Details here:
Click to access independent-standards-committee-member-job-pack.pdf
Has Owl applied? Not telling!
Author Archives: East Devon Watch
Now Honiton Post Office under threat of closure
No post office in Cranbrook (see below) Where WILL EDDC new Honiton HQ take its mail! And what if a local newsagent’s internet connection won’t work as in Cranbrook?
“Honiton is up for franchise for a private company to take over and run.
This often means the current office will close and the services move into a nearby newsagent.
Terry Pullinger, deputy general secretary of the CWU, said: “Tragically, this is yet another horrendous example of broken promises, irresponsible government and chronic mismanagement by the Post Office.
“The Post Office should never have been split from Royal Mail – natural synergies and public services have been sacrificed for greed and profit.”
CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey added: “This is devastating news for our members.
“It is death by a thousand cuts.
“The proposals disregard the wealth of expertise, experience and sense of pride in public duty which is shared by Crown post office employees.”
Roger Gale, Post Office’s General Manager of the Crown network, said: “In some locations, directly-run Crown Post Office branches work well but in others there are alternatives, such as franchising, which can work better for the business and its customers, not just in terms of access to Post Office services but also in relation to long term viability.
“We need to continue to make changes to strengthen the Crown network and we have today announced that we are seeking suitable potential retail partners to work with us on providing franchised services for 39 branches and we are proposing to close three branches in areas where it is no longer viable to keep a Crown branch. ”
There is a 38 Degrees petition about the possible closure:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/m/74c072b8/2d2955d6/697e8ab0/4626d5d2/1140650619/VEsA/
Does Local Enterprise Partnership trump local and neighbourhood plans: if so, who said so and why bother getting them?
A correspondent writes:
I must be very naïve as I am at a loss to work out where the LEP gets a remit to make policies on housing.
The latest “board minutes” for November 2015 include a report from the Housing Task and Finish group.” [Who are members of this group, how long has it been meeting? What does it DO?] It was noted that much of this paper is relevant to Devolution in terms of offering a local solution, and it was suggested that rural villages and small towns had a role to play in addressing housing shortages which would also benefit the viability of small communities.”
The councillors, the bureaucrats and indeed the people of East Devon have sweated blood [and spent a great deal of money] over many years to acquire a Local Plan and have an agreed figure for the district of 17,100 new houses until 2031. In conjunction with this plan the majority of rural villages and small towns have or are developing Neighbourhood Plans.
Surely the rural villages and small towns are already making – and will continue to do so in the future – significant contributions to addressing housing shortages?
Will LEP policies take precedence over the Local and Neighbourhood Plans?
Can someone help me solve this one?”
Cranbrook can’t have a post office as Co-op and BT systems can’t talk to each other
In your dreams!
See the front page of the Cranbrook Herald for this gobsmacking story. There will be no post office for at least this year until each side works out how their systems can talk to each other (if at all).
http://www.cranbrookherald.com/home
The Co-op’s fibre system is called “See the Light” – except you can’t. So, no child benefit, no disability benefits, no old age pension if you rely on a Post Office for them. And as there is yet no bank, no banking services either, no travel money (well at least the airport is nearby!) and no sending parcels.
The nearest post office is in Broadclyst, for which you will need a car – otherwise take the bus to Ottery St Mary or Exeter.
A new town without a Post Office – what would Postman Pat and his black and white cat think!
AND the town council is VERY unhappy about the provision of 30 traveller sites in Cranbrook, now the Local Plan has been approved.
Prominence is also given to Councillor Cathy Gardner’s reservations about devolution plans.
“Seafront campaign group issues set of questions from seafront users in response to EDDC’s own Q&As”
PRESS RELEASE
15 February 2016
“The Save Exmouth Seafront Campaign Group (SES) welcomed the news in January 2016, that East Devon District Council (EDDC) pledged to publish a set of question and answers in relation to the Queen’s Drive Development.
However the questions and answers, which have now been published online and in local media, are disappointingly vague and fail to address key concerns. The questions EDDC answered were not truly representative of the concerns of seafront users. As such SES has compiled a list of questions that they would like to see answered by EDDC, to actually address the concerns of those who use the seafront.
