Ugly hoardings surrounding a derelict building site just a stone’s throw from some of Torbay’s best beaches must go, says the leader of Torbay Council.

Guy Henderson www.devonlive.com

The site of the old gasworks at Hollicombe – once dubbed “Chernobyl-on-Sea” – has been derelict for decades, and despite planning permission being granted for nearly 200 homes on the site as long ago as 2012, it has not been touched. It is one of the key “brownfield” sites for development in Torbay, where the need for land for housing has reached critical levels.

The large area, three acres in the valley between Tarraway Road and Mead Road, is now overgrown and strewn with battered fence panels and other debris. The wooden hoardings along the main Paignton to Torquay road, opposite the entrance to Hollicombe Park and the path to the beach, are cracked and peeling, with graffiti daubed across them. The graffiti includes an obscene message in spray paint – aimed at former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Cllr Steve Darling, leader of Torbay Council, said the state of the hoardings was “terrible”, and he has written to the owners of the site to urge them to act. He also wants them to move forward with development of the site, which was cleared and cleaned of toxic chemicals including arsenic and cyanide in 2015. The build – when it begins – is likely to take three years.

In a letter to site owners Vistry Partnerships, parent company of developers Linden Homes, Cllr Darling said: “This is a significant arterial route between Torquay and Paignton and residents and visitors alike can only be horrified at the poor state of this boarding. I would reiterate our desire to get them re-painted and smartened up as soon as possible.

“We remain very keen to see the approved development for this site commenced, or if revised, then an acceptable scheme brought forward as soon as possible.”

Hollicombe gasworks building site (Image: Guy Henderson)

The first plans for the site were shown to the public in June 2007, at which point the gasworks itself had been dormant for almost 40 years. Local residents fought an unsuccessful campaign for the area to be turned into a park.

Now-defunct Midas Homes submitted plans for 185 new homes, including a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, 44 of which would be affordable. There were more than 500 objections, mainly on the grounds of increased traffic. A Hollicombe Action Group was set up to fight the plans.

Councillors heard that a “full decontamination” would be needed, and one member of the planning committee branded it Chernobyl-on-Sea. By December 2010 council officers were recommending the go-ahead for 185 homes and a public park, and in February 2011 it was given the green light, as long as a giant “tent” was put over the site during digging to prevent toxic dust going into the air. But the whole project was “called in” by the Government in April 2011 so an environmental impact assessment could be completed.

Hollicombe gasworks building site (Image: Guy Henderson)

A year later it was said to be “back on track” and residents were told they had nothing to fear from the toxic chemicals left behind from the gasworks, which were successfully removed under the giant marquee in 2015.

Since then, however, the site has remained empty and no homes have been built. Maps show a road called Cudd Hill Road running through the site, but the road has never been built. Vistry Partnerships has been approached for a comment but had not responded at the time of publication.

Further coast defence work has been agreed for Sidmouth after securing council cash, it was announced this week.

Local Democracy Reporter eastdevonnews.co.uk

Sidmouth’s coastal defences have been given a boost after almost £2 million was made available to protect the town from eroding cliffs and high tides, writes local democracy reporter Rob Kershaw.

In 2020, glass ‘splash walls’ were installed on the seafront to see how they would fare against the waves, however they were soon vandalised.

Now East Devon District Council (EDDC) has chosen a new scheme that involves installing a 120-metre rock groyne on the beach.

The cost of improving Sidmouth’s resilience against the elements has increased since plans were first brought forward – due to staff shortages and higher staff wages. And inflation has driven up prices for materials.

Work on sea defences is set to start in just over two years.

The council needs to spend £1.7 million to continue maintenance work on sea defences, but it is trying to find ways, in collaboration with the Environment Agency, to bring that figure down further with funds from central government.

At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday [1 February], Councillors agreed to its part of the cost.

Cllr Geoff Jung (Independent East Devon Alliance, Woodbury and Lympstone) said: “Thank goodness everyone in Sidmouth at the moment seems to be supporting this scheme.

“And I hope that, in the next four years, we’ll be able to see the design come through, we’ll be having large consultations on it, and then we’ll see the building of it.

“And then we’ll be protecting Sidmouth for many years to come.”

Cllr John Loudoun (Independent East Devon Alliance, Sidmouth Rural) believes that the cash injection will show residents that the council is committed to protecting the town.

“We have been through a large number of ups and downs,” he said. “I hope the fact that we are committing to putting just under £2 million into this will give reassurance to residents that we are serious about supporting this, taking this forward and making sure that it comes to fruition.”

Cllr Paul Hayward (Independent East Devon Alliance, Yarty) reasoned that spending money on sea defences now is better than paying a much larger price further down the line.

“You’ve only got to look at the picture that’s currently being provided here to see the erosion over a period of time,” explained Cllr Haward. “So that’s nigh-on 70 years. That’s an astonishing amount of erosion.

“In real terms, we owe as much to the residents of Sidmouth as we do to Axminster and Honiton and elsewhere to protect them from the elements. And this ultimately seems a pragmatic, appropriate spend to safeguard this issue. Because it’s not just residents who live near the cliff, it’s the fact that a flood event in Sidmouth would decimate business, as it would decimate any seaside town.

“And that could be billions. It could be hundreds of millions in lost businesses, lost revenue, lost jobs. So actually, to deal with it now, and to progress is very sensible.”

Community planting of thousands of trees begins this weekend at a new wood for East Devon in a bid to create a haven for wildlife.

Becca Gliddon eastdevonnews.co.uk

The Woodland Trust is inviting all along to its new Yonder Oak Wood near the Exe Estuary, at Lymsptone, with the ‘epic task’ of planting 13,000 trees.

Public planting days are being held from 10am until 3.30pm on Saturday February 4, and Sunday, February 5, and again on Saturday, February 18 and Sunday, February 19. Those planning to attend must book.

The Woodland Trust hopes volunteers will donate a few hours of their time – or a whole day.

There is no parking on site, but the charity has arranged free minibuses from Exmouth.

The site of the new wood. Photo: The Woodland Trust.

Paul Allen, Woodland Trust site manager, said: “Creating a new wooded landscape that will host wildlife way beyond our lifetimes and be resilient to the changing climate is no mean feat.

“The mass tree planting is the first step in what will be a decades-long journey to bring wildlife back to this site.

“Trees are a great natural solution to the climate crisis, soaking up CO2 and delivering oxygen, and it’s great to see so many people wanting to step up and join this effort.”

Joining in the community tree-planting will be 400 youngsters from primary schools in Exmouth, Lympstone, Woodbury and Exeter.

The SongFishers, a group of musicians who live nearby, will serenade tree planters with adapted traditional folk songs to include the new wood, performing on Sunday 5 and Sunday 19 February, at 10.30am.

Rachel Harries, Woodland Trust engagement and communications officer, has been cleaning her stock of spades ready for the community days.

