“We got the big calls right” – Owl

Britain has suffered one of biggest drops in the real value of wages among members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Arthi Nachiappan www.thetimes.co.uk

Real pay, which is the value of incomes after adjusting for the impact of inflation, is on course to fall by 2.9 per cent from 2021 to 2022, compared with an average of 2.3 per cent across the bloc of 38 countries.

The figures from the OECD showed that during the pandemic the UK suffered one of the biggest declines in the rate of employment among the members of the population with the least education qualifications. The rise in economic inactivity, when a worker is neither working nor looking for a job, among those with lower educational qualifications was one of the highest recorded.

The UK was one of a “handful” of countries in which employment among workers aged 55 or over was still below pre-crisis levels at the start of the year, the organisation said. Hundreds of thousands of older workers left the labour market in Britain during the pandemic.

The gap in employment rates between white people and people of ethnic minority backgrounds has widened by 0.5 percentage points since the start of 2019. The trend was recorded in several countries. In the six largest European countries, the impact of rises in food and energy prices was 50 per cent higher for the poorest fifth of people than for the richest.

Inflation, which hit a 40-year high of 10.1 per cent in July, is at more than 15 per cent for the poorest people, three times the level among the richest, according to analysis by the International Monetary Fund. This is the second most unequal rise in the cost of living of any European country.

Economists at Goldman Sachs said inflation could exceed 20 per cent in January before the announcement of the new energy bills support package on Thursday, which could shave several percentage points off the headline rate.

Mathias Cormann, the OECD secretary-general, said: “Despite widespread labour shortages, real wages growth is not keeping pace with the current high rates of inflation. Governments should implement targeted and means-tested measures to temporarily support the poorest households.”

Follow the money – Owl

A register of MPs’ financial interests revealed Truss’ rival Rishi Sunak received around £450,000 and Boris Johnson received a £23,000 donation to pay for his wedding

Liam Geraghty www.bigissue.com 

Liz Truss was handed £425,000 in personal donations to boost her Conservative leadership bid, official documents have revealed.

Published just minutes before the new prime minister laid out her new plan to freeze energy bills to support British households facing the cost of living crisis, the MP’s register of interests showed Truss had been backed by 22 personal donations to the tune of £424,349.

Among the most notable backers was billionaire property developer Tony Gallagher – 140th on the Sunday Times Rich List and worth an estimated £1.25bn – who pledged £5,500.

Peer Lord Michael Spencer, who sits three places above Gallagher on the Times’ list at £1.262bn, offered up £25,000. Fitriani Hay – the wife of Scottish millionaire businessman Jim Hay – offered £100,000 to Truss’s bid.

One £10,000 donor was listed as Smoked Salmon and is believed to be former Brexit Party MEP Lance Forman.

Truss’ opponent Rishi Sunak received £458,570 in donations, including two £50,000 donations from rock star Chris Rea.

The register of interests also revealed former prime minister Boris Johnson received £23,853 in donations from Tory donors Anthony and Lady Carole Bamford to cover the hire of a marquee and portaloos as well as paying for flowers, waiting staff, an ice cream van and a smoke and braii food truck.

Devon’s underperforming services for children with special educational needs (SEND) are to be closely monitored by the government following a damning report earlier this year.

Ollie Heptinstall, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk 

Four areas of “significant concern” were identified by an inspector in December 2018 following a joint visit by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission, but a revisit this May found “progress has not been made” in fixing any of them.

Communication remains poor and staff do not sufficiently understand strategy, the report said. As well as that, improvements need to be made in supporting children with autism as well as to education, health and care plans (EHCPs) – legal documents that outline a young person’s special educational needs.

Devon County Council and NHS Devon, which works in partnership to run SEND services in the county, both apologised, while the council chief responsible admitted it had “let down the children of Devon over the past four years.”

Following a subsequent meeting with representatives from the Department for Education (DfE) and NHS England in July, the council has now agreed to an improvement notice suggested by the minister for school standards, Will Quince.

In his letter, Mr Quince says the issues raised in the revisit report are “serious” and that “the pace of change in Devon over the past three years has been too slow and is significantly affecting the lives of children and young people and their families.”

Mr Quince added: “In taking the swift and decisive action required to address the areas for improvement identified by Ofsted and CQC, it will be vital that the local area accepts collective responsibility and accountability for delivering the agreed actions.

“This will require a relentless focus on improvement across all service providers so that children, young people and families are able to access the support that they need.”

As part of the notice an improvement plan will be overseen by an improvement board, which will meet monthly to monitor progress and report in writing to the DfE and NHS England every two months.

In an update provided to the council’s children’s scrutiny committee this week, Jackie Ross, interim deputy and SEND strategic director, said there have so far been two informal meetings to discuss the development of the plan to improve the service.

This includes reducing bureaucracy and simplifying paperwork, increasing recruitment, more training for staff and schools, and to develop clear performance monitoring and targets.

Ms Ross’ report concluded: “Whilst no council wants to be subject to intervention, this is an opportunity for the council to support the leadership team in every way possible to ensure that all children, young people, and families in Devon receive the best possible service from a council that cares and truly wants very child to reach their full potential and live fulfilled lives.”

Last month the county council’s leader John Hart (Conservative, Bickleigh and Wembury) admitted the government will “run out of patience” with the authority if improvements aren’t made over the next year.

A separate report, published in July, also revealed progress remains ‘slow’ in improving the council’s children’s services department, which was rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted in January 2020.

“I’m very sorry for the children that have been failed by the Devon system,” Cllr Hart said. “I do think we are reshaping, reorganising, redoing things, and we’ve got to improve the service.”

Opposition leader Councillor Julian Brazil (Lib Dem, Kingsbridge) said in July that possible government intervention was a “sad reflection on Devon County Council.”

He acknowledged that the new leadership team, appointed last year, should be given time, but said the problem was “nothing new.”

“It’s been going on for over 10 years. We failed to address the problems, we’ve allowed drift and I think that’s a terrible state of affairs.”

Speaking to BBC Radio Devon on Wednesday [7 September], cabinet member for children’s services, Cllr Andrew Leadbetter (Conservative, Wearside and Topsham) said: “We are doing everything in our power to sort this issue out and I’m confident that we will.”

Liz Truss’s new director of strategy helped run a firm that lobbied for one of the UK’s biggest energy suppliers, openDemocracy can reveal.

Martin Williams www.opendemocracy.net 

Iain Carter took unpaid leave as a partner at Hanbury Strategy to join her leadership campaign over the summer and has now been installed at the heart of Number 10.

But during his time at Hanbury Strategy, the public relations agency was paid to lobby senior political figures on behalf of the now-infamous Bulb Energy.

With 1.5 million customers, Bulb was considered too big to fail – until it collapsed amid spiralling energy prices and went into administration in November 2021. It was bailed out by the government in a move that could cost taxpayers £4bn by next spring.

Downing Street refused to provide a statement on Carter’s appointment, but a spokesperson today claimed the Number 10 chief had not personally lobbied for Bulb Energy during his time as a partner at Hanbury.

In his biography on Hanbury’s official website, however, Carter states that he is “involved in the wider leadership of the agency” and “oversee[s] the work we do for a significant portfolio of clients”.

Official documents show the firm began work to sign up Bulb Energy as a client in 2017, promising to boost its public profile and provide “strategic communications advice”. This involved engaging with ministers or senior government officials at various points between 2018 and summer 2021.

Carter joined the lobbying firm in April last year as a director, at a time when the Bulb lobbying was ongoing. Following his promotion to partner in November, he was praised for having “help[ed] investors navigate an increasingly tricky political backdrop”.

Links to government

Carter’s move from Hanbury Strategy to Number 10 is the latest chapter in the company’s cosy relationship with the Conservative Party. Before joining the lobbying agency, Carter himself had previously worked as the Tories’ director of research.

Hanbury was founded in 2016 by Ameet Gill, who spent years in Downing Street as David Cameron’s director of strategy. When Cameron quit, following the Brexit referendum, he awarded Gill with an OBE.

But Gill received a slap on the wrist for setting up Hanbury Strategy just months after leaving Number 10 without the permission of the government’s sleaze watchdog. The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments said there was “concern” that private clients had already been announced before the watchdog “had the opportunity to offer its advice”.

