Author Archives: East Devon Watch

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18 Jan 2017

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Accountability, Democracy, Devolution, Local Enterprise Partnership, Scrutiny, Somerset County Council, Transparency

LEP “minutes” of 17 January 2017: interesting highlights

[The elephant in the room – the CEO’s 26% payrise – does not appear to be mentioned but it might be item 8 – see below]

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SEVEN NEW PRIVATE SECTOR BOARD MEMBERS

“To commence the open recruitment process in January 2017 for up to 7 new private sector board directors following the anticipated retirement of a number of directors in 2017 in accordance to the process agreed in July’s Board meeting.”

How open?

ONE ORGANISATION BEING FUNDED IS BEING NAUGHTY

“Within this protocol [simply called “Amber Protocols, no other information], there is one project which have failed to satisfy their conditions of funding approval / funding agreement. They will be written to and given two weeks to remedy their position.”

Which organisation?

THERE IS AN UNSPECIFIED SURPLUS WHICH SOME SORT OF OFFICER IS GOING SORT OUT ….

“The LEP will approach SCC 151 officer to review how surplus funds can be used productively.”

HOWEVER at least in March 2016 it appears that Somerset County Council had opted to break the rules about this Section 151 Officer:

“Full Council on two occasions (most recently November 2015) has considered the implications of the Local Authority (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 which amend the statutory protection provisions for the posts of Chief Executive, Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer. On both occasions the Council agreed to leave the existing constitutional provisions unchanged because of concerns over the requirements of the regulations. In deciding not to make any changes the Council recognised that this carried a risk as the Council’s arrangements would be non-compliant until such time as alternative provisions were agreed. Acting on the advice of the Somerset Monitoring Officers Group (SMOG) all 6 councils in Somerset have agreed to remain non-compliant with the regulations pending hoped for clarity from the Government in relation to the requirements. This has not been forthcoming so SMOG has designed and is recommending a local solution that meets the known requirements of the regulations and avoids those elements of the regulations that are causing concern.”

IS THIS THE PAYRISE? WHO KNOWS!

“8. Board Paper for Special Board Meeting of Directors:

“The LEP Board agree to the recommendations in the paper.”

SOURCE:

Click to access LEP-Board-Agenda-17-Jan-2017-V-5-1.pdf

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18 Jan 2017

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Accountability, DCC, Democracy, Devolution, EDDC, Paul Diviani, Scrutiny, Somerset County Council, Spin, Transparency

That 26% payrise for LEP CEO

“The LEP did not say who had voted for the increase, but the WMN understands that all but one council representative had opposed the rise.”

Read more at http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/lep-boss-gets-26-pay-rise/story-30068619-detail/story.html

We know that councillors from Devon County Council and Somerset County Council were against the payrise.

Assuming that the DCC and SCC representatives voted against, that leaves Paul Diviani (EDDC), Gordon Oliver (Torquay) and Ian Bowyer (Plymouth).

Which one voted for it. We will never know, because we are not allowed to know. It wasn’t even designated on the agenda:

Click to access LEP-Board-Agenda-17-Jan-2017-V-5-1.pdf

or in the minutes:

Click to access LEP-Board-Agenda-17-Jan-2017-V-5-1.pdf

You want to see Board papers (as you would for council meetings) well, take a look here:

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

You want to know what they spend? This is the information they direct you to here:
http://www.somerset.gov.uk/EasysiteWeb/getresource.axd?AssetID=120103&type=full&servicetype=Attachment

Good luck!

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18 Jan 2017

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Affordable and Social Housing, Inequality

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Massive social housing cuts predicted

To be replaced no doubt by unaffordable affordable housing – where housing benefit will go directly to landlords.

“More than 120,000 socially rented homes will be lost in the next four years, according to a forecast published today by the Chartered Institute for Housing.

The CIH’s projection follows the release of figures from the government last week, showing that over 120,000 homes available at social rent have already been lost between 2012 and 2016.

If the forecast is accurate, it would mean a loss of almost 250,000 socially rented homes – 6% of social housing stock – between 2012 and 2020.

According to the CIH projections, 72,000 of the social rent losses between 2017 and 2020 will be from local authority housing, and a further 50,000 will be from housing associations.

