Independent Progressive Councillor Kathy McLauchlan, who successfully obtained full council backing last October to end “sexist banter” and ditch a freeze on allowances for representatives on maternity leave, resigned at the end of February. 

Kathy McLauchlan won the Whimple and Rockbeare ward comfortably in May 2019, taking it from the Conservatives (702 votes to 234). 

In the 2011 election Martin Gammell won the seat for the Lib Dems but it was retaken by the Conservatives in 2015. A by-election followed in 2017 and Martin came within 36 votes of re-taking it.

Now it will be a straight contest between Richard Lawrence (Conservatives) and Todd Olive (Liberal Democrats). In EDDC the LibDems are part of the “Democratic Alliance”.

Whimple is the home of “uber” Conservative Sarah Randall-Johnson (see this post and many others) who not only is County Councillor for Broadclyst but is also on the Whimple Parish Council. SRJ epitomises the “Old Guard”, Whimple and Rockbeare deserve better than SRJ and her ilk.

Exeter candidate list for May elections

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

The candidates who will stand for election to Exeter City Council – plus several by-elections elsewhere in Devon – have been announced.

Voters will go to the polls on May 6 for the delayed 2020 local elections in Exeter, the full Devon County Council elections, as well as the delayed Police and Crime Commissioner elections, and by-elections in East Devon, South Hams, Mid Devon and Torbay.

Among those who are defending their seats in Exeter are Phil Bialyk, the Labour leader of the council, and Andrew Leadbetter, the leader of the Conservative opposition, and the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats have entered into an electoral arrangement where they will stand aside for each other in six wards.

In Exeter, each elected councillor would normally be appointed for a four year term, with a third of the 39 seats contested each year (one seat per ward), , but the newly elected councillors will instead only serve a three year term to ensure the return to the usual electoral cycle.

The 13 candidates whose seats will be up for grabs are those who gained the most votes in the 2016 elections, with Labour defending 10 seats, the Conservatives two, and Independents one.

Voters in the Mincinglake and Whipton will elected two councillors – with the person receiving the most votes serving a three year term and the runner-up a one year term – with a by-election also taking place following the death of a serving councillor.

The current make-up of the council is Labour (27), Conservative (6), Liberal Democrat (2), Independent (2), Green Party (1), Vacant (1), with Labour needing to win three of the 14 seats up for grabs to retain control of the council.

By-elections will take also place in the Whimple & Rockbeare Ward in East Devon, in the Castle, Taw and Westexe wards in Mid Devon, and in the Ivybridge West ward in the South Hams, with the winning candidates getting a two year term on the council.

Promoted Stories

Below is the list of candidates who are standing, with the * denoting where they are the sitting councillor who is up for re-election.

EXETER CITY COUNCIL

Alphington

Julyan Levy (Green Party)

Katherine New (Conservatives)

Rod Ruffle (Liberal Democrats)

Steve Warwick (Labour) *

Duryard and St James

Will Aczel (Liberal Democrats)

Bea Gare (Women’s Equality Party)

Aric Gilinsky (Conservatives)

Martin Pearce (Labour)

Exwick

Phil Bialyk (Labour) *

Kayleigh Luscombe (Conservatives)

Jamie Lynde (Green Party)

Maya Skelton (Liberal Democrats)

Heavitree

Alfie Carlisle (Conservatives)

Barbara Denning (Labour)

Catherine Rees (Green Party)

Mincinglake and Whipton (2 seats due to one vacancy)

Naima Allcock (Labour)

David Barker-Hahlo (Green Party)

Edward Barradell (Conservatives)

Felix Breet (Liberal Democrats)

Emma Morse (Labour) *

Joseph Straker (Conservatives)

Newton and St Leonard’s

Richard Branston (Labour) *

Dan Grey (Green Party)

George Smith (Conservatives)

Pennsylvania

Samuel Barnett (Conservatives)

Zion Lights (Labour)

Nigel Williams (Liberal Democrats)

Pinhoe

David Harvey (Labour) *

John Harvey (Conservatives)

Henry Mayall (Liberal Democrats)

Lynn Wetenhall (Green Party)

Priory

Alys Martin (Labour) *

Joel Punwani (Liberal Democrats)

Charles Russett (Green Party)

James Taghdissian (Conservatives)

St Thomas

Ashley Carr (Conservatives)

Adrian Fullam (Liberal Democrats)

Rob Hannaford (Labour) *

Paul Mouland (Independent)

Frankie Rufolo (For Britain Movement)

St Davids

Arden Foster-Spink (Conservatives)

Amy Sparling (Green Party)

Carol Whitton (Labour)

St Loye’s

Jack Eade (Green Party)

Olwen Foggin (Labour) *

Debbie Frayne (For Britain Movement)

Anne Jobson (Conservatives)

Kris Mears (Liberal Democrats)

Topsham

Christine Campion (Liberal Democrats)

Ivan Jordan (Labour)

Andrew Leadbetter (Conservatives) *

Jon Mills (Green Party)

EAST DEVON DISTRICT COUNCIL

Whimple and Rockbeare

Richard Lawrence (Conservatives)

Todd Olive (Liberal Democrats)

MID DEVON DISTRICT COUNCIL

Castle

Richard Cornley (Labour)

Jason Lejeune (Independent)

Elizabeth Slade (Conservative)

David Wulff (Liberal Democrats)

Taw

Peter Heal (Conservatives)

Mark Wooding (Liberal Democrats)

Westexe

Stephen Bush (Independent)

Claire Hole (Independent)

Adrian Howell (Independent)

Samuel James (Labour)

Stephen Pugh (Conservatives)

Rosie Wibberley (Green Party)

SOUTH HAMS DISTRICT COUNCIL

Ivybridge West

Louise Jones (Conservatives)

Tony Rea (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)

Katie Reville (Green Party)

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has stated that the proposal to raise the site threshold for affordable homes provision has been dropped.

