially be leaving her role on August 4th. She was on a year long fix term contract and decided to end it early.

Angela Pedder resigned from her role as chief executive for the Devon STP on May 31st. Ms Pedder has worked for the NHS for 42 years and spent the last 18 months as chair of the Success Regime. She was at times labelled ‘Public Enemy No 1’ by angry protesters in relation to the closing of hospital beds across East Devon.

Following her resignation, Ms Pedder said: “I had always planned to rebalance working life during 2017, on reaching 60. The STP is a key element of the NHS Five-Year Forward View, which will see big changes to the health and care system in the years to come.

“Our plan is now sufficiently developed, with strong clinical and managerial leadership in place to take it forward.

“I feel privileged and proud to have worked for the NHS for more than 40 years. I have been pleased to have led the improvements the Devon system has achieved within the success regime and STP.”

Ms Pedder, who was previously chief executive at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, also paid tribute to the ‘dedicated’ staff and group leaders across the health and social care system.

Mrs Fitzgerald, who will leave her role in August, said: “It has been a privilege to work with a strong , skilled and committed executive team, who have not only been unfaltering in their support of me, but who will confidently lead the CCG through out next phase of development.”

Dr Tim Burke, NEW Devon CCG chairman, said Janet had had an ‘enormous impact on the organisation’.

Dr David Jenner tendered his resignation at the end of March, after announcing his plans earlier in the year, saying: “Life, it seems, has entered a different phase.

“This has caused me to pause; to consider how I can best use my time in future to benefit my patients, my local population and, I am not ashamed to say, myself and family too.”

Dr Jenner added: “My decision is unconnected with any dissatisfaction regarding my role or the direction of the CCG.

“Indeed, I have already offered to remain a ‘friend of the CCG’ over the coming months and you will probably still see me on the TV or hear me on the radio in my GP role.”

Pulman’s View from approached the CCG regarding rumours that Angela Pedder, Janet Fitzgerald and Dr David Jenner were all leaving the organisation following a passing comment from a regular contributor.

There was no information on the CCG’s website or social media regarding the three high profile members leaving their posts.”

https://www.viewnews.co.uk/new-devon-ccg-success-regime-set-lose-prominent-members-teams/

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4 Jul 2017

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Developers/ Development, EDDC, Exmouth, Grenadier, Philip Skinner, Regeneration

Grenadier test drills on Exmouth seafront

Let’s hope (or not) that they don’t come across too many sink holes!

“An environmental site investigation is being carried out on Exmouth seafront by Grenadier Estates ahead of submitting a planning application for a new watersports centre. Grenadier Estates are currently working on proposals for a new Watersports Centre on Queen’s Drive as part of the multi-million pound redevelopment plans for the seafront.

Ahead of submitting a formal planning application, Grenadier Estates have been granted a temporary licence by East Devon District Council to carry out environmental site investigations on the seafront.

An East Devon District Council spokesman said: “Works will involve the drilling, monitoring and sampling of boreholes in accordance with an agreed method statement. This activity is standard practice in the run up to a planning process and the information from the investigations will be used to inform the detail of Grenadier’s planning application. …

… Nick Hookway, Save Exmouth Seafront spokesman, Why are the council carrying on with the proposals when there is no developer interested, apart from the watersports centre which is just a small part of the plan.

“When the fun park closes, the rest of the seafront will just be derelict and it is horrifying the thought of the seafront being all boarded up.

“We are concerned that the area will be left empty and there will be an air of dereliction about the whole site. Why should Exmouth residents have to put up with a derelict seafront as a result of this? There is already an air of dereliction on the site as metal hoardings appear. This is a situation that will get worse when these last two businesses close.

… Cllr Philip Skinner, East Devon District Council’s Portfolio holder for the Economy, said: “We have said on a number of occasions that residents will be consulted fully on what is proposed for this vital site on the wonderful seafront of Exmouth. We want to see investment and new, more modern activities there for everyone to enjoy. We look forward to shortly signing an agreement with the watersports centre developer Grenadier who will reveal their building designs soon. Following a period of full public consultation, the proposed watersports centre development will go through the planning decision process later this year.

“We have already received planning permission to build the new road and car park which can begin once a decision on the watersports centre is made. Phase three of the project will see further public consultation independent of any developer and the public’s views will be sought as to what they would like to see there. Everyone will get a number of opportunities to have their say. …”

http://www.devonlive.com/watersports-centre-for-exmouth-seafront-plans-move-a-step-closer/story-30423327-detail/story.html

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4 Jul 2017

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Cranbrook, Developers/ Development, EDDC

First impressions of Cranbrook expansion plans

“Jill Ellis said: “This will make traffic chaos from Cranbrook to the A30 a massive problem. There are already so many accidents because of the layout of the junction. This will get much worse.”