The organisation expects the housing to be lost through demolitions, the sale of high-value homes, sales through the Right to Buy scheme, and conversions of properties from social rent to more expensive “affordable” rent. The projected number of new social rent builds from 2017 to 2020 is 14,000 in total. …”

http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2017/01/social-rented-housing-stock-reduce-120000-cih-predicts

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18 Jan 2017

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Democracy, Devolution, Local Enterprise Partnership, Spin, Transparency

This is what happens when you get an elected Mayor

“TORBAY mayor Gordon Oliver has pledged to continue funding a £40,000-a-year ‘American office’ despite the fact it has failed to attract any investment to the Bay.

As other vital budgets are being cut, councillors branded the £120,000 already spent as ‘a waste of money’.

Mayor Oliver said he wanted to re-establish the American office in the light of Donald Trump’s recent election victory.

The aim of the ‘our man in America’ initiative, launched by Torbay Council and Torbay Development Agency was to encourage ‘Silicon Valley’-style businesses in the US to consider Torbay both for trade connections and as an ideal location for a foothold in the European market. But at the recent Torbay Council policy group meeting — where scrutiny members made recommendations on the mayor’s proposed budget — there were calls not to repeat the £40,000-a-year funding.

And it was revealed the American office has so far failed to attract any funding.

The contract for the USA lead generation has now expired and members said it should not be renewed. Cllr Chris Lewis, scrutiny board chairman, said while they did not want the budget for the ‘vital’ work done by Torbay Development Agency on economic regeneration reduced, it should still look to make savings.

But at the Torbay Business Forum business breakfast, mayor Oliver said he hoped to re-establish an office in the United States, particularly in the light of Donald Trump’s election as president.

“I am hoping the TDA and the council will support it though some of my colleagues are not very supportive. “But I had a letter from the Prime Minister saying she supports my bid to have a link with the United States as it is so important for the future of the national economy and for here as well.”

A council spokesman said: “Torbay Council does not have and has never been in possession of an American office. A contract was procured by the TDA on behalf of Torbay Council with the England Development Agency to generate leads for new direct investment from North American businesses.

“However, this contract expired in July this year and hasn’t been extended or re-procured.”

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/council-will-keep-funding-40-000-a-year-man-in-america-despite-zero-investment-in-four-years/story-30067568-detail/story.html

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18 Jan 2017

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Accountability, Democracy, Developers/ Development, EDDC Monitoring Officer, Exmouth, Freedom of Information Act, Philip Skinner, Regeneration, Spin, Transparency

“Creative group” or “group of creatives” – what’s the difference!

Recall that Councillor Skinner has said that he has never met “The Ecmouth Creative Group”, then read this Freedom of Information response:

“Thank you for your request for information. Please find the response to your query below.

What criteria does the Exmouth Regeneration Board (ERB) use when selecting potential community groups to communicate with?
The ERB does not formally communicate with community groups and does not therefore apply any specific criteria. The notes of ERB meetings are published and the various members of the ERB including both District and Town Councils communicate with a wide range of Exmouth community groups as required.

[BUT THIS IS CONTRADICTED FURTHER IN THIS RESPONSE!]

Why was the Exmouth Creative Group assigned a brief to design a vision for Exmouth?
Cllr Skinner met in December with some Exmouth local businesses in his capacity as Chair of the Exmouth Regeneration Board and Portfolio Holder for Economy. It was an informal meeting to talk about Exmouth matters and to share views with a group of local businesses who would describe themselves as ‘creative’.

When was the decision made to as the Exmouth Creative Group to design a vision for Exmouth, who was involved in making this decision and whose idea was it in the first instance?
This decision was not taken by the ERB or by any representative of EDDC and no information is held in relation to this question.

How did EDDC and the Exmouth Regeneration Board in particular approach the Exmouth Community Group and who did this?
As above, Cllr Skinner met with some local businesses.

Given that the Exmouth Creative Group is unknown within Exmouth, please explain why the many well known community groups have been overlooked in favour of the Exmouth Creative Group for this task?
The Council engages with all manner of local groups in Exmouth and elsewhere in a variety of ways.

