“The Department for Communities & Local Government has been urged to develop a closer relationship with councils to better mitigate the risks of service failures that led to Whitehall interventions in Rotherham and Tower Hamlets. …
… The interventions should highlight to councils the need to ensure that proper checks and balances and scrutiny arrangements are in place to drive a culture of transparency and continuous improvement, the review also concluded. Whitehall should consider additional oversight measures for councils exiting from interventions, such as the phased withdrawal of commissioners, assurances from external auditors or monitoring by other councils.” …
Author Archives: East Devon Watch
“Councillors have no power”
“Sick of seeing Falmouth planning decisions overturned by centralised bodies with no local knowledge, one woman has launched a campaign to change the “undemocratic” planning process.
Kathryn Philpott has been spurred on to launch her petition, ‘Give Our Councils The Power To Make A Decision,’ after plans for Bosvale in Falmouth went to appeal at the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol, and plans for 94 homes at Poolfield in Budock were granted on appeal. Both had been refused permission by Cornwall Council following objections from Falmouth Town Council.
She said: “I think the most important thing I have realised is that our council has no real authority.
“Right through the county people are up in arms because their local councillors have got no power to stop building on inappropriate places.
“An issue for everyone here is that they have just passed out of county permission to build on the fields leading up to Budock Church. A stunningly beautiful area.
“It was taken off our council and taken out of county for the decision.”
She added: “Can someone tell me why we have a democratic vote to elect our counsellors to work on our behalf, protecting our county, as every time a planning issue arises and is turned down it immediately goes out of our county to a person or persons that know nothing about the wishes of the general public.
“We seem to have a democracy that is ill equipped to stand up for us. In fact it is very undemocratic to take a decision of this magnitude and sweep over our local council rendering them powerless.”
Kathryn has also said that having a Neighbourhood Plan in place would prevent developers “building everywhere” – a process which is already underway.
She is concerned that current developments pay no heed to problems like drainage and sewage, or to local amenity and open space.
But she is also worried that developers are rushing to get their planning applications in now, before Falmouth’s Neighbourhood Plan comes into effect, with designated areas for housing or other development, as well as areas that cannot be built on.
She said: “People are frantically putting their applications in because they want to get in before the Neighbourhood Plan comes into place, because that will be the end of this building.”
Kathryn wants appeals to go back to Cornwall Council for reconsideration rather than to the Planning Inspectorate, and is petitioning the government to give local councils the final say on planning decisions, not just in Cornwall but nationwide.
She needs 100,000 signatures if she is to hope to have the issue debated in parliament, and so needs her petition to circulate much further than Falmouth, although she has started a physical petition at Boslowick Garage for those without access to the internet.
She said: “Now is he time if people want to act. Now is their chance, but they have got to stand up and say, it’s people power.”
To sign the petition go to: http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/give-our-councils-the-power-to-make-a-decision
Junk food lobbyists meet ministers more than 40 times
Why were the new obesity regulations watered down?
“Food industry lobbyists met health ministers 40 times before the Government issued its ‘watered-down’ obesity strategy, official records reveal.
Experts last night accused the Government of caving in to industry pressure – and warned that child obesity will continue to boom as a result. …
… In the past two years, former public health minister Jane Ellison met representatives of Coca-Cola, KFC, the powerful Food and Drink Federation and the Advertising Association trade group, according to Department of Health records.
The full list of 40 appointments, dating between July 2011 and March 2016, also includes meetings with Pizza Hut, Tesco and Nando’s. …”
NIMBY – reality or slur? COVOP conference debates
“Community Voice on Planning National Conference
NIMBY – reality or slur?
Th first National Conference of CoVoP. It will take place at the Queen’s Hotel Leeds, Saturday October 15th 2016 (10.45 -3.45).