Another director at Hanbury, Paul Stephenson, served as director of communications for the Vote Leave campaign and also worked as an adviser to Conservative ministers.

The lobbying firm is the subject of ongoing legal action by the Good Law Project, after it was awarded £580,000 worth of COVID contracts without a competitive tender.

In total, records now show that Hanbury has won at least £1.2m of government contracts for work, including opinion polling surrounding the pandemic.

It has previously defended the work, which was agreed upon at “extremely short notice”, saying it “contributed to what was a hugely successful public health communications campaign which undoubtedly prevented many deaths”.

The firm also has close ties to the Labour Party, with several staffers who have worked for both. They include Chris Ward, who served as Keir Starmer’s former deputy chief of staff and is now a director at Hanbury. Meanwhile, Labour’s deputy leader, Angela Rayner, recently hired one of Hanbury’s associate directors.

After Bulb Energy was bailed out by taxpayers, the government agreed to pay millions of pounds in bonuses to staff at the energy supplier.

Before Carter joined Hanbury, Bulb had already come under fire for breaching consumer rules. In 2020, it agreed to pay out £1.76m (some of it classed as ‘goodwill’ payments) after regulators found it had overcharged some customers.

“UK fracking will only be a ‘cottage industry’ and North Sea ‘even more doubtful’ “ Citigroup.

“Fracking in the UK is a very high commercial risk, as the geology is wrong, and almost all of the oil or gas has leaked away millions of years ago. Analyses of the shales recovered while drilling for fracking in Lancashire showed the wrong type of shale and no oil or gas present.”

Fiona Harvey www.theguardian.com 

Fracking will not ease the UK’s energy crisis or bring down heating bills, but will imperil climate targets, scientists and economists have said, after the prime minister, Liz Truss, made lifting the ban on fracking one of the central planks of her energy strategy.

The technology used for hydraulic fracturing of shale rocks, and the difficulty of extracting gas from the UK’s shale deposits, have not changed markedly in the decade since fracking was first tried in the UK, according to scientists.

While the soaring price of gas might make fracking seem a more attractive proposition, in fact the difficulty of tearing up the UK’s countryside in pursuit of relatively small and hard-to-reach deposits means it remains very doubtful it could ever be profitable.

Jim Watson, professor of energy policy at University College London, said: “There is huge uncertainty about the economic viability of fracking, and it may take a long time to produce relatively small amounts of gas.”

Stuart Haszeldine, professor of carbon capture and storage at the University of Edinburgh, said: “Fracking in the UK is a very high commercial risk, as the geology is wrong, and almost all of the oil or gas has leaked away millions of years ago. Analyses of the shales recovered while drilling for fracking in Lancashire showed the wrong type of shale and no oil or gas present.”

Even if shale gas could be produced here at the scale needed, it would not make a dent in fuel bills. That is because the gas price is set by international markets, so any gas produced would be sold to the highest bidder and vast amounts would be needed to make any change to the gas price.

Kwasi Kwarteng, now chancellor of the exchequer, acknowledged this in the early stages of the Ukraine crisis, when he was business secretary. He tweeted in late February: “Additional UK production won’t materially affect the wholesale market price. This includes fracking – UK producers won’t sell shale gas to UK consumers below the market price. They’re not charities.”

One company, Ineos, the chemical business founded by the billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, who recently expressed an interest in bidding for Manchester United football club, responded eagerly to Truss’s announcement, however. Tom Crotty, director of Ineos, said: “We are renewing our offer to the government to drill a shale gas test well in the UK. We believe we can prove we can do it safely and without harm to the environment.”

He said: “Shale has helped transform the energy landscape and local communities in the US. The US is well protected against the energy crisis as it is making the most of its natural resources. It can do the same here in the UK. We have promised to invest the first 6% of the value of the gas back into local communities.”

The complex engineering needed to drill horizontal wells through which a mixture of water, sand and chemicals can be blasted against dense shale rock to release microscopic bubbles of methane, which can then be captured in pipes, was perfected in the US about two decades ago. Since then, fracking has brought about a revolution in US oil and gas production, used across vast tracts of land from Texas to Pennsylvania.

But US geology has been more favourable to fracking than the deposits likely to be found in the UK, and it is a less densely populated country with far fewer, or poorly enforced, environmental protections in some states.

Early estimates suggested there could be sizable shale deposits in the UK, but most are likely to be inaccessible and reaching the shale requires constantly expanding drilling infrastructure. Richard Davies, petroleum geologist at Newcastle University, said: “Wells drilled in the US produce modest volumes of gas. Therefore you need hundreds drilled each year to make a dent on our reliance on imported gas.”

Expectations of a shale gas boom in the UK flared up briefly in the early 2010s, when the startup Cuadrilla began operations at a site in Lancashire, but they had largely subsided even before the government announced a moratorium on drilling in 2019, after a series of seismic shocks and health and safety concerns. All the problems that stymied shale gas fracking in the early 2010s are still there.

Michael Grubb, professor of energy and climate change at UCL, said: “There was huge hype about fracking a decade ago, but over the subsequent decade it delivered almost nothing across Europe. It’s one thing to lift a ban on fracking, and quite another to get industry to invest at scale, particularly in a resource which is likely to be slow, contentious and limited.”

What a mess we are in as a result of the Conservatives effectively suspending government for six crucial weeks. This is  during an economic and energy crisis made worse by the £20 a week cut in universal credit last October, and because benefits have risen only 3% while inflation is pushing up bills by more than 10%. (Gordon Brown).

Conservatives need to start putting the National Interest before their own parochial ones.

As 1st October approaches, Owl hopes you find these words comforting: 

“We’re working urgently now on the wider aspects of the policy to ensure it can be delivered.”

Rowena Mason www.theguardian.com 

Liz Truss’s plans to legislate for a £100bn package of help with energy bills will not be affected by 10 days of national mourning for the Queen, despite parliament being cancelled for the next week, Downing Street has said.

The government is postponing most business until after the Queen’s funeral, but Truss’s team needs to implement the package before the energy price rise that is due to come into force on 1 October.

Parliament is unlikely to return until after the Queen’s funeral, with the earliest possible dates being 19 or 20 September. However, it is due to break up again on 22 September for its party conference recess, and Truss is supposed to be in New York for the UN general assembly for part of that week.

On Friday, Downing Street said plans would be put in place to ensure the support package was made available in time, and suggested that legislation would not be needed for the £2,500 cap on average bills to be put in place.

“The public should be reassured that the energy price guarantee will be in place for households from 1 October, as planned,” Truss’s official spokesperson said.

“We’re implementing that guarantee initially through private contracts with suppliers rather than through legislation, so this mourning period doesn’t impact that introduction.

“We’re working urgently now on the wider aspects of the policy to ensure it can be delivered. As it stands, we do not believe the mourning period would impact on delivery of the policy, neither do we think it requires any sort of legislative moments during the mourning period.

“We will be working with the Speaker to introduce any legislation that is required for as soon as possible after the mourning period concludes.”

With ministers holding back from outlining further details during the mourning period, energy suppliers are expected to contact customers before 1 October to explain how the announcement affects them.

Truss also announced an immediate lifting of the fracking ban in England this week, despite the Conservative manifesto promising not to do so unless it was scientifically proven to be safe amid concerns over earthquakes.

However, a British Geological Survey review into the safety of extracting shale gas was postponed from its scheduled publication on Thursday. Downing Street said this would now not be published until after the mourning period. A No 10 spokesperson said it would come “as soon as that period has concluded”.

The party conference season has already been affected by the national mourning, as the Trades Union Congress conference due to take place in Brighton next week has been postponed.

The Liberal Democrats conference is also hanging in the balance as that is scheduled for the week afterwards, potentially clashing with the Queen’s funeral, which is likely to be on Sunday 18 or Monday 19 September. Party sources suggested it was unlikely to be delayed until another time but could be curtailed or cancelled.

The Labour conference, which is due to start on Sunday 25 September in Liverpool, is thought to be very likely to go ahead.