Please provide the names of those in attendance and dates of any meetings between any officers or councillors of EDDC with the Exmouth Creative Group or any representative of the Exmouth Creative Group.
The meeting was an informal one and the Council does not have an attendance list.

I hope this information is helpful but if you feel dissatisfied with the way we have responded, please contact our Monitoring Officer, Henry Gordon Lennox, to request an internal review at [email address]

You may also approach the Information Commissioner for advice at http://www.ico.org.uk”

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/east_devon_district_council_and?nocache=incoming-922717#incoming-922717

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17 Jan 2017

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, DCC, Democracy, Devolution, EDDC, Local Enterprise Partnership, Paul Diviani, Scrutiny, Sleaze, Transparency

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That 26% payrise for LEP chief: neither Devon nor Somerset County Councils could stop it

So, here we are: Somerset County Council theoretically holds the purse strings – except it obviously doesn’t! There is no scrutiny or transparency, no way of stopping this juggernaut that we have never been consulted about.

AND we have no way of knowing how Diviani voted – the LEP doesn’t release such information.

“Chris Garcia, chief executive of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), could see his pay jump nearly 27% from £90,729 to £115,000. [This was agreed today with the two councils objecting].

“Somerset council leader John Osman said: “The pay of £90,000 is already too much so I believe it should be at least 10% less than that.”

The LEP has declined to comment.

The LEP covers the Somerset, Devon, Torbay and Plymouth council areas.

‘Cannot afford 25%’

The pay rise is being proposed by board members who are councillors, lawyers, and business leaders.

“I’m sorry to say that in the public sector we are not about giving 25% pay rises – even if you are very good at your job, we cannot afford 25%,” added Mr Osman.

LEPs are partnerships between businesses and local authorities, which were set up in 2011 by the coalition government.

Their aim is to grow the local economy and support businesses in the region.
“The budget of the LEP itself, operationally, is £1.6m. It has four full-time members of staff and a few others who work part-time.

“If you’re comparing it to how I come up with my council salaries and how the NHS has to come up with their salaries, you will find that this position is overpaid for such a small budget and such small numbers of staff,” said Mr Osman.

Both Somerset County Council and Devon County Council representatives are expected to vote against the proposals at the meeting being held later.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-38648435

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17 Jan 2017

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, DCC, Devolution, EDDC, Local Enterprise Partnership, Paul Diviani, Scrutiny, Transparency

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“Council fails to block 26 per cent pay rise for Devon and Somerset enterprise partnership boss”

“The controversial proposal was approved by the LEP board at a meeting in Tiverton on Tuesday, January 17.

Devon County Council had signalled that its representative on the board, Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, would vote against the proposed pay award in light of “the tight financial times in which we live”. …

… East Devon District Council leader Councillor Paul Diviani sits on the LEP board. The council has yet to confirm how he voted on the pay proposal. Before the meeting, a council spokeswoman said: “Councillor Paul Diviani is a member of the board and he will participate in the debate and will vote as he sees fit.”

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/council-fails-to-block-26-per-cent-pay-rise-for-devon-and-somerset-enterprise-partnership-boss/story-30064539-detail/story.html

BUT

“… “We agreed to set up a joint committee and continue working together to see how best we can look at the issues facing Devon and Somerset,” he said.

“Nothing is moving forward at the moment but I’d like to think we are still on track; it’s more a case of keeping our foot in the door.”

http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news/councils_are_keeping_a_foot_in_the_door_on_devon_and_somerset_devolution_deal_1_4851827

So what is Mr Garcia being paid 26% extra FOR?

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17 Jan 2017

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Accountability, Corruption, Transparency

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British government not tackling corruption

“The British government is failing to live up to promises to tackle corruption, according to the chair of the international development committee, Stephen Twigg.

On Monday the government rejected recommendations made by the international development committee (IDC) in the wake of a major anti-corruption summit hosted in London last year by the former prime minister David Cameron. These included the introduction of country-by-country reporting of multinationals’ profits and payments.

The government also disagreed with other recommendations made by the IDC in its October 2016 report, Tackling corruption overseas, such as reconsidering the role of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as the principle international forum for discussions and decisions on tax.