(Good news but slipped out during Easter – Owl)

www.propertyreporter.co.uk 

According to MHCLG, the measure, which would have temporarily lifted the small sites threshold for affordable housing provision to 40 or 50 homes, would not be necessary at this stage due to the industry’s robustness in the face of the pandemic and “the other measures we have available to support SMEs”.

The measure was proposed to support SMEs during the economic upheavals of the coronavirus crisis.

MHCLG said it would continue to closely monitor the market and speak to SME housebuilders about their challenges and the support that could be given, adding that there are no plans to raise the small sites threshold at this stage.

In current policy, a site of ten homes or more is considered a “major development” and will be subject to affordable housing provision.

In December, the government decided to scrap another proposal from the consultation – changes to the standard method for assessing local housing need. MHCLG planned to introduce an algorithm that would have increased housebuilding in the south of England. But the proposals caused consternation among Conservative MPs.

On the proposed change to the affordable homes threshold, MHCLG said: “The government consulted on raising the small sites threshold in order to assess if it was necessary in the economic circumstances to provide additional support to SME builders.

“We have carefully considered the consultation feedback and the situation in the housing market. On balance, we do not consider this measure to be necessary at this stage, particularly in light of the broader way in which the sector has responded to the challenges of the pandemic and the other measures we have available to support SMEs.

“We therefore do not think any change to existing policy is currently needed.”

Boris Johnson has dropped plans to raise a post-lockdown pint today out of respect after the death of Prince Philip.

The Prime Minister had planned to visit a newly-reopened pub as lockdown eases in England, saying he would be “cautiously but irreversibly raising a pint of beer to my lips.”

However, he has axed the trip as the government cancels all routine ministerial press conferences, interviews and visits in the wake of the Duke of Edinburgh’s death aged 99

The Official Statement: Brian Tolver, Handforth Parish Council “Villain”, breaks his silence.

(“Male, pale, stale” and must have the last word – Owl)

This is the list of Town Hall staff receiving over £100K in FY 2019/2020.

Interesting to see that Mark Wiiliams, seems to be the highest paid District Chief Exec. in Devon, a short snout ahead of Teignbridge. (But this depends on how you count “compensation payments” in Torridge and North Devon. (For example, Jenny Wallace left Torridge in February so these may relate to contact terminations.)

MW is no doubt delighted to beat Karime Hassan of Exeter (former Corporate Director EDDC) despite the latter’s controversial double hat of Chief Executive and Growth Director.

The real interest to Owl is that Mark Williams is not the most highly paid member of staff in EDDC. That accolade goes to a person described as U.N.Disclosed. EDDC also boasts a second member of this family in the £100K+ club.

It’s our money paying their salaries, why the secrecy,?   

In FY 19/20 Mark Williams got £118,164 + 17,725 pension = £135,889, and U.N Disclosed got £152,500. For comparison the PM’s pay was £154,908 (about £4K less than entitlement).    

Town Hall Rich List 2021

Apr 07 2021 www.taxpayersalliance.com

Introduction

Town Hall Rich List 2021 marks the 14th version of this list, first compiled in 2007. For the past 14 years the TaxPayers’ Alliance has assembled the most comprehensive list of council employees in the UK in receipt of over £100,000 in total remuneration.

For the average (band D) property, taxpayers in England will have to pay a council tax rise of 4.4 per cent or an extra £81 per year in 2021-22.^[1]  Wales will see an average increase of 3.8 per cent.^[2] Scottish councils have frozen 2021-22 council tax rates at 2020-21 levels. This is in exchange for receiving a cash grant from the Scottish government equivalent to a three per cent council tax increase.^[3]

Against this background, the number of local authority employees receiving over £100,000 in total remuneration has risen to the highest level since 2013-14.^[4]

Click here to read the report.

Click here for council-by-council breakdown of data.

Key findings

• At least 2,802 people employed by local authorities in 2019-20 received more than £100,000 in total remuneration, an increase of 135 on 2018-19. 693 received over £150,000, 26 more than the previous year.
• The average number of employees who received over £100,000 in total remuneration per local authority is seven. The average number receiving over £150,000 is 1.7 employees per council.
• The local authority with the greatest number of employees whose remuneration was in excess of £100,000 was Essex county council with 40 employees, five more than the previous year. Glasgow had the highest number of employees receiving over £150,000 at 14, two more than the previous year.
• The highest remunerated council employee in 2019-20 was the deputy chief executive at Coventry council, receiving £573,660 in total remuneration. This included a loss of office payment of £395,110, pension payment of £26,559, and salary of £151,991.
• A total of 31 local authority employees received remuneration in excess of a quarter of a million pounds in 2019-20. This was one fewer than the previous year.
• The local authority to pay out the highest amount in terms of bonuses and performance related pay to a senior employee was Edinburgh city council, with the general manager of Edinburgh Trams receiving a £48,895 bonus.
• Total expenses paid to senior employees in the UK amounted to £1,274,497, with the highest amount (£38,043) being claimed by Simon Baker, the now former chief executive of High Peak borough council.
• A total of 21 local authority employees received a loss of office payment of more than £95,000, the cap on payoffs for public sector employees. This cap was briefly in force between 4 November 2020 and 12 February 2021 and did not cover the period of this year’s Town Hall Rich List. It has since been revoked.^[5]

Click here to read the report.

Click here for council-by-council breakdown of data.

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[1] Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2021 to 2022, 25 March 2021, http://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/council-tax-levels-set-by-local-authorities-in-england-2021-to-2022, (accessed 25 March 2021).