Mac McLaren said: “This planned expansion of Cranbrook has been expressed since the inception. It wont end with the 1200 dwellings, but grow massively, with extra `travellers sites` . The current highways structure does not cause RTC`s, its the drivers. Where better could developers chose for the housing that is required?”

Alan Grace said: “Next week, they will be asking where the wildlife has gone – butterflies are suddenly disappearing, and bird numbers dropping. And the other great question, is why the hospitals and roads can’t cope?”

Rachel Perram said: “Oh the glamour keeps on coming. What about the amazing and vibrant high street and community feel promised by EDDC planners when Cranbrook was in the offing?”

Veronica Anstey: “Don’t like, they keep going on about global warming, yet we are allowing our countryside to be destroyed disgusting.”

Gill Hargrove said: “What about all the extra traffic, roads will be grid locked.”

http://www.devonlive.com/cranbrook-expansion-plans-draw-criticism-from-devonlive-reader/story-30422811-detail/story.html

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4 Jul 2017

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Accountability, Police (local)

“Who is Alison Hernandez? The ex-cannabis smoker and gangsta rap fan who became police commissioner?”

When your local newspaper runs articles like this, you know that there is a serious problem. It really is time for this incompetent and rather witless person to be replaced.

“Devon and Cornwall Police Commissioner Alison Hernandez has been embroiled in controversy ever since her appointment to the post last year.

She caused consternation yesterday when she said members of the public with guns could form ‘some of our solution’ to terrorism in isolated rural areas.

The post of Police Commissioner is in itself controversial, but current incumbent Ms Hernandez has increased scrutiny of the role after a string of controversies.

She has been the subject of an investigation by the police, admitted to smoking cannabis and has a penchant for gangsta rappers N.W.A – who sang ‘F*** da police’ on their debut album, which launched the careers of Dr Dre and Eazy-E and Ice Cube.

The police investigation into allegations she failed to properly declare expenses was referred to criminal investigators and the CPS.

She was accused of failing to properly declare election expenses when employed as the election agent for Conservative MP Kevin Foster during the 2015 General Election.

However, the CPS decided to take no further action against Ms Hernandez, or former Plymouth Tory MP Oliver Colvile, or Cornwall Conservatives George Eustice and Scott Mann

The Tory police and crime commissioner (PCC) has also revealed she was a one-time “fly girl” and a fan of California rap outfit NWA (Niggaz Wit Attitudes) – who were branded “the world’s most dangerous group”.

The group’s debut album in 1988, Straight Outta Compton, began with the track “F**k tha Police”, a protest against police brutality and racial profiling.

Ms Hernandez, who grew up in Torbay – one of the most deprived areas in the South West – told twitter followers she used to listen to Public Enemy, famous for the track Fight the Power, made famous in the Spike Lee movie Do the Right Thing.

Ms Hernandez also raised eyebrows when she admitted smoking cannabis, but said she doesn’t want to see the drug legalised.

The police and crime commissioner’s statement came in response to questions about legalising the drug.

She also faced fierce critcism for apparently taking selfies at the scene of a devastating fire in Exeter city centre.

Alison Hernandez did not post, the images on social media – but an MP has called for her to apologise.

Exeter Labour MP Ben Bradshaw said: “I’m not sure this is appropriate behaviour for our Police and Crime Commissioner.

And, in April of this year, it was revealed she was considering appointing a deputy – at cost to the taxpayer estimated to be around £50,000.”

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/who-is-alison-hernandez-the-ex-cannabis-smoker-and-gangsta-rap-fan-who-became-police-commissioner/story-30387275-detail/story.html

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4 Jul 2017

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Accountability, Neighbourhood Plans, Paul Diviani, Yarcombe

Yarcombe Neighbourhood Plan: Inspector unhappy about throttling of new businesses

In this month’s Cabinet agenda papers (page 56) there is a report of changes that its Inspector wishes to see before EDDC accepts it.

This comment caught Owl’s eye:

“It is not the role of the planning system to protect existing businesses from the impact of market forces and competition from new entrepreneurs, which would run counter to national policy to support the sustainable growth and expansion of all types of business and enterprise in rural areas. For this reason, I am not satisfied that part ii) of policy CFS2, which requires new proposals not to have a negative impact on existing businesses, has appropriate regard to national policy. Nor would it contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. I therefore propose to modify policy CFS2 to delete ii) of CFS2, paragraph 6.9 and the last part of paragraph 6.8 after ‘our community’. For the reason explained in paragraph 4.9 above, I am modifying the policy to clarify in iii) that any ‘adverse impact’ should not be ‘significant’”

Click to access 140617combined-cabinet-agendapublicversion.pdf

It seems that Yarcombe puts the protection of existing businesses over and above the creation of any new ones.

