Comments on the continued dumping of sewage into rivers yesterday prompted Owl to find this July press article. It is a discussion about the financing of water companies.

England’s water system: the last of the privatised monopolies – for now

Phillip Inman www.theguardian.com 

Selling Britain’s state-owned water authorities seemed like a good idea to Conservative ministers in the 1980s, when they looked at the bill for upgrading a labyrinth of Victorian sewers and a leaky network of mains water pipes.

Why not let the private sector inject some energy and much-needed cash into a project that a tired public sector management was ill-equipped to handle, they argued.

But since 1989, when 10 regional water authorities were sold, there has been claim and counter claim about the benefits that can be credited to the new private sector owners.

But the industry has defended its record – most recently when the former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn threatened to nationalise it in 2017. The industry regulator, Ofwat, claimed £130bn of investment had been made since privatisation and bills were £120, or 30% lower than they would otherwise have been.

Meanwhile, the firms say privately that climate change is responsible for the heavy downpours that cause sewage overflows so is not something they can control or be blamed for.

Critics point out that Margaret Thatcher’s government wiped out the industry’s debts prior to privatisation and since 1989 the industry has loaded it back up again with £48bn at a cost in annual interest of £1.3bn.

Research by David Hall and Karol Yearwood of Greenwich University found that the debt was not used to fix leaky pipes or treatment works but went straight into shareholders’ pockets. Adding up the shareholder dividends paid since 1989, they reached a total of £57bn.

In that time, customers’ water bills have increased by 40% above the rate of inflation. It is the water users who have paid for upgrades to the network, such as they are, while shareholders walk off with cash paid for by higher debt.

This is a strictly English problem. Welsh water became a not-for-profit organisation in 2001 and Scottish Water went into public ownership.

England’s water system hosts the last of the privatised monopolies. You can shop around for gas and electricity, telephone and broadband. Not water.

Environmental groups argue that climate change means water companies must become part of a coordinated effort to protect water supplies and that this cannot be done while they remain private.

At the moment, they have the resources to outwit the poorly resourced regulators in Ofwat and the Environment Agency. Local councils, which also play a role in protecting watercourses, have also seen their budgets cut and experienced staff losses, leaving them without the clout to confront private sector operators.

Paris and Barcelona are among the world’s major cities to take water under direct control and integrate policies that promote its better use by households, businesses and landowners. It must be only a matter of time before England follows suit.

According to reports, parts of East Devon had some of the heaviest rainfall from storm Aurore with half a month’s rain in just 10 hours.

As reported on Thursday this inundated some construction plant involved in the Lower Otter Restoration Project.

A correspondent has since sent Owl some dramatic photos, accompanied by notes.

 

This shows the scene about a month ago as new water course trenches were dug in the water meadows north of South Farm road.

With what now seems remarkable prescience, lifebuoys were placed along the trenches. One of these can clearly be seen in the centre.

With most of the hedgerows removed, the inundation gives us a glimpse of what the restored estuary will look like on a very high tide. Though after completion of the project fluvial flooding such as this should drain very quickly. This photo was taken 36+ hours after the storm.

This, again, is a photo taken a few weeks ago from the embankments just north of White Bridge looking towards South Farm road and the site of the old tip. Very much work in progress.

A similar view taken on Friday.

Behind the trucks are more inundated plant and equipment.

This is the view of South Farm road from White Bridge with a lot of floating detritus. The red and white objects are the barriers once used to fence off the road from the working areas.

This is the scene from the Lime Kiln car park looking down on the cricket pavilion. The water enclosed by the embankments reached such a depth that it overtopped them in many places to flow into the Otter. By Friday the level was only about 18 ins or so lower.

No sooner had Simon Jupp and Neil Parish voted to allow water companies to continue discharging sewage then they did just that!

Do not swim at these 14 Devon beaches, including Exmouth and Budleigh

Ami Wyllie www.devonlive.com

Sewage has been emptied into the water at over a dozen popular swimming spots along the Devon coastline.

Environmental charity, Surfers’ Against Sewage, have issued ‘do not swim’ warnings at all 14 beaches affected.

Most of the incidents are due to deliberate discharges after sewers overflowed in Wednesday night’s heavy rain that caused widespread flooding across the county….

A testing blunder at a disgraced Covid laboratory in the South West of England led to thousands of avoidable infections and may trigger a fresh wave in the region, experts warned today. 

Connor Boyd, John Ely Senior www.dailymail.co.uk 

Up to 43,000 infected people were incorrectly told their PCR results were negative due to ‘technical issues’ at a private facility run by Immensa Health Clinic in Wolverhampton, where workers were filmed playing football and wrestling on shift. 

The affected patients, mostly concentrated in the South West, were given the false negatives between September 8 and October 12, allowing the virus to continue spreading unrestricted within the region.

According to data from the Government’s Covid dashboard, case rates in the South West have doubled in recent days after the error was spotted to reach a record-high. Five of the 10 worst-hit areas in England are now in the region. 

Dr Rupert Beale, an eminent virologist at the Francis Crick Institute in London, described the scandal as the ‘worst f***-up this year by some distance’.

Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline he believed the faulty test results were ‘having an impact’ on case rates and estimated the error led to thousands of avoidable infections. 

A total of 32,815 new cases of coronavirus were recorded in the South West in the seven days to October 15 — the equivalent of 579.9 per 100,000 people. This is up from 16,910 cases, or 298.8 in the previous seven days.

Bath and North East Somerset is now the Covid capital of England, with cases almost tripling in that time to reach levels twice as high as seen during the darkest spell of the second wave in January. It’s recording 877.5 infections per 100,000 people now, compared to 260.7 the week prior……

More details online

At this stage in the pandemic, a positive lateral flow test, followed by a negative PCR, still means a reasonable chance of Covid-19 – Analysis by David Spiegelhalter

Will half-term act as an infection “circuit breaker” within the population of school children, or will we get “seeding” into the wider community if many are brought down to second homes in Devon and Cornwall? – Owl

A local council is beset by self-obsessed, selfish and not-very-bright councillors, says the town’s own mayor.

No not in East Devon but Middlesbrough! – Owl

Kevin Rawlinson www.theguardian.com 

Andy Preston, the mayor of Middlesbrough, intervened after complaints lodged by councillors against their colleagues this year neared the combined total for the previous two years.

“For way too long, politics in Middlesbrough has been a disgrace. There are some brilliant councillors here but there are also way too many self-obsessed, selfish and frankly not very bright people who seek to cause trouble for the good of their own self-promotion,” he said.

There have been 12 complaints from council members in roughly the first nine months of 2021, compared with four in 2020 and nine in 2019.