She said: “Planting 13,000 trees is an epic task but we’re finding that so many people are wanting to get involved in this project right from the very beginning – there’s a real sense of community coming together about it.

“With nature in crisis and climate change affecting both people and wildlife, planting trees is a way we can make a difference right on our doorstep.”

She added: “In a very short time, we expect to see more birds and butterflies, like willow warblers and spotted flycatchers – as well as butterflies such as the dingy skipper and ringlets.

“Imagine how exciting it will be – in five, or ten years’ time – to come back and say, ‘I planted this wood’.”

The new wood, which was named last year in a public vote, sits in a hidden valley two miles north of Exmouth.

Work has begun clearing the site of invasive laurel, and the hope is to create ‘open glades and wood pasture’ to attract wildlife.

The Woodland Trust bought the 54 hectares of land in East Devon in March 2022, thanks to a public appeal which raised £650,000.

Further funding was made available from Lloyds Bank, through the Government’s Landfill Communities Fund, and a Biffa Award of £750,000.

Devon and Cornwall Police have just received a scathing report:

Devon and Cornwall Police found to be ‘inadequate in several areas’ | ITV Newsitv.com

Including this:

His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, Wendy Williams, said: “I have concerns about Devon and Cornwall Police’s performance in keeping people safe and reducing crime.

“Particularly about the accuracy of its crime recording, its response to the public, and its management of sexual and violent offenders.

“The force doesn’t always record crimes against vulnerable victims, particularly violent or behavioural crimes, and anti-social behaviour.

“Failure to record a crime often results in victims not being properly safeguarded and no investigation taking place.

“Our inspection also found that the force is not adequately assessing or managing the risks posed by registered sexual and violent offenders.”

Little wonder Humphreys got away with it for so long.

All credit, in the circumstances, to police Sergeant Angela Galasso and her colleagues in the police and the cps who did eventually pick up and successfully bring this case to court.

So, where was our so-called Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez while all this was going on?.  You know – the person supposed to  hold our local police to account on our behalf. 

It is hard to know her exact salary but it seems it was around £88,600 plus expenses in 2016 and employs a large office staff including a Chief Executive who earns at least £113,000 and a Treasurer who earns at least £101,000 (2022 figures where her salary was specifically excluded from accounts).  Her office had at least 16.2 full-time-equivalent staff again some years ago. These historic figures are because her office’s website is very difficult to penetrate for more up-to-date figures. 

Police and Crime Commissioner Draft 2021-22 Statement of Accounts 2PDF Document · 2 MB

What was she doing while the Devon and Cornwall Police got such a poor report?  Well, we know she loves her photo opportunities and “meeting the public” especially when the public includes local or national Tory luminaries, though, of course, she has pledged to be neutral in her office.

Questions, questions – no clear answers …

 A new free-to join tourism network has launched to help businesses in East Devon prepare for the busy summer months.

Adam Manning www.exmouthjournal.co.uk

East Devon District Council, (EDDC) has been awarded the contract for the new East Devon Tourism Network (EDTN) to East Devon Excellence.

They hope the new strategy will ‘help businesses share expertise, fight climate change and offer the best product or service to customers.’

The new network is a key part of the East Devon Tourism Strategy, with aspirations for East Devon to become the leading, year-round tourism destination in Devon.

Cllr Nick Hookway, EDDC portfolio holder for tourism, leisure, sport and culture, said: “We are delighted to support this new East Devon-wide tourism network.  All tourism businesses are welcome to join to share ideas, find out about new opportunities and learn from best practice. By supporting the business community improve its offer, it will eventually drive more return visitors and attract new ones.”

The network will bring together key tourism representatives to address common challenges and improve operations with a heightened commitment to quality, showcasing a tourism community that can be a force for good.

The first network event will take place in March and businesses interested in joining the network to attend the event should email  tourismnetwork@eastdevonexcellence.co.uk

John Crouch, chair of East Devon Excellence, said: “We are delighted to deliver this contract to enhance local tourism.

“As a values-driven network with proven commitment to: promoting quality, working towards net zero, improved accessibility and collaboration, it will be a place where valuable information can be exchanged, and relevant opportunities explored to support businesses within the tourism sector.  We have an abundance of high-quality sustainable tourism businesses within an area of outstanding natural beauty that people can enjoy, and businesses should rightly be proud of.”

The network is supported by East Devon District Council and funded by The UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund.

The first network event will take place in March and businesses interested in joining the network to attend the event should email  tourismnetwork@eastdevonexcellence.co.uk. 

‘Ambitious’ plans for Honiton will not impact on people’s purses after the town announced a freeze on council tax to help with the cost-of-living crisis.

East Devon Reporter eastdevonnews.co.uk

The town council said now was the ‘wrong time’ to heap extra burden on households, while announcing no increase on tax for 2023/24.

Honiton Town Council said its 2023/24 budget includes a total charge of £477,979 – which equates to a cost of £112.18 council tax on a Band D property – the same amount payable as in 2022/23.

The council said funds would still be available for recruitment of staff to care for the town’s maintenance, replacing another bus shelter, a new town entrance sign and supporting the market

Honiton’s celebrations for the King’s Coronation, Hot Pennies, Gate to Plate and Charter Day are also set to receive funding from the town council this year.

Councillor Serena Sexton, Honiton Town Council chairman, said: “Now would be the wrong time to increase household bills so the town council tax will not increase.”

The town council announcement to keep costs the same comes after members voted for a freeze at its January meeting.

It said the town could still expect council investment totalling thousands of pounds to benefit groups local to Honiton.

Although town charges are frozen for the next year, council tax could rise in Honiton if the district and county councils, police and fire service demand extra cash for services.

A Honiton Town Council spokeswoman said: “The town council recognises the burden of increasing household bills.

“So not to burden people with even more costs it decided 17 January 2023 not to increase its council tax for 2023/24.”

They added: “The budget reflects the public consultation December 2022.

“Nevertheless, the town council has an ambitious programme of work for the year including recruitment of staff to care for the town’s maintenance, replacing another bus shelter, new town entrance sign and supporting the market.”

The spokeswoman said: “The town council continues to support an active programme of events in Honiton during the year including the King’s Coronation, Hot Pennies, Gate to Plate and Charter Day.

“The town council plans a budget of £42,000 grant aid to local organisations.”

There are 3,791 Band D equivalent properties in Honiton, the town council said.

Households in England and Wales will see the largest increase to their water bills in almost 20 years from April when they rise to an average £448 a year. Industry body Water UK said the 7.5% increase would see customers pay around £1.23 per day on average – an increase of 8p per day or an average £31 more on last year’s charges.

[Average household water & sewerage bill in England and Wales 2020-2023, by company. South West Water customers had the highest annual combined water and sewerage bill in England and Wales for the year ended March 2022, at £503..29 Jul 2022]

Nathan Russell www.walesonline.co.uk

Consumer groups warned the rise could prove the tipping point for the one in five customers already struggling to pay. But Water UK argued that water bills remained lower in real terms than they were a decade ago and said this year’s increase reflected higher energy costs, with water firms using around 2% of the nation’s electricity.

