Category Archives: Greater Exeter

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27 Feb 2017

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Accountability, Affordable and Social Housing, Consultation, Developers/ Development, EDDC, Environment (local), Greater Exeter, Infrastructure, Land Supply, Local Plan, Planning System, Sustainability, Transparency, Transport (local)

Greater Exeter Strategic Plan consultation – only one public meeting to discuss implications for East Devon

NOTE THAT, UNLIKE THE EMAIL TO EDDC COUNCILLORS (see earlier post) WE ARE NOT BEING ASKED IF WE WANT TO PUT FORWARD SECRET LAND HOLDINGS – THOUGH NO DOUBT THE TAXMAN WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IF YOU DID!

THE BIGGEST PLANNING ISSUE TO HIT EAST DEVON SINCE THE LOCAL PLAN AND YOU MUST TREK TO HONITON ON 8 MARCH IF YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR SAY. THAT’S IT – ONE MEETING IN ONE PLACE.

DO YOU RECALL BEING ASKED IF YOU WANTED TO BE PART OF GREATER EXETER? OWL NEITHER!

“Greater Exeter Strategic Plan Consultation: Issues

The local authorities of East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon and Teignbridge in partnership with Devon County Council are working together to prepare a Greater Exeter Strategic Plan (GESP). This formal statutory document will provide the overall spatial strategy and level of housing and employment land to be provided up to 2040. Please visit http://www.gesp.org.uk for more information.

Engagement with stakeholders and communities will be critical to the success of the Plan. At this first stage, the authorities are consulting on an initial ‘issues document’ which, after setting out some background information, looks to explain the scope and content of the plan as well as describing the key issues facing the Greater Exeter area. This early stage of consultation is designed to stimulate debate and the local planning authorities are seeking your views on the scope and content of the plan as well as the key issues facing your area.

A number of other associated documents are also being consulted on:

Draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report:

· The Draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report is the first stage of work in undertaking the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) for the plan. This process is used to assess the sustainability of the plan content as it develops.

Statement of Community Involvement:

· The joint Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) sets out the approach for consultation in the GESP. The SCI sets out the way in which we will be engaging with communities and other interested parties throughout the process.

The consultation will run from 27 February 2017 until 10 April 2017. To view the consultation material and to make your comments please visit http://www.gesp.org.uk/consultations/issues/.

Alternatively, paper copies of the consultation document are available to view at your local library and Council Office.

A series of exhibitions are being held during the consultation period in the following locations:

Honiton: Mackarness Hall, High Street, EX14 1PG – Wednesday 8 March 2017, 2pm-8pm

Tiverton: Mid Devon District Council Office, Phoenix House, Phoenix Lane, EX16 6PP – Wednesday 15 March 2017, 2-8pm
Exeter: The Guildhall, High Street, EX4 3EB – Thursday 16 March 2017, 2-8pm
Newton Abbot: Old Forde House, Brunel Road, TQ12 4XX – Thursday 23 March 2017, 2- 8pm

A ‘call for sites’ has also been arranged to run alongside the consultation. This is a technical exercise which allows interested parties to submit potential sites for development to the Local Authorities. The sites are then assessed to consider whether they are suitable for possible inclusion in the plan. Further information is http://gesp.org.uk/call-for-sites/.

If you need further information please visit the website, email GESP@devon.gov.uk or contact your Local Council using the phone numbers below:

East Devon: 01395 571533
Exeter: 01392 265615
Mid Devon: 01884 234221
Teignbridge: 01626 215735

As there are four Councils contacting their stakeholders for the consultation and call for sites, you may receive duplicate letters/emails. Please accept my apologies if this is the case.”

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25 Feb 2017

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Accountability, Affordable and Social Housing, Austerity cuts, Developers/ Development, Greater Exeter

Got a bit of green space? Greater Exeter would LOVE to build on it

https://www.gesp.org.uk/consultations/call-for-sites/

and a (pointless) “consultation” document here:

https://www.gesp.org.uk/consultations/issues/

Since, as usual, all done and dusted.

Big expansion to Newton Abbott already moving on, same with the Teignbridge side of Exeter at Alphington and at Cranbrook – and all the partner councils happy to allow development anywhere and everywhere else. Unless you are in Exeter, in which case all housing will probably be student housing.

The East Devon Local Plan was supposed to cover us till 2030. This one goes from now to 2040.

Local Plans for 4 councils (ours taking nearly a decade to pass) all to be ripped up as no longer worth the paper they were (eventually) written on.

And, whilst all this is going on, EDDC’s main preoccupation is spend millions of pounds of our money to relocate to a site that could be redundant before they ever set foot in it.

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18 Feb 2017

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Affordable and Social Housing, Developers/ Development, EDDC, Greater Exeter, Local Enterprise Partnership, Local Plan

2+ 2 equals … er … run that past me again … a tale of big fleas and little fleas

“Big fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite ’em,
And little fleas have smaller fleas, and so ad infinitum”

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EDDC sets its housing targets in its Local Plan, paying consultants to come up with numbers they like, and the government agrees them (though note these are MINIMUM targets).