According to Teesside Live, Preston said: “Politics in Middlesbrough features a significant number of people who seek to cause trouble for others by making official complaints about them citing all sorts of false allegations, from bullying to pretty much anything they can dream up.

“What the public don’t necessarily realise is that every single one of those complaints costs the tax-paying people of Middlesbrough thousands of pounds in council time and resources. Some unscrupulous councillors are racking up council bills that amount to thousands simply to cause political trouble.

He continued: “The worst and increasingly frequent example I’ve seen is councillors trying to bully others by falsely alleging they themselves have been bullied. I want to see a culture change in Middlesbrough council that will end this outrageous waste of time and money and, for once, get all councillors focused on putting Middlesbrough first.”

Preston, who stood as an independent, has been at odds with councillors in recent months and even encouraged those who do not like his style of leadership to make official complaints against him.

Several councillors, including his deputy, resigned in May after telling him they had “collectively agreed that we can no longer support you … due to your consistent poor conduct and behaviour.”

The BBC reported that they accused Preston of incurring costs of £600,000 without official senior approval and of appointing and paying a friend without following required procedures.

The broadcaster quoted Preston as saying the allegations were unfounded and had been made by people “who don’t like the fact that I’m upsetting the applecart”.

He said: “I do things differently, I challenge the status quo and I clearly upset a few people along the way who’d like things to stay just how they are. I won’t stop. I won’t resign. I’ll keep doing what’s best for Middlesbrough. Ultimately, if anyone believes I’ve done wrong, they’d be better advised going through the appropriate channels and put in an official complaint to the council.”

THE Conservatives were hit by a fresh sleaze row tonight over claims party chiefs offered dinner with the Housing Secretary to property developers for £4,000.

Harry Cole www.thesun.co.uk

In a furious behind the scenes dust up, The Sun can reveal Michael Gove “point blank refused” to be sat with any builders and later walked out of the lavish fundraising bash early.

Tory HQ had advertised the 4 October party conference dinner with an offer for paying customers “to place a preference of senior minister to host your table” of 10 guests.

But The Sun and Sky News have been told a number of Cabinet ministers were angered that the £400-a-head dinner attempted to seat them near paying punters with interests directly involving their ministerial briefs.

A senior minister said: “Nobody really wants to do these dinners because there is always a risk of conflict of interest but this one was a joke.”

It was claimed requests for Mr Gove to dine with property firm executives sparked a furious backlash from the Cabinet big beast who sources say “point blank refused to come” if he was sat with any of them.

Tonight a CCHQ spokesman insisted: “At no stage in the preparation for this event did CCHQ plan to sit Mr Gove with any property developers. Any claims to the contrary are entirely false.”

A spokesman for Mr Gove declined to comment.

‘FACE LIKE THUNDER’

But eyewitnesses say the top Tory left the event after an hour “with a face like thunder”.

A senior Tory said: “Michael was trying to be whiter than white on this stuff and as he’s in charge of billions of potential developments, he had made clear he would not sit with developers and left after an hour.”

They branded the event “a farce” and said the party’s fundraising operation “needed a total reality check.”

The senior insider pointed the finger of blame at party co-chairman Ben Elliott who is in charge of raising party funds, but has been at the centre of a number of fundraising rows in recent months.

The source said: “They really don’t help themselves with situations like this. Ben Elliott needs to answer for this stuff.”

‘SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER’

Mr Gove’s predecessor Robert Jenrick was marred by a major sleaze affair after sitting next to billionaire developer and discussing a big housing project.

But Labour said the Conservatives had clearly failed to learn their lessons from that scandal.

Labour’s Steve Reed hit out: “Despite the outrage caused by the former Housing Secretary doing favours for a wealthy developer donor, Ben Elliot and his Conservative colleagues clearly think control of the planning system can be sold to the highest bidder.” 

The Tories hit back: “It will not come as news that the Conservative Party, like all major political parties, holds a business event at its annual conference.

“For this event, as with others organised by the party, CCHQ undertook robust due diligence to guard against any conflicts of interest.”

But not on Tory exceptionalism.

Sajid Javid, the health secretary, said MPs should be “setting an example” for the public by wearing masks.

But:

Jacob Rees-Mogg has said Conservative MPs do not need to wear face masks in the Commons chamber because they know each other and have a “convivial fraternal spirit”.

Anyone spotted Simon Jupp on one of his pub crawls recently?

With yesterday’s intense rainfall in East Devon causing flooding in the Axe and Otter valleys it would seem appropriate to ask what is happening to the Straightgate Farm quarry application.

Readers will recall that DCC considered an application for extraction of up to 1.5 million tonnes of raised sand and gravel in 2017, and requested further information with a consultation expiry date of 16/05/21.

Various correspondents tell Owl that Ottery Council currently have absolutely no idea what is going on.

One of the key issue is the permanent destruction of three important watercourses (that feed hugely sensitive bogs, ancient woodland and mediaeval fishponds).

These are the features in our ecosystem which play an essential role in flood alleviation.

Remember the fatalistic words of John Hart regarding flooding (Feb 2020): “self-help is going to be the order of the day.”

This “your’re on your own” response will never solve the climate emergency, society need leadership.

Is DCC about to make matters worse?

Including Simon Jupp and Neil Parish

Tom D. Rogers evolvepolitics.com 

Boris Johnson’s Conservative government have succeeded in voting down an amendment designed to stop private water companies from dumping raw sewage into the UK’s waterways.

The vote came as MPs were debating the final stages of the Environment Bill in Parliament yesterday evening.

Lords Amendment 45 to the Environment Bill would have placed a legal duty on water companies in England and Wales “to make improvements to their sewerage systems and demonstrate progressive reductions in the harm caused by discharges of untreated sewage.“

In 2020, water companies dumped raw sewage into the UK’s rivers and coastal waters more than 400,000 times.

This is despite the UK – and all other countries – being legally obligated to treat sewage before it is released into waterways.

The majority of dumping by private water companies is happening via storm overflow pipes which are only supposed to be used to relieve pressure on the sewage system during extreme weather events such as torrential rain.

Treating raw sewage costs money – and many have speculated that privatised water companies are simply dumping it into our waterways in order to make bigger profits.

Despite the horrendous environmental impact of the disgusting practice, shortly before the vote, the Conservative Environment Secretary George Eustace recommended to his fellow MPs that they should reject it.

And, owing largely to the government’s 80 seat majority, the amendment was indeed defeated – by a margin of 268 MPs to 204.

You can see how your MP voted on the amendment here.