In its response to the report, the government rejected the assertion that it was failing to persuade UK overseas territories that they should create public registers to end tax secrecy. It insisted that almost all relevant overseas territories and crown dependencies have given their support to an initiative launched by the UK for the development of a new global standard on automatic exchange of beneficial ownership information between countries.

Twigg said that the UK Department for International Development (DfID) was working hard to respond to the challenges corruption presents in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the world, in places such as South Sudan, Yemen and Afghanistan.

“Unfortunately, the wider government seems to be falling short of the promises it made at the anti-corruption summit last May,” he said.

“Progress on the overseas territories has stalled, with the government showing it has no intention to lobby further for public registers of beneficial ownership.

“It is also disappointing that the government will not be making public the information it holds on how much profit UK-headquartered multinationals are making overseas and what payments they are making to national governments. Without this, citizens of developing countries will continue to be left in the dark about the extent to which corporations are able to make vast profits without paying the appropriate levels of tax. … ”

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/jan/17/uk-government-accused-of-falling-short-on-pledges-to-fight-corruption

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17 Jan 2017

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Accountability, Police (local)

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Another guard not being guarded?

PCC Alison Hernandez has said she has not been national media trained.

But does PCC Hernandez need national media training to complete a general election expenses return correctly – or to consider whether appearing at an event with the officer who is the designated Devon & Cornwall police point of contact for the investigation into her alleged election expenses offence may not be the best of ideas?

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17 Jan 2017

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Accountability, Claire Wright, Councillor Cathy Gardner EDA, East Devon Alliance, Health and Social Care (local), NHS (local)

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Independent councillors take the lead in opposing NHS cuts

EDA Leader & District Councillor Cathy Gardner is due to take part in a live panel discussion this Thursday (19 Jan) on BBC Radio Devon, 1-2pm.

Also on the panel:

Dr Sarah Wollaston MP
Dr Tim Burke – Chair of NEW Devon CCG
and two clinicians (poss another GP? And a surgeon (retired?)

County Councillor Claire Wright (Independent) may also be on Spotlight the same evening.

No other councillors from East Devon seem to be concerned enough about the crisis to do anything meaningful.

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17 Jan 2017

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

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Who guards the guards who guard the guarded guards?

From Save Our Hospital Services Facebook page:

“Question: The Case for Change document on which both the so-called ‘Success Regime’ and the STP are based was produced by a private-owned health service consultancy, Carnall Farrar which received £335,000 in consultancy fees

Is this the same company of which Dame Ruth Carnall is a founding partner and who is now the ‘independent Chair of the so-called ‘Success Regime’?”

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17 Jan 2017

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, EDDC

Cost to EDDC of contract with Leisure East Devon

Response to a Freedom of Information request:

“1. Description of service provided – Outsourced to a local trust – Leisure East Devon (LED) – Is a leading charitable trust and runs sports and leisure activities as well as entertainment facilities and parks throughout East Devon on behalf of the council. The land and buildings are still owned by the council, but leased to LED who have centres in Axminster, Colyton, Sidmouth, Broadclyst, Exmouth, Honiton, Ottery St Mary and Seaton. Further information on all the sites can be found on our website at http://eastdevon.gov.uk/visit/attractions-in-east-devon/ and at https://www.ledleisure.co.uk/

2. Name of contractor – LED Leisure Management Ltd

3. Start date of contract – October 2006

4. Duration of contract plus any extension options – 30 years

5. End date of contract – Lease is until 2036″

6. Contract value (please make clear if the figure provided is the total contract value or an annual value) – The Budget for the LED contract payment for year 2016/17 is £893,720 and is paid quarterly.”

http://eastdevon.gov.uk/access-to-information/freedom-of-information/freedom-of-information-published-requests/

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17 Jan 2017

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Accountability, Democracy, Devolution, Local Enterprise Partnership, Scrutiny, Transparency

Devolution: one foot in the door or one foot in the grave?

“Councils are ‘keeping a foot in the door’ on Devon and Somerset devolution deal

Bid for devolved powers is ‘still on track’ but fresh concerns raised about amount of money being offered to take on new responsibilities.

Councils are still working together to broker a devolution deal for Devon and Somerset, according to North Devon Council leader Des Brailey.