Louise MacAllister, SES spokesperson, stated that “SES would like to challenge EDDC to answer the questions which we have compiled, from seafront users, and the recurring themes found within the Seafront Survey of 2015.
The entirety of plans for Queen’s Drive have been shrouded in secrecy all along, understandably this only increases the anger of seafront users towards EDDC and the imposition of a largely unwanted seafront development.
While EDDC claim to listen to the public’s views, they have to date, failed to acknowledge the findings of the Seafront Survey, simply brushing off the thoughts and feelings of the public. To give honest answers to these questions would at least demonstrate that EDDC are listening to the public as they claim to be”.
SES would also like to point out that since the release of EDDC’s Q&As, it has been revealed that although EDDC linked Nando’s to the development, Nando’s have no intention of opening a branch in Exmouth. SES are concerned that if the Q&As have misled the public in this respect, what else within the Q&A document is mis-representing what is actually planned?”
QUESTIONS
Save Exmouth Seafront
Questions about the Queen’s Drive re-development:
Compiled by Exmouth residents and seafront visitors
Consultation
There are many paragraphs in East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) double page spread which explain who EDDC previously consulted and how. So why does EDDC appear to be deliberately misleading readers by omitting to disclose the actual results of that consultation? Why are the public being misled on this issue? Those previous consultations netted very few responses and, of those that did respond the majority did not support the proposed changes. Will EDDC accept the challenge to immediately issue to local media an honest version of those results.
In light of the small consultation numbers, why will EDDC not commit to undertaking a further independent consultation, and as soon as possible?
Does EDDC recognise that the initial consultation was misleading in stating ‘NO permanent residential’ and overstating the potential for children’s outdoor space, and that therefore further independent consultation should be undertaken?
Regeneration and project management
Why, if EDDC is set on ‘regenerating’ Exmouth, are they concentrating on altering a large part of our seafront, and creating in effect a separate ‘estate’ of shops, flats and restaurants, instead of regenerating Exmouth town centre, which many recognise as an area in far more need of ‘regeneration’?
Where is the evidence of need for the ‘regeneration’ of Exmouth’s seafront?
Where is the proof of how much extra income would be generated for the town, (as opposed to EDDC)?
When will there be a café at Orcombe Point? This has been raised time and again for years. Why is this not taking priority?
What is the rationale behind forcing the closure of existing businesses now, when the development is in 3 stages, especially the incredibly popular Model Railway/Carriage Café site which had to close last September?
Why is the leader of Exmouth’s regeneration a councillor, living at least half an hour’s drive away, with no known connection to the town? How can he act in the best interests of a town to which he has no connection?
Has EDDC made plans to support local tourism through the many years of ‘redevelopment’ in which many regular visitors will leave, and possibly not return?
If this project goes ahead, and the businesses that open on the Queen’s Drive fail, will EDDC bail them out with public money as it did with Ocean, which, unlike the independently trading is subsidised by EDDC?
Developers and investors
What is the ‘market research’ undertaken to ascertain demand for a cinema, and who undertook this research? Does it demonstrate that the existing cinema will remain a viable and thriving business? When will the findings of this market research be made public?
With so much at stake for the future of Exmouth’s seafront, why would EDDC risk the likelihood of completion of the replacement scheme, by being in talks with Moirai as the preferred developer, when Moirai have filed for bankruptcy and recently had swathes of their company struck off the Companies House Register? Moirai do not have any track record of excellence or even completion of previous projects.
With the credibility of the preferred developers in question, what will happen if they become unable to complete the project?
Businesses
What will be the criteria for leases to be given to those wanting to take on a lease on the development?
Will EDDC commit not to discriminate in any way against existing seafront businesses, should they wish to take on a lease on the development?
Does EDDC recognise the importance of local knowledge in running businesses on the seafront, especially when it comes to challenging Winter conditions?
Will the development include fast food outlets?
What evidence has been obtained or proposed to suggest that existing food outlets, primarily in the town, will not be adversely affected by drawing people away?
Similarly, what evidence has been obtained or proposed to suggest demand for the eight food outlets on Queen’s Drive?
What are the 175 jobs to be created in the ‘wider development’?