[2] StatsWales, Annual increase in average band D council tax, by billing authority,  https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Local-Government/Finance/Council-Tax/Levels/annualpercentageincreaseinaveragebanddcounciltax-by-billingauthority, (accessed 25 March 2021).

[3] BBC, All Scottish councils agree to tax freeze, 11 March 2021,  www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-56320853, (accessed 25 March 2021).

[4] TaxPayers’ Alliance, Town Hall Rich List 2015, 2015.

[5] Sharma, M, Public sector redundancy payment cap scrapped by government, HR Review, 15 February 2021, www.hrreview.co.uk/hr-news/public-sector-redundancy-payment-cap-scrapped-by-government/131756, (accessed 25 March 2021).

Is this another “Exmouth Regeneration” legacy problem? – Owl

Anita Merritt www.devonlive.com

An independent award-winning Exmouth pub and restaurant is one of many businesses in the town centre that should be looking forward to finally reopening next week does not know whether it will be financially viable after being told it has to remove its outdoor furniture, including a marquee, every night.

Spoken, which is situated in the pedestrianised area of The Strand, says it has found itself in the midst of ‘unnecessary bureaucracy’ with East Devon District Council (EDDC) and Devon County Council (DCC) due to lease restrictions which are said to be affecting businesses across East Devon.

George Nightingale, owner of Spoken, says he began applying to use the outside space on a temporary basis for post-lockdown trading seven months ago.

He claims it was only three weeks ago he was told by DCC the matter was going to ‘consultation’.

Now just days away from further lockdown restrictions being lifted permitting hospitality venues to serve people outdoors as from April 12, George says no further progress has been made.

As it currently stands, the venue which is permitted to trade between 6am to 1am, would have to remove its tables and marquee in between those hours and erect it again.

Both EDDC and DCC says the rules have to be observed. However, EDDC has confirmed it is considering whether alternative agreements can be made to help traders.

George said: “We have been told we are not allowed to keep anything outside overnight.

“It makes our outside unusable as it would take a couple of hours to take down the marquee and erect it again.

“As it stands throughout the region, marquees are classified as furniture, and all furniture must be removed from the already licensed space each night.

“This is not possible, practical or sensible, or has any common sense applied to it.

“What we can’t mitigate against is the weather so we will have to open on a day-by-day basis depending on the forecast. I can’t afford to employ a team of people depending on what the weather may be.”

Spoken in The Strand without any street furniture outside (Image: Google)

The problem lies in a clause in the lease which dates back to when the area outside the Spoken was previously a road ten years ago.

George explained: “There has not been a road here for 10 years but as it has not been declassified as a road, the council have stated it is ‘technically’ still a road.

“Previously I have put on a lot of street entertainment, but now the council is threatening to remove my licence permanently if I put anything up at all which is ‘blocking the road – a road that doesn’t exist’. All it would take is the council to remove one line in the lease, but it won’t – despite central government instructing councils to take a pragmatic approach to the reopening of hospitality.

“The rest of the country, such as Soho in London and areas in Bristol, are closing roads and finding ways to allow businesses to trade. However, both councils are trying to stop it so we will be effectively shut in anything other than perfect weather when the rest of the country is trading. How is that fair?

“We are one of the biggest hit industries by the pandemic and the government support has been first class. We want our town to be encouraging people to come out in a safe environment they want to sit in, but we are unable to provide that because of bureaucracy, and nobody willing to make a decision.

“Customers will quite rightly go to venues which can provide shelter from the elements on their own private land instead.

“Exmouth has a great opportunity to welcome visitors not going abroad and to provide a quality environment that will make them return in the future.

“How can this region and town centre that was purpose built for this be so left behind because of the unnecessary bureaucracy at a time when businesses and the region itself need it the most, and the council’s own remit is to support businesses?”

Calls are being made by local independent councillor Paul Millar to allow businesses in the town to be able to keep up outdoor coverings to enable them to reopen.

He said: “I am really concerned that some of Exmouth’s pubs and restaurants on the Strand, and elsewhere across East Devon, are being faced with the situation of not being able to open on 12th April after they have done so much to keep their customers safe.

“In my view, outdoor coverings such as gazebos and marquees shouldn’t be classified as furniture, the Secretary of State Robert Jenrick needs to make this matter clear to EDDC and DCC which has a legal duty to follow to the letter and the spirit guidance set by central government.

“For me, the burden of removing outdoor coverings for a few hours overnight and re-erecting them again in the morning is totally unreasonable. Businesses should be looking forward to reopening and staff should be allowed to fully focus on keeping the public safe.

“I have requested that officers at EDDC urgently contact councils in other areas of the country with a view to hopefully being able to amend our own local guidance in order to allow outdoor coverings to stay outside overnight where there is clear public support for this, such as The Strand.”

However, in the mean time the rules will still apply.

A spokesman for DCC said: “We have to be fair and consistent with how we issue and manage the licenses, and the paved area of the Strand outside Spoken is classed as a public highway, therefore the general public have the right to access and use it.

“We are clear in the terms of the licence that items, such as tables and chairs must be removable. While we are able, under certain circumstances, to authorise the use of a highway for other activities, at other times it should be free for the passage of highway users.”

A spokesperson for EDDC said: “EDDC cannot comment on the position of DCC.

“With regard to the EDDC owned land, the trader entered into a Sitting Out Consent with EDDC on November 26, 2020, to allow the use of a sitting out area until September 30, 2021.

“The council’s Sitting Out Consent provides that all furniture and structures must be removed from the land overnight. The provision is clearly contained within the Sitting Out Consent signed by the trader.

“The council has confirmed that it expects the trader to comply with the provisions of the agreement that it entered into with the council.