“Greater Exeter” is created (with no public consultation) and says: “Ah, but WE need even more houses for this bigger area to service the city, so you, East Devon will have to find more places to put them”.

The Local Enterprise Partnership says: “Ah, but we need even more houses for our (unsustainable)”economic growth” targets so Greater Exeter and East Devon – you will have to find even more space for even more houses.

The Government says: “It still isn’t enough – all of you will have to find MUCH more space or we won’t give you any money.

Developers say: “Stuff you all, we are laughing all the way to the bank as we dribble out new builds, get massive prices for them and create a market shortage. And if you meddle with us we will stop donating to Tory party funds.

And they all lived happily ever after:

– the district councillors drawing their allowances and officers drawing good salaries and hob-nobbing with developers keen to influence them;

– the Greater Exeter elite group of councillors and officers who are even more influential with the developers;

– the LEP who ARE the developers;

– the government whose coffers swell with donations from developers

– all except the hundreds of thousands of poor beggars who couldn’t afford to buy their own homes and who now can’t afford to rent them either.

Proper job!

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4 Feb 2017

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Devolution, EDDC, Golden Triangle LEP, Greater Exeter, Knowle/Honiton/Exmouth relocation, Local Enterprise Partnership

Single unitary councils would save most money say researchers

This post is from November 2016 but is reprinted here due to its topicality. Given LEP power-grabbing and “Greater Exeter” and “Golden Triangle” options, our district council’s plan to move to Honiton looks questionable to say the least.

Should any of the above options pan out, even the current bases at Sidmouth and Exmouth (plus changing Manstone depot to part-office) seems grandiose!

“Creating 27 unitary councils across the whole of England could save as much as £2.9bn, according to an independent analysis of local government reorganisation options undertaken for the County Councils Network.

The report by consultants EY examined six different single and two-tier governance scenarios for county and district authorities, using existing county boundaries. Based on the analysis of national data, EY found that creation of unitaries along county boundaries could save between £2.37bn and £2.86bn over five years, and average up to £106m per county. The single unitary option has the shortest payback period, generating savings within two years and two months, according to the review.

Among the other options examined was a move to create two unitary authorities per county, which would establish 54 councils.

Under this proposal, savings worth £1.17bn and £1.7bn would be made in a five-year timeframe, only around 59% of the saving of the proposal to create unitaries along current boundaries.

A third approach considered abolishing county and district authorities and creating three unitaries per county. However, the creation of 81 new councils countrywide could result in a net cost to the taxpayer of £33m over five years, although the range could also include a saving of £526m, dependent on how senior management and councillors are structured across the authorities. Whatever transpires, our council serms hell-bent on the most expensive option:

The review also considered reforming the current two-tier system through merging districts to reduce the average number in a county area from 7.4 to 3. Such a scenario could make savings of between £531m and £839m over five years.

A further scenario to create three unitary authorities and a combined authority, which would then deliver major services like adult social care, children’s social care and transport, was likely to cost between £36m and £366m over five years. Such an approach has been considered in areas such as Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, but EY highlighted the risks of this ‘untried and untested’ model of reorganisation. …”

http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2016/11/local-government-reorganisation-switch-unitaries-could-save-ps29bn#disqus_thread

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30 Jan 2017

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Devolution, Economy, Golden Triangle LEP, Greater Exeter, Hinkley C, Local Enterprise Partnership, Somerset

Another problem for our Local Enterprise Partnership?

Perhaps partnering with Somerset, with its massive reliance on Hinkley C is not such a good idea.

“Forging a trade deal with the European Union must be Britain’s top priority in negotiations, because the bloc is the largest export market for 61 of 62 of the nation’s cities, a think-tank has said. …

…”The West of England is disproportionately reliant on exports to the EU, with the great majority of total exports from cities in the region destined for the bloc. Out of all cities in the UK, the top three cities in terms of their dependence on EU exports are Exeter (70%), Plymouth (68%) and Bristol (66%).

The least dependent city in the UK is Derby, which still sends almost half (48%) of its exports to the EU, followed by Hull (29%).”

http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2017/01/eu-dependent-cities-need-trade-deal-after-brexit-centre-cities-says

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30 Jan 2017

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Developers/ Development, Economy, Greater Exeter, Post-Brexit Adjustments

“Greater Exeter” dependent on EU for 70% of its exports

“Exeter is more reliant on trading with the EU than any other city in the country, according to a new report.

Centre for Cities released a report today which reveals that 70 per cent of Exeter’s exports are sold to the EU – meaning our city would be hit worse by a bad Brexit deal than anyone else.

That figure is much higher than average, Almost half the exports from UK cities are sold to the EU.

That is three times more than to the USA and five times more than to India, Japan, Russia, South America and South Korea combined.