Environment
How does EDDC intend to meet the habitat regulations with respect to the development?
In light of the challenging Winter conditions on The Queen’s Drive, does EDDC recognise that a development of this nature would be better placed on an out of town location such as the Liverton Business Park, which could potentially have dual access from Concorde Road?
Accessibility
Will the development include improving wheelchair/pram access to beach and amenities?
Families
What are the three generational, all weather leisure activities provided in the new development (apart from eating)?
What is the justification for the reduction in space for children’s play from 14,500 square feet, to just 3430 square feet, as per EDDC’s response to an FOI request on 27th August 2015.
Free Play and Water Play
Free play and water play is a much vaunted aspect of the development, indeed the original consultation called the development ‘The Splash’, suggesting it would be predominantly water play. Yet there is to date no details around this. Why not? It must by now be possible to offer some detail and for the people to evaluate if this is worth the otherwise unwelcome features suggested?
Why did the ‘Splash’ title disappear, to be replaced by the ‘Queen’s Drive Development’?
Water Sports Centre
Is the water sports centre going to be a private members club?
What evidence is there to suggest that the location of the proposed water sports centre is in fact safe, especially for novices? Has a safety study been carried out?
Will this be a centre actually offering a range of water sports for all, or will this be a kite-surfing centre?
What efforts have there been to ensure there is a viable desire for watching kite surfing festivals that warrants a new, large, dedicated building?
If such efforts have been made, when will the results be made public?
Why is it necessary to spoil an open aspect sea front promenade, that is appreciated by many, for the unproven benefit to a few?
Why did EDDC make so little effort to preserve an existing Spinnakers water sports centre in the docks area? This is a safer area and did incorporate facilities for experienced and trainee sailors.
What are the 45 jobs to be created at the water sports centre?
Visitors and other seafront users
What evidence is available to prove the current numbers of people visiting Exmouth seafront and beach?
What evidence is there that the ‘Queen’s Drive Development will attract even more people to Exmouth seafront and beach’? (As stated by EDDC’s question and answers – question 6).
Dogs
Does the council recognise that for many people, they come to Exmouth seafront because it is dog friendly? And therefore will there be a dog friendly café in any future development?
Right to buy makes huge paper profits for Treasury
“Rising house prices across much of England mean a government scheme to help buyers of newbuild property may have made more than £200m for the Treasury in its first two-and-a-half years.
The help-to-buy equity loan scheme gives buyers an interest-free loan for five years in return for a percentage stake in their property. When the home is sold, the buyer returns the same percentage of the sale price, meaning that any fall or rise in house prices affects the return.
Analysis by property firm Hometrack and shared with the Guardian suggests that a surge in house prices in some areas means the total value of homes bought through the scheme since its launch in April 2013 has increased by more than £1bn. ”
Save Britain’s Heritage makes plea to save Knowle building
Hope your children and grandchildren will be better off than you?
“The idea that each generation would be more fortunate than the last no longer applies and perhaps helps explain why young people feel that traditional politics has little to offer them. The political economy of the analogue age was based on the idea that people would have secure, full-time employment that would enable them to save the deposit on a home relatively quickly.
Two new reports show how that model has completely broken down.
The first comes from the Resolution Foundation, which launched an in-depth study of inter-generational fairness with a look at the housing market. …
… The idea that each generation would be more fortunate than the last no longer applies and perhaps helps explain why young people feel that traditional politics has little to offer them. The political economy of the analogue age was based on the idea that people would have secure, full-time employment that would enable them to save the deposit on a home relatively quickly.
Two new reports show how that model has completely broken down. The first comes from the Resolution Foundation, which launched an in-depth study of inter-generational fairness with a look at the housing market.
The findings are shocking. So-called millennials – those born between 1982 and 2004 are on average 16 percentage points less likely to own their own than their parents in generation X. They, in turn are 10 percentage points less likely to own a home than their parents in the baby boomer generation.
Advertisement
For those on low to middle incomes the situation has become particularly tough. As recently as 1998, more than half of those earning 10-50% of average national income had a mortgage. That figure has now dropped to one in four and will be around one in 10 within a decade on current trends. Owner occupation is increasingly becoming the preserve of the elderly and the well off.