“In view of the issues raised by this trader and others in the vicinity, the council is considering whether alternative agreements can be entered into to enable the traders to trade in the way that they wish.

“However, this could impact on the ability of the general public to use the Strand and particularly the community groups who use the area for fundraising. The council is keen to ensure that there is no detriment to the general public and the community organisations.

“The council will be in touch with the traders further as soon as possible to confirm a potential way forward.”

Ahh, Cranbrook again! The “light touch” developer-led way to build the future. – Owl

Anita Merritt www.devonlive.com

Cranbrook residents have raised concerns about five months of road closures in the town which is said to be already struggling with traffic and safety problems.

Three phases of road closures have been announced which began this week and will continue until September 3.

The planned work is to enable energy company E.ON to install a new eastern transmission main to supply hot water and heating to the eastern parts of the town and replace the need for the temporary energy centre currently operating near the Linden sales office.

Devon live has previously reported complaints from frustrated residents who say they have been faced with endless power outages leaving them without heating or hot water.

Although the works will impact on the B3174 – the old A30 – residents have been assured the whole of the stretch of the road will not be closed at the same time.

However, concerns have been raised by some residents who say that it will increase traffic problems in the town and it poses safety risks.

Cranbrook Town Council has said traffic and safety issue in the town are in need of review and have raised it with highway officers.

A local man, who has lived in Cranbrook for four years, said: “The official diversion for these roadworks send traffic away from Cranbrook, a route which is of some significant distance to the daily commuter that uses the B3174.

“Now it is widely known and accepted that people will drive through Cranbrook along Tillhouse and Younghayes roads increasing the traffic flow significantly.

“These roads are already of some concern for safety due to parking, traffic and a complete lack of pedestrian crossings in a town which is supposed to be a town promoting healthy living.”

Revealing what impact the first road closure has had on the town so far this week, he said: “As expected traffic around the morning rush hour was fairly stationary, both outbound and inbound. The primary cause for this was the traffic lights outside E.ON in the morning.

“The afternoon rush hour was again stationary inbound into Cranbrook. On Wednesday afternoon the traffic was not too bad as there is no longer a campervan parked just off the roundabout as you come into Cranbrook.”

Other residents have questioned why the works are taking place now rather than previously.

One man said: “Why is this even happening? Was it a surprise to E.ON and the council that more houses were being built?

“As usual zero forward planning. This infrastructure should have been installed years ago.”

E.ON has explained why the road closures are in place and how the works will benefit the town.

An E.ON spokesperson said: “Temporary road closures are necessary from time to time to ensure infrastructure improvements can be made. In this case, we’re working to expand the existing district heating network in the wider Cranbrook vicinity and install the resilience to support the ongoing growth of the district heating network.

“We’ve worked closely with the local authority to ensure we carry out the work safely, effectively and to minimise local disruption, in line with all their usual procedures.”

The announced road closures are:

April 6 to May 14 – From Younghayes Road roundabout to Treasbeare Lane (Treasbeare Cottages)

May 17 to June 25 – From Treasbeare Lane to Parsons Lane

June 28 to September 3 – From Parsons Lane to Court Royal

A spokesman for Devon County Council said: “This work requires significant highway excavation so traffic management is essential and has been carefully considered as part of the planning process.

“We will continue to work with E.ON to monitor any disruption and minimise the impact where possible.”

Cranbrook Town Council has assured residents the whole of the B3174 will not be closed at the same time for months and all traffic will not be going past the Education Campus.

A town council spokesperson said: “In all cases the signed diversion route is via the A3052, but we know that drivers with local knowledge will use more local routes to avoid the closure.

“We understand that Highways England declined consent to use the A30 as a signed diversion route.

“While we appreciate this situation will create more traffic in the town and that this will, at times, be inconvenient and cause some delay to motorists, the disruption is unavoidable while this essential work is carried out.

“There have been demands to stop all parking along Younghayes Road and along other parts of the main local routes through the town, but that would have the effect of creating faster speeds through the town.

“While parked vehicles cause delay and disruption to traffic flows, they have the added impact of slowing and calming traffic. So this is a balance between inconvenience and overall safety.

“Any requests for temporary parking restrictions would be a matter for the highway authority, but at this stage the town council is not seeking any such restrictions.

“The question of pedestrian crossings in the town is a more general issue and one that the town council and locally elected members have been pursuing with the highway authority along with other traditional road safety measures.

“To date the approach in Cranbrook is to have no traditional lines and signs and allow the design of roads and differing surfaces to create road safety features and traffic calming.

“For some time we have felt that this policy for Cranbrook is in need of review and have raised it with highway officers. We have plans to address this in a meeting with the highway authority and the MP after the forthcoming county council elections.

“In addition to pedestrian crossings, we will be asking the highway authority to review the use of white and yellow lines in the town to address the instances of inappropriate and inconsiderate parking particularly adjacent to road junctions, on footways and across cycle ways.”

Highways England were approached for a comment.

Plans to save one of Ottery St Mary’s most important buildings have been approved.

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com 

East Devon District Council’s planning committee on Wednesday morning unanimously agreed to support plans that would see 13 new homes built within the grounds of the former Salston Manor on the edge of the town.

The plans would also see an extension to the building constructed for a further two homes, and would enable a previously consented but not implemented scheme for the conversion of the main building to form 11 flats to go ahead.

Councillors heard that the site is outside the built-up area boundary of Ottery St Mary and was contrary to Local Plan policies, particularly as no affordable housing was to be provided, but that the wider benefits from the restoration of the listed building outweigh the negatives of the scheme and thus it was recommended for approval.

The Salston Manor Hotel in Ottery St Mary

Development manager Chris Rose said: “This will secure the future of the heritage asset so we have to decide whether bringing the listed building back into use outweighs the harm of the buildings in the countryside.