The annual Cities Outlook survey shows that the whole of the South West relies on EU trade more than other regions – with Exeter the most dependent of any city in the country.

The same report also says Exeter is the fastest growing city in the country, with a population increase of 2.4 per cent in the last year.

Exeter’s main exports are in goods and services such as insurance and pensions, as well as transport equipment.

While across the UK the average is close to 50 per cent of trading done with the EU, in some cities it is as low as 25 per cent.”

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/exeter-more-reliant-on-trading-with-eu-than-any-other-city-in-the-country/story-30096304-detail/story.html

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19 Jan 2017

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Economy, EDBF, EDDC, Greater Exeter, Mark Williams CEO EDDC, Paul Diviani, Richard Cohen

EDDC recreates the “Economic Development Manager” post

Last occupied by Nigel Harrison, who was controversially closely involved (with EDDC’s money and many, many blessings) with the equally controversial East Devon Business Forum, run by disgraced ex-councillor Graham Brown. Mr Harrison slipped quietly away during the ensuing fall-out.

So why do we need a new one?

“To ensure that the district has sufficient dedicated economy staffing resource in its team to promote local economic growth and productivity, increase the development of employment land and business premises (including EDDC owned and operated units), respond to local business support requests, improve the District’s investment profile and enable East Devon to maximise its return on the shared investment opportunities that Greater Exeter, Innovation Exeter, Growth Deal and the future Enterprise Zone offer.”

Click to access 180117-joint-overview-scrutiny-agenda-combined.pdf

“The King is dead, long live the king” as they say!

Perhaps CEO Williams, Deputy CEO Cohen and Leader Diviani will have learned some lessons … then again, perhaps not.

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19 Jan 2017

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Accountability, Affordable and Social Housing, Consultation, Democracy, EDDC, Greater Exeter, Local Enterprise Partnership, Local Plan, Neighbourhood Plans, NPPF, Planning System, Sustainability, Transparency

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Greater Exeter: only 5 EDDC councillors get decision-making powers -and its another forum!

“A joint informal advisory reference forum is set up consisting of 5 councillors each from Devon, East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon and Teignbridge to consider and make comments on draft plan proposals before they are formally considered by each council.”

AND it links seamlessly into Local Enterprise Partnership plans … none of which have been put out for public consultation:

“Role of the joint plan and relationship with other plans

o Setting out the overall scope of the plan and how it can support other related strategies such as the Local Enterprise Partnership’s policies and the results of the devolution discussions. How it relates to the existing and proposed new local plans prepared by each council and with Neighbourhood Plans. Duty to cooperate discussions.”

AND it is all-encompassing:

‘Plan Strategy
o Description of the overall strategy which best meets vision and the challenges facing the area. Covering the big ticket themes of where and how many homes and jobs are needed, how key environmental assets will be protected and enhanced and the need for new and improved infrastructure.

Strategic Settlements and area strategy and functions

o The implications of the vision and strategy for each of the main settlements and the
plan area as a whole. Setting out the key planning functions and role of these.  Strategic Development Proposals
o The strategic development sites allocated in this plan to meet the strategy and other area’s needs. Implications for the remaining district/city level local plans’ allocations.

Strategic Policies

o Homes – setting the strategic targets for the objectively assessed need for housing,
and considering the need for specific types of housing (including affordable, student,
custom build and accessible homes).
o Economy – considering forecast economic performance and how the plan can
guide/improve. This is likely to include consideration of particular economic sectors (and in particular the evolving role of the knowledge economy and innovation), the protection of key economic assets across the whole plan area.
o City and Town Centres – giving the overall approach to the need and best locations for retail, leisure and other “main town centre uses” taking account of the existing “hierarchy” of town and city centres in the area.
o Environment – policies concerning issues including climate change, air quality, flooding, protection of European sites, other strategic landscape and biodiversity matters and heritage protection.
o Community infrastructure – policies and proposals for the provision of community facilities and infrastructure, including information, smart systems and broadband.
o Quality of development – improving the design of new development, including consideration of density and space standards.
 Implementation, delivery and monitoring – proposals to ensure that policies and proposals happen on the ground and how their success will be measured.”

AND ordinary councillors (including Tories) will be frozen out of decision-making:

“It is recognised that it might be difficult for the wider council membership to input into a joint plan through the normal committee/council channels.

It is therefore proposed that member input is provided for in two additional ways.

Firstly, it is proposed that a joint informal advisory reference forum is set up, consisting of 5 councillors from each of the five authorities (total 25 members). There would be an expectation that the councillors from each authority would be politically balanced. This joint forum would consider plan drafts and comment upon them before they are finalised and presented to the meetings of the individual councils. Secondly, officers will run member briefings before each formal committee cycle to allow all councillors to review and comment upon draft plan contents and proposals. This would help to ensure that councillors’ views can be considered before proposals are finalised.