Efforts to devolve powers to the two regions has hit a critical stage in recent weeks after the Government revealed its preference for an elected major – and after it emerged that Plymouth, Exeter and Torbay were exploring opportunities to launch a rival bid.

But speaking following a crunch meeting with other Heart of the South West (HotSW) partners in Cullompton on Friday, Mr Brailey said that while the rival bid had the potential to ‘weaken’ the HotSW bid, he thought the process was ‘still on track’.

“We agreed to set up a joint committee and continue working together to see how best we can look at the issues facing Devon and Somerset,” he said.

“Nothing is moving forward at the moment but I’d like to think we are still on track; it’s more a case of keeping our foot in the door.”

But Mr Brailey reiterated his opposition for an elected mayor and voiced fresh concerns that the money being offered to successful bids might not be sufficient.

“As we understand it the Government is offering £15million in other areas with an elected mayor and that’s clearly not a lot of money when spread between 22 authorities.

“Even if they doubled it to £30m it is still not a lot of money.

“The Government will say here is your money and these are your new responsibilities. That’s not a problem if the money matches the responsibilities and gives you an opportunity to run things better for the community.

“But I fear that the money won’t be sufficient for North Devon to carry out the Government’s wishes.”

And Mr Brailey said there could be even less money without an elected mayor.

“The stakes have changed very slightly,” he said.

“It’s now being suggested that without an elected mayor we won’t get a lot out of it.

“I think it would disenfranchise our area – there is no chance it would be a mayor from northern Devon.

“He or she will be able to make their own decisions that may or may not be of benefit to us. I believe we would be a poor relation.

“And we are talking about a fourth level of local government and clearly people are going to ask what’s going on – it’ll be another tier of government complete with an entourage.”

The devolution bid would see the creation of a new body to take decisions on issues such as transport, education and health at a regional level and not a national one.

Together, the 17 local authorities, both national parks, the local enterprise partnership and all three clinical commissioning groups submitted a Prospectus for Productivity to the Government last year.

In October, they gave their in-principle approval to set up a combined authority to support the deal and the creation of a joint committee is seen as a precursor to a new combined authority.

Also speaking following Friday’s meeting, Devon County Council leader John Hart said: “All the leaders agreed on Friday to ask their councils to support the creation of a joint committee to drive this plan forward.

“It was re-emphasised that we need a strong regional voice to ensure the Government delivers the resources we require to improve our roads, rail and other infrastructure so we can boost productivity and enhance the job opportunities and living conditions of our people.”

http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news/councils_are_keeping_a_foot_in_the_door_on_devon_and_somerset_devolution_deal_1_4851827

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16 Jan 2017

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

Radio 4 wants to hear about government cuts to rural services

You & Yours, Radio4 are asking people to email them today for tomorrow’s show about ‘services in rural areas’. Discussing reports that services in the countryside are patchy.

Contact them here:

https://ssl.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qps9/contact

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16 Jan 2017

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Austerity cuts, Rural communities, Transport (local)

“Government’s double whammy for rural communities”

“RURAL communities face a double whammy of higher council tax bills and fewer public services, the Rural Services Network has warned.

The warning is contained in the network’s response to the government’s 2017-2018 provisional funding settlement for local authorities.

The proposed settlement risks “crippling public services in rural areas” and forcing local authorities to raise council tax to a significantly higher level than urban areas, said the network.

It added: “The government’s plans are likely to make life for people across rural England extremely difficult, hitting hardest those most in need of public services.”

Grant cuts had been difficult for all local councils over the last five years, said the network. But until now, the axe had fallen reasonably equitably across both rural and urban areas.

Under the recent four year final local government settlement, however, rural areas would lose over 31% of their central government funding, while urban areas would lose about 22%.

The network said: “The provisional settlement just announced seeks to implement the second year of the four year settlement and, in addition, makes it even worse.”

The situation followed the chronic underfunding of rural areas by successive governments, said the network.

Rural areas were getting a raw deal – despite acknowledgement of the higher cost of providing services to remote communities and the lower than average incomes of rural people.

The network also criticised the government’s core spending power figures.
It said the figures took for granted that rural residents would have to pay even more in council tax than their urban counterparts.