One Tory source put the chances of the Conservative party conference going ahead in Birmingham from Sunday 2 October at 85-90%, with a decision “in the next few days”.

Conversations between the whips of the parties have taken place on the possibility of cancellation of the entire season, with one source saying the Tories seemed keenest on the idea of postponement, but that there had been no agreement and ultimately the main two parties were expected to proceed.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) have further postponed making a decision about the need for an independent investigation into the circumstances that led to them to award an honour to a former Conservative councillor who was later sent to prison.

“I am sure this type of thing will happen again. Maybe a district council, maybe a parish council, or maybe a town council,”….“So that’s where you should be focusing your attention, in my opinion. ….that’s why I don’t think it would be a proportionate use of public money merely to sort of focus in on Humphreys.” The CEO now advises against a separate independent investigation.

Not just an open case but a festering sore in the local Conservative party. It’s in no one’s long term interests to sweep this under the carpet. – Owl

Exmouth Journal Staff www.exmouthjournal.co.uk 

He was a prominent councillor at a time when the Conservatives controlled East Devon.

Whilst the court case ended over a year ago, this is still an open case in the council. In April EDDC councillors accepted a proposal for chief executive Mark Williams to provide a report to the council about whether it should commission an independent investigation into how, despite his 2016 arrest, Humphreys continued to serve as a councillor until May 2019. He also retained his position as lead member for Exmouth and was even bestowed the honour of alderman in December 2019.

His arrest was not made public until he appeared at Exeter Magistrates Court in October 2020.

In the cabinet meeting on Wednesday (7 September), members heard from the chief executive, who changed his recommendations within an hour of the start of the meeting.

The report outlined the reasons Mr Williams advised against a separate independent investigation but in the meeting, he requested an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) and that “the CEO bring to that meeting an updated report incorporating the recently received correspondence from the Conservative Party, the proposed motion from Cllr Bailey and others and any other relevant update.”

This correspondence from the Conservatives was said to be the first meaningful exchange of communication from the party since Humphreys was sentenced in August 2021, and arrived just after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, a fact that the leader of the council, Paul Arnott (Democratic Alliance Group, Coly Valley), described as “morally completely unacceptable”.

Mr Williams said: “I am sure this type of thing will happen again. Maybe a district council, maybe a parish council, or maybe a town council,”

“So that’s where you should be focusing your attention, in my opinion. But you’re the council, you can decide otherwise. But that’s why I don’t think it would be a proportionate use of public money merely to sort of focus in on Humphreys.” He concluded.

Councillor Jess Bailey (independent, West Hill and Aylesbeare) has previously said she believes an investigation is necessary told the meeting that Mr Williams was being dismissive of an important issue.

“We spend an awful lot of money on an awful lot of things that are actually considerably less important than this,” she said.

“And I would actually disagree [with Mr Williams]. How many councillors, how many councils in the country have had a councillor convicted and sentenced for sexual abuse and sent to prison for 21 years? I would think there’s very few. It’s exceptionally serious.”

In December 2021 the leader of the council alleged East Devon’s Conservative knew Humphreys was under investigation by the police for sex crimes at the time he was given an honorary title.

Cllr Eileen Wragg, a Liberal Democrat, has previously told the council she “certainly knew” of the allegations.

In other meetings councillors have expressed concerns that, as a governor of a school in Exmouth, Mr Humphreys would probably have gone through enhanced criminal record checks and yet was still appointed to senior positions.

The headteacher of the primary school gave evidence on Mr Humphreys’ behalf at his trial and told the jury he had never had concerns about his behaviour.

East Devon’s cabinet backed Mr Williams’ recommendation for an extraordinary general meeting. It is expected to take place on the week of 19  September.

[Need to keep looking at the EDDC meetings calendar which is in a state of hiatus at the moment, but could be the meeting scheduled for 28 September]

Owl sends heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family for their loss of a Mother, Grandmother and great Grandmother.

At 25 Queen Elizabeth II dedicated her life to the service of the nation which she has done assiduously and selflessly for 70 years, setting an example for all in public life. For this she is much loved.

In the space of just a few days, and in a state of economic crisis, we have to face a change in Prime Minister and now in our Head of State.

With great poignancy, Owl attended the concert performed by Harry Christophers “Sixteen” in Exeter Cathedral last night. It was based around a performance of Hubert Parry’s “Songs of Farewell” composed in the aftermath of the first world war. 

The concert started with a prayer and period of silence.

It ended, and people left, in utter silence.

Farewell.

The donation may raise eyebrows given Ms Truss’s refusal to further tax oil and gas firms to help people with the soaring bills, fuelled by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Today’s Steve Bell cartoon

The single biggest donation to Liz Truss’s successful campaign for the Tory leadership came from the wife of a former BP executive.

Matt Mathers www.independent.co.uk

Fitriani Hay, the wife of James Hay, donated £100,000 to Ms Truss. It came as the new prime minister set out her plan to help families struggling with their energy bills.

Ms Truss said she would freeze bills at £2,500, which will be paid for by additional government borrowing. She declined to extend the windfall tax on the large profits of oil and gas giants.

James Hay joined BP as an engineer in the 1970s and spent nearly three decades working for the multinational firm, where he later became a senior executive.

He is now the chairman of Dubai-based JMH Group, a private family business operating in the luxury goods markets.

Mr Hay married his wife Fitriani in 1996 and they have two daughters. According to The Sunday Times Rich List he is worth £325 million.

The donation may raise eyebrows given Ms Truss’s refusal to further tax oil and gas firms to help people with the soaring bills, fuelled by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Rishi Sunak, who Ms Truss defeated in the race to replace Boris Johnson, introduced the initial levy and said he was open to extending it if he became prime minister.

Opposition parties also called for an additional windfall tax, a policy which is widely popular among voters and has been introduced in several countries across Europe.

Ms Truss has said that extending the levy would deter investment – something Mr Sunak said before later going ahead with the policy.

In the House of Commons on Thursday, Ms Truss confirmed energy bills for the average household will be frozen at no more than £2,500.

She also confirmed that businesses will be spared crippling increases.

Her two-year plan, paid for by tens of billions of pounds of borrowing will save the typical household around £1,000 from October and protect billpayers from further expected rises over the coming months.

For businesses and other non-domestic users such as schools and hospitals, which have not been covered by the existing price cap, a six-month scheme will offer equivalent support.

Ms Truss told MPs: “This is the moment to be bold. We are facing a global energy crisis and there are no cost-free options.”

Downing Street has refused to put a cost on the programme, previously estimated to cost up to £150 billion. The PM’s official spokesman would only say the price will be “tens of billions”.

 Already, there are lots of hostile quotes flying around from MPs who have been overlooked for government jobs. “She won with a third of MPs and she intends to govern with a third of MPs. Let’s see how that turns out,” one former Cabinet minister tells the FT’s Seb Payne. On his LBC show, Andrew Marr quoted an MP who said: “This isn’t a Conservative government, frankly it feels more like a protection racket.” 

From Politico’s newsletter

Nanny has a lot to answer for – Owl

A new prime minister begets a new cabinet, and everyone’s least favourite toff Jacob Rees-Mogg has been appointed to the role of secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy by Liz Truss.

Kate Plummer www.indy100.com

He was previously the minister for Brexit opportunities, which appeared to be a cosmetic role in which he trotted around broadcast studios to defend the indefensible and gaslight the country about queues in Dover and other issues.

So now he’s got a Proper Job and is charged with overseeing the country’s energy and climate strategy, and leading the government’s relationship with business, a role previously undertaken by Kwasi Kwarteng who has now been promoted to chancellor.

He will make decisions about onshore wind and potentially fracking, alongside meeting ambitious targets for offshore wind, solar, nuclear and oil and gas.

It’s not up to us – we didn’t even get to vote for the new PM – but had we the opportunity to fill the new cabinet, we would have thought twice, or even thrice, before giving Rees-Mogg the keys to BEIS.

Why? Let us count the ways…

1. “Climate alarmism”.

Rees-Mogg has claimed that “climate alarmism” is responsible for high energy prices and that it is unrealistic for scientists to project future changes to the climate because meteorologists struggle to correctly predict the weather.