And, just 12 hours after Johnson’s government voted to protect the disgraceful polluting actions of private water companies, they were back at it – with Southern Water exposed dumping huge amounts of raw sewage into the UK’s waterways and coastlines yet again:

Hugo Tagholm, a spokesperson for the Surfers Against Sewage organisation, said the Tories’ opposition to the amendment “beggars belief”, stating:

“Why wouldn’t they want water companies to have a legal obligation not to pollute our rivers and ocean with sewage, for example? It beggars belief and hardly shows a commitment to be the greenest government ever. It’s time for more ambitious thinking and law that builds protected nature back into public ownership rather than leaving it to the ravages of shareholder interests.”

Speaking about the practice last year, the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, Sir James Bevan, said his organisation was working with water companies to try and reduce the practice, stating:

“Storm overflows are designed to discharge sewage to rivers or the sea at times of heavy rainfall to prevent it backing up into homes and streets. But higher population and climate change means they will discharge more often.

“The Environment Agency is working actively with the water companies to ensure overflows are properly controlled and the harm they do to the environment stopped. Increased monitoring and reporting of storm overflows is part of the solution. It means everyone can see exactly what is happening, and will help drive the improvements and future investment that we all want to see, with £1.1bn of investment already planned for the next four years.”

However, given that the privatised system means water companies exist purely to make profit for their shareholders (rather than in the public interest under a nationalised system), it is extremely unlikely they will be stopping the practice anytime soon – unless new laws are brought in to force them.

Despite promising to make Britain the “cleanest, greenest country on Earth”, Boris Johnson and his Conservative government have once again shown exactly where their priorities lie – not with the people, but with those seeking profit no matter how disgusting their actions.

Recent polls have found that almost two thirds of Brits think water should be brought back under democratic control.

And, given the profit-seeking motives and pollutive actions of water companies, that figure is surely only going to rise going into the future.

Statement following flooding at project site 

www.lowerotterrestorationproject.co.uk

October 21, 2021: Following overnight flooding at the Lower Otter Restoration Project site, the Environment Agency has said:

“The Lower Otter Restoration Project is a partnership project seeking to adapt the downstream part of the River Otter in the face of rapidly changing climate, by connecting the Lower River Otter to its historic floodplain and creating intertidal habitat. This flooding is an example of what will happen increasingly as a result of climate change. It is an entirely natural phenomenon and has not been caused or exacerbated by project works.

“Flood waters from the River Otter rose sharply shortly after midnight peaking at 3:30am. This inundated some construction plant. We are working with our contractor, Kier, to understand why this was not moved ahead of the flooding. Plant will be moved as soon as is possible.

“Currently, flood waters resulting from heavy rainfall are unable to drain quickly in the valley due to the presence of an embankment that traps the water behind it. One of the benefits of the Lower Otter Restoration Project is that, once completed, the River Otter will be reconnected to its floodplain and the sea resulting in improved drainage.

“Once the project is in place, floods of this level will no longer sever access along the South Farm Road, flood the cricket club or threaten a former tip site to the same degree. Areas of footpath will also be raised above existing levels.

“The impact of this flooding highlights the need to adapt to climate change by moving human infrastructure out of the floodplain and make what remains more resilient to flooding. This is a key aim of the Lower Otter Restoration Project.”

Students, especially international ones, have become big business. According to one analysis, international students in the UK contribute £28.8 billion to the country’s coffers annually. 

Providing student accommodation has also become big business as is becoming very evident when walking or driving around Exeter city centre. Rents can be as high as £265/week in Bath or £149/week in Southampton. 

The article below also introduces the concept of Co-living accommodation. According to the applicant: Co-living accommodation represents a rapidly emerging residential sector and provides an alternative affordable housing solution for young professionals and key workers as they either transition from student accommodation, and/or as a stepping stone to more traditional modes of residential accommodation.

Owl is not convinced.

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

Massive student flats plans have been submitted for Exeter’s former police station and magistrates’ court site.

Plans would see more than 1000 bed spaces created as part of the major new redevelopment scheme submitted this week for Heavitree Road.

The plans from Nixon Homes & Student Roost, would see the demolition of the existing derelict buildings, to be replaced by a dedicated Purpose Built Student Accommodation building and a separate residential communal living accommodation (Co-living) building, along with associated amenity and ancillary spaces.

The development would be right next to the 134 co-living studios being built in Gladstone Road on the site of the former ambulance station, and is right opposite the St Luke’s campus of the University of Exeter.

Developers behind the plans say that the ‘exciting proposals’ are committed to achieving an exemplary development on this special site on a key route into Exeter.

The student accommodation would be arranged around two landscaped courtyard spaces, providing an external amenity area for the students. The five storey building would consist of 689 rooms – approximately 30 per cent studios and 70 per cent shared accommodation. There would be 689 rooms and the entrance is located in a prominent position on Heavitree Road at the junction with Gladstone Road and opposite St Luke’s Campus.

Artist impression of the proposed student flats and co-living development for the former Magistrates’ Court and police station site in Exeter

The Co-living accommodation would provide 352 rooms across a range of high quality standard, premium and wheelchair accessible studios across a six storey building.

Co-living accommodation represents a rapidly emerging residential sector and provides an alternative affordable housing solution for young professionals and key workers as they either transition from student accommodation, and/or as a stepping stone to more traditional modes of residential accommodation, the statement with the application says.

A statement with the application adds: “The student accommodation and Co-living buildings have been designed to create a vibrant community, with a dedicated communal amenity provision, promoting social interaction, well-being and activation.

“The main entrances to both buildings lead into an amenity hub space at ground floor, creating an impactful first impression, and this connects to a further amenity provision at lower ground level, allowing for double height spaces, and access to the communal courtyard garden. The provision of amenity space has been designed in line with best practice in terms of quantum and quality.

“The site benefits from sustainable transport links via bus, cycling and walking to the city centre, amenities and to the University of Exeter – including St Luke’s Campus directly opposite. Cycling is encouraged as a sustainable mode of transport and a dedicated storage provision has been provided for each use. The proposed masterplan has also been designed to allow for the potential plans to introduce a bus lane along Heavitree Road.”

Artist impression of the proposed student flats and co-living development for the former Magistrates’ Court and police station site in Exeter

The statement continues: “This is a suitable location adjacent to St Luke’s campus for providing student residential accommodation, the new buildings positively address the distinctive topography of the area, and enhance the connection between street and buildings to encourage an active frontage and contribute to a higher quality, safer and more comfortable public realm around and through the site.

“It will enhance the pedestrian environment by removing vehicles from the site perimeter and the site accessibility for a pedestrian focused low car use development will encourage use of more sustainable modes of transport.”