Members should note that there is a separate proposal to set up a Greater Exeter Growth and Development Board as a formal joint committee to consider economic and other related matters across the area. This has been agreed in principle by Exeter and Teignbridge and will be considered by East Devon and Mid Devon (note that Devon County have confirmed their wish not to be involved in such a joint committee at this stage, although this does not undermine their commitment to the GESP). It is envisaged that the member steering group referred to above would have a role reporting on plan progress and strategy to the joint committee. This does not affect the recommendation referred to above to prepare the GESP under Section 28.”

Click to access 170117-combined-strategic-planning-agenda-compressed.pdf

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31 Dec 2016

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Accountability, Consultation, DCC, Democracy, Devolution, EDDC, Exeter City Council, Exmouth, Golden Triangle LEP, Greater Exeter, Local Enterprise Partnership, Scrutiny, Somerset

“Musical Council Boundaries”

“When the music stops, your local council leader will be here to tell you a story [1]

First, there was “devolution” for the Heart of the South West, which wasn’t devolution at all because it would have sucked powers upwards from localities to a vast “combined authority” covering all of Devon and Somerset, including Plymouth and Torbay [2].

Then came the idea for a Greater Exeter Growth and Development Board (the GEGDB), which would be a joint strategic authority made up of Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon and Teignbridge Councils [3]. Joint authorities are in practice run by their officers, not councillors, because the officers negotiate a common acceptable position on a given issue and then serve it up the councillors as the only available option that the four councils will agree on.

Finally (or perhaps not), proposals for a “South Devon” unitary council leaked out last week. This would be an all-purpose council covering East Devon, Exeter, Teignbridge, Torbay and Plymouth and, possibly, South Hams (sorry, Mid Devon, you’re out), discharging all existing district council functions plus those of Devon County Council within the new unitary area. Such evidence as is there is suggests the prime movers appear to be Exeter and Plymouth, if only because they refused to back further moves to support the “devolution” proposals.

The Exeter Green Party has written to the leader of Exeter City Council asking the following questions:

What mandate does the City Council have from the residents it serves to:
(a) attempt to reorganise local government decision-making structures?

(b) propose arrangements which would suck key decisions upwards from the elected representatives

of the people of Exeter to a new superior authority – the GEGDB – which would not be directly elected?

(c) propose a strategic authority – the GEGDB – which on the evidence of the 8 November paper would focus solely on economic growth to the exclusion of social and environmental considerations?

When does the City Council plan to publicise its thinking and actively consult residents and businesses on whether they actually want new local government arrangements and, if so, on the form they should take and how any new body might be fully accountable to local people?

It seems clear that the option favoured by Exeter and Plymouth is the South Devon unitary authority. Central government is believed to be offering £1 billion if the unitary is established, complete with an elected mayor. We don’t know what the money would be targeted at – improving public services, infrastructure, or grants to businesses? But a bribe’s a bribe.

A directly elected authority – which is what the unitary would be – is certainly preferable in democratic terms to the other options. But it would be a huge area, currently represented by 237 councillors elected by 105 wards (and that’s without South Hams). So a workable sized council will require a massive cull of elected members (no wonder the leaderships have been playing their cards close to their chests), leading to a weakening of the links between people and their councillors. On present ward boundaries, based on the most recent election results, 123 of the councillors would be Tories – a small majority, which gives pause for thought as to why Labour-run Exeter is so keen on the idea? Of course the new council could be a pathfinder, to be elected by proportional representation, which would change the political balance considerably. Look it’s a pig up there.

Many, many more questions. And meanwhile energy is being diverted away from service improvements into a potentially massive reorganisation. It still feels like the “old politics”. For the time being, we have to await the answers to the Green Party’s highly pertinent questions.

NOTES

[1] You have to have been an aficionado of BBC Radio Children’s Hour in the 1950s to understand the reference!

[2] See my post https://petercleasby.com/2016/09/30/devolution-is-not-control/

[3] The proposals adopted by Exeter City Council’s Executive are at http://committees.exeter.gov.uk/documents/g4903/Public%20reports%20pack%2008th-Nov-2016%2017.30%20Executive.pdf?T=10, page 73.”

https://agreeninexeter.com/2016/12/14/musical-council-boundaries/

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24 Dec 2016

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Accountability, EDDC, Exeter City Council, Greater Exeter

CEO of Greater Exeter (and former Regeneration supremo for East Devon looks forward to 2017

Karime Hassan:

” … “2017 will see us continuing to try to achieve a growth deal for Exeter. In collaboration with partners we are also going to be consulting on a Greater Exeter Strategic Plan. For the first time this will see four local authorities coming together to help shape things for the benefit of all for the next 20 years. … “

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/2017-is-full-of-promise-read-exeter-city-council-chief-executive-s-christmas-message/story-30009328-detail/story.html

Oh dear.

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12 Dec 2016

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Accountability, DCC, EDDC, Exeter City Council, Greater Exeter, Local Enterprise Partnership, Mid Devon, Transparency

Exeter Green Party wants transparency on proposed LEP and other secret partnerships including with East Devon

“Proposals by Exeter City Council to restructure decision-making in Devon are being challenged.