[Actual quote: “common sense dictates that if the Meteorological Office cannot forecast the next season’s weather with any success it is ambitious to predict what will happen decades ahead;” demonstrates a lack of any grasp of how statistical analysis can be used to discern trends. Sadly, his Eton and Oxford education seems to have left him literate but not numerate. – Owl]

2. Fossil fuels

In April 2022, he said he wanted “every last drop” of oil and gas to be extracted from the North Sea as he dismissed warnings that a renewed push for fossil fuels would ruin the UK’s chances of achieving net zero by 2050.

3. Fracking

He has also described the idea of reopening shale gas sites as “quite an interesting opportunity”, comparing the fracking threat to “a rock fall in a disused coalmine”.

4. Somerset Capital

In 2014, he was referred to the parliamentary standards watchdog for failing to disclose interests in a company with millions of pounds invested in fossil fuel, mining, and tobacco firms when speaking in relevant debates, the Independent reported.

5. “Green doomsayers”

In an article in The Telegraph, written in 2013, Rees-Mogg dismissed fears about rising emissions and said it was wrong to make policy based on these fears, even going as far as to compare climate change scientists with those who wrongly predict the weather.

He wrote: “Clearly expectations of a final disaster are part of man’s psychology and the doomsayers of the quasi religious green movement fit the bill. Perhaps one day the world will end, giving the last group to predict it the satisfaction of being right – but as many have been wrong so far it does not seem wise to make public policy on the back of these fears.

“It is widely accepted that carbon dioxide emissions have risen but the effect on the climate remains much debated while the computer modelling that has been done to date has not proved especially accurate … common sense dictates that if the Meteorological Office cannot forecast the next season’s weather with any success it is ambitious to predict what will happen decades ahead.”

6. “Mankind is adaptable”

In 2014 to Chat Politics, Rees-Mogg suggested people were adaptable and that we need to be “realistic” about how much we can change.

He said: “I would like my constituents to have cheap energy rather more than I would like them to have windmills.

“I think we have to be realistic about what we can change, the timescale over which we can change it, and actually I think mankind is highly adaptable, and we need to look at more adaptability rather than changes in behaviour.”

7. “Net zero is going to be a huge regulatory cost”

This year at the Centre for Policy Studies, Rees-Mogg moaned about the price of protecting the climate. He said: “Net zero is going to be a huge regulatory cost and that is an issue for the country to face and to face up to … If we were to have a ‘one in, one out’ or ‘one in, two out’ rule [where a piece of regulation is scrapped for every new one instituted], you would end up excluding net zero, as we previously excluded EU regulation, and then you’re tinkering at the edges because you’re ignoring the biggest piece of regulation.”

8. Voting record

Rees-Mogg has voted against some measures to help the climate. He voted against requiring the setting of a target range for the amount of carbon dioxide (or other greenhouse gases) produced per unit of electricity generated, against setting a decarbonisation target for the UK within six months of June 2016, and not to reduce the permitted carbon dioxide emission rate of new homes.

9. What other people think

Many remain concerned about Rees-Mogg’s green credentials. Sir Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats told the FT: “For years Jacob Rees-Mogg has been on the wrong side of the argument. The last thing we need is another climate dinosaur like Rees-Mogg.”

“No government that’s remotely serious about tackling the twin climate and nature emergencies would even contemplate putting Jacob Rees-Mogg in charge of that portfolio,” said Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion. “He’s the worst possible candidate at the worst possible moment.”

Ed Miliband, shadow secretary of state for climate change and net zero for Labour, said: “We need an energy secretary for the 2020s not the 1820s. But everything that Jacob Rees-Mogg has said on energy is stuck in the past.”

“If ministers had acted on Rees-Mogg’s views then Britain would be even more exposed to skyrocketing energy bills this winter, more dependent on expensive fossil fuels and even less prepared to tackle the climate crisis.”

“This will either be a massive own goal for Truss’s efforts to tackle the cost of living crisis or Rees-Mogg will have to do the steepest learning curve in history as he gets to grips with the issues facing our country,” said Rebecca Newsom, head of politics for Greenpeace UK.

New document reveals impact

The rise in short-term holiday lets in North Devon is a “major problem,” with over a quarter of properties in some parts of the district not being used for permanent residence, according to a council report.

local democracy reporter, Ollie Heptinstall www.radioexe.co.uk 

The finding is part of North Devon Council’s response to the government’s call for evidence on short-term holiday homes. It was set up following concern from local authorities and MPs that their increasing numbers are impacting the housing market.

Agreed at a meeting on Monday [5 September], the council’s submission says the rise over the past three years has led to at least 435 homes in the district being changed from permanent residential use to holiday lets, a figure likely to be higher as it is claimed many properties are not registered for business rates.

The council acknowledges that holiday letting websites have “enabled some homeowners to create a new income stream” while expanding the tourism market.

But it says there is a “misconception that this is a quaint cottage industry where homeowners let out a room or two to supplement their income.”  it is “particularly concerned about community cohesion” in areas with a high density of holiday lets.

In addition, it claims “anecdotal evidence” shows tenants have been evicted from permanent lets so the properties to be used as holiday lets, as well as 142 no fault evictions in the last two financial years – of which 103 were last year.

The council says data from property websites shows the number of properties available for permanent letting in North Devon shrank two-thirds (67 per cent) in the two years to August 2021.

According to the council, second homes and holiday lets now make up more than a quarter of all homes in Instow, West Down, Countisbury, Trentishoe and Martinhoe, while in Mortenhoe (47 per cent) and Georgeham (45 per cent) the proportion is almost half.

The impact is so great in Georgeham that on one particular road in the village it is believed only one property is occupied in the winter.

“Communities cannot be sustained with that level of holiday use,” the council says.

It adds the reduction in permanent housing has had an impact on house prices. In August 2019 the average was £246,147 which increased to £321,346 in July 2022.

This covered the covid period, when house prices in many rural and coastal areas rose considerably.

The lack of available housing is having a further impact on major employers and public services who now find it difficult to recruit. According to the council: “Whilst the recruitment market is more difficult at present, especially for certain professions, many employers are citing the lack of housing as a reason.”

“By way of example, the principal of the local [further education] college had appointed a deputy principal who then came to North Devon to look for a property to relocate to but found the market so restricted and expensive that they then withdrew from the offer. There have been five unsuccessful attempts at recruitment since.

“The same college has an executive officer who has had to take a flat in Cullompton when they work in Barnstaple because there was nothing suitable and affordable closer. That is a distance of 40 miles.”

The report adds: “An employee of a local care home who was living in a rented property has had to give up her job as care worker as her landlord has evicted her to allow the use as a holiday let.”

North Devon says it wants to develop a licencing scheme with physical checks of premises, citing other impacts from some holiday lets including anti-social behaviour.

But it says that should be supported by other measures, “such as the requirement to apply for planning consent for change of use where residential premises are converted to holiday lets.

“This would allow control over the number of holiday lets and allow councils to prevent areas becoming saturated.

“Other measures that might be outside the scope of this call for evidence include addressing the tax advantages for owners of holiday let premises and also introducing the same environmental requirements as are imposed on private landlords.”

Members of the council’s strategy and resources committee agreed to submit the response to the government.

The call for evidence ends on Wednesday 21 September.

Barratt Developments has reported annual profit of over £1 billion for the first time in results published on the day average house prices reached fresh records in London and the UK.

Michael Hunter www.standard.co.uk 

The landmark profits came at a time when the industry is bracing for the impact of sustained increases in interest rates and the higher mortgage costs that come with them, as the Bank of England seeks to tame runaway inflation. But there is little sign of a slowdown, even with  the cost-of-living crisis biting and official forecasts pointing to inflation of over 13% before the end of the year.

Closely-watched average house price data from one of the UK’s biggest mortgage lenders, also out today, showed a rise to fresh records in London and the wider UK in August, indicating that a fall in July may have just been a blip.

According to the Halifax, annual house price inflation in the capital was the highest in six years, at 8.8%. A typical London property now costs a record £554, 718, up by almost £45,000 over the last 12 months. The average national price was up 0.4% month-on-month to £294,260, also a record and an annual rise of almost 12%.