We are fortunate that we have a number of guest speakers as well as presentations from some of our trustees. We have confirmation that a cross party group of MPs will be attending and there will be a plenary session where we can address issues surrounding the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
The theme of the conference is that the NPPF is not working – either for communities or the country. We will be producing a report from the meeting to present to the planning Minister to make sure that the Government gets the messages that arise from the discussions. We are determined to use this opportunity to state the case further for significant changes to the planning system.”
Hugo doing another Trump! Refuses to engage with Express and Echo
Donald Trump has banned several newspapers from his presidential campaign. Our own dear Hugo – after copying him with Twitter spats with other MPs see earlier posts – has now copied him again, this time severing all ties with the well-respected local Express and Echo newspaper – again announcing it on Twitter on 5 August:
(“Severing all ties with Express and Echo newspaper due to consistently biased and inaccurate reporting. Enough is enough”)
It seems that he is highly sensitive to criticism these days (again like Trump) and is dealing only with those newspapers which give him favourable column inches.
It cannot be too long before we hear in one of those rare visits to a Sidmouth shop (almost certainly Waitrose) those (in)famous words “Do you know who I am?”
Yes, indeed we do, indeed we do.
Institute of Directors has no enthusiasm for Hinkley C
“The Institute of Directors (IoD) has backed Theresa May’s decision to review the £18.5bn Hinkley nuclear scheme but launched a savage attack on successive government policies for failing to deliver energy security.
The traditionally conservative employers group also released an opinion poll showing three-quarters of its members supported action to counter climate change with strong backing for solar, wind, and even tidal power.
Only 9% of the 1,000 bosses “strongly agreed” that the proposed new reactors at Hinkley Point C would make Britain more economically competitive.
Less than a fifth strongly believed Hinkley would make the UK more strategically secure although a different poll taken 12 months ago showed a huge majority in general favour of new nuclear power stations being constructed.
“The IoD backs nuclear as a reliable source of low-carbon energy, but each project has to make economic sense. Hinkley Point C would generate reliable power for 5m homes, but given the costs, the government is right to take one final look before signing off,” said Dan Lewis, senior infrastructure policy adviser at the IoD.
However, Lewis attacked ministers of all parties for focusing on reducing carbon emissions but underplaying the other two “crucial aims of energy policy”, delivering secure and affordable power.
“Government policy at the moment is creating all sorts of bizarre outcomes. Instead of accelerating moves to safely frack for gas and oil in the UK, we are importing coal and oil from Russia, and gas and oil from Norway, with the extra costs and emissions that involves.
“Instead of building cleaner gas plants to meet demand when renewables can’t, the government has been subsidising more polluting diesel-fired plants,” he added.
The IoD survey shows members are split over shale exploration with only 53% strongly or somewhat in favour with nearly 30% strongly or somewhat opposed.
Around 14% of those surveyed neither supported nor opposed fracking, while a very high 53% strongly supported solar arrays, with 45% similarly in favour of offshore wind and 57% behind wave and tidal, neither of which have been tested at scale in Britain.
Hinkley has been put under new scrutiny following the EU referendum and decision by David Cameron to quit as prime minister. A final decision by new business and energy secretary, Greg Clark, is expected next month.
EDF, the French promoter of the scheme, took a final investment decision to proceed with the Somerset project after a raft of delays but Hinkley’s many critics believe the scheme is too expensive.
A previous government agreed to pay EDF a guaranteed price of £92.50 per megawatt hour for the 35-year duration of the scheme, even though the current cost of wholesale electricity is half that figure.”
Already many Hinkley C jobs created – in Bristol
BBC Spotlight last night. An item on how much infrastructure and jobs EDF has already created in anticipation of Hinkley C. A shot of an office with (they said) already 250 people working or about to start work (though the few on camera looked rather unbusy and just a bit uncomfortable – hopefully not on zero hours contracts).
And where was this office? Bristol.
Not surprising – EDF managers and Chinese investors would presumably want access to a nearby international airport and posh hotels – a budget chain in Yeovil just wouldn’t suit. Oh, and an easily accessible, large workforce.
