Category Archives: Accountability
Clinton Devon Estates and Blackhill Quarry: a critical test of the company’s environmental credentials and standards
A correspondent writes:
Sites of Environmental Significance:
We have three very special environmental sites in, or on the edge of, East Devon protected by stringent European and UK Habitat Regulations: the Exe Estuary, Dawlish Warren and the Pebblebed Heaths.
Clinton Devon Estate (CDE) is the owner of 80% of the the Pebblebed Heaths, including the land of Blackhill Quarry.
CDE web site proclaims “Responsible stewardship and sustainable development are at the heart of everything we do”.
So it seems extraordinary that CDE, instead of promoting the reinstatement of the Blackhill Quarry site as part of the Pebblebed Heaths, should, instead, be seeking to turn it into an industrial site with all the accompanying pollution (noise, light, traffic etc).
Recently Aggregate Industries withdrew an application to continue quarrying on the site and has been restoring the site to encourage wildlife. Indeed, Aggregate Industries was awarded runner up and highly commended at the Mineral Product Association’s Biodiversity Awards 2017 for its restoration of the sand and gravel quarry.
“This is an unique wildlife habitat situated close to Exeter. Designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area, this area represents one of the most important conservation sites in Europe.”
http://www.pebblebedheaths.org.uk/
Also, studies have shown these are popular local sites, and access to them is vital to the local economy and highly valued by local people.
Access has widespread benefits including health, education, inspiration, spiritual and general well-being. While much of the access takes place regardless of the wildlife interest, that wildlife interest is also a part of the specific draw for many people. New development in the area is putting this under pressure not only by destroying green space but by increasing the footfall on what is left from an ever larger population. Local authorities have a legal duty to ensure no adverse effects occur as a result of their strategic plans.
Legally, there can be no building within 400m of these sites and also any development within 10Km requires a formal Habitats Protection Assessment with favourable conclusions. EDDC, however, accepts a funding levy from developers to get around having to do this individually, effectively taking on the responsibility for mitigation delivery themselves.
Though money might do a lot of things, it can’t create more land.
Your correspondent recalls a time when CDE were talking of using the old industrial site to enhance the existing recreation experience of the Heath. And now it wishes to develop an industrial site.
Do they think the prohibition on building within 400m doesn’t apply to them?
Theresa May accused of buying Tory MPs’ support – nearly half Tory MPs getting pay perks
“Theresa May has been accused of “buying the loyalty” of Tory MPs by paying nine of them about £10,000 a year extra to be party vice-chairmen.
Labour’s Chris Bryant claims the cash, which comes from Conservative Party funds, amounts to “hush money”.
The jobs were handed out to the MPs, including some who had lost ministerial posts, in Mrs May’s reshuffle.
According to The Times, they are being paid varying amounts depending on their past experience.
A Conservative spokesman said: “Our new team of vice chairs bring a diverse range of experience to the party.
“The party has decided to offer some remuneration for these positions, reflecting both the importance of these roles and the commitment expected of them.”
The new vice-chairmen were appointed by Mrs May as part of a shake-up of Conservative central office aimed at attracting more young people and ethnic minority voters to join the party.
Brandon Lewis was installed as the new party chairman, with James Cleverly as his deputy.
The vice-chairmen include junior ministers, such as Chris Skidmore and Marcus Jones, who were sacked in the prime minister’s reshuffle and will, therefore, have lost their ministerial salary of £22,000 a year, which comes on top of their £74,962 MPs’ pay.
The new vice-chairmen come in addition to the party’s existing four vice-chairmen and others given what Chris Bryant described as “semi-government” jobs, such as the 15 MPs acting as trade envoys.
“It has never been done before as far as I am aware,” said Mr Bryant, a former Labour minister, of the new vice-chairmen.
“It is basically a means of keeping them on board and extending the prime minister’s patronage.”
“It means they can be sacked,” he added, if they voted against the government or showed disloyalty.
The size of the so-called “payroll vote” – backbench MPs whose independence is supposedly compromised by being given paid or unpaid roles in government – has been a source of controversy under successive governments.
The Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975 says the maximum number of paid ministerial posts should be 109, with the size of the cabinet limited to 21 ministers.
Prime ministers can also appoint MPs to unpaid roles, such as Parliamentary Private Secretaries, or invite ministers to attend cabinet without being full members – there are six ministers in this category in Mrs May’s new line-up.
The BBC estimates that there 105 Tory MPs – out of a total of 316 – on the “payroll vote,” following Mrs May’s reshuffle, but that is before the new list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries has been released, which could take the total to 150 MPs, nearly half of the Parliamentary party.”
Clinton Devon Estates blots its eco copybook at Blackhill Quarry
Will Woodbury ever be free of industrial onslaught?