Barratt’s chief executive, David Thomas, told the Standard that current trading was “more challenging” into the market’s key trading period from late summer into December. While levels of customer interest and inquiry levels remain high, “uncertainty in terms of the economic and political environment” means “there’s some concern about making a commitment as big as a house purchase.”

Barratt sold nearly 18,000 and returned its business to pre-pandemic levels. Its average selling price for the year on private homes was just over £340,000, up almost 5%. For affordable homes, the average price was just over £159,000, up almost 9% due to more sales in outer London.

“We are trading very much in line or slightly ahead of the market,” Thomas added. “It’s about seeing how we trade through the key periods of September, October, November.”

There were also signs that rising costs in the industry was easing off, with Barratt leaving its guidance for inflation at between 9% and 10%. Thomas noted “very, very significant reductions in timber prices over the last three months,” while overall costs were holding steady, staying in a “similar position” for six to eight weeks.

Barratt reported annual adjusted profit of just over £1 billion was up by nearly 15%.  The FTSE 100 company plans to return £200 million to investors via a share buyback. Its stock slipped 1.3% to 416p on Wednesday.

It also reported a charge of over £408 million relating to the cost of cladding repairs to buildings over 11 metres high, after safety measures brought in by the government after the Grenfell Tower disaster which the industry has agreed to fund.

The replacement for “Useless”  doesn’t inspire confidence. 

It now seems highly likely that the Truss government will wreak havoc on the environment, especially with the appointment of Jacob Rees-Mogg to Energy Secretary. – Owl

Harry Cockburn www.independent.co.uk 

His appointment by Liz Truss has already caused alarm due to Mr Jayawardena’s voting record, which shows he has “consistently voted against measures to prevent climate change“, and also against government support for renewable energy projects, according to the website, They Work For You.

Despite this stance he has previously said he recognises the importance of the UK taking climate action, and has campaigned for improved recycling and supported government moves to ban plastic straws in 2020.

An MP since 2015 and formerly a junior minister at the trade department, Mr Jayawardena replaces George Eustice, who was appointed to the role by Boris Johnson in February 2020.

Mr Jayawardena’s voting record suggests he favours a light touch when it comes to environment regulations that could impact business.

The records on They Work For You show Mr Jayawardena voted “not to require a ‘climate and nature emergency impact statement’ as part of any proposal for financial assistance under a United Kingdom Internal Market Act”, in September 2020.

He also voted “not to require ministers to have due regard to the target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 when taking actions including setting up agricultural subsidy schemes”, in October 2020.

As incoming environment secretary, Mr Jayawardena will be responsible for ensuring the UK’s food security and supporting UK farming, while also being the government’s lead figure on protecting the environment, inheriting issues such as sewage-filled water courses and seas, the agricultural impact of the current drought, the spread of bird-flu around the British coast, rewilding programmes, and grappling with the longer-term effects of the worsening climate crisis.

His voting record shows he was among the Conservative MPs who voted last year against Defra’s own environmental principles, designed, the department said, “to guide ministers and policymakers towards opportunities to prevent environmental damage and enhance the environment, where relevant and appropriate”.

These principles, put forward by the government, include the “polluter pays principle”, which means that, “where possible, the costs of pollution should be borne by those causing it, rather than the person who suffers the effects of the resulting environmental damage, or the wider community”.

The Conservatives voted against the adoption of the principles which would have required public authorities to take a greater level of environmental action.

Mr Jayawarda also voted along with his Conservative colleagues against laws to slash transport emissions by 2030, and also against a proposal to bring forward “a green industrial revolution to decarbonise the economy and boost economic growth”. Both proposals were defeated in the Commons.

Nonetheless in a blog-post on his website earlier this year, he wrote that “protecting the future environment and standard of living for our local area and beyond is one of great importance”

He said: “This is supported by the volume of correspondence to me from local people. Economic growth and respect for our planet are by no means two opposites.”

Following his appointment, Mr Jayawardena said: “It is a privilege to be appointed the Secretary of State for Defra.

“From food security and backing British farmers, to water security and growing our rural economy, I know that there is much to do.

“It is so important to recognise where our food comes from.”

In a linked Tweet, Mr Jayawardena added: “This year in North East Hampshire alone, we will consume: 11 million eggs, 550 tons of beef, 17 million pints of milk.

“I recently met local farmers with the NFU, to discuss the government’s support for British farming and the export growth ahead.”

The animal products Mr Jayawardena mentions are among the most environmentally damaging products produced on the planet, with 80 per cent of all farmland being used for livestock grazing or for growing feed for livestock.

Clearing land to support livestock has not only devastated natural ecosystems across Europe, home to some of the world’s most “nature depleted” states, such as the UK, but is also continuing to drive deforestation in vital environments such as the Amazon rainforest, where soya is grown and used to feed livestock around the world, according to the WWF.

Campaigners have called on Mr Jayawardena to now strengthen rules to protect the environment and address the sewage scandal.

Rebecca Newsom, head of politics at Greenpeace UK, said: “A summer of outcry at our sewage-strewn beaches should give the new secretary of state pause for thought when considering his priorities. The public wants to see our natural world enhanced, not degraded further through cuts to vital protections.

“This new government should seek to strengthen rules meant to stop sewage polluting our rivers and coast, keep plastic from our seas and prevent destructive fishing in our marine protected areas. These aren’t just red tape to be slashed. And far from being a boon, the new secretary of state may find the main thing unleashed by cutting these protections is a wave of public anger as our natural world is further spoiled.”

The government’s independent climate and infrastructure advisers have delivered an unprecedented rebuke to Liz Truss for focusing on attempts to increase the UK’s gas production to bring down energy prices instead of policies to reduce demand.

Fiona Harvey www.theguardian.com 

From her first hours in the job, the prime minister has prioritised a series of measures on energy policy to head off the cost of living crisis.

She will unveil a cap on energy price rises – though without extending the windfall tax on producers – freezing the average household energy bill at £2,500 a year.

She has also signalled a push to extract more gas and oil from the North Sea, accelerate the new licensing of North Sea oil and gas fields, and lift the moratorium on fracking, to try to increase gas production.

On Wednesday, the former Conservative environment secretary Lord Deben and Sir John Armitt, who chair the Committee on Climate Change and the National Infrastructure Commission respectively, wrote to Truss warning that ramping up gas production would not solve the problem.

They wrote: “The UK cannot address this crisis solely by increasing its production of natural gas. Greater domestic production of fossil fuels may improve energy security, particularly this winter.

“But our gas reserves – offshore or from shale – are too small to impact meaningfully the prices faced by UK consumers.”

The letter marks the first time the chairs of the independent advisory bodies have written jointly to a prime minister.

They advised Truss, along with the incoming chancellor and business secretary, to focus instead on bringing down energy demand from consumers and businesses.

“Energy security and reducing the UK’s exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices requires strong policies that reduce energy waste across the economy and boost domestic production of cheap and secure low-carbon energy,” they wrote in the letter, seen by the Guardian.

This would necessitate policies such as home insulation, requiring public agencies to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, setting up an energy advice service for consumers, and increasing renewable energy generation, particularly onshore wind and solar power.

“Renewables are the cheapest form of electricity generation. Onshore wind and solar have the potential to be deployed fastest and thus reduce our reliance on natural gas sooner,” they wrote.

Truss has said little so far on how she would improve home insulation, as the scrapping of the green homes grant last year has left the UK without a nationwide insulation scheme for those on average incomes. She has vowed to remove green levies, potentially including those that pay for insulation for poor and vulnerable households.

During her campaign for the Tory leadership, she also firmly rejected lifting the barriers in the planning system to onshore wind and solar farms.

At least 15 million homes require energy efficiency improvements, but the most recent year in which a large number of homes were insulated was 2012. Since then, the “stop-start nature of energy-efficiency policy is hampering development of the supply chain,” the letter said.

The Committee on Climate Change warned earlier this year that increasing the production of gas from the North Sea was unlikely to bring down gas prices and could endanger the UK’s target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

Deben and Armitt wrote that up to three-quarters of UK households are threatened by fuel poverty.