Leader Paul Diviani is the district councillor for Yarcombe and lists amongst other responsibilities:

Blackdown hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) joint advisory committee
SPARSE rural special interest group
Making it Local Action Group (Chairman)

Surely he supports Tory free market policies and will wholeheartedly support the Inspector’s suggested changes.

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4 Jul 2017

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Accountability, Developers/ Development, Housing (local), Inequality

Austerity and the poor

Letter in today’s Guardian:

“• Deborah Orr (Opinion, 30 June) is unfortunately absolutely right in all she says about the Grenfell catastrophe. A contempt has developed for health and safety considerations and they are considered a pathetic nanny-state approach.

This, coupled with the worship of cost-cutting at the expense of humanity, has caused this tragedy.

Even though I understood that terrible things were happening in the name of austerity I must admit I still thought we lived in a country that used regulation to require housing to be built or altered so as to offer adequate fire protection. Not if you live in social housing it seems. Could that be any more shameful?

Linda Maughan
Hartlepool”

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4 Jul 2017

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Accountability, Police (local)

Plymouth City Council passes ‘no confidence’ vote on Hernandez

“Plymouth City Council has narrowly passed a motion of no confidence in Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez.

The motion, passed by 26 to 25, was proposed by Labour councillor Chris Penberthys.

It said: “Plymouth City Council is extremely alarmed at the recent comments from Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez about licensed firearm owners being allowed to act during terrorist incidents. Ms Hernandez’s statement that she would “really be interested” in the suggestion shows she is unfit and unsuitable for office.”

Source: BBC DevonLive Website 08.02

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3 Jul 2017

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Accountability, Hinkley C, Local Enterprise Partnership

Hinkley C escalating costs – do we have too many LEP eggs in the Hinkley C basket?

First, the latest report:

“Hinkley Point C in Somerset will cost £1.5bn more than planned, says developer EDF, and completion could be delayed by 15 months beyond the 2025 target date. In one sense, this news lacks any element of surprise. EDF only seems to build nuclear reactors that are late and over-budget, as witnessed in Finland and on its own patch at Flamanville in Normandy.

Yet the timing of EDF’s “clarifications” is a shock. It is very early in the life of this £18.1bn (now £19.6bn, possibly rising to £20.3bn) project to be recasting the numbers. The tricky stages of construction, like pouring the right mix of concrete, lie ahead. The additional costs relate to mundane matters, such as “a better understanding” of UK regulators’ requirements and “the volume and sequencing of work on site”.

These are planning areas in which EDF would surely have made allowances for uncertainties. That all that slack, and more, has been used up is puzzling. Sceptics within EDF who argued that Hinkley is too big and too financially risky will feel vindicated already. EDF’s projected rate of return on the project was never high at 9%; now it is down to 8.5% and will fall to 8.2% if the delays materialise.

Still, it’s a French problem, right? Didn’t the UK government insulate us by making EDF and its Chinese co-financier shoulder the construction risks? Wasn’t that the trade-off for the UK guaranteeing to buy all Hinkley’s electricity for 35 years at twice the current wholesale price?

Well, yes, that’s how the contract is structured, and EDF’s UK boss was full of reassurance on Monday that UK taxpayers remain protected. But no contract of this size is ever so straightforward, as the National Audit Office pointed out in its blistering report last week.

“If the HPC [Hinkley Point C] project or developer runs into difficulties, the UK government could come under pressure to provide more support or take on additional risk, particularly given HPC’s potential importance to ensuring energy security,” said the NAO.

That dire circumstance remains some way off, but it can’t be ignored. What if real engineering problems follow? What if EDF’s projected returns fall to 7%, which would be closer to the company’s cost of capital? Would EDF seek better terms knowing that Hinkley is scheduled to provide 7% of our electricity?

“The [UK] government will hold a stronger negotiating position if it maintains alternative ways of ensuring energy security if HPC runs late or is not completed,” said the NAO. That advice was sound last week, now it looks prescient.

It is bad enough that UK consumers are locked into this “expensive and risky” project, as the NAO called Hinkley. It would be calamitous if we end up being bullied into paying more. Ministers need to draw up a proper contingency plan – starting now.”

https://www.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2017/jul/03/ofgem-energy-price-cap-shows-mays-help-for-millions-is-off-the-boil

And why does this matter to us in Devon? Hinkley C is Somerset isn’t it? Ah, but our Local Enterprise Partnership covers Devon AND Somerset, so masses of money that used to go directly to our councils for local projects is pouring into their (unaccountable and non- transparent) coffers.

And because these are the projects our LEP is putting OUR money into on the assumption everything is hunky-dory:

Bicton (Cornwall College) – this project is a dedicated Skills Centre for Engineering and Construction, including nuclear.
£300,000 from Growth Deal.