It concludes: “The proposals look to deliver on the aspirations and opportunities that exist for the long-term investment and betterment of this site. The student accommodation provides 689 rooms and has been developed with award winning student accommodation provider Student Roost, to offer high quality, diverse living accommodation to suit different student needs, and to promote positive mental health and well-being. The Co-living accommodation provides 352 rooms across a range of high quality standard, premium and wheelchair accessible studios.

“The proposals will demand a sustainable approach to the design, construction and operation of the development, with an additional focus on occupant well-being, and the scheme features high quality contemporary architecture rooted in the site’s context.

“The team behind these exciting proposals are committed to achieving an exemplary development on this special site on a key route into Exeter.”

Artist impression of the proposed student flats and co-living development for the former Magistrates’ Court and police station site in Exeter

The magistrates’ court closed in 2020, with cases now being held at the Exeter Crown Court building instead, while the police station building also closed early in 2020, with officers now based at the new station at Middlemoor.

Exeter City Council planners will determine the fate of the applications at a later date.

Private Eye editor Ian Hislop announces the winner of the 2021 Paul Foot Award for Investigative and Campaigning Journalism from a shortlist of seven teams.

And the winner is………

Here are the key takeaways from the document www.independent.co.uk 

• Boris Johnson is keen to persuade voters that Britain can go carbon neutral without pain. In a foreword to the document, he writes: “This strategy shows how we can build back greener without so much as a hair shirt in sight. In 2050, we will still be driving cars, flying planes and heating our homes, but our cars will be electric gliding silently around our cities, our planes will be zero emission allowing us to fly guilt-free, and our homes will be heated by cheap reliable power drawn from the winds of the North Sea.”

• The strategy document states that more than £26bn of government investment in a “green industrial revolution” will support 190,000 jobs by 2025, and 440,000 by 2030, while leveraging up to £90bn of private investment by 2030. This will help the UK meet its target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions 68 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030 and delivering a “decarbonised economy” by 2050.

• The strategy commits the government to four principles: the net zero programme will “work with the grain of consumer choice” and will not force households to scrap existing boilers and cars; fair carbon pricing will ensure the biggest polluters pay most for the transition; the most vulnerable will be protected with financial support; government will work with business to deliver affordable low-carbon tech.

• The UK is planned to be powered entirely by clean electricity by 2035, “subject to security of supply”. This will involve the go-ahead for at least one new large-scale nuclear plant – and possibly two – by 2024, alongside 40GW of offshore wind power by 2030 and more onshore wind, solar and other renewables. A new £120m “future nuclear enabling fund” will develop technologies for smaller reactors, with Wylfa in north Wales among potential sites.

• The strategy commits £140m for a new hydrogen and industrial carbon capture business scheme, with industrial “clusters” in Teesside and the Humber, Merseyside and north Wales to become economic hubs for green jobs.

• It confirms the “ambition” to end sales of new gas boilers by 2035, with £450m to provide £5,000 grants for 90,000 households to switch to heat pumps.

• A “zero emission vehicle mandate” will be introduced to deliver on the commitment to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and ensure that all cars are “zero emissions capable” by 2035. Funding of £620m will go towards zero emission vehicle grants and electric vehicle infrastructure, including on-street charging points. There will also be £3bn for bus networks and £2bn for cycling and walking. Trials will be undertaken of HGV zero-emission technology.

• The strategy sets out the “aim” of making Britain a world-leader in the zero emission fight.

• It says the government will restore around 280,000 hectares of peat in England by 2050 and treble woodland creation rates.

• Mortgage providers could be required to meet targets to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings on which they have provided loans – potentially making it more difficult for homeowners to secure mortgages without putting in insulation and other carbon-saving measures.

Amid the hundreds of pages of the UK government’s comprehensive net zero strategy, there is one glaring omission – Rishi Sunak.

But Johnson’s desire to always please the crowd has left the trickiest problems ignored.

Damian Carrington www.theguardian.com 

The roadmap to end the nation’s contribution to the climate crisis by 2050 is comprehensive. But it is seriously underfunded and without Sunak’s backing, it could as easily become the route to climate hell as climate salvation.

As the prime minister, Boris Johnson, said on Tuesday: “I can deploy billions – with the approval of the chancellor.” Four ministers, the chief scientific adviser, and Alok Sharma, Cop26 president, all spoke up via the government’s press release. Sunak, or indeed any Treasury minister, was conspicuous by his absence.

Johnson promised to “unleash the unique creative power of capitalism to drive the innovation that will bring down the costs of going green” and deliver trillions from the private sector. But whether it is heat pumps, hydrogen trucks, green airplanes, or small nuclear reactors, public money is essential to kickstart the net zero journey and turn expensive new technology into affordable everyday infrastructure.

The fear had been that Sunak and the Treasury were obsessed with only one half of the net zero balance sheet – the costs. But a Treasury review published alongside the net zero strategy takes the same line as all serious economic analysis of climate action: “The costs of global inaction significantly outweigh the costs of action.”

The review goes further, noting the “multiple market failures” of the fossil fuel economy and saying: “UK climate action could provide a boost to the economy. There will also be co-benefits, such as [£35bn worth of] improved air quality.” It also notes the important role of public spending and that low-income groups must be protected from the upfront costs of going green – vital if the political fight for net zero is to be won.

But why is Sunak so shy of all this that he did not put his name to it? ​​Shaun Spiers, at the Green Alliance, said: “We need a more ambitious response from the chancellor at the spending review to turn these promises into jobs, growth and benefits to consumers.”

The spending review takes place on 27 October, four days before Cop26 begins in Glasgow. At the summit, the UK must win big pledges from all the major nations on emissions cuts and climate funding. Without credible action at home, that will be even tougher than it was already.

Johnson will be able to point at some striking steps forward, such as the end of new gas boilers by 2035, even if he is reticent to call it a ban. A mandate requiring carmakers to sell a minimum proportion of electric cars – starting in 2024 and presumably rising to 100% by 2030 – is a strong move.

The shiny tech so beloved of the prime minister gets a good shot of research money too, such as the £100m for technology to suck CO2 from the air and £380m for offshore windfarms, including ones that float.

But Johnson’s desire to always please the crowd has left the trickiest problems ignored. Meat consumption must fall to hit climate goals, but it is not mentioned anywhere in the 368-page strategy. His yearning for “guilt-free” flying is backed only by a plan for 10% of aviation fuel to be sustainable by 2030. The Treasury review warns of the huge tax loss when petrol and diesel cars have run their race, but the obvious replacement – per mile road pricing – is never mentioned.

Overall, the good news is that the net zero strategy largely mirrors the guidance of the Climate Change Committee, the government’s official advisers. But whether it gets the funding it needs to become a reality, just in time for Cop26, is up to Sunak.