“The OBR expects natural gas to remain expensive, at three to four times the average pre-invasion [of Ukraine] price, until 2027. Ninety per cent of the recent increase in the energy price cap is driven by changes in the price of gas. Addressing our dependency on fossil energy offers us the best way out of these crises,” they wrote.

“The best policies for the consumer are those that support lasting energy security and a low-carbon, low-cost energy system. The independent analysis of our respective organisations is that this will deliver a long-term return on investment and set the UK on a path to prosperity.”

“HOWEVER, whether the scheme becomes a reality depends on the Treasury agreeing to cover the costs, which DHSC sources put at “several hundred million pounds”. Neither the DHSC nor NHS England have enough money in reserve to do so, it is understood.”

Denis Campbell www.theguardian.com 

Thérèse Coffey is considering handing hundreds of millions of pounds to care homes to help free up hospital beds as part of her emergency plan to tackle the growing crisis in the NHS.

The new health secretary is examining proposals to pay care homes in England to look after patients who are medically fit to leave hospital but cannot be discharged because of a lack of social care.

Officials at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) believe the scheme could tackle two major NHS problems at once, by freeing up some of the 13,000 hospital beds currently occupied by “delayed discharge” patients and improving handovers by ambulance crews to A&E staff.

If approved, the plan would become a key element of the strategy that ministers are expected to set out next week to address the multiple problems affecting the NHS, including long delays for A&E, GP and cancer care and hospital beds. In her inaugural speech as prime minister outside 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, Liz Truss identified the NHS as one of her “three early priorities”.

“I will make sure that people can get doctors’ appointments and the NHS services they need. We will put our health service on a firm footing,” Truss pledged, though she gave no details.

However, whether the scheme becomes a reality depends on the Treasury agreeing to cover the costs, which DHSC sources put at “several hundred million pounds”. Neither the DHSC nor NHS England have enough money in reserve to do so, it is understood.

It would in effect see the government starting to once again pay for the NHS to operate a “discharge to assess” scheme, funding for which was ended in March despite NHS organisations warning that it would make it harder for hospitals to free up beds. The DHSC began examining the pros and cons involved in reviving that initiative under Coffey’s predecessor, Steve Barclay.

Coffey and NHS leaders are keen to do everything they can to reduce the pressure on the NHS, especially acute hospitals, before what they fear could be a winter in which the service falls over.

She is also studying plans for the NHS 111 telephone advice service to increase the proportion of patients with minor ailments it refers to a pharmacist, to reduce the strain on GP surgeries. NHS England would foot the estimated £100m bill for that initiative, which would see an expansion of the community pharmacy consultation service set up in 2019.

Coffey, who Truss has also made deputy prime minister, is expected to set out plans to stop senior doctors being hit with huge pension tax bills, which have prompted some doctors to reduce their working hours or retire early. Truss has pledged to solve the problem so that doctors can work longer hours to help tackle the 6.7 million-strong NHS care backlog.

“NHS leaders were disappointed when the previous discharge to assess funding ended, despite their pleas,” said Rory Deighton, the acute lead at the NHS Confederation. “During the first wave of coronavirus it freed up 30,000 hospital beds, led to a 28% drop in patients staying in hospital for more than three weeks, freed up more than 6,000 staff, and led to £451m of efficiency savings.”

If the approach was revived then funding would have to be long-term rather than a one-off, he said, “in order to help the NHS run smoothly and allow patients to recover in the most suitable places for them”.