It’s not difficult to see why it has become harder for a young person on a modest income to get a foot on the housing ladder: in the late 1990s it took them three years to save up for a deposit, while today it would take 22 years. Soaring house prices have been marvellous for baby boomers, who have often used their windfalls to create their own mini buy-to-let empires, but have been disastrous for generation rent. London has become a virtual no-go area for young people with ambitions to own a home.
Unaffordable country: where can you afford to buy a house?
Read more
Rising house prices are, however, not the only reason young people find themselves trapped in rented accommodation. The other factor is that they are struggling to make a decent wage in an increasingly insecure and casualised labour market in which low pay is endemic.
That emerges from the first in-depth study into the number of “crowd workers”, people who are paid for work through online platforms such as Uber, Upwork and Taskrabbit. Prof Ursula Huws of the University of Hertfordshire says that 5 million people are being paid through these online platforms, with more than 3 million of them regularly engaged in various forms of crowd work. Delivery drivers, cleaners, tree surgeons, plumbers are increasingly likely to get jobs this way, with the online platform taking a cut of whatever they earn. …”
Well, well, well: Heart of the South West “board minutes” appear on their website
Except, erm, they don’t!
What we get is a summary. No names, no discussion, no resolutions – just notes.
Here, for example, are the latest “board minutes” for November 2015 are shown below. NOTE THAT THERE IS NOT ONE CONCRETE ACTION TAKEN AT THIS MEETING. They reported, discussed, were briefed, had outlines, thought about shaping plans AND THEN DEFERRED ACTION UNTIL THEY HAD TALKED TO DEVELOPERS FURTHER.
And a prize to anyone who can translate the final sentence: “The roles of the Leadership Groups and their terms of reference are being explored with a view to improving the synergy and lines of communication and decision making throughout the LEP and its partners.”
Board Minutes
Summary of November Board
“The LEP Finance and resources committee will report to the board on the potential use of Growing Places Funds to attract new investment, and will consider a proposal from the board to fund further research to support the economic case for the Peninsula Rail Task Force campaigns.
The board discussed the implications on the LEP had the funding for Growth Deal 2 not been confirmed, and agreed in all events to increase the momentum in engaging local MPs to use their influence in government to focus on the Heart of the South West. The LEP is working to align the profiling of expenditure on Growth Deal projects.
The board was briefed on the issue that the Department of Work and Pensions’ inflexibility surrounding the details of ESIF funding and the LEP continues to seek influence.
Patrick Flaherty, Chief Executive of Somerset County Council, outlined the current proposal and timelines for a Devolution Deal and the outstanding issues around governance. Feedback from business indicates that they are not very concerned about governance but are in favour of regional decision making, more funding for skills and have a desire to push a vision for growth. Board members believe that the deal needs to ask for something bold, ambitious and innovative, and that LEP and Business involvement needs to be ramped up to ensure the final document portrays a passion for innovation and transformation.
Increased pressure on government is taking place to mitigate the delays, bureaucracy and revised funding allocations and outputs within the ESIF strategy.
Findings of the LEP Annual Review were outlined, which will shape the business plan, measuring performance against the Strategic Economic Plan, resulting in a single improvement plan to be reviewed by the Finance and Resources group
The Place Leadership group chair gave a presentation on the recent report from the Housing Task and Finish Group which aims to address barriers and solutions to the provision of housing. The board discussed the ideas presented in the report and its implications on partner funding and the areas’ Local Plans.
It was noted that much of this paper is relevant to Devolution in terms of offering a local solution, and it was suggested that rural villages and small towns had a role to play in addressing housing shortages which would also benefit the viability of small communities.
In conclusion the Chair deferred the paper for further work and discussion with Local Authority planning managers and input from local house builders prior to the housing agenda being incorporated into the Devolution Deal.
The roles of the Leadership Groups and their terms of reference are being explored with a view to improving the synergy and lines of communication and decision making throughout the LEP and its partners.”
http://www.heartofswlep.co.uk/board-minutes-0
Eat your hearts out Euro bureaucrats – this is how it is done LEP style!