“Officers are of the opinion that the proposals would result in less than substantial harm to the character and setting of Salston Manor. In the absence of any significant harm to the character and appearance of the area, the residential amenities of the occupiers of surrounding properties, ecology, or flood risk, it is considered that the proposed development is acceptable, bringing a major benefit through the restoration of the listed building.”

Chris Riley, the joint owner and applicant, said that the principle of development had already been agreed for a scheme to enable the restoration of the heritage asset, and that the plans were sympathetic and balanced and were needed to fund the restoration works.

Cllr Geoff Pratt, who represents the Ottery St Mary rural ward, said: “The problem is that the building has suffered so much damage in the last 14 years since lying empty and the cost must be extraordinary to deal with the matter, so I understand why they are making this application today.

“It is a famous building for Ottery St Mary and listed, and it needs to be dealt with, and we need to go along with this, and we can decide the heritage benefits will outweigh any harm to the property. I want to look after this listed building and this is the main priority here.”

Redevelopment of The Salston Manor Hotel in Ottery St Mary

Cllr Philip Skinner added: “It is sad it has fallen into the disrepair it has. The history of the building is vital for Ottery. This will be a massive job and while it is a departure from policy, it is for the greater good. I recommend this for approval as I don’t want it to fall into disrepair.”.

The proposal will see 13 new dwellings constructed within the grounds in three blocks situated to the south-west, east and north east of the main house respectively.

In addition, an extension to the main house to the east will be constructed which would house a further two apartments, and two further flats in a link extension. Combined with the existing flats within the building to be built out as part of the 2013 application, this will give 13 flats in total within and attached to the main building, making a total of 26 units within the entire site.

In Owl’s eyes this is a cynical way of dangling phantom carrots in front of desperate councils.

EDDC will receive £230,991 as part of the Government’s £56 million Welcome Back Fund.

The money can be used to provide or improve outdoor areas for socialising, smarten up the streets and organise events such as festivals and markets to support local businesses.

Or councils can “use”, Owl prefers “gamble”, any amount of the funding they receive to put together a bid for up to £20 million from the Levelling Up Fund, to regenerate and improve town centres in their areas.

Remember in December 2019 (just before the general election) Simon Jupp recorded this promise : Exmouth will receive new funding from the Government’s new Future High Streets Fund. The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, Robert Jenrick, has confirmed that Exmouth will receive funding to help secure up to £20 million pounds from the Government’s new Future High Streets Fund? – Never happened.

As we approach the County elections “Jumping Jupp Flash” says he has spoken up for Exmouth and now it’s down to the council to make a strong bid. But what realistic chance does it have, ranked in the lowest third for priority? In effect, if no money comes it won’t be Jenrick or Jupp failing to deliver their promises but because either EDDC failed to bid or their bid is a failure. Catch 22.

So, now you see it now you don’t, as much of the “Welcome back fund” of nearly £231K finds its way into the trousers of  “Bid Consultants”. – Owl

Dismay as East Devon placed in lowest tier for funds

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

Councillors from East Devon were united in their dismay that the district has been placed in the lowest tier for a Government regeneration fund – with one joking that they should rebrand the district as a ‘red wall district’.

The Government last month created the Levelling Up Fund, which brings together the Department for Transport, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Treasury to invest £4.8 billion in high-value local infrastructure.

The Fund will focus investment in projects that require up to £20m of funding, but bids above £20m and below £50m will be accepted for transport projects only.

However, East Devon District Council was only placed in the lowest of the three categories, and the prospectus for the fund outlining that while the preference will be given to bids from higher priority areas, bids from categories 2 and 3 will still be considered for funding on their merits of deliverability, value for money and strategic fit, and could still be successful if they are of exceptionally high quality.

The council’s cabinet, when they met on Wednesday night, unanimously agreed to recommend to the full council that a budget of up to £100,000 is made available to enable a bid to be put together, but they, as well as councillors from the Conservatives, were left disappointed by East Devon’s categorisation.

Further discussions will be held with the district’s three MPs over what bids, if any, East Devon chooses to submit, with suggestions over a bid for the regeneration of Exmouth town centre, the Axminster relief road, the Seaton seafront enhancement scheme, as well as improvements to existing infrastructure among the ideas floated at the cabinet meeting.

Cllr Paul Hayward, portfolio holder for economy and assets, said: “We have to take the opportunity as if we didn’t we would be lambasted., but is £100,000 that we need to spend wisely. We need to ensure the MPs understand the significance of that amount of money from the East Devon budget on what is a bid of a punt and it has to be supported 100 per cent by the MPs and they have to hold the Secretary of State’s feet to the fire and that it has to be considered greatly.

“If we are to spend £100,000 on EDDC money, then it has to be on a very understanding that the bids will be supported actively and positively.

“This could be very positive for the district and I look forward to talking to the MPs, but I am dismayed we are in Tier 3.”

On the suggestion that had been made by Conservative group leader Cllr Andrew Moulding, who added East Devon in Tier 3 was a disappointment, that a bid for the ‘ready-made’ Axminster relief road be considered, Cllr Hayward added that if they went down the route of the relief road, then they could end up with a better road placed in the right place rather than one located due to the cost and income from the house building to fund it.

Cllr Bruce de Saram added: “It is distressing to see us in the third tier but a joint bid could be successful and I hope we will work with the MP to get a successful outcome.”

Cllr Marianne Rixson added: “We should make better use of existing infrastructure rather than building more. Many bus routes have been cut and what we need instead of more loss of services is for buses to be reinstated and rural areas to need frequent affordable bus travel, as this is something we need to do if we are going to reduce carbon emissions.”