In a letter to Council Leader, Pete Edwards, Exeter Green Party has raised concerns about the ways Exeter City Council is developing initiatives to restructure the authority – all of which will give binding powers to new layers of local government.

[The letter states]

Exeter Green Party is deeply concerned about the ways in which the various initiatives to restructure local government decision-making in Devon are being pursued. We are referring to:

The “devolution” proposals for a combined authority covering the Heart of the South West, from which we understand the City Council withdrew at a meeting on 9 December.

The proposal for a Greater Exeter Growth and Development Board (GEGDB], agreed in principle by the City Council’s Executive on 8 November.

The proposals which emerged at the end of last week for a South Devon Unitary Council, involving Exeter, Plymouth, East Devon, Teignbridge, Torbay and possibly South Hams councils.

We do not at present wish to take a position on the merits of the various alternatives, though there are many concerns and questions to be addressed.

At this stage, we ask the following questions:

1. What mandate does the City Council have from the residents it serves to:

(a) attempt to reorganise local government decision-making structures?
(b) propose arrangements which would suck key decisions upwards from the elected representatives of the people of Exeter to a new superior authority – the GEGDB – which would not be directly elected?
(c) propose a strategic authority – the GEGDB – which on the evidence of the 8 November paper would focus solely on economic growth to the exclusion of social and environmental considerations?

2. When does the City Council plan to publicise its thinking and actively consult residents and businesses on whether they actually want new local government arrangements and, if so, on the form they should take and how any new body might be fully accountable to local people?

Because we believe there should be public debate now on these issues, we are issuing this letter to the media. I am also sending a copy to Karime Hassan.
I look forward to your reply.

In a surprise move proposals emerged at the end of last week for a new super South Devon Unitary Council. It could see a ‘super mayor’ governing Exeter, Plymouth, East Devon, Teignbridge, Torbay and possibly South Hams councils.

The Greens concerned that decisions are being made without any public consultation or mandate to give power to unelected bodies.

Exeter City Council had previously committed itself to the Heart of the South West “devolution” proposals for a combined authority. It is now understood Exeter City Council withdrew from this plan at a meeting on Friday. The Council’s Executive has also agreed in principle to set up a ‘Greater Exeter Growth and Development Board’ with East, Mid and Teignbridge Councils, and give this new body powers to make binding decisions on each Council.

Green Party spokesperson, Diana Moore, said:”These decisions about major changes to the structure and functions of local government are taking place behind closed doors.

“We want to know what mandate the City Council has for these proposals and when they intend to consult residents and businesses on whether they actually want new local government arrangements.

“They need to be transparent about their intentions and the power they intend to give away.

“The proposed arrangements would take away key decisions from the elected representatives of the people of Exeter and hand them to distant unelected bodies.

“The economic growth priorities of any of these bodies doesn’t address social and environmental considerations or the rising inequality in the city.

“Councils must focus on their duty to co-operate – and do that to the benefit of local people and not obsess about new structures which will only serve vested interests.

“Any new proposals for local government must be fully consulted on and that whatever structure emerges must be transparent and accountable to local people.”

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/strong-concerns-raised-over-exeter-s-role-in-super-mayor-plans/story-29977062-detail/story.html

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9 Dec 2016

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Accountability, Consultation, Democracy, EDDC, Exeter City Council, Greater Exeter, Local Enterprise Partnership, Transparency

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More on those devolution shennanigans!

Robert Vint, South Hams Lib Dem, DCC:

“We’re slowly piecing this together… Apparently Exeter City, Plymouth City & East Devon Council don’t want to be part of the HOTSW scheme and want to set up their own unitary authority – presumably with their own unitary Mayor. South Hams have apparently just been invited to join but West Devon have not. John Tucker says that SHDC [South Hams District Council] have not been involved in these discussions but that Torbay City and Teignbridge Council have. It seems odd that all the South Devon councils except South Hams & West Devon knew about this. There’s apparently a meeting of chairs of councils today where this will all come up. All very cloak & dagger!!”

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9 Dec 2016

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Accountability, Devolution, Greater Exeter, Local Enterprise Partnership, Transparency

South devon wants breakaway mini-devolution – north Devon excluded

“Plans to unite south Devon under a single elected mayor follow a visit to the county by the Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid in October when he made it clear that only “ambitious” devolution bids including mayors would get new money and significant powers.

It cuts across an existing devolution bid covering the whole of Devon and Somerset which has already been submitted to the government.

All of the councils involved in the new proposals had signed up to the earlier bid – but there has been growing frustration at its slow progress and the refusal of the councillors leading it to accept a mayor.”

BBC Devon Live website

The item does not state which parts of South Devon this includes.

CORRECTION:

it does:

“Exeter City Council and the two unitary authorities in Plymouth and Torbay are leading the initiative which would see a new combined authority stretching from Exeter to Plymouth.”