And there was a very rare appearance by Chris Garcia of our LEP extolling the virtues, and virtues only, of the mega-project which means so much to its heavily nuclear-invested board.
But Bristol? Not in our LEP area and likely to reap more of the benefits of this project – indeed already doing so.
Will Bristol employed staff be counted by our LEP towards their jobs target – probably? Will Bristol-based housing be counted towards our extra housing quota – almost certainly not!
Whose Standards?
WHO MONITORS THE MONITORS?
If you are a parish, town or district councillor who gets on the wrong side of East Devon District Council’s Monitoring Officer and the controversial “Standards Board” who will be the “independent” person appointed to investigate, report and recommend a verdict and sanction?
Step forward Mr Tim Darsley, for whom these little dramas have been a welcome source of income since he took a six figure redundancy payment from West Wiltshire Council in 2009. Mr Darsley is the go-to person for EDDC and has been paid consultancy fees for a good number of cases over the years.
So, who is Mr Darsley and what makes him uniquely qualified for this job?
Darsley’s title in West Wiltshire was Corporate Director Planning Services and Monitoring Officer. An interesting combination of responsibilities, one our EDDC officers and senior councillors EDDC might well relish.
Here is background:
“THE creation of a single Wiltshire council next month will cost the taxpayer £5.5 million in redundancy packages.
Altogether 29 redundancies will be made when the four district and one county councils merge into a single unitary council on April 1.
The five employees being made redundant from West Wiltshire District Council will share a £950,000 redundancy payout.
Last July the implementation executive, which included councillors representing all five councils, agreed to introduce a redundancy package for staff.
It was decided that any council worker losing their job as a result of the merger would receive four times the redundancy package owed to them. A budget of £7 million was agreed. The amount offered is decided using a formula, which includes length of service, age, salary and years left to retirement.
The five being made redundant from West Wiltshire are Ian Gallin, acting chief executive; Ian Jamieson, finance director; Sharon Larkin, human resources director; Nicola Mathieson, head of legal services and Tim Darsley, corporate director planning and monitoring officer. …
… West Wiltshire leader Cllr Graham Payne said: “It’s difficult to see how the county council can claim that they are saving money for the taxpayer when the redundancy costs throughout the county are £5.5 million.”
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/headlines/4219278.__5_5m_payout_as_jobs_go_at_councils/
Evidence from a Freedom of Information request in 2013 showed that, over a 2 year period Mr Darsley’s services were used no less than 14 times with one investigation costing just over £1,400:
“1. Please can you tell the total cost of the EDDC investigation into the complaint made against Cllr Eileen Wragg brought by Richard Cohen, Deputy Chief Executive, which was heard by the Standards Committee
The total cost paid to the Investigating Officer was £1405.86 (including VAT)
Undertaking investigation and preparing report into complaint: £900
Attendance by Investigating Officer at hearing – preparation and attendance: £420
Travel (@45p per mile): £85.86
These costs do not include officer time.
2. How many times has Tim Darsley been used by EDDC to conduct independent investigations into complaints made against councillors?
14 (2011 – 2013)
3. Have any other independent investigators been used by EDDC in the last two years to conduct independent investigations into Councillors?
No”
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/cost_of_investigation
In police forces officers are frequently moved to avoid institutionalisation and the danger of becoming too identified with one team.
Might it be time for EDDC to employ some fresh monitoring eyes and ears?
Where’s Hugo? He refuses to tell Express and Echo where he is and has told them not to try contacting him
Local MPs were asked where they were spending their holidays. Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw is too busy to go away but managed a week in Italy earlier in the summer. Neil Parish plans a break in the Wye Valley.
And Hugo Swire? Here is his response:
“Hugo Swire did not wish to comment and asked the Echo not to contact him. Can anyone tell us where he’s gone? You can message us on Facebook, Tweet us or email the newsdesk.”
“Franksy” artwork update
The reason given by the council for removal of the art work was “it didn’t seem particularly contentious ” but E.D.D.C. were “trying to create a positive vibe in the town.”