Cllr Jack Rowland said he was puzzled by the categorisation that placed East Devon is Tier 3, alongside the likes of Richmond, saying: “To think that equates to us with the same economic deprivation strikes me as slightly flawed.”

The cabinet unanimously agreed to note the prospectus and timescales for submission of bids, endorse the next steps to develop a bid, including meeting with MPs, and to recommend to Council that a budget of up to £100,000 is made available.

Cllr John Loudoun jokingly suggested a fourth recommendation that would have a cast iron recommendation that will get East Devon out of Tier 3, saying: “We recommend to the council that we rebrand the district as ‘East Devon – a red wall district’ – there you go and we’ll get the money.”

Simon Jupp, MP for East Devon, had previously said; “I have spoken up for Exmouth in Parliament and now funding which can be used to develop plans to improve our town is on the way. East Devon District Council needs to submit a strong bid to be considered for up to £20 million for Exmouth’s High Street. I hope the council will work with me to grasp this opportunity for the good of our town.”

A Devon council is expecting a rise in homelessness when a ban on evictions introduced during the pandemic runs out at the end of May.

Edward Oldfield www.devonlive.com 

Torbay Council leader Steve Darling is backing a call by MPs for the Government to tackle the problem by helping tenants repay rent arrears built up during the last year.

The Liberal Democrat wrote to the local government secretary Robert Jenrick at the start of March about helping people keep their homes.

Cllr Darling said the council was supporting a Citizens Advice Bureau campaign for emergency grants and loans to help cover rent debts.

In Torbay, more than 330 households sought help from the council after losing their privately rented homes due to financial problems in 2019. Of those, 131 families had to be housed in emergency temporary accommodation.

Cllr Darling said the figure was only slightly lower in 2020 despite the ban on evictions, and the council was expecting the number to rise when the ban ended.

He points out in his letter that a quarter of homes in Torbay are privately rented.

The council leader said: “We welcomed that the Government has committed to a ban on bailiff enforced evictions in most cases for the time being.

“However, particularly during the third lockdown many people are facing further shocks to their income.

“Urgent action is needed to avoid leaving millions of renters with spiralling debt and at risk of eviction.

“Existing support, like the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Covid Winter Grants Scheme, is welcome but not targeted at renters.

“The Government should put in place a national programme of loans and grants to help people who have fallen behind on rent due to the pandemic.

“Grants should be directed at people in the most financial difficulty, like those who are eligible for benefits or who wouldn’t be able to repay a loan in 5 years.

“The loans should be Government-backed and interest-free. This will bring England in line with Scotland and Wales and will help renters move forward following the pandemic.”

On Wednesday, the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee of MPs said many renters would be at risk of becoming homeless when the evictions ban ends, BBC News reported. It added that the problem would be made worse by rising unemployment as job support schemes ended.

To prevent a rise in homelessness, MPs said the Government should provide targeted support to tenants to repay rent arrears built up over the last year. They estimated it would cost between £200m and £300m and would reduce homeless spending in the longer term.

As part of efforts to increase the stock of social housing in Torbay, which is below the national average, a new council-owned social housing company is buying around a dozen homes in Paignton town centre.

The properties in Bishops Place are the first to come under the control of TorVista Homes, a provider set up by TDA, Torbay Council’s economic development company.

The company gained registered provider status in early March, allowing it to start purchasing properties.

TorVista Homes has been backed with £25million of council funding and is planning to develop a series of new social housing schemes in Torbay.

Councillors have chucked out ‘utterly ridiculous’ plans to allow a piece of amenity land to be used as outdoor space for a hotel.

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

Plans had been put forward by East Devon District Council to use a small area of green space ‘adjacent’ to the Manor Hotel on the Beacon in Exmouth for tables and chairs.

The scheme would have provided an external dining area associated with the operation of The Manor Hotel and the application suggested that 12 tables with up to 24 chairs could be accommodated.

But councillors on East Devon’s planning committee on Wednesday morning slammed the scheme for which there was no policy support for in the Local Plan, would ‘ruin the summer’ for local residents, and have a ‘risk to life’ with waiters having to cross the road and walk up the hill to get behind the hotel and the green space.

Opposing the scheme, local resident Mark Myer said that there was no support for the proposal which was ‘misguided and inappropriate’, while fellow resident Graham Hurley added: “It is a treasured public space and offers peace and quiet and wonderful views, but there could be noise and antisocial behavior every night all summer.

“There is no regard to neighbours, history, public interest and practicalities of running the site,” while Cllr Tim Dumper, from Exmouth town council, added: “Support for business cannot mean neglecting all other considerations.”

Recommending refusal, Cllr Olly Davey said: “This is tricky as we are keen to support local businesses and the Manor have no outdoor space, but we have to consider the impact on other people, and in this case, there will be a bit of impact on local residents.

“There are definitely practical difficulties to this and with people sitting out and eating and drinking, I would have strenuous objections as well if I lived there. Other pubs don’t have outdoor space and they will have to grit their teeth and hold onto May 17, and the amenity of local residents outweighs the advantage to business so I recommend refusal.”

The green space proposed to be used for outdoor seating at the Beacon in Exmouth

Cllr Joe Whibley added: “The biggest issue is the practicality of it and I cannot see how it will work with potentially endangering life crossing the road and the distance between the hotel and the area, so none of it makes any sense as to how it will be useful. We do need to promote business in these difficult times, but you cannot override all of the other considerations.”

Cllr David Key said it was ‘utterly ridiculous’ to think you could get 12 tables and 24 chairs on the undulating piece of land, while Cllr Bruce de Saram said that the British weather could be a problem, Nick Christo, from EDDC Streetscene, had said that it intended to assist in business recovery and help them get back on their feet, and development manager Chris Rose, in his recommendation of approval, had said while there would be concerns about the granting of application given the sensitive nature of the site and location close to residents, the proposal would facilitate a temporary external seating area for patrons of The Manor Hotel to meet the current social distancing requirements and a short term temporary consent would support a local business in times of crisis.