A controversial Outline Planning Application has been submitted by Clinton Devon Estates for an Extension to an engineering works at Blackhill Quarry instead of returning the area to heathland as originally agreed.
The plan shows the outline application seeking approval for construction of up to 3251 sqm (35,000 sq. ft.) of B2 (general industrial) floor space with access, parking and associated infrastructure (details of appearance, landscaping, scale and layout reserved for future consideration) at Blackhill Quarry Woodbury Exeter EX5 1HD.
EDDC Planning Website 17/3022/MOUT
Electoral Reform Society publishes four hard-hitting articles
There’s a lobbying scandal brewing in the House of Lords”
“As if the House of Lords did not already look like a private members’ club, an investigation by The Times has revealed that peers can continue to use the House of Lords’ subsidised dining rooms even after they retire.”
That means former politicians, who were not elected but selected for the role – are enjoying cheap food and drink thanks to taxpayers’ hard-earned cash. …”
https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/theres-a-lobbying-scandal-brewing-in-the-house-of-lords/
Referendum spending is a murky world – when it should be crystal clear
“Negotiations on the UK’s exit from the European Union will dominate much of the political agenda this year. But 18 months on from the Brexit referendum, questions are still being asked about whether campaigners played by the rules when it came to spending. …”
Political parties are too reliant on big donors – and it has to change
“The Mirror today published research findings showing that 39% of all cash donations to the Conservative Party declared so far this year are from 64 individuals and their businesses.
The 64 in question are all members of an exclusive donor club with a £50,000 annual membership fee.
This grants them access to senior party figures via swanky dinner events. Ministers who have attended in the first half of this year include Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Philip Hammond and Jeremy Wright. …”
Ministers are ignoring the elephant in the room when it comes to boundaries
“Because of the current winner-takes-all voting system for electing Members of Parliament, 22 million votes were wasted at last year’s General Election – that’s 68% of the total votes cast.
So no matter what the size of your constituency is, most votes went into the black hole of our voting system.
That means 22 million people not just being under-represented – but not being represented at all in Parliament’s elected chamber.
Their votes are being thrown on the scrapheap – and the result is a highly distorted legislature that fails to represent the country. …”
Swire’s biggest concern this week: pensioners in Zimbabwe
Oral Answers to Questions – Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Veterans Abroad: Military Covenant (9 Jan 2018)
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2018-01-09a.155.1&s=speaker%3A11265#g155.2
Hugo Swire: What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the application of the Military Covenant’s Duty of Care to veterans living abroad.
Oral Answers to Questions – Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Veterans Abroad: Military Covenant (9 Jan 2018)
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2018-01-09a.155.1&s=speaker%3A11265#g155.4
Hugo Swire: Of course, we very much welcome that. According to the campaigning charity, ZANE: Zimbabwe A National Emergency, there are 600 former British servicemen—those who have served the Crown—and widows of servicemen living in considerable pensioner poverty in Zimbabwe. Does the Minister agree that although the financial responsibility is that of the Government in Harare, the moral…
Four million people affected by NHS cancellations and waiting times
“Four million people have been directly affected by NHS cancellations and long waiting times, a poll has suggested.
It also found the majority of the public (65%) believe the Government is badly managing the current pressures on the NHS.
And almost half (44%) blame No10 for the crisis, the YouGov survey showed….”
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/four-million-people-directly-affected-11826172
Powerful new video: SOHS – Care Closer to Home isn’t Working
Should be required watching for everyone in Devon – made on a shoestring by campaigning group Save our Hospital Services. A starring role for Independent DCC Councillor Claire Wright – our only hope for common sense in East Devon.
Please watch NOW and pass the link to everyone and anyone, inside and outside Devon who can amplify this message.
Plymouth and Torbay to share some strategic planning functions – so where does LEP fit in?
So where does our Local Enterprise Partnership fit in with these emerging Strategic Planning areas of Plymouth/Torbay and Greater Exeter/East Devon/Mid Devon/Teignbridge Strategic Plan?
It’s all getting very confusing! Well, except that most of the LEP Devon and Somerset plans and money end up surprisingly close to Hinkley C!
“Plymouth and Torbay councils could share some planning services under plans to be discussed later in January.
Plymouth’s cabinet will discuss an “in principle agreement” looking at sharing some planning functions with Torbay Council on 16 January.
Torbay requested the partnership after a service review by Plymouth City Council last year made a number of recommendations.
Areas which could be covered under the arrangement include strategic and local planning, environmental policy, natural infrastructure and major developments.”
Another LEP, similar to our own, has serious questions to be answered
Owl has only just come across this article from August 2017, but how interesting!