“That is a cynical miscalculation which, has undoubtedly contributed to the present disaffection between rural residents and Westminster,” it said.
The network said it “fundamentally disagreed” with changes to the methodology for calculating the government’s revenue support grant, which was introduced in the 2016/17 settlement.

The inclusion of council tax in the calculation of RSG reductions had resulted in significantly higher reductions for rural areas than for urban areas.

It appeared that the government was content for rural people to pay more council tax from lower incomes and to receive fewer services than their urban counterparts.

“This is manifestly unreasonable and grossly unfair,” it warned. “The Rural Services Network cannot accept this position.”

The network’s full response can be downloaded here:

Click to access Response2017-18ProvisionalSettlement.pdf

Source: http://www.rsnonline.org.uk/services/double-whammy-for-rural-communities

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16 Jan 2017

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Affordable and Social Housing, Local Plan, Planning System

Petition – take back local control of housing development

Petition to Government

Give communities back the right to decide where houses are built.

This petition calls for a parliamentary debate on government Housing and Planning policy over building on greenfield land and seeks community right of appeal on planning decisions and the removal of the presumption in favour of sustainable development.

Too many communities are now forced to accept large housing developments seeing the irreversible loss of valuable greenfields without the right of appeal. The failure of government planning policy has resulted in the loss of valued countryside and agricultural land and leaves communities forced to grow too fast without appropriate infrastructure. Major changes to planning legislation are required to protect established communities across the UK and deliver the right housing in the right places.”

Sign at:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/177333

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16 Jan 2017

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Affordable and Social Housing

Greenbelt at risk – again

“… The Government has vowed to build one million homes by 2020 which equates to 200,000 a year.

“Don’t kid yourself that this will make properties more affordable,” said Henry Pryor, independent buyer. “The undersupply that we have been racking up means that if we had the million homes by the end of this parliament it still would not be enough.” He recommended the reclassification of the greenbelt.

“We need supply to keep up with demand but it must be where people need it, while trying to avoid the situations where house price growth becomes unsustainably high and out of kilter with wage growth,” JLL’s Whitten concluded.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/house-prices/high-time-high-rise-solve-nations-housing-affordability-crisis/

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16 Jan 2017

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Affordable and Social Housing, Austerity cuts, Developers/ Development, EDDC, Knowle/Honiton/Exmouth relocation

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EDDC to see drop in income which may affect relocation funding

EDDC has been relying on the New Homes Bonus ( which can be spent on anything) to partly fund their relocation expenditure:

“Planned changes to the New Homes Bonus will have an adverse effect on communities, shrinking funding and reducing the incentive for new housebuilding, the District Councils Network has warned.

Responding to the provisional local government finance settlement for 2017-18, the DCN said its members will see a 5.2% cut to core spending power. This is compared with average cuts of 1.1% across local government, it stated.

Introduced by the coalition government, the New Homes Bonus aims to encourage local authorities to grant planning permissions for new housing in return for additional revenue.

In the settlement, the government outlined plans to divert funding from the NHB scheme to upper-tier councils to fund a growing crisis in adult social care.

DCN chair Neil Clarke said the plan essentially “robbing Peter to pay Paul”. It will strip out £75m from district council revenues and “risk destroying the link between economic growth and the funding of local public services”, he said.

Clarke added: “It is clear that district councils are taking the largest hit in spending power reductions between 2016/17 and 2017/18.”

Government plans will see a 0.4% baseline for housing growth introduced, under which councils will not receive any NHB. Clarke called this “unfair” because the idea had not been included in the original consultation on the bonus and “could not have been predicted”.

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16 Jan 2017

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Health and Social Care (local), Misc, NHS (local)

Referall centres can delay GP referrals to hospitals

“Doctors are warning that NHS patients face “dangerous” treatment delays due to a 10-fold increase in referral management centres.

The centres act as a filter between GPs and hospitals.

About a third of health commissioning groups in England use the centres, but the number of patients being rejected has increased steadily in the last two years, often for administrative reasons such as information missing in a referral letter.

The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, described it as a barrier that takes decisions about patients away from GPs. The NHS said such centres helped ensure people got the right advice, care or treatment.”

Source: BBC Devon Live website