Firms were set to invest a further £70 billion to “eliminate harm” from storm overflows and increase water supplies by building new reservoirs and national water transfer schemes, it said, adding that they were “acutely aware of the impact of price rises on lower income and vulnerable customers” and had recently increased the level of support they offered by more than £200 million.

Water UK director of policy Stuart Colville said: “With an average increase of around 60p a week, most customers will again see a below-inflation increase in their water bill. However, we know that any increase is unwelcome, particularly at the moment.

“That is why companies are also releasing an extra £200 million to help those that may be struggling. Anyone with worries should contact their water company or go to supportontap.org for advice, and it’s worth remembering that water companies will never cut anyone off, or make them use a prepayment meter.

“Next year’s bills will support what is already the highest level of investment on record, with a further £70 billion set to be spent over coming years on building new reservoirs and ending overflows into rivers.”

The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) said regional variations and factors such as whether a customer is metered and how much water they use meant some households could face rises significantly above – or below – the average. And it said the postcode lottery of social tariff schemes meant many customers who cannot afford their bill “slip through the net”.

CCW chief executive Emma Clancy said: “Water is essential for all of us so no-one should be worried about being able to afford their bill. These increases will bring more uncertainty to struggling households at a time when they can’t be certain they will get the help they need. Low-income households need immediate relief and the long-term security of knowing their water bill will be affordable.

“It’s not fair that struggling households face a postcode lottery when it comes to getting help with their bill – that’s why we urgently need a new water affordability scheme that provides consistent support based on people’s needs.”

Jess Cook, water poverty lead at National Energy Action (NEA), said: “Social tariffs are essential for low-income households. Discounted water bills for those struggling to pay can stop the most vulnerable from cutting back or running up debt when they can ill afford to do so. But the current postcode lottery means where you live affects what you pay and what support you receive, and the Secretary of State, Therese Coffey, has suggested that fixing this is not one of her top priorities.

“With water bills rising 7.5% on average during this cost-of-living crisis, it’s more vital than ever that access to a social tariff should be made fairer, more consistent, and accessible to everyone who needs it, regardless of where they live.”

Ofwat chief executive David Black said: “We know times are tough and customers who are already struggling will be worried if they see their water bill increase, so companies should be doubling down to support those who need a helping hand. Kind words don’t mean anything unless they are backed up by action, which is why we were pleased to see the recent increase in support.”

But will the sewage system in the area cope? – Owl

An area just off the A30 close to Exeter Science Park will soon have 44 new homes and 6,000 metres of office space. East Devon District Council’s planning committee gave approval to the two schemes when they met on Tuesday.

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

One scheme will see the office space built on land to the east of Anning Road/ Tithebarn Way, close to Junction 29 of the M5. The second will see the demolition of existing dwelling and outbuildings, in the nearby hamlet of Blackhouse for the construction of 44 homes, 22 of which will be affordable.

Both applications were recommended for approval by council officers at Tuesday’s meeting. Councillors backed both schemes.

Cllr Richard Lawrence (Conservative, Whimple and Rockbeare) backed the proposal for new housing. “What a refreshing application,” he said. “Fifty per cent affordable housing, a village green. I don’t know what else they can do to make this application better.”

But Cllr Mike Howe (Conservative, Clyst Valley) highlighted the sewage issues residents have been experiencing. He warned that, despite the quality of the application, it will only make that problem worse.

“Sewage treatment plants and the sewage stream run right into the River Clyst, and consequently right into the River Exe,” he explained, before calling on South West Water to help reduce the sewage in the area.

“South West Water are sticking their head in the sand and not doing their duty,” added Cllr Howe. “It is quite simple. We have factual evidence of sewage outflows into streets, blocking people’s toilets for weeks on end when they can’t have any facilities in the house to the extent where we have people with porta-potties now.”

Housing plans for Blackhorse

Cllr Steve Gazzard backed Cllr Howe and asked: “Can they [South West Water] pull their fingers out and come back with some way that they’re going to try and resolve the situation for residents?”

Cllr Olly Davey (Green, Exmouth Town) also supported the application, but wanted future plans to feature more traffic control measures.

“Village greens were not designed for large amounts of traffic,” said Cllr Davey. “And knowing the frequency with which people use motor vehicles, I suspect that at any given moment, there’s going to be a car moving around this site.

“Any traffic coming in off the A30 is going to travel up all the way past that green and park at the top. The amenity of the green is very much reduced by having traffic going past it. I’m not against this development, but I do feel that in future, we should be designing in low-traffic neighbourhoods.”

Both developments, for the housing and commercial properties, were approved.

Looks like many people will be turned away from voting in person in May. Does ID apply to postal votes?

A backwards step for democracy. – Owl

Peter Walker www.theguardian.com 

Only about 10,000 people in Great Britain have applied for a government-issued voter ID since the scheme opened, just 0.5% of the total who might need the document, the Guardian has learned.

The slow take-up, which could leave hundreds of thousands of people disfranchised at local elections in England on 4 May, will add to worries that the scheme is being rushed through and could cause chaos.

Subsequently, under the new scheme photo ID will need to be shown in England, Scotland and Wales for all parliamentary elections, and for police and crime commissioner elections in England and Wales. Northern Ireland has a longstanding voter ID system, introduced owing to historic electoral abuse by sectarian groups.

As of last Friday, just over 10,000 people had used a central government portal to apply for one of the certificates, which are then issued for free by local councils, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities told election officials in a briefing on Tuesday.

This covered the first fortnight of the scheme to issue the so-called voter authority certificates, a period that included a major advertising campaign by the Electoral Commission to inform people about the new voting rules.

According to earlier government research, close to 2 million voters do not possess photo ID that has a recognisable picture of them, as is required under the new law. At the current rate it would take eight years to issue the documents to all those who could need them.

While the Electoral Commission has pledged to push ahead with public information efforts, the very low initial number suggests large numbers of people are ignorant about the new voting system and could be turned away from polling stations in the English local elections.

The Electoral Commission has previously written to the government saying the timetable meant the local elections could not be conducted in a “fully secure, accessible and workable” manner.

A 2021 study by the Electoral Commission found that the proportion of potential voters without usable ID was especially low among more disadvantaged groups, such as 11% for those who were unemployed, and 8% among people with a disability.

Alex Norris, the shadow minister for elections, said the rollout of the scheme was a “complete and utter shambles and reeks of government incompetence”. He added: “Not only is the Tory voter ID plan completely unworkable, it is unnecessary and set to lock millions of people out of voting.

“The Conservatives have got their priorities all wrong. During a cost of living crisis when people are struggling to make ends meet, it is an outrage that they would rather spend money on disenfranchising them.”