• Demolition of agricultural structures and buildings, and removal of part of agricultural building Greenend Farm Green End Lane Plymtree Devon EX15 2JRRef. No: 22/1911/FUL | Validated: Fri 26 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension. The Longhouse Plymtree Cullompton EX15 2JWRef. No: 22/1908/LBC | Validated: Fri 26 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Prior approval for change of use of agricultural buildings to five residential dwellings (Use Class C3) and associated operational development under Schedule 2, Part 3, Class Q of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) Greenend Farm Green End Lane Plymtree Cullompton EX15 2JRRef. No: 22/1923/PDQ | Validated: Fri 26 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Roofing over existing farm yard manure store and open yard area phase 2 New House Farm Seaton Road Musbury Devon EX13 8AJRef. No: 22/1913/FUL | Validated: Fri 26 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Roofing over existing farm yard manure store and open yard area phase 1. New House Farm Seaton Road Musbury Devon EX13 8AJRef. No: 22/1912/FUL | Validated: Fri 26 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension. 8 Avenue Mezidon-Canon Honiton EX14 2TTRef. No: 22/1917/FUL | Validated: Fri 26 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1-Dawn Redwood – dismantle to the ground due to the roots having caused significant damage to the property. Littlebrook Venlake End Uplyme Devon DT7 3SFRef. No: 22/1905/TRE | Validated: Thu 25 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Part two storey rear extension and erection of a garden shed. 6 Moor Lane Budleigh Salterton Devon EX9 6PTRef. No: 22/1902/FUL | Validated: Thu 25 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Application to modify the Section 106 planning obligation dated 3rd June 2020 made between the District Council (1) and Westward Investment Management Services (UK) Limited (2) Land At Pump Field Close Dunkeswell Devon EX14 4XXRef. No: 22/1900/V106 | Validated: Wed 24 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Temporary permission (use class E) to permanent permission NHS walk in centre (use class E) (Ci, ii,iii, D, E,F,G), B2, B8 commercial, business and services including ancillary parking. NHS Vaccination Centre Greendale Business Park Woodbury Salterton Exeter EX5 1EWRef. No: 22/1893/FUL | Validated: Fri 26 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of lawfulness for a single storey rear flat roof extension.14 Mudbank Lane Exmouth Devon EX8 3EGRef. No: 22/1895/CPL | Validated: Wed 24 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side extension and single storey rear extension. Westcot Harcombe Sidmouth EX10 0PRRef. No: 22/1897/LBC | Validated: Wed 24 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side extension and single storey rear extension Westcot Harcombe Sidmouth EX10 0PRRef. No: 22/1896/FUL | Validated: Wed 24 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single storey rear extension. 22 Eyewell Green Seaton Devon EX12 2BWRef. No: 22/1878/FUL | Validated: Tue 23 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey front extension, new roof over bay window and demolition of existing front porch. 10 Meadow Road Seaton Devon EX12 2ASRef. No: 22/1879/FUL | Validated: Tue 23 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of lawfulness for the renting of a property following the death of most recent occupier.Three Gates Broadclyst Exeter EX5 3BNRef. No: 22/1880/CPL | Validated: Thu 25 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• First floor extension to dwelling to create bedroom with balcony. 31 Stoneborough Lane Budleigh Salterton EX9 6JARef. No: 22/1888/FUL | Validated: Tue 23 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use of land from agricultural to a B8 storage yard, to include the erection of a building and siting of three containers, for the extension of an existing yard area used in conjunction with a builders merchant. Unit 60D, Stock Exe Ltd Newcourt Barton Clyst Road Topsham Exeter EX3 0DBRef. No: 22/1886/FUL | Validated: Tue 23 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Beech Tree : Crown Lift as follows – Prune back the following branches to the main trunk 1st order branch on north side (approx. 100mm diameter) 1st order branch on east side (approx. 50mm diameter) 1st order branch on west side (approx. 40mm diameter) and branch above on west side (approx. 50mm diameter) Long Dene Bickwell Valley Sidmouth EX10 8SQRef. No: 22/1890/TCA | Validated: Tue 23 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Open-air horse training arena with a permeable surface. Old Highwood Dunkeswell EX14 4SZRef. No: 22/1855/FUL | Validated: Tue 23 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of an attached double garage to front and side elevation. 37 Hill Crescent Honiton EX14 2HYRef. No: 22/1854/FUL | Validated: Mon 22 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Diversion of public footpath No. 2 (Lime Kiln car park and leading to north east towards white bridge) Land East Of Lime Kiln Car Park Granary Lane Budleigh SaltertonRef. No: 22/1862/FDO | Validated: Mon 22 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Beech : reduce height and prune side growth by approximately 1m to leave a height of approximately 15m and a radial spread of 4m 4 West Terrace Budleigh Salterton Devon EX9 6LURef. No: 22/1875/TRE | Validated: Mon 22 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of lawfulness for the conversion of roof space to habitable use to include a rear dormer, gable enlargement and 3 x rooflights on front roof slope.14 Glebelands Lympstone Devon EX8 5JDRef. No: 22/1872/CPL | Validated: Mon 22 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Creation of a level platform on drive to allow for parking improvements and demolition of existing conservatory and associated steps, lean to extension, glazed seating area, and grey flat roof building (shower room). The Old Stores Lyme Road Uplyme DT7 3THRef. No: 22/1870/FUL | Validated: Mon 22 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of roof space to habitable use to include front flat roof dormer, single storey front extension and single storey rear extension 42 Springfield Road Exmouth Devon EX8 3JYRef. No: 22/1868/FUL | Validated: Mon 22 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of condition no.2 (approved plans) of planning permission 21/2207/FUL (Installation of pedestrian access) to allow revisions to layout of internal Village Hall West Hill Beech Park West Hill Devon EX11 1UQRef. No: 22/1864/VAR | Validated: Mon 22 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Addition of third line to existing overhead lines Land West Of Rooks Acre RousdonRef. No: 22/1863/OHL | Validated: Mon 22 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• G1 : Dismantle in a controlled manner 2 x Chamaecyparis Elwoodii Conifer trees cutting as close to ground level as possible. The customer will replant with something more suitable as the current trees are too close to the wall. 15 Whitmore Way Honiton EX14 2GRRef. No: 22/1858/TRE | Validated: Mon 22 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• G1, G2 Elms, Field Maples and Sycamores : Prune and trim back in line with the existing stone boundary wall alongside Exeter Road and the public footpath; crown lift to 4 metres above the public footpath. Fell all dead & dying Elm. T1, Cupressus Macrocarpa Conifer : Fell. T2, Oak : Prune 2 branches of the north eastern aspect in the mid to upper crown by up to 2.5m making 2 x natural target pruning cuts of approximately 100 mm. Reasons for the works are vehicle, public and pedestrian safety and to maintain the health, safety and amenity value of all the trees. St Ritas Centre Ottery Moor Lane Honiton EX14 1APRef. No: 22/1857/TRE | Validated: Mon 22 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of single storey rear extension measuring 7.30 beyond original rear wall, 2.40m to the eaves and 3.90m in total height. 28 Clyst Valley Road Clyst St Mary Exeter EX5 1DDRef. No: 22/1877/GPD | Validated: Wed 24 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single storey extension (orangery) and raising of roof height of garage. Calways Yarcombe Honiton EX14 9BDRef. No: 22/1865/FUL | Validated: Wed 24 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single storey extension (orangery) and raising of roof height of garage. Calways Yarcombe Honiton EX14 9BDRef. No: 22/1866/LBC | Validated: Wed 24 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of co-living annexe Hux Shard Church Hill Exeter Devon EX4 9JJRef. No: 22/1836/FUL | Validated: Tue 23 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, acacia – reduce and re-shape by 2m to leave a natural form to leave a height of approximately 5m and a radial spread of approximately 2m. 4 West Terrace Budleigh Salterton EX9 6LURef. No: 22/1851/TCA | Validated: Mon 22 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed loft conversion with rear dormer46 Hulham Road Exmouth EX8 3JZRef. No: 22/1850/CPL | Validated: Mon 22 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 – Robinia Crown reduce by 3 metres to appropriate growth points. Works are proposed in order to reduce the load bearing on the tree as a whole; Robinia are prone to brittleness, and this tree has a compression fork at the base. The Rowans Broadway Woodbury Devon EX5 1NRRef. No: 22/1847/TRE | Validated: Mon 22 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side extension. Coach House Farm Broadclyst Devon EX5 3JHRef. No: 22/1848/FUL | Validated: Fri 26 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a pool building and spa. Hux Shard Church Hill Exeter Devon EX4 9JJRef. No: 22/1837/FUL | Validated: Fri 26 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of Air Source Heat Pump to replace existing oil fired boiler and removal of oil tank Yard Cottage Rousdon DT7 3XRRef. No: 22/1853/FUL | Validated: Thu 25 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement of various signage. Marks And Spencer Foodhall Royal Avenue Exmouth EX8 1ENRef. No: 22/1835/ADV | Validated: Thu 25 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Douglas Fir : Crown Raise by 3-4m removing the lowest 14 branches to reduce risk of further branch failure and damage to property. T2, Red Oak : Remove 3 lowest branches, the largest is growing into the boundary hedge. Also reduce back the first primary limb by 1.5m. to reduce end weight over neighbouring garden and allow more light into the garden. T3, Liquid Amber : Crown Raise by 1m and reduce crown by 1.5-2m. Tree is sat between a shed and summerhouse. The lowest Branches are nearly touching the structures bellow. Reducing would approve amenity value of the tree. T4, Acer : Remove. Over shading and encroaching on mature beech tree next to it. Has already had a significant limb removed from the 1m above ground level. T5, Beech : Reduce lowest limb by 2-3m to give clearance to the house, allow more light and match up with the rest of the tree increasing amenity value. Has had previous work done and there is squirrel damage throughout the crown. 15% crown thin to reduce weight on branches. T6, T7 Birch : Remove. Overshading and unbalanced. Growing alongside mature beech which is causing them to grow one sided. T8, Birch : Reduce top by 2.5-3m and reduce side branches by 1m to match in order to increase amenity value and pull sail effect. 11 Heather Grange West Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1XZRef. No: 22/1832/TRE | Validated: Thu 25 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of outbuilding for horticultural storage ancillary to the residential use Woodstock House Chardstock Axminster EX13 7BTRef. No: 22/1824/FUL | Validated: Tue 23 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of a two storey 3-bed detached dwelling and erection of a detached double garage. 1 Heath Cottages (rear Of 1 & 2) Broadclyst Exeter EX5 3GZRef. No: 22/1823/FUL | Validated: Tue 23 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of conditions 2 (approved plans), 3 (emergency management plans), 4 (construction management plan), 6 (colours), 7 (additional details) and 8 (surface materials) of planning permission 19/1351/FUL for the installation of a synchronous gas-powered standby generation facility, ancillary infrastructure, equipment and access. Land At Liverton Business Park Salterton Road ExmouthRef. No: 22/1825/VAR | Validated: Thu 25 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension and removal of existing single storey rear porch. Little Newcourt Axminster Road Musbury EX13 8AZRef. No: 22/1793/FUL | Validated: Tue 23 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of dual air source heat pumps Applebrook Village Way Aylesbeare Devon EX5 2BXRef. No: 22/1789/FUL | Validated: Tue 23 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• G1, G3, G4, G5 Limes : to be pollarded to previous pollard points in order to maintain vigour and health. 30 Ryalls Court Seaton Devon EX12 2HJRef. No: 22/1779/TRE | Validated: Wed 24 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of driveway to front house. 27 Gibraltar Road Lympstone Exmouth EX8 5HZRef. No: 22/1759/FUL | Validated: Thu 25 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Sycamore : Clients feels that the tree is beginning to encroach on his property to an unacceptable amount; remove two lowest branches growing to East over clients garden. 12 Glebelands Uplyme DT7 3TBRef. No: 22/1754/TRE | Validated: Mon 22 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed carport and storage. Pendor Exmouth Road Colaton Raleigh Devon EX10 0HJRef. No: 22/1731/FUL | Validated: Mon 22 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Field Maple : remove lateral secondary branches to main stem over property to the south. T2, Crab apple : Fell G1, Ash and elm in hedge line : Fell Meadow Brook House Broadway Woodbury Devon EX5 1NYRef. No: 22/1692/TCA | Validated: Mon 22 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replace conservatory roof on south west elevation Old School House Northleigh Colyton EX24 6BLRef. No: 22/1677/LBC | Validated: Mon 22 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolish existing outbuilding and rebuild outbuilding to existing dimensions Garden Cottage Dunkeswell Honiton EX14 4RERef. No: 22/1671/FUL | Validated: Tue 23 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

Voters in Plymouth could be asked whether they want fewer local elections.

Right now a third of councillors are elected every year, followed by one year in which no voting takes place.