But councillors unanimously, on the grounds it would harm the amenity of local residents and have a harmful vision impact on the conservation area, rejected the proposal.

Preparations are well under way for the rollout of the full fibre network to provide superfast broadband across Devon. 

Daniel Clark Local Democracy Reporter www.exmouthjournal.co.uk

Around 56,000 additional homes and businesses will be provided with access to Gigabit capable broadband by internet providers Airband, Truespeed and Wessex Internet. 

This additional coverage adds to the broadband services already being delivered through public subsidy, and investments through suppliers stated commercial programmes, and raises superfast coverage to just under 96 per cent across the county, Devon County Council’s corporate infrastructure and regulatory services scrutiny committee on Thursday (March 25) heard. 

The new contracts awarded to Airband, Wessex Internet and Truespeed will serve an additional 56,396 homes and businesses who will benefit from an increase in full fibre coverage. 

To date nearly one million homes and businesses in Devon and Somerset now have access to superfast broadband, with over 300,000 of these having access to superfast broadband as a direct result of investment by the Connecting Devon and Somerset programme. 

Airband has already provided superfast access to 18,700 homes and businesses across Devon and Somerset and its latest full fibre programme will extend its network to a further 40,150 premises. 

As this critical work develops prior to construction, discussions have to be held with landowners and local councils to find the best and most cost-effective route for the new network. This requires securing landowner consent and access to highways. 

Cllr Rufus Gilbert, Devon County Council cabinet member for economy and skills, said: “Everyone is keen for construction to start at the first possible opportunity and CDS and the contracted internet providers are working closely to provide tens of thousands of homes and businesses with access to superfast broadband. 

“Unfortunately not every premise in the area can be included with the public funding available through the programme, but we will be delivering access to superfast broadband to some of the hardest to reach premises in the CDS region – providing an all-important boost to local communities and businesses.” 

Truro money welcome – if it arrives | Cornish Stuff

Truro Town Deal worth £23.6m announced a month before local elections

(Is Boris scheduled to visit Exmouth? – Owl)

cornishstuff.com

A £23.6 million Deal for Truro will help transform Cornwall’s capital into a ‘Connected River City’ and support its vision of becoming a modern economic, cultural and green capital for its residents and the wider community by 2030 said PM Boris Johnson as he announced the funding today.

The Towns Deal money will go toward the creation of a ‘go to destination’ in Boscawen Park that will include a new ‘winter garden’.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

“We are determined to level up across the entire country, and the Deal we’re announcing for Truro will help to unleash its tremendous potential.

Through a range of innovative projects including greener transport links and the restoration and renewal of spaces in the city centre, we will be able to rejuvenate the local economy, support businesses, boost connectivity and create new jobs.”

Further details of the Truro Towns Fund Deal:

• Truro’s neglected waterfront and community spaces will be reinvigorated to create vibrant, attractive weather-proof and green event areas. This will include two new public spaces, cycle hire facilities, new ferry terminals with berthing facilities and pontoons, walkways/bridges/promenades and new spaces for 12 businesses.
• A new Truro Community Hub will provide a ‘safe and welcoming’ space in Truro where people can get together, learn new skills, take part in activities and attend events. Truro currently has no central community hub or indoor events space. This will contribute to skills provision in the town and provide a much-needed space where there is currently no provision.
• A green travel project will connect key locations around the town including its centre, Truro College, the Royal Cornwall Hospital and intervention sites, promoting new forms of travel and healthier lifestyles. A proposed bridge will improve connections between areas of the town currently isolated from one another.
• The Hive will be a state-of-the-art building in the heart of Truro, providing a blueprint for how innovation, enterprise and education will weave together in the future. It will be part of the Pydar Development, a multi-million pound inclusive and sustainable urban development planned for the edge of Truro city centre.
• The New Life for City Buildings project will aim to transform and regenerate unused, historic buildings in Truro city centre. It will improve access to and celebrate Truro’s heritage and culture offer through a transformation of The Royal Cornwall Museum alongside the launch of a scheme to enable the wider repurposing of Truro buildings ensuring spaces are future proofed for modern day use responding to a new economic landscape.
• A ‘go-to destination’ will be created in Boscawen Park, already a popular park on the edge of the city. The project will provide Truro resident and visitors of all ages with new leisure and recreational opportunities across a range of indoor and outdoor facilities operated by local businesses. Building on Truro’s national reputation as a city of bloom, there will be a ‘winter garden’ horticultural showcase based on a partnership between Truro City Council, local and national horticultural businesses. The project will create up to 40 new jobs.

Mark Duddridge, Chair at Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP said:

“The award of £23.6 million for Truro, as the country begins to emerge from the restrictions of lockdown is a fantastic boost for Cornwall and the City. The environmentally sensitive development of the town will create welcome employment and will bring a new vibrancy to many areas of Truro.

This investment follows on from the redevelopment of the Hall for Cornwall, another project supported by the LEP, which together will reinforce Truro’s position as a centre for our creative industries.”

But commenting on the news, former Liberal Democrat MP (& candidate in the local CC elections), Andrew George said,

“Leaving aside that Mr Johnson’s statement is a clear and flagrant breach of election purdah rules, this is of course welcome.

“However, we’ve seen promises like this before, always ‘coincidentally’ in the lead-up to crucial elections.