An Electoral Commission spokesperson said the initial statistics showed it was “encouraging that people are already aware of the voter authority certificate and are applying early”.

They added: “The commission is working closely with civil society organisations and local authorities to build awareness and support those more likely to need the free ID. The deadline for applying for free ID ahead of the May elections in England is 25 April, so there is still plenty of time, but we’re encouraging voters to check now if they need it so they can apply in good time.”

A government spokesperson said that the “vast majority of eligible voters” already had accepted ID, and that those without had until 25 April to apply. They added: “We are pleased that so many people have applied within the first two weeks and will continue to work with the Electoral Commission to ensure all voters are aware of the new requirement.”

Looks suspiciously like a rehash of old policies and unfunded new ones from a government whose approach to regulation is instinctively “light touch”. There are many reports with very mixed views. – Owl

Ministers have pledged that everyone will live no more than a 15 minute walk from a green space or water as part of a five-year environmental plan.

Sami Quadri www.standard.co.uk

The Government will also crack down on leaky lavatories and “confusing dual flush buttons” in a bid to meet targets for water, air and land.

Councils will be challenged to improve air quality more quickly and tackle major pollution hotspots. There is also a pledge to transform the management of 70 per cent of the countryside by incentivising farmers to adopt nature-friendly practices.

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey is set to unveil the measures on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said protecting the environment was “fundamental to the health, economy and prosperity of our country”.

He added: “This plan provides the blueprint for how we will deliver our commitment to leave our environment in a better state than we found it, making sure we drive forward progress with renewed ambition and achieve our target of not just halting, but reversing the decline of nature.”

Ms Coffey said: “Nature is vital for our survival, crucial to our food security, clean air, and clean water as well as health and well-being benefits.

“We have already started the journey and we have seen improvements.

“We are transforming financial support for farmers and landowners to prioritise improving the environment, we are stepping up on tree planting, we have cleaner air, we have put a spotlight on water quality and rivers and are forcing industry to clean up its act. ”

However, environmentalists have condemned the plan as a “road map to the cliff edge”.

Dr Doug Parr, of Greenpeace UK, said: “If this is a road map, it’s a road map to the cliff edge.

“Here’s yet more paperwork containing a threadbare patchwork of policies that fail to tackle many of the real threats to our natural world. This won’t do.

“Ministers want to crack down on dual flush toilets while letting water firms pump tonnes of raw sewage into our rivers and seas.

“Until we see immediate action (from) this Parliament to ban industrial fishing in all our marine protected areas, reduce industrial meat and dairy farming and ramp up protections across a bigger network of national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty, we’re in real danger of UK nature going into freefall.”

Paul de Zylva, of Friends of the Earth, said that “on closer inspection it seems that many (of the measures) are just rehashed commitments the government is already late on delivering – and it’s unclear how others, such as ensuring everyone can live within a 15 minute walk of green space, will actually be met”.

He said: “There’s also a big emphasis on improving air quality which is completely at odds with the government’s £27bn road building agenda, raising serious questions over whether councils are being set up to fail.”

The plan includes a multi-million pound Species Survival Fund to protect rare species, from hedgehogs to red squirrels, is promised along with a pledge that Government support schemes will help 65 to 80 per cent of landowners and farmers to adopt nature friendly farming practices on at least 10 to 15 per cent of their land by 2030.

They are also to be helped to create or restore 30,000 miles of hedgerows a year by 2037 and 45,000 miles of hedgerows a year by 2050.

The restoration of 400 miles of river through the first round of Landscape Recovery projects and establishing 3,000 hectares of new woodlands along England’s rivers is also promised.

Species decline over past 50 years graphically illustrated (from BBC)

People in Devon and Cornwall will see their council tax bill rise to provide extra money for the region’s police force. 

Remember about 12% of your council tax goes on the police, 7% on EDDC and 4% on town and parish.

Ms Hernandez has now raised the police precept five times since her first budget in 2017/18, the maximum permitted.

She is keeping a low profile so no selfie to share with you today. – Owl

Philip Churm, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk

Friday’s decision by the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel means a six per cent increase and will add £15 per year to the contribution from band D properties. 

Police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez said the cash will provide the police with a revenue budget of £384 million covering 3,600 officers and will ensure 23 front desks are open at police stations. 

The increased budget comes as the latest Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures show crime rose by 10.6 per cent in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly during the 12 months to September 2022.  However, the figure is lower than the nation figure of 12.3 per cent. 

In outlining the budget for 2023/24 Ms Hernandaz said consultations had shown “70 per cent of people agree that investment should be made to open more police stations to the public.

“86 per cent of respondents said they would like to use police stations as locations to report crime and 65 per cent said they would like to share information with the police about what’s going on in their communities.”   

Amid the ongoing inquest into the Keyham murders, the commissioner also outlined plans for £600,000 to improve checks for firearms’ licences in the region.  Devon and Cornwall currently has the highest number of legally held firearms in Great Britain. 

Members of the panel debated whether hard-pressed council taxpayers should always be responsible for funding the force’s operations in future.   

Conservative councillor in Cornwall, Martyn Alvey, said proposed measures in his area might be an example to follow. 

“We’ve already made a commitment to double council tax on the second homes, provided the legislation is in place,” he said. 

But Liberal Democrat councillor in Teignbridge, Alistair Dewhirst, insisted the lower-than-inflation increase in funding would still hit many people. 

He said: “This £15 increase is a massive dent in poor families’ budgets in my district and clearly it’s a day’s food for a family, and we would want to see real value for it.”

Labour councillor in Plymouth, Zoe Reilly, asked what the extra money would mean, particularly for women the city, with increased concerns following Keyham.  Cllr Reilly, who is also a caseworker for women affected by violence, suggested confidence in the police could be better.  

“Given the current situation, and misconduct publicly, particularly for women’s safety in Plymouth, I know that reporting crime for sexual abuse, sexual assault etc., isn’t actually considered to be that great.” 

However, the commissioner insisted the support services funded by the police were crucial in giving victims confidence. 

“One of the things that my office does is it funds those services for those women, children and men to access,” she said. “They don’t even have to go to the police if they’re too frightened, not confident, however they may feel they can go direct to Victim Support.

“And that service is one of the most empowering services that any victim of domestic violence can have because they can help you and support you through the reporting process.” 

The 2023/24 police budget and the precept [the money for the police service], was approved by the panel.

Ms Hernandez has now raised the police precept five times since her first budget in 2017/18, the maximum permitted.

In other debates, following concerns raised at the panel last November about the length of time people were waiting for the police to answer 999 and 101 calls, the commissioner said there had been considerable improvement and 90 per cent of emergency calls were now picked up within 10 seconds.

Campaigners are intervening to prevent new houses being occupied in several areas of England until sewage treatment works are upgraded to cope.