It comes hot on the heels of a plan to create a much more official “Exeter Travel to Work Area” including Exeter, East Devon, Mid-Devon and Teignbridge. Including bringing on board unelected business people to make decisions for us, of course – none of that pesky democracy here, thank you!

Whither Devon and Somerset now? And whither North Devon and its hinterland?

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10 Nov 2016

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Accountability, Devolution, Greater Exeter, Local Enterprise Partnership

The great devolution swindle

Lincolnshire County Council in late October voted against having an elected mayor (see below).

Will it be back on the cards now Javid has said clearly ” No Mayor, No money”?

Imagine – this is a single county voting against it, where we are being forced to take a two-county deal – two counties with very different aims and objectives which would have one mayor deciding alone on differing priorities.

And has anyone worked out how much these extra tiers of government will cost, offset against the very small sums being offered over 30 years – sums already cut from local authority budgets and for which less is being handed back than taken away?

Has anyone thought about the effect of the myriad “partnership deals” each district and city has already signed with other devolution subsidiaries which may conflict with mayoral interests (eg Greater Exeter v. Somerset v devolved Somerset/Devon or the Strata IT project (4 councils) v a devolved authority IT project?). p

Here is what they said in Lincolnshire:

“Lincolnshire county councillors have decisively rejected a proposed devolution settlement and directly elected mayor.

A total of 43 councillors voted against the proposals at a meeting on Thursday, October 20 [2016], with 17 voting in favour and five abstentions.

Many councillors expressed their anger at the plans for an elected mayor, a perceived failure of government to listen to their concerns, and fears of two extra layers of local government bureaucracy. …

… Councillor Colin Davie, portfolio holder for economic development, was another high-profile dissenting voice.

He said: “What we have on the table is a dog’s breakfast of a deal. We have a contract that has holes in it, and if I was in the private sector, I would never sign a deal like this.””

Lincolnshire devolution plunged into doubt as county councillors vote against deal

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5 Nov 2016

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Accountability, Audit (EDDC), Austerity cuts, Council tax, Developers/ Development, Greater Exeter, Planning System, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury, Sustainability, Transparency

Black holes and green fields

Comment reproduced from post below:

The leaderships approach to finances over the last decade or more has been driven by a single-minded dogma to avoid any rise in council tax, even to match inflation. They have achieved this by relying not only on the government’s normal grant, but also on the government’s New Homes Bribe (ooops, Bonus – which gives payments for 6 years for each house built) which in turn has driven the mind-boggling growth numbers in the East Devon Local Plan which could easily see overall growth of more than 35% – YES THAT IS NOT A TYPO, I DO MEAN GROWTH OF HOMES OF MORE THAN A THIRD – over the period of the current Local Plan.

(Imagine all the buildings in East Devon – in Exmouth, Budleigh, Sidmouth, Seaton, Axminster, Honiton, etc. etc. – all lumped together – that’s a lot of land built on. Now take a third of that huge area, and imagine all the green fields in East Devon that will need to be built upon to make that happen, a lot of which will be in our AONBs. That is the EDDC Conservative vision for East Devon.)

Anyway, back to the finances. So EDDC’s future financial plans were predicated on large income from the New Homes Bonus. But George Osborne introduced an austerity regime which decided to abolish not only the normal grant but also the New Homes Bonus, so now the EDDC’s finances have a huge hole in them (made worse of course by the vanity projects they are undertaking like the no-longer-cost-neutral move from the Knowle).

And that is why we have seen a 4% increase in Council tax this year, and likely to see further increases in council tax way above inflation in the next few years.

Fortunately (????!!!!!), the government has thrown EDDC a lifeline by deciding to allow councils to keep all the local business rates as revenue – so we are now seeing EDDC allowing dubious business developments approved (like the recent Greendale application – submitted by a generous donor to the local Conservatives) and we should expect this to ramp up as the cash flow from the New Homes Bonus runs down.

Now back to the mental picture of 1/3 growth in homes – take the amount of land you have pictured for new homes, and add to it a significant growth in industrial buildings (like Sidford and Greendale). Terrifying isn’t it.

Of course, if you take have been watching EDDC’s actions, you will know that they have already rationalised this by joining (without any consultation with the public or indeed councillors) with Exeter City Council and Teignbridge District Council to form so called Greater Exeter. Think of Greater London and Greater Manchester and you will get the picture – huge sprawling joined up conurbations, with extensive suburbs to feed the businesses in the city centre. We are already seeing assaults on the green wedges that separate our towns and villages – so this is not as far from reality as you might think.

So there you have it. A double whammy – huge increases in Council Tax whilst rampant developments start to cover our beautiful countryside and Exeter grows exponentially in order to meet the huge Local Plan targets for new homes.