As the site was re-visited this morning in order to remove any staples left sticking out by the hasty removal, these photographs were taken of a ripped circus poster to the back of the building, there clearly dated July 13 to 17:
and various little piles of screws left around the base of the building:
The art work was much admired and had a Great Vibe. The torn poster and abandoned debris and weeds less so.
It seems that if it does not emanate from the Thelma Hulbert Gallery (heavily subsidised by EDDC) it isn’t art!
This shows Councillors Diviani, Chubb and O’Leary perhaps indicating their idea of portraiture.
http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/gallery_launches_competition_to_celebrate_new_signs_1_4167515
Warning: these pictures might offend – well, they offended EDDC!
See post below. Here is a selection of the offending artwork:
Exmouth’s (fleeting) answer to Banksy … not EDDC’s cup of tea
DJs café was temporarily wrapped with some ‘art’ work yesterday. ‘Franksy’, the artists, left a message and a mobile number clearly displayed in 3 places so that contact could be made for removal and stated that responsible residents would do that. Nothing was dangerous and no criminal damage was incurred. It may have been seen as slightly contentious. Political art can be!
This morning residents saw it had been removed. Stolen? The staples had been left sticking out dangerously. At least 2 hours later, the work was tracked down to a council’s rubbish depot in Camperduin. It’s removal had been ordered by ‘the powers that be.’
Nobody had contacted Franksy on the given mobile number.
Advice is being sought on what should now be done.
The “Exmouth Coastal Community Team”
This ISN’T the Regeneration Board but seems to have as its remit everything that ISN’T Queens Drive. Both are chaired by Councillor Skinner. It seems to duplicate items discussed by the Exmouth Regeneration Board but with a different group of councillors and officers.
At its last meeting
Click to access agenda-22-07-2016.pdf
this “Team” discussed:
Update on Coastal Communities Initiative – Coastal Communities Funding
Visitor Survey
Future Meetings – Next meeting – Friday, September 9th at 11.45, Exmouth Town Hall
The tourism season is already half over – does anyone know if there has been a “Visitor Survey”?
Also, no minutes have been produced for the last two meetings, only notes, with this note from a previous meeting in May 2016:
“LB [Lisa Bowman, Exmouth Town Council] outlined discussions with Clinton Devon Estates regarding joint marketing of investment opportunities in Exmouth.”
Click to access exmouth-coastal-community-team-notes-from-19-05-2016-approved.pdf
Can anyone on the council enlighten us about this one?
Business Rate reform: a big problem for rural councils
“Funding for public services will become “highly variable” in many county areas under government plans to make councils financially self-sufficient by the end of the decade, government has been warned.
In an analysis of the plan to fully devolve business rate revenue, undertaken for the County Councils Network, Pixel Finance Management found the growth in net business rates in these areas was below average.
In many counties, particularly in rural areas, small businesses often claim reliefs. As a result, a growth in business premises often does not translate into a growth in business rate income received by the local authority in county areas.
The government plans to devolve business rates to authorities by 2019-20. A funding baseline is likely to be set for town halls using local business rates as well as either a top up or tariff payment to reflect a new assessment of local need. Authorities will then retain all local growth, up from the 50% share currently allotted to the sector, and will be financially self-sufficient, with other locally raised revenue, mainly council tax, used to provide services.
However, the review highlighted the volatility of business rate income, which fell in three large counties between 2010 and 2016, despite the fact they all make large contributions to the national economy. Surrey contributed £37bn in gross value added to the UK economy in 2014, but its business rate income fell by almost 15% between 2010 and 2016. Meanwhile, Hertfordshire contributed £32bn, but its business rate fell by 11% in the same periods, and Kent contributed £31bn but its business rate income fell by 5%.
In addition, rateable values per head in London average £3,700 compared to £851 in county areas, while revenues within a county can also vary widely. In one county, the research showed growth in rateable values was as high as 20%, with four other districts witnessing reductions of over the same period.