“Controversial LEP Chairman combines top jobs for himself at Board, Executive and Sub-committee levels
The roles of Chair and Chief Executive have been combined and Mark Reeve is now the Executive Chairman of the LEP, the local body allocated £150 million of public money.
In addition it appears Mr Reeve is also still chair of the LEP’s sub-committee on investment and sub-committee on agri-tech – although the LEP website remains silent on this.
As such the boss of the local funding body awarded £150 million of taxpayer funds appears to be in charge at three different levels – Board, Executive and Sub-committee levels.
This unprecedented concentration of power in someone unelected by the public is despite Mr Reeve failing to explain why his own business annual accounts for his building firm Chalcroft, had financial irregularities in the same year he became boss of the LEP. Mr Reeve personally signed the accounts which record these financial irregularities.
The decision to extend Mr Reeve’s power was proposed by John Bridge – who coincidentally will also decide on Mr Reeve’s salary as the new Executive Chairman. Mr Bridge chairs the remuneration committee which will decide how much public money to give Mr Reeve.
Any constituent who wants more information on these arrangements should contact John Bridge direct at j.bridge@cambscci.co.uk”
Update: he resigned the post in November 2017!
May’s diabetes glucose monitoring treatment not available to all on NHS
“… For two years, George has paid £96 a month for the patch, plus a one-off cost of £133 for the reader. But, like many, he can’t always afford it.
In theory, it is now available on the NHS. On November 1 last year, the FreeStyle Libre patch was added to the NHS drug tariff, meaning it can be prescribed subject to local health authority approval.
But a postcode lottery seems to be emerging. Prescribing committees have given it the green light in Wales, Greater Manchester, Cumbria and Brighton. Hampshire and London committees are believed to be deciding in the next few weeks.
However, George’s clinical commissioning group (CCG), Cambridge and Peterborough, is among those that have previously said there isn’t enough evidence the Libre is effective, and George says he hasn’t heard yet if this has changed. …”
WE are paying for a £27m refurbishment of one entryway to Windsor Castle
Owl says: 150-250 affordable homes could be built for this sum – more if on council land. And remember – Windsor Castle is just ONE of the council houses that the Queen occupies! Not to forget all those “grace and favour” gaffs that her family and friends and senior politicians and retired politicians occupy:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/gallery/2010/may/18/coalition-government
“The scaffolding went up today and it is believed that renovations on the swanky new entryway will take around four to five weeks.”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5247699/Windsor-Castle-cloaked-scaffolding-27M-refurb.html
Facebook site for examples of poor parking in East Devon
Slightly rude title but the photos speak for themselves!
And p,plenty for DCC transport supremo Stuart Hughes to get his teeth into!
Not much time for justice at the Ministry of Justice!
“David Lidington’s promotion will mean there has been six justice secretaries in less than eight years.
Ken Clarke (2 years 4 months),
Chris Grayling (2 years 8 months),
Michael Gove (1 year 4 months),
Liz Truss (11 months) and
Lidington (6 months).
#nocontinuity”
Well, that’s housing taken care of!
“Javid stays in post – with new housing extension
Sajid Javid is staying in post but his job title has changed slightly.
He is now Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government – housing has been added to that list.
In his existing role, Mr Javid was already responsible for housing but I guess the move is supposed to reflect the priority given to housing by Theresa May, who has described the issue as her “national mission”.
Well, that’s sorted housing – NOT!
Otterton public meeting on traffic problems tomorrow
Strong and stable?
“Theresa May’s cabinet reshuffle got off to a chaotic start as the Tories bungled the announcement of their new party chairman.
Patrick McLoughlin has left the role he has held since July 2016, however, there was confusion over who would replace him after the Conservatives hastily deleted a tweet announcing Transport Secretary Chris Grayling would take the position.
Brandon Lewis, the Immigration Minister, has been officially announced as the new chairman.
Braintree MP James Cleverly has been appointed deputy chairman, No 10 also confirmed.
In a second error, the official No 10 tweet naming Lewis misspelled ‘portfolio’.
And at 1pm, May was due to appear on the steps of Downing Street with Lewis and Cleverly to celebrate their promotions, but for reasons unknown she missed the key photo opp. …”
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/patrick-mcloughlin-sacked_uk_5a5341ffe4b003133ec9bc53
“More than 3,000 families on East Devon council housing list”
“In the last three years, the list has grown by around 46 per cent, a Freedom of Information (FoI) request submitted by the Herald has revealed.
Council bosses have said one of the reasons for the rise is that many applicants cannot afford to rent privately or purchase a home in the district, so turn to the authority and housing associations for assistance.
The statistics, released by East Devon District Council (EDDC), revealed there were more than 620 people on the waiting list in Sidmouth, including 171 children.