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25 Oct 2016

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Accountability, Democracy, Greater Exeter, Mid Devon, Scrutiny, Transparency

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“Journalism is finding out what someone else doesn’t want you to know – everything else is public relations

Mid-Devon is one of the four councils that makes up the secretive “Greater Exeter”.

“THEY say that journalism is finding out what someone else doesn’t want you to know – everything else is public relations, writes Katie French.

This week especially that distinction has felt rather relevant.

With the news that two prominent councillors had been removed from their high-profile positions at Mid Devon District Council, it was important to find out why.

But how can a reporter get to the bottom of a story when those involved are not speaking to you?

This paper is regularly inundated with requests from the council for photo opportunities and self-congratulatory coverage but in the last seven days, the phones have been nigh on silent.

In a quest to get to the bottom of the Tiverton Portas Company investigation, repeated attempts have been made to contact councillors Sue Griggs and Neal Davey.

Neither has answered calls nor responded to emails.

This would all be very well if they hadn’t chosen a life in public office. But when you begin to take an allowance from the taxpayer to stand as a councillor, your decisions as a public servant open you up to a reasonable expectation of scrutiny.

Through their roles at the Tiverton Portas Company – Cllr Griggs as chair and Cllr Davey as secretary – the pair have become the trusted faces responsible for the £100,000 of government money supplied to improve the town.

Both have enjoyed ample column inches celebrating their successes. Yet when asked to comment on this investigation they have been silent.

This refusal to respond to reasonable requests has infuriated the chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance.

John O’Connell said: “Local residents will be incensed. This repeated refusal to speak to reporters shows a shocking contempt for scrutiny and transparency.

“The individuals responsible must be held to account. This is an utter disgrace and the council needs to sort it out without delay.”

But the councillors are not the only ones who have been difficult to reach.

Mid Devon District Council carried out the investigation into the Tiverton Portas Company after a complaint was made by a member of the public.

Numerous sources told this paper that a deficit of £18,000 had been discovered. That claim turned out to be unfounded but had the findings of the investigation – as presented to the standards committee on October 6 – been held in public, the claim would have had no credibility in the first place.

This increasing trend for public-funded bodies to attend to matters in private is not good for anyone – and it is not good enough.

As taxpayers we have a right to learn how our money is spent. Press and public should stand together and challenge unreasonable attempts to keep private matters relating to the taxpayer’s purse.

Next week a meeting will be held at Tiverton Town Council to discuss the findings of Mid Devon District Council’s audit.

It has been hinted that it will be held in chambers – meaning the press and public will be excluded.

This is not acceptable and the Gazette will be challenging the motion.

After all – if it is deliberately being held away from a reporter it’s likely there is going to be something worth hearing.”

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/public-servants-have-an-obligation-to-keep-us-informed-comment/story-29838892-detail/story.html

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21 Oct 2016

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Accountability, Democracy, Devolution, Greater Exeter, Local Enterprise Partnership, Sustainability, Tourism, Transparency

Oh, oh – Government says we have to have an elected Mayor!

Must be a credible figure … now, THAT is going to take some finding! From Devon or Somerset? Career councillor or business person? Nuclear interests or not? LEP member or not? Brexiter or not? Developer or not? Ruralist or Urbanist? And where is DCC, Greater Exeter and EDDC in all this? …

AND Sajid Javid manages to disparage tourism and older people in one paragraph.

“Ambitious devolution plans for Devon and Somerset need an elected mayor, the region’s economic leaders have been warned. Sajid Javid, secretary of state for communities and local government said there has to be a credible figurehead for economic growth for the Government to be prepared to hand over powers for investment, transport and infrastructure.

He made the stark statement at the South West Growth Summit, a major meeting of business leaders, politicians and academics from across all sectors in the South West.

The assertion comes as all 17 Devon and Somerset councils reach a critical stage in their bid for devolved powers – and the sticking point is the need for an elected mayor.

Mr Javid said that only an elected mayor could bring the kind of ambitions devolution that the region is calling for. To a packed Reed Hall at the University of Exeter, the minister, who is an alumni, said: “If you want an ambitious devolution deal then you have got to have a mayor.”

And he argued that Cornwall’s Devolution Deal without an elected mayor was not ambitious and did not involve any hand over of money. “What’s the point of going down that route?” he said.

Mr Javid called for the region to have one voice on its plans for economic prosperity. In a region that is challenged by disparate communities and historical rivalries, he said: “If you are going to make a success of the south-west that whole attitude has to change.”A region of collaboration and co-operation can make a difference. It has to happen,” he said.

The beauty of the region means as strong reliance on tourism, but it is a double-edged sword, he warned. “It perpetuates the idea that this is a low skill and part-time economy. It is not just a sunny playground for the rest of the country nor a retirement community for Britain’s pensioners.”

He said the 3 million population of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset were leading the way in aerospace and creative industries and it is a question of taking that message to the rest of the country and the world.