CCN vice chair and finance spokesman David Borrow said he welcomed the localisation, but warned that a well-intentioned policy could end up being unfair, with areas outside the major conurbations being left behind other parts of the country.
If the new system is not properly designed, it could leave already-underfunded services for the vulnerable and elderly in county areas worse off, at a time of growing demand, particularly for adult social care. …
… Currently, retained rates are split 80-20 to districts in two tier areas, and CCN said it was working closely with the District Councils Network on a submission for a retention system in two-tier areas. The group also said that the design of the new regime needed to include safety nets for when revenue falls, and allow for frequent resets of the localisation system to ensure urban areas such as London do not receive disproportionate funding allocations.
CCN, which represents 27 councils, also called for increased fiscal freedoms, including the ability to increase business rates – even for areas that do not have an elected mayor, which would not be allowed under current plans.”
“Greater Exeter” protects the countryside – honestly, that’s what they say!
And it must be true, because Andrew Moulding says so! Now, about Exmouth Splat … And look who the money is coming from: developers!
Teignbridge, East Devon District Councils and Exeter City Council have form a cross-boundary partnership to safeguard three internationally important conservation sites.
The three councils have established the South East Devon Habitat Regulations Executive committee to off-set the effects of new developments and population growth on the protected sites.
They will work together to protect places such as the Exe Estuary, Dawlish Warren and the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths for future generations to enjoy.
The committee said protecting the sites was important for a number of reasons, including providing safe areas for all users to enjoy and caring for the bird populations they support.
Human activity on or close to the sites can cause disturbance or even death of protected bird species, it warned.
This new Committee is working with partners including Natural England, Clinton Devon Estates, National Trust, RSPB, Exe Estuary Management Partnership and Devon Wildlife Trust.
Funding will come from developer contributions on new residential housing across the three areas and within a 10km “zone of influence” from the protected sites.
Measures and initiatives planned include a patrol boat on the Exe Estuary, a dog project officer, a review of codes of conduct, new and updated visitor publicity and signage.
Two new wardens will educate and engage with the public and ensure byelaws are observed.
East Devon’s deputy leader Andrew Moulding said: “This joint working between our three Councils is a really important step in protecting our beautiful coast and countryside.
“By working together through collective financial decision-making, we can share resources to protect important areas of conservation and improve enjoyment for residents and visitors alike.” …
http://www.rsnonline.org.uk/environment/councils-join-forces-to-protect-countryside
MPs launch rural tourism inquiry – Parish in charge
Well,he can start at his own front door, where his local district council ignores tourism in general and where his lical LEP has no time for it either. And where, once they learn there is no broadband, many tourists decide to stay elsewhere.
“AN influential committee of MPs has launched an inquiry into the role of tourism in supporting rural growth in England.
Rural tourism provides around £17 billion a year to the English economy.
But rural communities face some particular challenges to tourism growth such as transport connections, restrictions to broadband access and seasonal employment.
Now the the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) select committee has launched an inquiry into how rural tourism can be supported.
Committee chairman Neil Parish said: “Tourism in rural areas creates job opportunities and supports the economic viability of communities.”
MPs would examine how effectively public programmes and government policies support rural areas to stay competitive in a global industry, he added.
England has seen a rise in tourism spend in the past year from domestic and international visitors – but over half of the money spent by overseas tourists is in London.
Figures by Visit England show that in 2014 just 18% of domestic overnight trips were taken to rural areas – down from 22% in 2012.
The inquiry will examine how more people from at home and abroad can be encouraged to visit more of England’s rural places, for longer and at all times of the year.
It will look at ways to encourage farmers and rural residents to diversify into tourism and grow their businesses in the countryside.” …
http://www.rsnonline.org.uk/politics/mps-launch-rural-tourism-inquiry
Watch out sports and activities clubs – don’t go the way of beach hut tenants!