Compared to the rest of the district, Sidmouth had the third highest number of families on the list. This included around 41 single parents, 229 households of one or two people, 31 families of three, 32 families of four, 12 families of five, 11 families of six and one family of seven.
In Ottery St Mary, there are 375 people on this list and, of this, 251 are adults. This mean that 33 per cent of those waiting were children, leaving Ottery with the highest percentage of children waiting on the list compared with anywhere else in East Devon.
Overall there are 156 families waiting in Ottery – this includes 95 households with one or two people, 25 families of the three, 24 families of four, six families of five, four families of six and two families of seven.
Across East Devon, as of November 30, 2017, there were 3,143 families on the waiting list.
When looking at the numbers for the last three years, the statistics showed that the amount of people on the list had slowly been increasing.
In 2014/15, there were 2,297 households waiting and by March 2017 there were 3,361.
Although, as of November 30, the number of households on the waiting list had dropped by around 6.9 per cent.
An EDDC spokeswoman said the authority’s housing register was one of its barometers of housing need in the district.
She added: “We are constantly monitoring movements in the housing register and trying to secure new affordable housing where needs arise.”
Housing completions for private housing (ie those ready to move into, not those with planning permission) are woeful, as developers drip-feed their expensive houses to keep prices high:
“Grenfell fire: KPMG quits inquiry amid conflict of interest furore”
“… The accountancy firm audits the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, where the tower is located.
It also audits Rydon Construction, which refurbished the tower in 2015, and Celotex, which manufactured insulation material used in the tower. …”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42598976
Owl says: if conflicts of interest were taken as seriously in Devon, we would have many fewer councillors, almost no quangos and DEFINITELY no Local Enterprise Partnership!
Andrew Marr defends NHS and confronts May
“BBC presenter Andrew Marr confronted Theresa May over the state of the NHS, suggesting he could have died if he had waited five hours for an ambulance following his own stroke.
The political broadcaster, 58, who suffered a stroke in January 2013, pressed the PM on the crisis, which has led to thousands of routine operations being cancelled in January as the health service struggles to cope with winter pressures.
It comes after the East of England Ambulance Service apologised following the death of a pensioner, 81, in Essex who was left waiting nearly four hours for a crew of paramedics.
Appearing in a pre-recorded interview on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show on Sunday morning, the Prime Minister acknowledged more needs to be done, telling the interviewer: “Of course nothing’s perfect and there is more for us to do.”
Mr Marr claimed funding was not the sole issue facing the service and said the cancelled operations were “part of the plan”.
Presenter Mr Marr challenged her, saying he would not be interviewing her if he had experienced the same delays following his stroke.
“If I’d been waiting for five hours before I’d seen a doctor after my stroke I would not be here talking to you,” he said.
“This is about life and death and up and down the country people are having horrendous experiences of the NHS,” he added, before asking what the PM would say to the daughter of an elderly woman who waited hours to see a doctor.
Mrs May replied: “Obviously you’ve raised an individual case with me which I haven’t seen the details of and I recognise that people have concerns if they have experience of that sort.
“If we look at what is happening across the NHS, what we see is that actually the NHS is delivering for more people, it is treating more people and more people are being seen within the four hours every day than has been a few years ago.
“But of course nothing’s perfect and there is more for us to do.”
On funding, it was suggested to Mrs May that she had done nothing to address increased pressure on the social care system.
The PM replied: “Well yes, we have done something about it, Andrew. I’m sorry, you’re wrong in that.
“We have put extra funding into the social care system and we have worked with hospitals and with local authorities to identify how we can reduce those delayed discharges, ie patients being kept in hospital when they shouldn’t be.”
Mrs May said the Government is working on its long-term plans for social care but would not be drawn on whether there is a need for a brave and radical look at how the NHS is funded.
Asked about whether she agreed with Mr Hunt’s suggestion of a 10-year funding plan, Mrs May replied: “Of course what we’re operating on at the moment is the five-year forward view for the NHS which is the forward view that the NHS themselves came forward with.
“They brought those proposals together.”
Pressed further on cash, Mrs May said: “You keep talking about the money but actually what you also need to look at is how the NHS works, how it operates.”
Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said of the PM: “She hasn’t got a plan to get those people off the trolleys and corridors.”
He added to the same programme: “Her only plan apparently is to promote this Health Secretary. They should be demoting this Health Secretary.
“If she promotes this Health Secretary tomorrow it’s a betrayal of those 75,000 people in the back of ambulances.”
Franz Ferdinand drummer Paul Thomson, performing at the end of the programme, appeared to show his support for the health service by wearing a t-shirt with the NHS’s logo above the Nike tick.”
East Devon Watch 