The South West Growth Summit was hosted by the Pennon Group in conjunction with the Western Morning News and the region’s Local Enterprise Partnerships. The debate held at the event will go on to help form a Growth Charter for the South West, a document that will be presented to the Government ahead of next month’s Autumn Statement.

The region’s MPs joined business leaders to discuss a number of key issues facing the region, including keeping the brightest talent and attracting investment.
Connectivity in terms of mobile and broadband coverage and investment in the road, rail and air routes continue to be high on the agenda.

Chris Loughlin, Chairman of the Pennon Group called for the region to embrace the digital revolution, the kind of business that makes a virtue of working in remote communities.

He said that the region must decide what the South West is and formulate a concept to rival the Northern Powerhouse or Midlands Engine to capture the collective consciousness. “It is essential that we have a clear unified voice to stand up strong for the South West.”

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/an-elected-mayor-is-the-answer-to-devolution-ambitions-warns-javid/story-29829580-detail/story.html

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13 Oct 2016

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Accountability, Democracy, Greater Exeter, Teignbridge

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“Greater Exeter” – the fun starts here

Other Chief Executives and Senior Officers of “Greater Exeter” will no doubt demand parity – or better …

“Councillors ‘unaware’ of Teignbridge chief’s 12% pay rise”

The ruling Conservative group said Nicola Bulbeck’s rise reflected her additional responsibilities.

Councillors said they were unaware of a proposal to increase a chief executive’s pay by 12% – taking it to £141,000 – before it was passed.
Nicola Bulbeck’s £15,000 pay rise has been called “excessive” by opposition Liberal Democrat politicians on Teignbridge District Council.

But the ruling Conservative group said information about the rise was given to all councillors in June.

Lib Dems said they had not “knowingly” approved the rise last month.

More on the council row, plus more Devon and Cornwall news
The Conservatives said the rise reflected additional responsibilities for Ms Bulbeck.

It followed a cut to the number of posts in the council’s senior management team from 18 to six.

Liberal Democrat leader Gordon Hook said: “A meeting a couple of weeks ago had a report to members and there was a web link to the statement of accounts.

“On page 84 there is one line about the chief executive’s salary increase.

“There was no indication it was in the booklet or that the information was going to be brought as an item to members, which it should be.

“We accepted the report, but we were given no lead that that was part of the package.”

Councillor Jeremy Christophers, leader of Teignbridge District Council, said that the rise, which includes pension contributions of £22,000, had “always been available and updated on the website”.

“Figures have been publicly available in the annual accounts since June and were presented at audit scrutiny committee on 21 July and 14 September and full council on 26 September.
“Teignbridge proactively and routinely publishes all possible data to enhance our transparency and accountability and help residents understand how we work and the services we provide,” he said.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-37642347

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11 Oct 2016

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Affordable and Social Housing, Developers/ Development, Devolution, East Devon Growth Point, Greater Exeter, Housing (local), Infrastructure, Land Supply, Local Enterprise Partnership, Local Plan, Transparency

“Greater Exeter” and its impact on housing and infrastructure in East Devon

We learned recently that the current Stagecoach depot opposite the bus station in Exeter is going to be turned into a massive block of student housing – 557 units.

Now we hear that there are plans for the site of the Honiton Inn, on the roundabout opposite the bus station to be another student block of 101 flats with their own private gym and cinema – opposite a public gym and cinema!

http://m.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/plans-in-for-huge-exeter-city-centre-student-block-on-honiton-inn-site/story-29794670-detail/story.html

What effect will this have on East Devon?

Well, “Greater Exeter” – whose “Visioning Board” like all such development and regeneration boards in “Greater Exeter” meets in secret – is making arrangements to do the next revision to its 3 Local Plans (Exeter, East Devon and Teignbridge) together.

It will be totally evident (in fact it is already) that Exeter’s main growth in housing will remain student housing. So, where will housing for other people go? Obviously East Devon and Teignbridge.

Cranbrook has natural boundaries beyond which it will soon make its further expansion much more difficult than heretofore. Therefore, it will be towns such as Exmouth, Honiton and Sidmouth – and the green fields in-between – that must be expanded to take in the commuters into Exeter, with a possible massive impact.

None of this is being put before the general public in any of the three areas nor is adequate infrastructure being planned for this big change (or at least we cannot be allowed know of any). And, of course, our Local Enterprise Partnership will “own” the business rates of the Exeter “Growth Area” and will have its fingers in the many development pies.

Time to start talking about the NEXT revision of the Local Plan which may well see even more massive development in East Devon on a much bigger scale than we could ever have imagined and could dwarf the extra numbers already agreed..

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10 Oct 2016

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Developers/ Development, Exeter City Council, Greater Exeter

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No comment …

… “Exeter City Council has [also] celebrated success at another awards ceremony recently. Its chief executive and growth director Karime Hassan was named Property Personality of the Year at the Insider’s annual South West Property Awards in Bristol.” …

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/exeter-city-council-scoops-award-for-hosting-radio-1-big-weekend/story-29794037-detail/story.html