Ministers must urgently implement sweeping “plan B” winter measures or derail efforts to tackle the backlog of 5 million patients, the head of the NHS Confederation warned as the UK recorded its highest daily Covid death toll since March.

[This comes hours after Downing Street ruled out a Plan B at this stage, it has not been discussed in Cabinet]

Andrew Gregory www.theguardian.com 

Infections have been rising sharply since the start of October but the government is resisting introducing the extra restrictions set out in its winter plan such as masks, vaccine passports and advice to work from home.

On Tuesday the UK reported 223 Covid deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive test – the highest for seven months – while the seven-day average for Covid-19 cases stands at 44,145 a day. The UK now has one of the highest weekly rates of new reported cases in the world.

Downing Street said it was keeping a “very close eye” on the situation. But Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation which represents the healthcare system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said immediate action was required to prevent the NHS “stumbling into a crisis” where the elective care recovery would be jeopardised.

Taylor said: “We are right on the edge – and it is the middle of October. It would require an incredible amount of luck for us not to find ourselves in the midst of a profound crisis over the next three months.

“The government ought to not just announce that we’re moving to plan B, but it should be plan B plus. We should do what’s in plan B in terms of masks … working from home, but also we should try to achieve the kind of national mobilisation that we achieved in the first and second waves, where the public went out of their way to support and help the health service.”

Ministers should encourage the public to do their bit by using the NHS responsibly, looking out for neighbours, volunteering or even re-entering the healthcare workforce, Taylor added.

“We need that same sense of pulling together over the next few months, trying to avoid risky behaviour if it’s not necessary. This is not a question of if we don’t do it something might happen. If we don’t do it, it would take a miracle for us not to find ourselves in the midst of a really profound crisis in our health and social care system over the next three months.”

Boris Johnson has said that if the government’s “plan A” – encouraging take-up of Covid booster and flu jabs – was not sufficient to prevent “unsustainable pressure” on the NHS it would roll out plan B. This includes compulsory face masks in some settings, asking people to work from home and introducing vaccine passports. The prime minister’s official spokesman yesterday said there were “no plans” to use the contingency measures set out in the government’s winter strategy.

The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, said Johnson was showing his “characteristic complacency” in the face of growing warnings from experts, but stopped short of calling for “plan B” to be activated. He urged the government “to be more vocal, to step up and assure the public that they have learned the lessons of last year”.

Scientists are also urging ministers to introduce plan B. Prof Christina Pagel of UCL said: “We are now seeing cases and hospital admissions rising steadily and an out of control epidemic within schools. The government must switch to its plan B immediately and accelerate rollout of vaccines, including to those who are yet to be vaccinated at all or are just on one dose.”

Prof Rowland Kao, a member of the SPI-M advisory committee, speaking in a personal capacity, added: “Light touch measures, especially where these are unlikely to negatively impact people’s livelihoods or cause indirect harm, should be welcome … I do think they would be helpful now.”

Prof Mark Woolhouse, also of Spi-M and speaking in a personal capacity, said he was in favour of taking some action now “because early action can be less drastic action”.

Prof Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, said there was a need to speed up boosters and vaccinations of teenagers, whom he suggested should get two doses of a jab to block infection and transmission.

Jim McManus, interim president of the Association of Directors of Public Health, said there was an urgent need “to look seriously at, and consult on, the exact measures and most appropriate timing of plan B … we need to tread carefully as lockdowns and complacency are extremes we need to avoid”.

The number of people waiting for hospital treatment in England alone has hit a record high of 5.7 million as the NHS struggles to clear the growing backlog of care worsened by the pandemic.

Taylor said the NHS carried out 1.1m procedures in August and that it was facing “rocketing demand for hospital care as well as mental health services, ambulance services and primary care”.

Conspiracy theories abound, should they send for Jackie Weaver or just check the spam filter? – Owl

Call to end council ‘nonsense’ in Cullompton

Lewis Clarke www.devonlive.com 

Cullompton Town Council has been told it cannot continue with ‘nonsense’ after complaints about its procedures and communication with the public.

Speaking in public question time at Cullompton Town Council’s previous meeting, former member of the council, Mike Thompson said that recorded documents had not been sent to members with enough time before meetings.

He said: “At the resources meeting on September 9, the clerk was challenged on the matter and admitted she had got it wrong for a number of years, therefore, it was not a proper meeting.

“There were apologies made by the clerk, and suggested the meeting be rearranged for another date, which it was.

“I went onto the council website to check the agenda to summon people to this meeting, and the attached documents as required in legislation. Appendices were missing, but now, several documents have been created three days before this meeting.

“After this was cleared and raised at resources, it appears, this council is permitting a vagrant breach of rules and regulation.”

He addressed the chair Katheryn Haslett adding: “Owing to that meeting on September 9, I sent an email stating my concerns over the breach of the summonsing and documents as raised by Councillor James Buczkowski.

“I asked you to reply to me in person, and have an investigation. As stated, I was not making a formal complaint at that moment in time.

“You had an opportunity to reply or phone me out of courtesy and discuss the matter. I have had no replies. I sent a second email to you, and sent two to the deputy to the mayor. I have not had a satisfactory reply.

“I have sent an email to all councillors giving them an opportunity to say what is wrong, where have we gone wrong and what we do to correct it. What is the risk to the council? What is our legal obligations?

“Either my emails are being blocked by a snooper who is well documented, and I know who it is, or emails are being tampered with and being diverted away from those receiving them.

“This needs to be cleared up. I have made a complaint to the ICO and am now considering malpractice in public office on the council as a whole.”

Cllr Haslett said she had received no emails, despite Mr Thompson pointing out he had sent it to both her council and personal addresses.

She said: “I am aware there are particular things you put in with your emails that must be getting filtered.

“If you wish to contact me I would suggest from now on you do it in writing and drop it into the office so we do not have this problem again.”

Cllr Buczkowski added: “We are following the legislation surrounding supporting documents. In regards to the council’s own rules, councillors and members of the public have a reasonable expectation that we will follow our own rules and sadly we are seriously failing on that.

“I raised a point earlier that we need to take immediate and decisive action to correct our wrongdoings in not following our own rules.

“This council resolved on September 27, 2018, that all supporting papers must be sent out with the agenda within three clear days. It’s not so much we’re not following legislation; we’re breaking our own rules which some may argue is even worse. We need to follow our own rules, or something needs to be put to us to say why we can’t follow them.

“We cannot continue with this nonsense any longer.”

Councillor Gordon Guest said it was ‘very confusing’ that papers were being received in ‘dribs and drabs’.