EDDC recently put out a puff job press release that said their strategy for beach hut rents (double them) had been so successful that all huts are now rented and waiting lists had plummeted. What they DIDN’T say was that 25% of beach hut tenants had to give up their tenancies because they could not afford the new rents. Beach huts – once a local amenity – are now luxury items available only to those with high disposable incomes (and from anywhere in the world).
Here we have something else in the same guise: a plan to treat all sports and activities clubs who rent their premises from EDDC on “a level playing field” with regard to new rents to be paid.
This roughly translates as “If you are a posh club with a lot of rich members (for example a sailing club) we will hike your rent but you will be fine as you will barely notice it but if you are a poor club with poor members (such as a kids club in a less well-off area) get out of our premises so we can flog them off to the highest bidders – whether for more expensive activities or even to developers”.
This is how you put this in EDDC-speak – will you get a “rent support grant”, who decides and exactly how long will you get it for – if at all?
The press release:
“Clubs will all be charged on a level playing field from now on
Sports and activity clubs who rent district council facilities will all be treated on a level playing field from now on and will have the opportunity to apply for a grant to help them in the future.
East Devon District Council has run workshops to help its sports and activity club tenants learn more about how to apply for these grants. During these two sessions attended by eight separate sports and activity club tenants, a number of similar queries came up which officers were able to help with.
Currently, East Devon District Council leases premises to some 37 sports and activity organisations. However, these arrangements, including the rent charges, can vary significantly from club to club due to historical arrangements. Some clubs have benefited from reduced rents while there are others that have not received this financial support. The council’s Cabinet, as recommended by the Asset Management Forum, decided in June 2015 that any financial support for clubs must be more transparent, accountable and reflect a clearly determined subsidy level. Any subsidy involves public money and the Forum wanted to make sure that the best use possible was being made of this financial support. A further information report on the issue went before Cabinet in May this year.
The council’s new approach is to introduce a rent support grant arrangement which will make the allocation of funding support more consistent and fair. From their next rent review or lease renewal date, all clubs will be liable to pay market rent for their facility by the council. At this time, a rent valuation will be determined, taking into account such factors as the size of the facility, the terms of the lease and the variety of uses of the site. In addition, it will be an opportunity to review the current arrangements such as the length of lease.
At the same time, clubs can apply to the district council for a rent support grant and their application will be assessed objectively against a range of criteria. These assessments will include looking at the benefits the club brings or could bring to the local community, whether they have a good and realistic financial plan and how much the club needs a grant.
Clubs that attended the workshops were able to discuss their concerns with the Council. There are ones that are trying hard to recruit new members and improve their club and facilities by building up money to pay for these improvements but worried that they might not be eligible for a grant. Officers were able to reassure these clubs that the decision-making panel of councillors would be looking to give grants to help clubs that were putting a real effort into helping themselves. This includes activities such as applying for grants, involving their clubs in the community and becoming more sustainable by recruiting new members and improving facilities.
Ten sports and activity clubs, whose leases are up for renewal this year, are eligible to apply for the Rent Support Grant and now have until 29 September 2016 to submit an application.
Councillor Ian Thomas, East Devon District Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance and the grant applications panel chairman, said: “The workshops were well received and gave us the opportunity to clarify some issues that were worrying these organisations. It’s important to reiterate that the new grants scheme is all about having a fair accountable system to help those who merit financial support. It’s about making sure that our limited funds reach the right groups and organisations.”
All sports and activity clubs that lease or hire facilities from East Devon District Council have already received detailed information on the changes and the grants scheme.”
When it pays ( handsomely) to be sacked
George Osborne looks set to make hundreds of thousands of pounds a year on the after-dinner speaking circuit after he joined one of Washington DC’s most exclusive agencies.
The former chancellor has been given the green light by the civil service to join Washington Speakers Bureau after being sacked from the government by Theresa May.
While fees for the speakers are not made public, US reports have suggested “big names” can get $50,000 a speech while “top attractions” can get up to $300,000.