Meanwhile Owl has received reports that SWW have taken over a large part of the lime kiln car park in Budleigh Salterton in order to drill a new sewer outlet pipe under the Otter. The purpose is to replace the original Victorian pipe and give raw sewage discharge into the sea at the Otter Head a new lease of life.  Does this count as “upgrading sewage treatment”?

Sandra Laville www.theguardian.com 

In Oxfordshire, the Cotswolds and in Cumbria, the failure of water companies to invest in sewage infrastructure means new homes would just add more sewage into treatment works that are at or beyond capacity, and increase pollution into rivers, they say.

The move comes as the regulator Ofwat continues its investigation into water companies for what it says are shocking failures in the way they run their treatment works and for potentially illegal dumping of raw sewage.

Charlie Maynard, a Liberal democrat councillor on West Oxfordshire district council, said: “The sewage treatment infrastructure owned by Thames Water is just not there to support existing housing let alone new developments.

“We have to do something, but at the moment there isn’t any serious plan nationally as to what we are going to do about this massive underinvestment by water companies in sewage treatment works.

“For 30 years there have been wonderful dividends for investors from water companies, but these dividends should have been invested in our sewage systems.”

As a result of pressure from Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (Wasp), councillors in West Oxfordshire have pushed for so-called Grampian conditions on developments, which state that they must not be occupied until Thames Water has invested to upgrade sewage treatment works to cope. A Grampian condition means a restriction is placed on a development until certain conditions have been met.

Thames Water has included a condition on the development of 150 new homes in Long Hanborough to state no development should be occupied until confirmation that all sewage work upgrades required are completed or there is a phasing plan agreed to allow the development to be occupied.

Another 40 homes in North Leigh will have a similar Grampian condition, which states that they must not be occupied until the Church Hanborough sewage treatment works is upgraded to cope.

The West Oxfordshire area has a government target to build more than 10,450 new homes by 2031. But Maynard said the sewage infrastructure was a “wasteland” – treatment works were unable to cope with the current population, and pipe networks desperately needed investment to stop groundwater ingressing into the system and further overloading it.

In Cumbria, local conservationist Matt Staniek is calling for a Grampian condition to be imposed to stop the occupancy of 40 new homes at Loughrigg until Ambleside sewage treatment works has been upgraded.

Staniek, who set up the Save Windermere campaign, argues the lake could become ecologically dead because of the amount of sewage being pumped into it.

Staniek said in his submission to the Lake District national park that without the upgrade of Ambleside treatment works to make sure it is operating legally within its environmental permit, granting consent for the development would endorse its intermittently illegal operation and increase the spilling of untreated and poorly treated sewage into the lake.

“In the last few years, I have observed the sharp and sudden degradation of our rivers and our lake,” said Staniek. “With dead fish floating in the lake, tributaries and algal blooms suffocating Windermere, it’s hard to ignore.

“I believe that the biggest contributor to the current decline of Windermere is the water company United Utilities, who service the local area.”

In 2021, there were more than 5,000 hours of raw sewage discharged from United Utilities’ wastewater treatment works into the Windermere catchment, according to data submitted by the water company to the Environment Agency.

Lake Windermere is judged to be at only moderate ecological status under the Water Framework directive, which measures pollution. Significant phosphate pollution from sewage discharges is cited as the reason for not achieving good status.

“The impact of this is being felt across Cumbria – from the businesses that rely on the tourism that our lakes and rivers encourage to the health implications that swimming in polluted water has on those seeking to use it,” said Staniek.

Ashley Smith from Wasp, which has made 13 submissions regarding sewage capacity and new developments in West Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds, said: “The idea that new housing is routinely nodded through to join inadequate sewage works by planners and water companies will shock most people.

“That some of those works will even be operating illegally yet ignored by all of the authorities supposedly acting in the public interest is a step too far and that is why Wasp is working with local councillors to end this money-making scam on the public.

“We are not aiming to hold up housing – we are aiming to force water companies to spend money when they should, not hang on to it for years after it was due.”

A Thames Water spokesperson said: “Over the last five years we have requested planning conditions for waste networks and/or waste treatment at 27 sites in West Oxfordshire. In addition, we are currently reviewing our advice on a small number of additional sites, at the council’s request.”

A United Utilities spokesperson said: “In 2020 we completed a multimillion pound upgrade at Ambleside WwTW [wastewater treatment works] which has raised the standard of treatment and ensures it has the capacity for growth from development and tourism up until 2036.”

The government becomes a laughing stock. – Owl

Pranksters erect ‘blue plaque’ commemorating Rishi Sunak’s seatbelt fine

Andy Gregory www.independent.co.uk

Pranksters have stuck a fake commemorative “blue plaque” to a lamppost on the street where Rishi Sunak was fined for not wearing a seatbelt.

The prime minister was reprimanded by police earlier this month after posting a promotional video to Instagram which inadvertently showed him failing to abide by the rules of the road.

A sticker intended to replicate the English Heritage-style plates has now appeared on Squires Gate Lane in Blackpool, which is on the route taken by Mr Sunak at the time of the infraction.

The ‘blue plaque’ commemorating Rishi Sunak’s Fixed Penalty Notice (Blackpool Gazette / SWNS)

It reads: “Rishi Sunak 19-1-2023. Received a fixed penalty notice for being filmed passing this spot in a car whilst not wearing a seatbelt.”

The clip went viral shortly after it was posted to Mr Sunak’s social media account, as viewers noticed Mr Sunak was missing his seatbelt while discussing the government’s levelling up programme in the back seat of a moving car en route to Morecambe.

Lancashire Police announced the day after the video was released that he would be fined.

It is the second fixed penalty notice Mr Sunak is known to have received while in office, having previously been fined while serving as chancellor alongside predecessor Boris Johnson over their attendance at a gathering in Downing Street which violated lockdown rules.

A Labour spokesperson said at the time: “Hapless Rishi Sunak’s levelling-up photo op has blown up in his face and turned him into a laughing stock.”

Downing Street said that Mr Sunak “fully accepts this was a mistake and has apologised”, with a No 10 spokesperson adding: “He will of course comply with the fixed penalty.”

English Heritage blue plaques are typically used to commemorate the birthplaces and residents of famous people and achievements throughout history.

Additional reporting by SWNS

Apologies – Email subscribers will have lost the auto updates from sometime on Friday until this morning. Key posts you may have missed include:

Three reviewing the Devon County Council report on how it dealt with the John Humphreys and the part played by EDDC:

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2023/01/28/dcc-review-of-the-john-humphreys-case-owls-synopsis-comment-critique-and-list-of-unanswered-questions/

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2023/01/29/more-questions-on-eddcs-involvement-in-the-dcc-lado-meetings-regarding-john-humphreys/

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2023/01/30/tim-makes-a-considered-comment-on-eddcs-role-in-the-dcc-humphreys-review/

The latest news on sewage pollution:

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2023/01/30/spoof-blue-plaques-to-simon-jupp-unveiled/

And:

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2023/01/28/dartmoor-park-launches-attempt-to-appeal-against-wild-camping-ruling/

The UK is on course to be the world’s worst-performing big economy this year, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Who crashed the economy? – Owl

Mehreen Khan, Oliver Wright www.thetimes.co.uk

In an update to its growth outlook, the IMF delivered a hefty blow to Britain’s prospects despite brightening global conditions, with a 0.9 percentage point downgrade to the UK’s annual growth projection year.