“I’m on a number of committees at Devon County and other places and that doesn’t happen, you get everything at once,” he said.

“It’s confusing when we have a range of appendices coming forward in two or three different emails and it’s hard to follow everything.”

Councillor Chris Snow added: “If we’re missing documents and they’re late coming, it doesn’t give us a lot of time to make informed decisions.

“Five clear days under legislation is quite reasonable and I think we should follow it.”

More criticism to the council was made about items not appearing on agendas.

Cllr Buczkowski added: “During our last full council meeting it was agreed that the question of additional planting of trees on Tiverton Road be passed to the community and wellbeing committee for consideration. At the last committee meeting some time after the meeting it was not on the agenda, nor was it discussed.

“I raised this at the meeting and the deputy clerk informed the committee that they did not know anything about it. It amazed me.

“It is very concerned about the robustness of the process that ensures issues are dealt with and officers are fully informed. I cannot understand why we have an action list, and we are making decisions, yet the deputy clerk knew nothing about it when it was relevant to her committee.”

Cllr Buczkowski also raised concerns regarding the two charities the council manages.

According to ZOE COVID Study incidence figures, in total there are currently 69,993 new daily symptomatic cases of COVID in the UK on average, based on PCR and LFT test data from up to five days ago. A decrease of 2% from 71,111 new daily cases last week.*

covid.joinzoe.com /post/third-wave-reaches-new-peak

---

In the double vaccinated population, it’s estimated there are currently 18,817 new daily symptomatic cases in the UK. Cases have been slowly increasing for a few weeks, with 16,957 cases last week (Graph 1). 

The UK R value is estimated to be around 1.0 and regional R values are; England, 1.0, Wales, 1.0, Scotland, 0.9 (Table 1). Cases have been falling steadily in Scotland for the past few weeks. Rates are highest in the Midlands and North of England where vaccine rates are some of the lowest.

In terms of prevalence, on average 1 in 69 people in the UK currently have symptomatic COVID (Table 1). 

The number of daily new cases across the age groups cases remain high, but is now finally falling in those aged 0-18. Cases are now rising steadily in 35-55 year olds and remain low in 18-35 and over 55s (Graph 2).

In terms of prevalence, cases are highest in Wales, Midlands, North West and North East. (Graph 3). 

ZOE’s predicted Long COVID incidence rate currently estimates, at current case rates, 1,122 people a day will go on to experience symptoms for longer than 12 weeks (Graph 4). 

The ZOE COVID Study incidence figures (new symptomatic cases) are based on reports from around 750,000 thousand weekly contributors and the proportion of newly symptomatic users who have received positive swab tests. The latest survey figures were based on data from 43,624 recent swab tests done between 25 September and 09 October 2021. 

Professor Tim Spector, lead scientist on the ZOE COVID Study app, comments on the latest data:

“The UK seems to be slowly waking up to the fact that COVID cases are too high, but the reality is they’ve been soaring for months and many countries have put us on their red list. Infections remain high in young people, and look to be spilling over into the 35-55 year olds. If these increases creep into the over 55s it could spell disaster for the NHS this winter. 

This week a major UK Care Home provider has confirmed that based on our research, it’s now including cold-like symptoms on their visitor forms to stop potential COVID cases from entering their facilities. This is a bold move as it goes against the official government guidance, but will ultimately save lives, and hopefully others will follow suit. 

With cases so high, it’s clear that herd immunity isn’t happening, and the risk is most people continue to believe they are safe if they have had COVID or a vaccine. ZOE data shows that vaccine protection wanes over time and a natural infection alone only gives 64% protection, so we need to be doing all we can to get everyone double vaccinated and stop waiting for  herd immunity to happen through natural infection.”

Graph 1. The ZOE COVID Study UK incidence figures results over time; total number of new cases and new cases in fully vaccinated

Graph 2. Incidence by age group 

Graph 3. Prevalence by region

Graph 4. Predicted Long COVID incidence over time

Please refer to the publication by Thompson at al. (2021) for details on how long covid rates in the population are modelled

Table 1. Incidence (daily new symptomatic cases)[*], R values and prevalence regional breakdown table 

‍

‍

Map of UK prevalence figures

The UK government has been ordered to reveal which companies were given “VIP” access to multimillion-pound contracts for the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the early months of the Covid pandemic, in a ruling from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

David Conn www.theguardian.com 

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has previously refused to disclose the names of 47 companies that had contracts awarded through the privileged, fast-track process allocated to firms with political connections.

A report by the National Audit Office (NAO) last year found that companies referred as possible PPE suppliers by ministers, MPs or senior NHS officials were given high priority by the DHSC procurement process, which resulted in a 10 times greater success rate for securing contracts than companies whose bids were processed via normal channels.

The Good Law Project (GLP), which first revealed the existence of a VIP lane, is together with fellow campaign group EveryDoctor challenging the DHSC over the lawfulness of the VIP lane and large contracts awarded to three companies: PestFix, Ayanda Capital and Clandeboye Agencies.

The government is defending the claims, arguing that the contracts were lawful and the suspension of competitive processes for all PPE contracts – that in total were worth £12.5bn – was justified due to the health emergency.

A government spokesperson confirmed last December that another company, PPE Medpro, had been awarded contracts worth £200m via the “high-priority lane,” but the DHSC declined to say how the company came to be given VIP status.

The NAO stated in its report that 47 companies had been given PPE contracts via what it termed the “high-priority channel” for those with political connections, but the then health minister James Bethell said the government did not intend to reveal their identities because “there may be associated commercial implications”.

The GLP applied in January under the Freedom of Information Act for the company names to be disclosed, which the DHSC took nearly three months to refuse. It took a further four months to carry out a review, then said on 7 September it would publish the names, but failed to do so. The GLP successfully complained to the ICO, whose ruling requires the names to be published by 22 November and states that the DHSC breached the Freedom of Information Act by failing to do so.

The GLP’s director, Jo Maugham, said: “If, and this shouldn’t be so, government needs to be dragged kicking and screaming to transparency, we’re here and we’ve shown time and again we’re happy to do that job.”

The DHSC was approached for comment.

Council appeals for help as care worker shortage gets worse 

www.devon.gov.uk

Analysis by the national social care charity, Skills for Care, shows that the shortage of care workers in England is now greater than it was before the coronavirus pandemic, and the situation is getting worse.

It’s leaving care providers everywhere struggling desperately to find enough staff to provide care to vulnerable people. 

Many are having to turn down requests to help new people, and juggling rotas and home visits while doing the very best they can to care for their vulnerable clients.

In Devon, a county known for having one of the highest proportions of older people among its population, the need for more care workers is beyond urgent.