Our Local Enterprise Partnership and “Brexit”
Does our LEP have a strategy for if the UK leaves the European Union?
Does it matter?
You bet it does: it is relying on the EU for at least one of its funding streams:
http://www.heartofswlep.co.uk/news/european-structural-and-investment-funds-strategy
“EDF under pressure to abandon Hinkley Point”
“An internal report to the EDF board has warned that for technical reasons it will be impossible to complete the two “new generation” nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point within the nine-year timetable.
The report also suggests that the much-delayed project would be financially disastrous for the struggling French company, despite a commitment by the British Government to pay double the market rate for the station’s electricity.
EDF is also reported to be having difficulty raising the £12.4bn it needs to build the two European Pressurised Reactors (EPR) in Somerset – a capital sum almost as much as it entire stock market valuation.
The company’s powerful unions and several senior EDF executives are said to believe that the project could be suicidal for the world’s biggest generator of nuclear energy. They want EDF to abandon the project – or at least persuade Britain to wait for another three years until a more advanced generation of EPR reactors is available.
Nonetheless, the French government, which owns more than 80 per cent of EDF, is putting pressure on the company to fulfil its agreement.
The British Government would face huge embarrassment if Hinkley Point, intended as the first of three new mega-stations, was abandoned or postponed. In October last year, China agreed, amid much fanfare in London and Beijing, to invest £6.2bn in the project.”
Oh dear, what will happen to those MILLIONS of pounds our Local Enterprise Partnership plans to spend on it and the HUNDREDS of jobs it has factored into their plans for Somerset and Devon if it is aborted?
80 MPs ( including Neil Parish) in line for third payrise within a year
“Senior MPs could be in line for their THIRD bumper pay rise in a year.
Around 80 members who also help chair committee meetings and debates are set to get the eye-watering wage hike.
Half are in line for an extra £3,700 a year – the other half could see up to £15,000 more in their pay packets.
Chairs – who lead meetings of the influential groups – already get up to £15,000 on top of the £74,000 they get for being an MP, depending on their length of service.
In April, all MPs are in line for a 1.3% increase in their basic salary – which is already more than three times the national average.”
Daily Mirror online
“Defund, make sure things don’t work, get people angry – privatise”!
Several media sites have recently quoted famous philosopher Noam Chomsky on privatisation (and devolution):
“That’s the standard technique of privatization; defund, make sure things don’t work, people get angry, you hand it over to private capital.”
So is that what happened with Knowle?
And will we see the new EDDC HQ in Honiton one day sold off to Clinton Devon Estates or Eagle One – or even Moirai Capital investments when district councils cease to exist!
Osborne’s family firm has paid no corporation tax for seven years
Today’s Sunday Times front page:
“George Osborne has shares in a £335,000 dividend payout from his family’s wallpaper business – even though it has not paid corporation tax for the past seven years.”
It has avoided paying the tax “partly because it has rolled over losses from previous years and has deferred tax payments“.
The company made a profit of £772,000 on turnover of £34,000,000.
East Devon Alliance evidence to House of Lords inquiry on affordable housing
East Devon Alliance has submitted excellent evidence to a House of Lords inquiry on affordable housing and to other housing inquiries. Here is the summary but the full report is well worth reading.
Has EDDC submitted evidence? Not that we are aware.
SUMMARY:
“The NPPF [National Planning Policy Framework] inflated housing forecasts and other government policies have resulted in an oversupply of high-end homes and a lack of genuinely affordable housing.
East Devon is one of the least affordable areas in the country with average house prices almost 12 times average income. It is an attractive region for retirement. Demand for houses outstrips supply and the affluent can always outbid the locally employed.
EDDC has already granted permission, or received planning applications, for 80% of its 18-year 17,100 high growth scenario housing target. Evidence given at the public examination of the Local Plan shows that slow build-out rates of new houses are due to developers reacting to “market saturation”.
Rented accommodation is too expensive for the average renter, often in a poor state, and there are high eviction rates. Social housing rents are being cut by government, leading to “black holes” in local authority housing budgets. Councils and housing associations are being forced to sell houses on “right to buy” discounts, leaving insufficient funds to build replacements.