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

But on Monday the council’s audit and governance committee on Monday (5 September) said the public should be consulted on whether to have “whole council” elections every four years instead. 

In an extra general meeting of the committee, members recommended to the full council that a public consultation takes place between June and August next year on whether to change the election cycle. 

Committee members would oversee how the consultation would take place. 

A report highlighted several advantages of all-out elections every four years including;

People can vote on four-year manifestos and long-term commitments

Clearer opportunity for people to change the political composition of the council

Significant cost savings

Voters more likely to understand the election cycle

Same electoral cycle as the police and crime commissioner and combined authority Mayoral elections which take place every four years

Fewer elections may mean less election fatigue and voter apathy.

But some members of the committee criticised details in a report presented to them, including leader of the Labour group and councillor for Ham, Tudor Evans.  

Cllr Evans said: “This is an 11-year period where it is said here we will save £1.1 million over 11 years, which is £100,000 a year. 

“What is the total spending of the council over that 11 year period? And what proportion of that is represented by the cost of elections?”

There were also concerns about how many people would take part in a consultation process.

Labour councillor for Honicknowle Mark Lowry suggested a low number of participants would invalidate the process.

“How is the committee going to feel when you’ve got 500 comments back and it’s only 0.2, 0.3 or 0.8 per cent of the population, which statistically is a nonsense, really? 

“How are you going to feel when you’ve got less than half a per cent of Plymouth population come back to you? And bear in mind that that vote could be 60:40. 

“You know, you could be relying on 300 or 400 people with a view and opinion.”

Chair of the committee and Tory councillor for Southway Andy Lugger reminded members the committee’s only role was to decide whether the public should be consulted and to inform full council of the decision. 

“The matter has been deferred to this committee for resolution today on consultation only. I think the simplest way is we just simply vote whether we go with the proposition and move it forward that way.”

Cllr Evans accepted they would not be making any final decisions on the consultation process but asked for some information in the report to be corrected before a final decision was made. 

“I don’t want to hear in a month’s time or whenever we next meet that this is the basis upon which we’re consulting, because the basis upon which we are consulting is based on a table that’s wrong, with opinions that aren’t proven. 

“And I want to just make sure that we don’t get any backsliding on that; that we start with a clean slate in terms of how we’re going to progress in this subcommittee.”

Assistant chief executive of Plymouth City Council Giles Perritt agreed a new report may be needed before the whole council was able to make a decision on any consultation.

The committee unanimously agreed to recommend the consultation to the full council. 

Liz Truss conducts clear-out of Sunak supporters as she builds ‘cabinet of cronies’

Liz Truss’s hopes of uniting her party after a fractious leadership contest were tonight at risk after she conducted a brutal cabinet clearout of supporters of rival Rishi Sunak in her first hours as prime minister.

Andrew Woodcock www.independent.co.uk

The new PM constructed a top team of close allies, including Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor and James Cleverly as foreign secretary, with hardline right-winger Suella Braverman – a supporter of withdrawal from the European Court of Human Rights – becoming home secretary and Therese Coffey appointed the UK’s first female deputy prime minister as well as taking the health brief.

Jacob Rees-Mogg was made business secretary after taking part in talks with energy companies on a package of measures to tackle the cost of living crisis, due to be unveiled on Thursday and expected to include a £2,500 price freeze for households costing £90bn, as well as additional help for businesses.

One former minister told The Independent of fears that Ms Truss was creating a “cabinet of cronies”, putting personal loyalty to her over the competence needed at a time of virtually unprecedented crisis.

And former veterans minister Johnny Mercer accused her of favouring friends as he was sacked, alongside prominent cabinet Sunak backers Dominic Raab, Grant Shapps, Steve Barclay and George Eustice.

The appointments meant that for the first time in UK history, none of the four great offices of state is held by a white man, in a move welcomed by Tories as a blow for “meritocracy”.

But the former minister said he was “worried that she is creating a cabinet of cronies, which will cause her the same problems that Boris Johnson had – in the end, people felt they didn’t need to support him”.

The minister added: “A lot of people were hoping she would be more inclusive. There are competent people who should be in the cabinet who won’t be, and we need the most competent people we can get at a time of such massive challenges.”

Shadow cabinet minister Peter Kyle said the decision to consign big hitters from earlier Tory administrations to the backbenches was an indication of deep rifts in Ms Truss’s party.

“The Tory party is now ungovernable and incapable of governing,” he said.

Ms Truss moved to put her stamp on the government within minutes of arriving at No 10 after being appointed the UK’s third female PM by the Queen at Balmoral.

Speaking on the steps of her new residence in a brief break between thunderous downpours, she acknowledged that the country faces tough times ahead, but said: ”We shouldn’t be daunted by the challenges we face.

“As strong as the storm may be, I know the British people are stronger. Together we can ride out the storm, we can rebuild our economy.”

Borrowing a phrase coined by David Cameron in 2012, she said she would use tax cuts and reforms to create an “aspiration nation”, naming the economy, the energy crisis and the NHS as her top three priorities.

She spoke with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to restate the UK’s “steadfast support”.

And she received a call from US president Joe Biden, who reminded the new PM – who has tabled legislation to tear up the Northern Ireland protocol on post-Brexit border arrangements – of the need to protect the Good Friday Agreement.

While a disappointed Mr Mercer confined himself to remarking that Ms Truss was “entitled to reward her supporters”, his wife Felicity revealed he had confronted the PM in her Commons office over her decision to drop him.

In a tweet illustrated by a Muppet under a “Liz for Leader” banner, Ms Cornelius-Mercer said her husband got no response when he asked the new PM: “Who is going to be better at this role than me, which of your mates gets the job? You promised a meritocracy.”

“This system stinks and treats people appallingly,” said the Plymouth MP’s wife. “Best person I know sacked by an imbecile.”

Meanwhile, green groups voiced alarm that Mr Rees-Mogg was being given direct responsibility for energy and climate change.

Friends of the Earth branded the appointment “deeply worrying”, pointing to Mr Rees-Mogg’s recent suggestion that “every last drop” of oil and gas should be extracted from the North Sea.

And Labour climate change spokesperson Ed Miliband accused him of seeking to undermine the science on climate change and making the wrong calls on issues like fracking.

Liberal Democrat cabinet spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “Fewer than 100,000 people voted for Liz Truss to lead our country, yet instead of seeking consensus she’s gone for a cabinet that will please only the right wing. Jacob Rees-Mogg, a climate change denier, being entrusted with protecting the planet during a climate emergency is unfathomable.“

Other appointments included former leadership contenders Penny Mordaunt as leader of the Commons and Kemi Badenoch as international trade secretary.

Ms Truss’s confirmation as the UK’s 56th prime minister and third female holder of the post followed a truculent early-morning farewell speech from Mr Johnson, who wrongly claimed that the rules had been changed to remove him from office.

The outgoing PM promised his “fervent” support for his successor but undermined his own claim to be departing permanently from frontline politics by comparing himself to Roman general Cincinnatus, who was called from his farm to take on dictatorial rule at a time of crisis.

The wife of former minister Johnny Mercer has called Liz Truss an “imbecile” in an outburst on Twitter after her husband’s sacking.

www.theguardian.com 

Felicity Cornelius-Mercer said the cabinet system “stinks” and “treats people appallingly” after her husband was removed as veterans affairs minister by the new prime minister.

Mercer, the MP for Plymouth Moor View, had appeared angry about Truss’s move, saying he was “disappointed” but accepted that the PM is “entitled to reward her supporters”.

He also suggested he could quit the Commons, saying: “I have to accept that I will never possess the qualities required for enduring success in politics as it stands, and to be fair to my wonderful family I must consider my future.”

His wife went further, tweeting a picture mocking Truss as the character Beaker from The Muppets television show and giving an account of her husband’s exit discussions.

Cornelius-Mercer tweeted: “He asked her ‘why would you do this, who is going to be better at this role than me, which of your mates gets the job, you promised a meritocracy?’

“PM – I can’t answer that Johnny.

“This system stinks & treats people appallingly. Best person I know sacked by an imbecile @trussliz.”

Mercer had tweeted a lengthy resignation statement accompanied by the words: “I will be spending time with my family and doing no media requests.”