The county needs around 2,000 additional care workers right now to fill growing numbers of vacancies.  And demand for care is rising.

Councillor James McInnes, our Cabinet Member with responsibility for adult social care, said

“We saw a good number of people move into social care early in the pandemic, as their previous careers came to a halt or they wanted a change.

“But with restrictions lifted, and all sectors of the economy opening up again, we’re seeing that drift back into retail, hospitality and other sectors.

“Add Brexit to that, and the whole issue of recruitment right now across all sectors is extremely competitive.

“It means that people whose health has deteriorated and who are now needing help at home, are finding it very difficult to find care.

“And people already getting help from a care worker are seeing changes to their visits, simply because their care providers have to respond to higher demand without the additional staff they need.

“For us at Devon County Council, it means quite honestly, we’re finding it extremely difficult to match vulnerable people to the care they need.”

But the problem in Devon is even more acute than that. 

It’s not just adult social care where the county is seeing particular need right now.

“There are more people in Devon today who quite simply need help – just help – than there are people to provide it,” says James McInnes.

“I’m not talking about help with personal care or other aspects of social care, I’m talking about plain and simple help.

“I’m talking about help with shopping, help to pick up prescriptions, help to prepare a meal, company because they’re lonely. 

“Good neighbours, good friends, good people in the community who are happy to go out of their way a bit to look out for someone else.  The county needs more people like that, and I’d urge us all to consider our own part in that.”

Alongside registered care providers, there’s another layer of help and care that Devon is short of. 

Personal Assistants – people who visit others at home who need help.  They often work for themselves, and they’re paid by the person they’re helping.

“We also need more Personal Assistants in Devon,” says Cllr McInnes.

“The help they’re providing gives greater choice to people who need care and support at home and who want to arrange that for themselves.  This may be for skilled personal care or a wider range of help.  The more options that people have to meet their needs, the better it will be.

“So my clarion call today is to ask the Devon public to do two things:

“Firstly, to know that there is a challenge in Devon right now and that there are people who they will know who need care and support.

“And secondly, to ask themselves what they can do about it, and to act on it.

“We are a county of well meaning, often kind-hearted and generous people.  When we’ve needed to come together and look out for friends and family, as we did at the outbreak of coronavirus, we generally have.

“Now is the time to do that again.

“If you have experience of caring for a relative or have previously worked in care, or if you are keen to work in a new and rewarding field, now is the time.  We want to hear from you. We can give you one to one support to help you find the role that suits you best. And we have free training to help you do that.

“If you can be a Personal Assistant, working for yourself and helping people in your community, now is the time.  We can help with advice and guidance on how to do that.

“If you have time and the energy, simply to volunteer to help people in your local community – to sit with someone while their caring wife or husband has a break, or just to talk to someone who doesn’t have anyone else to talk to, or to pick up a bit of shopping from time to time – now is the time.”

If you are interested in exploring career opportunities in social care, Proud to Care Devon is calling for people who are interested to complete an online form at devon.cc/findyourcalling.  Applicants will get a call back and the offer of free one-to-one telephone support, providing careers advice and information about jobs and training in care and health.

If you can be a Personal Assistant, you can find more information, and list yourself by visiting devon.cc/pa-pinpoint.

If you have time to spare and can volunteer to help in your community visit Devon’s ‘Show you Care’ website devon.cc/care or get in touch with your local community group.

Readers might need to refresh their memory on the backstory: A cautionary tale from Mid Devon Council dabbling in development.

Control shifted in Mid Devon Council from Lib Dem to “no overall” control in 1999 and is run by a coalition of Lib Dems, Independents and Greens. 

The underlying problem is that central government in England controls the purse strings of local government to a much greater extent than other wealthy countries. This Westminister “control freakery” is one of the reasons regional devolution is not progressing and why “levelling up” is likely to prove challenging. – Owl

Lewis Clarke www.devonlive.com

Mid Devon is looking at any available opportunity to make ends meet with predictions of a £1million shortfall.

Speaking at a scrutiny committee meeting of Mid Devon District Council on Monday, October 11, cabinet member for finance, Councillor Andrew Moore (Clare & Shuttern, Conservative) said that ‘circumstances have continued to be far from normal.

He said: “The wheels of finance, as we know, must roll inexorably on.

“The last six months have seen the team complete the annual closedown with the draft statement of accounts again being produced very promptly.

“The audit is well advanced, and early indications are for another sound report.

“Covid continues to affect financial performance, but I’m pleased to say, is in line with budget expectations. I want to note as well, not for the first time, the terrific grant-related work undertaken by the team, not just in the last six months, but beyond to support our local communities and businesses.

“Looking forward, we’re on the point of starting the annual budget round for 22/23. All members have a vital say in the council’s plans. Now is the time to bring forward alternative options for proper consideration.

“The starting position has improved from earlier indications, but it’s still around a £1million shortfall. “Central funding uncertainties abound, and service revenues remain at risk. As ever, costs are under pressure for reductions to make ends meet.

“Whilst we all like them, new initiatives rightly need solid financial justification.

“There is a lot of work to do between now and the council meeting where we address the budget on February 23, 2022.”

Deputy chief executive Andrew Jarratt added: “The challenge will be that the government are going to provide quite late advice from some of the key financial revenue streams that we’re going to require for next financial year.

“Budget setting is going to be a challenge set against that backdrop.

“We have been told that we’re likely to receive a three year settlement, which in some respects is very welcome, but we must be careful what we wish for because the last time we’ve received a three year settlement, the numbers were quite scary.”

Councillors heard some of the broad plans and ways the authority was attempting to reduce the shortfall.

Mr Jarratt added: “it’s not all going to be about cost reduction. There’s going to be a mixture of cost reduction and income maximisation wherever possible.

“The prevailing economic situation does not help us at all in the rounds of income maximisation. Some of the commercial opportunities we have been exploring over the last two or three years will be met against a very strong prevailing negative wind. Things like investment in industrial units or other commercial activities may not be quite as successful as we’d hoped.

“At the moment, we’re trialling different ways of delivering our waste service, which could save significant amounts of money, but also is important to meet the national targets for recycling rates, which are particularly challenging to meet.

“We will work on an ongoing building rationalisation program to reduce cost and increase rental from income where possible. We brought the DWP to Phoenix House about three years ago, and we maintain a healthy annual rental stream on that basis.

“I’m pleased to see that all of the units at Market Walk are rented out. There aren’t many councils with a unit portfolio as active as ours.”

He said at Mid Devon’s leisure centres before Covid, income was £3million.

“I was chatting to the management team of leisure about some interesting ideas they’ve got for making that income stream even healthier over the next six to twelve months,” he said.