He joins a stellar class of politicians at the firm including former prime ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair and former US president George W Bush. …
…The Tory MP for Tatton’s new role was formally approved on Tuesday by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, which signs off jobs for former ministers to ensure there is no conflict of interest. …
He has promised to “personally approve any engagement to ensure that there is no conflict of interest” and must wait until three months after his sacking to take up the post.
Mr Osborne was also told by the committee that he “should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the Washington Speakers Bureau or its clients” for at least two years. …”
So, George, are you quite sure you know what lobbying means?
Standards watchdog worried about ineffectiveness of sanctions
Not the only one watchdog, not the only one.
“There is some evidence to suggest that the role of independent person in local government standards is generally well received and that vexatious complaints are falling, the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) has said.
However, in its 2015/16 annual report
Click to access CSPL_Annual_Report_2015-2015.pdf
published this month, the CSPL said the effectiveness of the sanctions regime was “still a concern”.
The CSPL agreed at the time of the Localism Act to maintain a watching brief on: the need for a mandatory code of conduct; strong local leadership; effective independent persons; and concern at the lack of sanctions.
The committee said it had received correspondence both from members of the public, councils and councillors on the issue of standards. “This correspondence includes, for example, calls for a national code of conduct, strengthened guidelines or sanctions or a power of recall.”
It added that it continued “to invite councils to consider whether their own local standards frameworks are sufficient to address standards breaches and build public trust”.
The CSPL said it would also continue to liaise with the relevant stakeholders on the way in which ethical standards could effectively be embedded in all parts of local government.”
Natural England: cuts mean too many compromises and conflicts
“England’s nature watchdog is planning to use its legal powers less and risks becoming a weak regulator forced to raise funding from the private companies it is meant to keep in check, leaked documents and sources reveal.
Natural England is duty-bound to defend rare species and protected areas including national parks and England’s 4,000 sites of special scientific interest from potentially environmentally damaging developments.
But the regulator faces a budget cut of 27% and a reduction in headcount of 20% by 2020 due to cuts to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). This means it will have a “significantly reduced national capacity”, it admits,.
A internal document from June, seen by Greenpeace and shared with the Guardian, says the agency will “make more proportionate use of our regulatory powers” and “retain our regulatory powers but will use them more proportionately and more efficiently, while increasingly operating through advice and partnership.”
Internal sources say this amounts to using its powers less and to agreements that “compromise wildlife”. …
… Stephen Trotter, the director of the Wildlife Trusts, a network of 47 local groups, said: “We have for some time seen evidence across the trusts of less engagement with planning issues by Natural England than would have been the case previously. We find that particularly around non-designated but local wildlife sites, it has a reluctance to get involved in defending those sites.”
Other changes to the way the agency operates include providing “advice to government that is politically aware”. The regulator is meant to provide science-based and independent advice. A source at Natural England said the idea was “ridiculous” as its advice was meant to be “based on the science, not on anything else”.
The watchdog’s ecologists will also get out less to see the wildlife and habitats they are meant to protect and understand.
“Fewer ad hoc site visits will be necessary because more information, data and evidence about sites and the local area will be captured remotely and by others,” says the document. Conservationists warned earlier this year that Natural England risked losing its “eyes and ears” after it cut funding for local environmental record centres.
In order to raise more money as its budget is cut £30m by the end of 2020 on 2015-16 levels, the agency also plans to raise more money by charging the private sector, such as water companies, housebuilders and windfarm developers, for its services. It raised £1.43m in 2015-16 by charging £110 an hour for such services, and hopes to increase this to £12m a year by 2020.
“It’s blurring the vision of what we do,” a source at Natural England said. “It’s commercialising something that’s very hard to commercialise. People find it quite a conflict in what they do. Previously we would prioritise what is important in terms of biodiversity rather than profit, so it’s quite a different mindset.”
The agency tried to allay such fears in another document shared with staff. “There were some concerns that a move towards charging might be perceived as a shift towards ‘supporting development’, with us working for, rather than with, our customers. Thankfully, that criticism has rarely been directed at us,” it said. …”