The East Devon Alliance has made several submissions to organisations who are reviewing the state of the housing sector, and these are shown below.”
http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk/district-issues/housing/
Why the “first past the post” voting system leads to 2 party states and gerrymandering
Damned leopards, gorillas and tigers making it so difficult for Owls!
Community Interest Levy – we need a public list of projects the money will be spent on!
Now that CIL is a reality in East Devon, we (i.e. those of us who are not in the EDDC cabinet) need to see how we can make it work for us. It will be difficult.
The levy is charged on a square metre basis for all new development, though there is still some complex crossover with the old Section 106 charging system. Different levies are charged in different areas: in some parts of Cranbrook it is zero, whereas Sidmouth attracts one of the highest levies.
Few people realise that at least 15% of the levy should be rebated by EDDC to the town or village involved – 25% if that town or village has a Neighbourhood Plan in place. Indeed, ALL of it can go to a place which solely suffers the downside of development (think here Sidford and Sidbury).
Of course, knowing our district council, our majority party will already be closely examining the loopholes to see if they can work for them.
One such loophole is that – of course – there will be exemptions. The CIL rules mean that all such exemptions must be advertised. Watch the small print of your local newspapers where, no doubt, the same old names will crop up with many and varied reasons why they should not pay up.
Another unfortunate loophole is that a council can keep quiet about what they spend the money on – and it can be spent anywhere in a district.
RED FLAG: anywhere – for example, the money raised could find itself 100% directed say towards only Honiton, or the Blackdown Hills or Cranbrook.
RED FLAG: Councils are encouraged (but not obliged) to make a list of the infrastructure projects it wants to spend its CIL pot on. Or it can have no list and just dip into the pot whenever it feels like it.
RED FLAG: Will we be “consulted” about what we want the money spent on? Dream on.
RED FLAG: will EDDC try to interfere on what towns or villages spend the money on. If it ever trickles down to them as, in some places where CIL operates, they have yet to see a penny of their money, for reasons unexplained to them – maybe the developers dragging heels and not paying the district and the district turning a blind eye?
RED FLAG: What are you betting our council drags its heels on such a list and that, if it and when it considers where CIL will be spent, it will be decided by a forum, or working party or think tank that meets in secret and has no agendas or minutes.
For a primer on CIL, see here:
Local Enterprise Partnerships: an alternative view
“Devolution is such a positive word, it conjures up cosy images of self-rule, self-determination, localism, people doing it for themselves.
The reality in 2016 couldn’t be more different. In fact what we are in the process of ratifying is the exact opposite of this. We are passing many local powers into the hands of a business group named ‘The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership’.
This group hold £4 billion paid to them through DEFRA and through the European Social Fund, there is money from elsewhere also, but because their dealings are very difficult to trace, we don’t know where all the funding comes from. They are an un-elected group, they are almost entirely unaccountable and they hold their meetings in secret. Their minutes are not published.
On the board sit the happy volunteers, mostly property magnates, construction CEOs, there’s a man from Westland helicoptors, another is the managing director of SupaCat. The list continues. I would not suggest that there was a conflict of interest in giving business people, whose main jobs are in construction, the job of providing massive construction projects in the south west, but I can’t see what else to call it.
One of their main projects is Hinkley C nuclear power station. They are pouring millions into it. They are offering the benefits of it to businesses in Plymouth. Why? What is their mandate for funding this very controversial development. I was under the impression that the government wasn’t putting tax payers money into it. But this money seems to come from DEFRA.
These are the people writing and implementing our devolution bid. I do not want my local area to be controlled by these people, but I do not have a say in the matter. There is to be no consultation that I can see, in fact most people don’t even know we are in the process of devolution here in the south west. I have not yet met anyone who knows about devolution, much less the LEP.