Mr Jarratt then discussed the council’s green agenda.

“Set against that backdrop, the council has made a pledge which may reduce costs moving forward, but at the moment will probably increase our cost pressure. That is the carbon green agenda and ensuring that we become carbon neutral by 2030.

“That will need some pump-priming expenditure, but we may well see a significant reduction in utility spend over the next two to ten years.

Councillor Stephen Pugh (Westexe, Conservative) questioned empty properties and voids.

Mr Jarratt discussed the council’s 24 commercial property units it owns.

He said: “We budget for a level of voids on a rolling regular basis. It depends what the market situation is at any given time.”

He said the council had anticipated at least one void at Market Walk.

“It depends which one,” he added. “The one that’s been most noticeable to members of the Tiverton area has been the biggest unit there, which is Unit 17, which was once the medium-sized superstore.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had a void there for 18 months, but I’m very pleased to say we’ve recently signed a new rental deal with somebody to go in there for a short term with the NHS vaccine program utilising it.”

Empty shops in Tiverton at Market Walk

He added that Market Walk was ‘doing well.

“I hope the investment that we made about 12 months ago to improve the streetscape up there is paying some dividends.

“It’s all about increasing footfall, not just for our properties in the Tiverton Town Centre but for all the other retailers as well.”

Councillor Ben Holdman (Castle, Liberal Democrats) talked about car parking.

“I have noticed in the last year we have had problems with some of the machines,” he said.

“That will affect revenue streams on that one and also drive up complaints.

“Is there an action plan to keep our machines as up to date and maintained as possible?”

“I wouldn’t be very happy that we were losing any revenue opportunities,” he said.

“Occasionally, they do go down, but we fix them as soon as we possibly can.

“The issue of Covid is why our car parking income is down. People aren’t visiting the town centres as much as they once were.

“Most of our large fee-earning car parks have more than one machine in them, so there is always somewhere to pay.

“It’s amazing now how much more traffic is done electronically rather than through the machines.”

Councillor Ray Radford (Halberton, Conservative) suggested that HGV driver shortages, and people off sick or isolating, meant the council could be spending more on agency staff.

Chief executive Stephen Walford explained they currently face a shortfall of around nine per cent.

“One of the big challenges we’ve got, as with any organisation at the moment, is to balance off all of the inflows and outgoings with the labour shortages that we’ve got,” he said.

“It is a challenge, and it’s often that we can’t go out and get agency staff.

“Whilst there is a cost to that, there is also a limit to the ability to which we can go out and acquire short term labour resources. Then we have to look at the impact on service delivery.

“Across all the council’s budgets, the incomings and outgoings all look a bit different this year, and that is true, nowhere more so than the staffing line.

“We’ve got structural vacancies, but we’re not saving money because we’re expending extra resources on trying to bring in short term people, which tend to be more expensive. We are also coming up against that point where they might not simply be there to hire in.”

Mr Jarratt added: “The nation has a problem with HGV drivers, and it’s not going to go away very quickly.

“Agencies are more expensive than our people in the short term, and we are overspending in that part of the business. However, within the area of waste, we’re over-achieving on income from recycling due to increased tonnages and the quite good recycling rate we’re getting at the moment, so that’s more than compensating.”

He said the council was now trying to ‘grow our own.

“At the moment, we’ve got seven or eight of our refuse loaders who are being trained to be drivers. It will be a prevailing problem for maybe a couple of years, but we’re doing what we can.

“Of all the services that we deliver, waste is the one where a resident rightly expects to have their bins collected on the day that they want them to be collected.

“I’m sure members collectively get it in the ear when we miss a collection, and so do we as officers. “It’s a service that we’re proud of, and we get a lot of great customer feedback.”

Councillor Sue Griggs (Cranmore, Conservative) asked about the council’s housing strategy consultation and future plans.

“The strategy put forward a very bold vision with plans to build new properties for tenants. It also aims to adapt the homes that we already have to retrofit, improve the environmental efficiency of homes, decarbonise, reduce fuel poverty, and meet climate targets.

“I wonder whether or not we are going to be able to achieve that, bearing in mind the budget constraints that we have.”

Mr Jarratt said: “At the end of October, at the next cabinet meeting, the council’s medium-term financial plan will be discussed and the council’s overarching financial document that will try and cast out the council’s ambitions over the next five years.

“Within that, there will be a lot of work done on the housing strategy that is now out for consultation.

“It’s an aspirational plan for housing delivery because it’s something as a council we haven’t done much of for a reasonable number of years now.

“If you add on top of that our carbon agenda, it adds an extra challenge.

“Another major challenge for our council housing stock is the post-Grenfell legislation coming down the line. It is going to put more financial strain on our assets.

“We will be costing all of those ambitions. Whether all of those ambitions are financially deliverable is a moot point; they probably won’t be. It will be a question of prioritising.”

“The interest income from Three Rivers is described as profit to the council, but that’s not the case until they’ve paid back the capital,” he said. “What likelihood is any of that capital being paid back this year or next year?”

Mr Jarratt said: “The next cabinet will receive the bi-monthly update from Three Rivers, and the meeting in November will have the half-yearly performance information.

“What you will also get is the company’s updated business plan, which therefore will link very heavily into the council funding future over the next five years.

“All of that information will be in the public domain.”

Councillor Elizabeth Lloyd (Sandford and Creedy, Green Party) suggested involving communities in the decision-making processes.

“It is great that members are being asked to input to this budgeting process, and I look forward to doing so, particularly on our work around the climate agenda, which we all agree is important,” she said.

“Last year, I suggested we look into things like participatory budgeting to engage our communities in this process.

“I’m curious whether any thought has been given for such a process. It can be a chance for our communities and the public to give their input.”

She offered help to arrange a public meeting to talk about ideas and find ‘innovative ways of thinking and solutions together.

Cllr Moore said: “I’m always astonished by how much there is to learn about the financial system and the nuances. That’s, of course, why we have people like Mr Jarrett and his team to help us.

“I’m always learning. This is a big and complicated area with many assets to it.

“I would encourage members to represent communities, and it’s up to you to make sure that you have a voice.

“Please use it, and please use it early if you’ve got ideas. We don’t want somebody in February with things we didn’t think about when it’s too late. Early engagement is what I am keen to do.”

Mr Jarratt added: “if there’s anything we can do to get our message out to the community better than we’re doing, that would be great.

“In the next four weeks, we’re sending out a resident’s consultation survey. We will explore within that all of the ideas that our public think we should be exploring.

“This will have to be matched against the available resources that we have.

“The sooner that we get these ideas, we can go away and model them and see how we can fit them in with the budgetary envelope that we have.”