It expects the economy to contract by 0.6 per cent in 2023, which would make Britain the slowest-growing big economy in the world. The Russian economy is expected to grow by 0.3 per cent this year after a 2.2 per cent contraction in 2022.

The IMF has upgraded its global growth forecasts in response to plummeting global energy prices and hopes that inflation will fall faster than expected. Britain is notable for being the only big economy expected to contract, according to the forecasts, while next year’s growth is expected to rise to 0.9 per cent, 0.3 percentage points up on the IMF’s last forecast in October.

Britain’s underperformance relative to its peers is the result of “tighter fiscal and monetary policies and financial conditions, and still-high energy retail prices weighing on household budgets”, the IMF said.

The outlook is a blow to the government before the spring statement in March, with Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, under pressure to provide relief to households as market energy costs reduce government borrowing needs.

Hunt pointed to comments by the governor of the Bank of England that any recession this year was likely to be “shallower than previously predicted”. But he added: “These figures confirm we are not immune to the pressures hitting nearly all advanced economies. The UK outperformed many forecasts last year, and if we stick to our plan to halve inflation, the UK is still predicted to grow faster than Germany and Japan over the coming years.”

The UK is the only economy in the G7 not to have reached its pre-pandemic size and has suffered the worst inflation rate of its peers in the past year. The economy is forecast to enter recession within months, with the downturn expected to last until the end of the year. The IMF said UK households were suffering from “stretched budgets” while high interest rates were raising borrowing costs and slowing down the housing market. The Bank of England is expected to raise rates again on Thursday to get a handle on high inflation.

Overall, the IMF raised its global growth forecast by 0.2 percentage points to 2.9 per cent this year after an expansion of 3.4 per cent last year. The upgrade is largely the result of China’s emergence from its Covid-19 lockdown and a fall in the record energy costs that plagued the world economy last year.

“Adverse risks have moderated since the October [forecast]”, the IMF said. “On the upside, a stronger boost from pent-up demand in numerous economies or a faster fall in inflation are plausible. On the downside severe health outcomes in China could hold back the recovery, Russia’s war in Ukraine could escalate and tighter global financing conditions could worsen debt distress.”

Europe and the US have recorded better than expected falls in inflation and signs of robust economic output at the end of last year. Global growth is expected to accelerate to 3.1 per cent next year, a slight downgrade from the IMF’s autumn projections.

Some water companies still use dowsing to detect leaks – It’s magic, Owl

Rhys Blakely www.thetimes.co.uk 

Thames Water and Severn Trent Water still use dowsing rods to hunt for leaks, even though scientific studies show that they do not work.

Water dowsing, also known as water divining which dates back to at least the 16th century, involves a person holding two L-shaped or one Y-shaped rod in front of them. The rods, sometimes known as witching sticks or wands, are supposed to twitch or cross to indicate the presence of water underground.

There is no known force in physics that would account for how buried water would move the rods, and scientific trials have shown that dowsing is no more effective than guessing.

Experts have asked Ofwat, the water regulator, to stop companies spending money on it. Thames Water, which supplies 2.6 billion litres a day, has admitted that about a quarter, or 650 million litres, is lost in leaks. Severn Trent loses about 400 million litres a day. Last year’s official declarations of drought focused attention on the poor state of water infrastructure.

The two companies told New Scientist that their engineers used dowsing rods to find leaks; 15 water companies told the magazine they had abandoned the method. A spokesman for Thames Water said dowsing rods were used to find leaks, and to verify results from other equipment. “Some people they work for, some people they don’t. If they work for you, you come to trust it,” he said. “People are sceptical of it, and I was sceptical when I first saw it. I started using them because I saw someone else use them and I have found leaks.”

Severn Trent said that a small number of its “expert engineers . . . may still carry dowsing rods with their equipment.” However, it added that it did not issue them as it did not consider dowsing rods to be effective.

Experts have attributed belief in dowsing to confirmation bias: the tendency to forget times when the method failed and celebrate it when it appears to work.

Professor Richard Wiseman, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire, said that it was plausible that some dowsers picked up on signs from the environment, such as green patches of vegetation, to be led to water sources. “I’m not sure that there’s any evidence that this happens, but it doesn’t seem impossible,” he said.

“In studies where there are no environmental cues, it fails.” he added.

Something known as the ideomotor effect may also play a part in the phenomenon of dowsing. This happens when somebody moves without meaning to and might explain why divining rods seem to twitch and move of their own accord.

The use of water dowsing by water companies made the headlines in 2017 when a couple in Warwickshire called out engineers from Severn Trent and were surprised to see them “walking around holding two bent tent pegs to locate a pipe” near their home in Stratford-upon-Avon. They told their daughter Sally Le Page, who was a scientist at theUniversity of Oxford.

Ten of the big 12 water companies in Britain told her at the time that they were still using the technique. She described them as trying to “use magic to do their jobs”.

“Care in the community” needs care staff in the community – “Home alone” might be a better description. – Owl

Andrew Gregory www.theguardian.com 

Rishi Sunak will vow to rapidly slash long waiting times for urgent NHS care with a promise of thousands more beds, 800 new ambulances and an expansion of community care backed by a dedicated fund of £1bn.

The health service is engulfed in its worst-ever crisis, with urgent and emergency care in particular under unprecedented pressure in recent months. The prime minister will describe his blueprint for resolving the problems as “ambitious and credible”.

However, the Guardian understands the £1bn dedicated fund being pledged to finance the strategy is not new money. It will come out of cash announced last year for health and social care in the autumn statement. There were also no precise details on who will staff new ambulances and beds.

In the two-year plan for England, the government and NHS England will promise 800 new ambulances, including 100 specialist mental health vehicles, and 5,000 more hospital beds.

A major element of the strategy is to expand urgent care in the community, keeping people away from hospitals and seeing more treated at home.

Same-day emergency care units will open in every hospital with a major A&E. Ministers hope this measure will see thousands of people each week avoiding an overnight stay in hospital.

There are also plans for pilots of new approaches to NHS step-down care, with patients receiving rehabilitation and physiotherapy at home in some instances. Over the weekend, the government said 3,000 “hospital at home” beds will be created before next winter, with the aim of about 50,000 people a month eventually being cared for at home each month.

There is an increasing reliance on virtual wards to combat NHS pressures, which see patients treated from home while monitored by medics via daily visits or video calls.