On the 11th February, there was a full council meeting [South Hams] to ratify the devolution bid as written by the LEP. The council is not happy at all, but has no choice. They are being completely squeezed of funds and will have to go cap in hand to the LEP in order to keep functioning. …
… There is media silence on the subject. But not for much longer I suspect, its not being kept a secret exactly, the LEP have glossy brochures and a website explaining their involvement in Hinkley and other massive projects, but try giving them a call or asking to speak to a representative and you will be met with silence.”
https://allengeorgina.wordpress.com/2016/02/12/devolution-ttip-for-the-shires/
Another mega-expensive omnishambles: mobile phone “not spots”
Once again, we will put the final sentence first. By the way, LEP in the link is Lancashire Evening Post – not Local Enterprise Partnership! 600 masts planned, 15 completed, £9.1 m spent – £607,000 PER MAST.
<strong>“By December 2015, a couple of months ago, the project had cost £9.1m and only 15 masts [out of 600 promised] were live.”
A project to end the misery of mobile phone ‘not spots’ is an embarrassing flop, a Government minister has admitted. Just 15 masts have been put up by the £150m Mobile Infrastructure Project, unveiled by George Osborne back in 2011 – when 600 were promised.
Now Ed Vaizey, the digital economy minister, has told MPs criticising the tortuously slow progress of the scheme: “I am guilty as charged. “I do not think the programme has been a success – and I do not think ministers often say that about their programmes.”
During a Commons debate, Mr Vaizey agreed “mobile phones are essential to many people in their daily lives”. He added: “We set aside £150m. We talked about 600 sites. Our heart was in the right place.”
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has decided to wrap up the Mobile Infrastructure Project next month, at the end of its original three-year timescale.
The move threatens to leave a pledge to deliver mobile phone coverage to 60,000 more remote premises across the UK – out of 80,000 in known ‘not-spots’ – in tatters.
When the scheme got underway, in 2013, ministers promised it would “help connect rural communities, create local jobs and contribute to economic growth”.
The “infrastructure and media services company” Arqiva was appointed to deliver the project and the big four mobile network operators pledged to provide their services. The £150m fund was intended to pay for the infrastructure, while the mobile phone companies funded each site’s operating costs for a 20-year lifespan.
Mr Vaizey pointed to problems with the mobile phone companies, local planners and local residents to explain the project’s failure. One council, Wiltshire, spent so long arguing about the colour of a mast it missed the deadline for planning approval. The minister said: “We were dragging four operators with us, metaphorically kicking and screaming. “We have had communities campaigning against masts and putting concrete blocks in front of the base stations to prevent any further work.”
But, Mr Vaizey insisted, the spread of 4G technology was expected to cut the area of ‘not spots’ to as low as two per cent and that of partial ‘not spots’ to about 12 per cent.
Conservative backbencher John Glen, the MP for Salisbury, said: “The situation is extraordinarily frustrating.
“By December 2015, a couple of months ago, the project had cost £9.1m and only 15 masts were live.”
Neighbourhood Plan Roadshow
‘DEVON NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN ROADSHOW’
On
Friday 18th March 2016, 10am-2pm
At
The Refectory Room, Hannahs (formerly Seale-Hayne Agricultural College), Howton lane, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 6NQ
‘The Government is absolutely clear, they want you to build more & develop more & they want it to be easier for you’.
Richard McCarthy, director general for neighbourhoods, DCLG June 2011
What are Neighbourhood Plans?
What impact do they have on you & your community?
How can you have your say?
Speakers & Agenda:
Penny Mills: CPRE Devon – Welcome & introduction
Jonathan Green: Dept of Communities & Local Government – ‘Neighbourhood Plans’
Planning officer: Teignbridge DC – ‘Neighbourhood Plans – What is the Local Authority
involvement?’
Q & A
Coffee Break
Carole Box: Chair, CPRE Torbay. ‘The Challenges’
David Watts: Chair of Paignton Neighbourhood Plan – ‘The experience so far of producing a
Neighbourhood Plan for an area of 43,000 people.’
Geoff Melbourne: ‘Strategic Environment Assessment and The Habitat Directive-The practical implications of compliance for community volunteers’
Q & A
Martin Parkes: Devon Communities Together
Conclusion
To reserve a place..
RSVP: Penny Mills, CPRE Devon. Tel: 01392 966737 email: secretary@cpredevon.org.uk
Free admission Refreshments available
http://www.cpredevon.org.uk
Registered Charity no: 245317
Thanks to South Devon Watch Facebook page for info