Bridgwater – HPTA – National College for Nuclear (Southern Hub). This project is to base the National College for Nuclear (NCfN) – Southern Campus on Bridgwater College’s newly developed University Centre in Cannington.
£3 million from Growth Deal

Exeter College – a Centre for Advanced Industrial Automation to address the LEP priorities for the HPTA, Hinkley Point C supply chain and the New College for Nuclear advanced manufacturing and Business Incubation.
£3 million from Growth Deal

South Devon College – The project is a suite of small capital investments that will enable the College to extend and enhance the range and quality of our provision to meet the direct and indirect skills needs for the new nuclear development at Hinkley and address the replacement skills resource needs locally.
Already received and spent £213,980 from Growth Deal

Yeovil College – Addressing skills gaps in Construction/Civils and Facilities Management
Provisional allocation of £637,500 from Growth Deal.
Of which our LEP says:
“This project forms part of the Nuclear South West strategy – a strong partnership between three south west LEPs (Heart of the South West, West of England and GFirst) the nuclear industry, local authorities, academic and skills sectors and business support agencies – generating £55bn of nuclear opportunities over the next decade”

The above does NOT include the massive numbers of houses to be built in the Hinkley C area by companies such as Midas (LEP board member).

Check out the nuclear and other interests of LEP Board Members (including EDDC Leader Paul Diviani and non-Board member Mark Williams, EDDC CEO) here:

http://heartofswlep.co.uk/about-the-lep/lep-board/

AND IF THERE IS NO NUCLEAR INDUSTRY? WHAT THEN?

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3 Jul 2017

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Developers/ Development, Housing (local), Planning System

“Why do England’s high-rises keep failing fire tests?”

“… Undermining the building regulations

The first thing to know is that local officials no longer run all building inspections. England has a so-called “Approved Inspector” regime.

Contractors must no longer wait for a local authority official to check their work. Instead, they may hire people to check their construction processes meet the required standards. There is no single regulator – or arm of government – directly upholding standards.

Second, the most important requirement in the building regulations is to build a safe building. So long as you do that, the fine print of the rules does not much matter too much. That is why, when inspectors sign off sites, they do not feel the need to work directly from the government’s own guidelines. And the guidelines set out by government are rather old, and cannot specify everything in all circumstances.

That has left a gap into which esteemed sector bodies have stepped. Their umbrella organisation – the Building Control Alliance (BCA) – has issued advice about how to get a building signed off as compliant without using the type of materials specified in the government guidelines.

And it is the case that, in the event of some prosecutions or a civil case, breaching the government’s guidance would count as a serious strike against a builder. But it would also be the case that following widely accepted professional practise and BCA guidance may also constitute a defence in a suit for negligence and grounds for mitigation in a criminal prosecution.

The problem is that this BCA guidance does not just suggest ways of making new technology fit the old rules. It introduces loopholes. The net effect of the sector bodies’ guidance is to set weaker standards than the government’s rulebook. …”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40418266

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3 Jul 2017

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Affordable and Social Housing, Inequality

Better-off buyers are the ones who benefit from help-to-buy

“Government schemes designed to help more people get on the UK housing ladder have little impact on improving social mobility as better-off buyers are most likely to benefit from the support, a report has found.

Research by the Social Mobility Commission reveals that many low-cost home ownership schemes are beyond the reach of almost all families on average earnings, prompting warnings that the UK housing market is “exacerbating inequality and impeding social mobility”.

Those benefiting from low-cost home ownership schemes, such as Help to Buy, earn more than one and a half times the national working age median income, according to the findings. …”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/government-home-ownership-schemes-families-average-earnings-social-mobility-report-commission-low-a7818616.html

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3 Jul 2017

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, DCC, Education (local)

Almost 300 staff made redundant in Devon schools due to cuts

“Nearly 300 staff at schools across Devon have been forced to take voluntary redundancy as a result of budget cuts at school, it has been confirmed. Schools all across Devon are on average funded £268 per pupil below the England average, which has resulted in a £24 million shortfall.

Figures released by Devon County Council show that while 212 schools in the county could benefit as a result or the new fair funding formula, another 129 would be even worse off than they are now. They include 24 secondaries, 103 primaries and two all-through schools. …

Matthew Shanks, Director of Learning at Education South West, which inclues Dartmouth Academy, Coombeshead Academy, Kingsbridge Community College, Teign School and primary schools at Christow, Blackawton, East Allington, Kingswear, Rydon and Stoke Fleming, said: “I don’t think there is a single school across Devon who hasn’t been affected by this.”

He added that the cuts in education budget have meant that 86 teaching assistants, 35 senior teaching leaders, 19 caretaking staff, 25 administrators, 55 teachers, and 52 curriculum support staff across 27 secondary schools in Devon will leave their jobs at the end of the summer term and won’t be replaced. …”

http://www.devonlive.com/education-funding-cuts-means-nearly-300-staff-have-to-take-voluntary-redundancies/story-30420745-detail/story.html