Sunak will visit an A&E unit in the north-east of England to highlight the new strategy. “Cutting NHS waiting times is one of my five priorities,” he will say. “Urgent and emergency care is facing serious challenges but we have an ambitious and credible plan to fix it.

“It will take time to get there but our plan will cut long waiting times by increasing the number of ambulances, staff and beds – stopping the bottlenecks outside A&E and making sure patients are seen and discharged quickly.”

However, NHS leaders expressed doubts that initiatives such as creating more virtual wards to keep people out of hospital would succeed in reducing pressure while there remained a workforce crisis. There are currently 133,000 vacancies in England alone.

“We desperately need action to tackle the vast workforce shortages, staff exhaustion and burnout,” said Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive of NHS Providers.

Patricia Marquis, the Royal College of Nursing director for England, said: “Without investment in staff, this plan won’t make a difference.”

Matthew Taylor, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “The NHS has been at the mercy of a sluggish and short-term approach from the government in its response to the crisis facing emergency services this winter.

“The NHS needs the right numbers and mix of staff in place if it is to truly recover the performance of emergency care and other services long term.”

• T2 – Oak: pollard at approx. 4.5m in height. Fairy Cross Marley Road Exmouth EX8 5DWRef. No: 23/0125/TRE | Validated: Fri 20 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Install replacement conservatory to the front of the property. 6 Carlton Hill Exmouth EX8 2AJRef. No: 23/0119/FUL | Validated: Fri 20 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Hip-to-gable extension and side facing roof light. 1 Halsdon Avenue Exmouth EX8 3DLRef. No: 23/0120/FUL | Validated: Fri 20 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed conversion and alteration of outbuilding for use as self-contained unit of holiday accommodation and annexe. Woodhouse Woodhouse View Lyme Road Uplyme DT7 3XARef. No: 23/0117/FUL | Validated: Fri 20 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Cypress: fell. T2, Beech: reduce lowest 7 branches growing over house maximum 9m length cut, 15cm dia. cuts. T3, Weeping Beach: reduce shape by approximately max. 3m length, 6cm max. dia. cuts 11 Little Knowle Budleigh Salterton Devon EX9 6QSRef. No: 23/0118/TRE | Validated: Fri 20 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Prune 3x Poplar by 5m or to nearest pruning point and remove 2x lower limbs overhanging the car park. Tesco Stores Ltd Shand Park Axminster EX13 5NGRef. No: 23/0114/TRE | Validated: Thu 19 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Agricultural building for storing farm machinery Castlewood Farm Musbury Devon EX13 8SSRef. No: 23/0111/AGR | Validated: Thu 19 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a new dwelling in land to the rear of 9 Tip Hill. 9 Tip Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1BERef. No: 23/0102/FUL | Validated: Thu 19 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed agricultural machinery store Bridewell Farm Hawkchurch Axminster EX13 5XLRef. No: 23/0112/FUL | Validated: Thu 19 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use of annexe to dwelling house Acorn Cottage Southleigh Colyton EX24 6SARef. No: 23/0105/FUL | Validated: Thu 19 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed 2 storey side extension, single storey rear extension, new porch. Kuni Kirei Courtlands Lane Exmouth Devon EX8 3NXRef. No: 23/0109/FUL | Validated: Thu 19 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed infill extension to side, new dormers to roof and associated layout changes. Laneside Drakes Avenue Sidford Sidmouth EX10 9QYRef. No: 23/0108/FUL | Validated: Thu 19 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Oak : Reduce southern aspect of tree that overhangs ‘Copper Glow’ by approximately 3m, to appropriate growth points 1m to the north of the apex of garage roof; maximum diameter of cut 80mm. Reason for works: The large mature tree significantly overhangs clear infrastructure and the works are considered appropriate arboricultural management to reduce dominance. The reduction works are relatively minimal and would have very little affect on the tree’s physiological health or processes, whilst reducing risk of failure on some heavy limbs. Marley House Higher Marley Road Exmouth Devon EX8 5DTRef. No: 23/0100/TRE | Validated: Wed 18 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• 1 no. freestanding advertisement sign J F Clarke And Son Lyme Road Axminster Devon EX13 5BERef. No: 23/0099/ADV | Validated: Fri 20 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed carport 4 The Lawn Budleigh Salterton EX9 6LTRef. No: 23/0089/FUL | Validated: Wed 18 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Loft conversion including two new dormers on front of property 15 Great Orchard Cranbrook EX5 7GDRef. No: 23/0093/FUL | Validated: Fri 20 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension, two storey front extension and external alterations to existing dwelling. 16 Upper Stoneborough Lane Budleigh Salterton EX9 6SZRef. No: 23/0090/FUL | Validated: Tue 17 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Oak : repollard to historic pollarded pruning points; cut back, lower, lateral, branches on NW side by up to 1.5m, with maximum targeted pruning cuts, of no more than 50mm. T2, Sycamore : reduce sail effect by thinning tree, by up to 10% of its leaf area, maximum pruning cuts of no more than 50mm; cut back lower, lateral branches on NW side by up to 1.5m, with maximum target pruning cuts of no more than 50mm. 4 Brownlands Road Sidmouth EX10 9ARRef. No: 23/0086/TRE | Validated: Wed 18 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of lawful development for the stationing of mobile home to provide ancillary accommodation to single dwellinghouse.Burrow Farm Cottage Bowd Devon EX10 0NFRef. No: 23/0083/CPL | Validated: Tue 17 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Agricultural feed store C J Dare And Son Hugginshayes Farm Upottery Honiton EX14 9PZRef. No: 23/0081/FUL | Validated: Wed 18 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• General purpose agricultural building C J Dare And Son Hugginshayes Farm Upottery Honiton EX14 9PZRef. No: 23/0077/FUL | Validated: Wed 18 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• To erect a general purpose agricultural building on the agricultural yard at Highley Farm. Highley Farm Upottery Honiton EX14 9PDRef. No: 23/0076/FUL | Validated: Wed 18 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• New double garage, driveway and boundary treatments. Appletrees Poltimore EX4 0ABRef. No: 23/0079/FUL | Validated: Tue 17 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed agricultural building Trinity Beacon Trinity Hill Road AxminsterRef. No: 23/0074/R77 | Validated: Mon 16 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Application for permission in principle for 4-9 houses. Land South Of Park Lodge Talaton Road FenitonRef. No: 23/0073/PIP | Validated: Mon 16 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of lawfulness application to demonstrate the use of the annexe at Westleigh Cedars as an independent dwellinghouse Westleigh Cedars Annexe Station Road Feniton EX14 3DFRef. No: 23/0082/CPE | Validated: Mon 16 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed first floor side extension over existing garage and single storey rear extension 32 Yarlington Mill Cranbrook Devon EX5 7FJRef. No: 23/0080/FUL | Validated: Mon 16 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of timber garden room on land to the side of dwelling 79 Acland Park Feniton EX14 3WARef. No: 23/0071/FUL | Validated: Mon 16 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use of barn to two dwellings Cottarson Farm Awliscombe Honiton EX14 3NRRef. No: 23/0075/FUL | Validated: Mon 16 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey extension to be built to replace existing garage on the side of the house. 2 Highbury Park Exmouth EX8 3EJRef. No: 23/0065/FUL | Validated: Mon 16 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• The siting of 18 solar panels in the upper section of the garden area Clodes Membury Axminster EX13 7AJRef. No: 23/0058/FUL | Validated: Wed 18 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of existing roof space above flat 2 (first floor) into a additional residential unit together with formation of new dormers on north east and south west elevations Elmfield House 19 Littlemead Lane Exmouth Devon EX8 4RFRef. No: 23/0057/FUL | Validated: Fri 20 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey side extension The Bungalow Shorebottom Stockland Devon EX14 9DQRef. No: 23/0064/FUL | Validated: Mon 16 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• 2x Magnolia and 1x Plum – reduce and shape. East Checkstone 4 Douglas Avenue ExmouthRef. No: 23/0050/TCA | Validated: Mon 16 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Screening opinion for proposed converter station Land East Of Antiques Complex Adjacent To Harrier Courtys Clyst HonitonRef. No: 23/0001/EIA | Validated: Tue 17 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed Lawful development for replacement of existing porch with larger pitched roof porch. Single storey rear extension, pitched roof rear extension, rooflights, conservatory to rear and alterations to fenestration.30 Manstone Mead Sidmouth EX10 9RXRef. No: 23/0035/CPL | Validated: Thu 19 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of single storey two bedroom ancillary accommodation with the garden of the existing dwelling house Melberry House Moor Lane Poltimore Devon EX4 0AQRef. No: 23/0029/FUL | Validated: Wed 18 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a two storey, partially steel framed, partially masonry agricultural shed, for the purpose of farm machine storage/workshop and vegetable storage. Stentwood Farm Dunkeswell Honiton EX14 4RWRef. No: 23/0019/FUL | Validated: Mon 16 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Raise axial chimney stack and fit flue liner to accommodate an internal log burner, which complies with Building Regulations Compass Cottage South Street Colyton Devon EX24 6ERRef. No: 22/2787/LBC | Validated: Thu 19 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of new dwelling, demolition of host dwellings garage and construction of replacement garage for host dwelling Bowling Green Plymtree EX15 2LFRef. No: 22/2707/FUL | Validated: Mon 16 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of shed to store tools and equipment for the management of the land. Land East Of Hampton Lane Whitford Shute EX13 7PBRef. No: 22/2610/FUL | Validated: Wed 18 Jan 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision

The Mirror front page nails it

Tim’s comment upgraded to full post:

The impression I get from this report, and what I have seen and heard over the last few years, is that what matters to DCC and the former EDDC, was avoiding blame for their part in this failure. Without a shadow of doubt, some previous institutions, those councils and Devon and Cornwall Police, have failed the victims of Humphreys.

Contrary to the expectations of many who know the details, Devon and Cornwall Police have never investigated their appallingly unprofessional early handling of this case, nor have they had any other force investigate them for it. They suggest they will investigate if a complaint is made, but I’m pretty sure they will only accept a complaint from the victims, people who now want to get on with their lives and even then, it would no doubt be more heavily redacted than DCC’s report.

Owl has reviewed DCC’s report and I’ll add nothing further

In respect of EDDC, and it must be emphasised that we are talking about a past Tory controlled council and some existing officers, I find the explanations so far offered as less than satisfactory.

I want to focus on the explanation that an EDDC officer attended the DCC LADO meeting and accepted the request that those present had to treat the police information given about Humphreys in absolute confidence. It is suggested that the council officer concerned, and people do know who it was, accepted that advice and never even mentioned it to his boss the CEO – until the news became public.

Rightly or wrongly I believe that the senior officer concerned, whom I believe was male, had a primary duty to consider how the information given might affect his duty to EDDC and its public, and of course, to check that the reasons for secrecy were appropriate in all the circumstances.

Many of us know that Masonic influence has been a matter of concern in local councils and in Devon and Cornwall police. In 2017 Devon Live named 26 Devon councillors who were members of Masonic Lodges. I have previously FOI’d Devon and Cornwall police about police staff and membership of Lodges but they advised that they did not require such membership to be recorded. Make no mistake though, there will be such members – but we don’t know whom.

Humphreys was a Mason, we do not know if the police officer demanding secrecy was or was not. I have worked with Masonic police officers-most by far are decent honest folk – but I also know that is not always the case and have seen one rightly jailed for ‘helping a brother out’.

That EDDC officer would, or should have been aware of potential masonic conflict and should have enquired why the officer wanted such secrecy – I’m told it was an unusual request. He should have been aware of the need to confirm that secrecy was a legitimate request. It would appear he did not as there seems to be no such record. That EDDC officer’s primary duty is to his employer and the people the council serve. It seems totally unprofessional not to have explored the reason for the request for secrecy further. He should have anticipated that silence would potentially involve putting others at risk.

Much has been said from one quarter about the obligation on that officer to respect and abide by the police officer’s request, supported by various memos etc, to maintain absolute secrecy about Humphreys. Well frankly that is absolute nonsense.

The law and relative guidance provides for how such confidential should be treated. Firstly it acknowledges that there will be times when confidential information can properly be passed to another party . Secondly, it uses the phrase ‘need to know basis’. Certain senior officers of councils may ‘need to know’ about all sorts of matters, indeed there will likely be quite a few occasions in which they have already been passed information on a ‘need to know’ basis because they may have a role to play in predicted events and need to be prepared. It needs to be noted that the ‘need to know’ exception means that those who have a valid reason to know is restricted, it isn’t to broadcast throughout the organisation or be made public. That EDDC officer should have told his boss the CEO for he has oversight of what is going on and could, if he felt appropriate, have kept Humphreys out of certain areas to protect the East Devon residents and the council’s reputation.

I am disappointed that the ‘need to know’ exception was never brought to the attention of today’s council members. It is a common practice in most areas that you can think of from say newsrooms protecting a story from rivals, to chancellors of the exchequer with pre-budget details, to Council CEOs in regard to emergency planning measures . I’m willing to bet that our CEO has quite a few ‘need to know ‘ matters that he shares with the few who have reason to know.

In my old job I dealt with classified confidential information on a daily basis in many of the roles I held. I might have been the officer requesting confidentiality or at the end of the chain the person expected to produce resources when certain things happened. I might be the only person in the know in my department, or I might deem it appropriate to share with some junior colleagues.

The point is that that the ‘need to know’ exception to confidentiality is common practice in all organisations and senior staff would, I hope, have understood this and when it should be applied. It should have been applied to Humphreys being recognised as a suspected paedophile in an influential position.