“But none have materialised. take the then Tory PM’s promise to fund the Stadium for Cornwall in the lead-up to the 2015 General Election, or Mr Johnson’s promise to replace Cornwall’s lost Objective one money just before the last General Election, or Mr Johnson’s red bus promising an extra £350m a week for the NHS in the 2016 referendum. None of these promises have materialised.

“Congratulations should go to Liberal Democrat and Independent run Cornwall Council, Truro City Council and the local business and voluntary sector community of Truro for putting together such an impressive bid – and indeed to those in St Ives, Penzance and Camborne who have done the same. It’s just a pity the whole project is part of a cynical electoral game by the Conservatives.

“As the Good Law Project – which is currently taking the Government to court – has said “This could just be a coincidence. Or it could be an attempt to buy votes with public money”

“Mr Johnson is notorious for having a somewhat casual relationship with honesty and fact. So we will have to judge this promise when we see the colour of the taxpayers’ money he seems to be so free with at times when he’s anxious to garner votes.”

The council is urging the public to ‘exercise caution’ after a huge pipe has been exposed on Exmouth beach.

Chloe Parkman www.devonlive.com 

It comes after Devon Live reported that the enormous metal pipe – which runs under the lifeboat slipway – has been exposed resulting in a small drop between the top of the metal and the sand.

One person was spotted clambering over the pipe in order to access the other side of the beach.

A spokesperson for East Devon District Council (EDDC) said: ”A number of hazards have become exposed on Exmouth beach, near the RNLI station, due to a drop in beach levels.

”Our Streetscene team are working to make the area safe but in the meantime please exercise caution if walking in this area.”

The huge exposed pipe on Exmouth beach

Earlier this month, a warning was issued to the public after the sea exposed another rusty old pipework and other dangerous hazards on the beach.

Exmouth RNLI said the separate pipework could pose a significant risk to people using the East Devon beach.

In a statement on Twitter, a spokesperson for Exmouth Lifeboat said: ”Sea conditions have exposed some old structures that are a significant risk to water users off Exmouth and could cause serious injury/incapacity especially during high tides.

“The hazards are located about 80 yards west of Exmouth RNLI Lifeboat Station.

”Please avoid this area.”

The decision to local councils to scrap virtual calls and return to face-to-face meetings in person from May has been criticised across the county as a ‘backwards step’.

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

Last week, the minister for Local Government, Luke Hall wrote to council leaders to inform them that emergency legislation allowing virtual council meetings will not be extended beyond May 7.

It means that from May 7 onwards, all councils – from Devon County down to the parish councils – will have to resume meetings in person, and also applies to the Dartmoor and Exmoor National Park Authorities, the Devon and Somerset Fire Authority, as well as the Police and Crime Panel.

The decision has left councillors and councils angry, and North Devon Council has already re-arranged its annual council meeting from its usual May date to April 7 to ensure that it can be held virtually.

A spokesman for North Devon Council said: “We are extremely disappointed as along with helping us carry on with committee meetings through the pandemic, it has brought a great number of other benefits to us. Living in such a rural area, the option of virtual meetings would mean far less travelling time for councillors and officers which is not only more efficient but is helping to cut our carbon footprint.

“It also makes life easier for parents and people with caring responsibilities. We feel this is a major backwards step and the government really needs to rethink this.”

Teignbridge District Council managing director Phil Shears said that the decision will present ‘significant logistical and financial challenges’ to ensure meetings can be held safely.

He added: “This decision is very disappointing. Across the country virtual meetings have been seen as a great success to increased participation and inclusion, as well as enabling local authorities to address their climate change agenda. Public viewing figures have shown an increase in participation in our council meetings, and they have also enabled councillors with caring or employment related responsibilities to more easily accommodate meetings.

“Facilitating large public council meetings indoors, when other areas of the sector will still be required to meet outdoors, will require a significant amount of officer time, which will be deflected from our core council business at a time when we are focusing on continuing to support our residents and our local economy recover as we come out of lockdown.

“Given that the government’s roadmap is science and data driven, as opposed to dates, it is surprising that the government has not legislated for virtual meetings to continue until the vaccination programme has been completed, or in line with the legislation that allows MPs to meet virtually until June 21.

“I will be discussing these concerns about the announcement with my District colleagues and MP.”

A Devon County Council spokesman said: “This decision presents all local authorities with a complex challenge in deciding how best to hold face-to face council meetings safely after May 7.

“We will be looking very carefully at the detail of the new guidance before considering the best approach for the County Council.”

A spokesman for Mid Devon District Council added: “We will be looking at the new guidance in detail before we work out the best approach for our authority, in line with current Covid restrictions and with safety paramount.”

And Devon’s Liberal Democrats have criticised the plans, with leader of the Lib Dem Group on Devon County Council, Cllr Alan Connett, adding: “Forcing local councils to meet face-to-face in just over a month’s time makes no sense and potentially puts people at risk.

“Making large groups of people meet indoors for meetings which often last more than two hours, when we’re trying to stop the spread of COVID-19, is unbelievably daft. This affects councillors and council staff. Some may have had Covid jabs, some not and some may have clinically vulnerable family at home.

“It should be up to our local councils to decide when it is safe to return – not the Conservative Government.”

Cllr Denise Bickley, who sits on East Devon District Council, as an East Devon Alliance councillor, added: “This is a terrible backward step when virtual meetings have been working perfectly well, saving time, money, emissions, and meaning councillors have been able to attend for more meetings than they would in person. I’m very angry.”

Councils though are being encouraged to continue to live stream the meetings to meet the legal obligation to ensure that the members of the public and press can access the meeting without having to physically attend.

Luke Hall MP, Minister of State for Regional Growth and Local Government, in his letter to councils, said: “Extending the regulations to meetings beyond May 7 would require primary legislation. The Government has considered the case for legislation very carefully, including the significant impact it would have on the Government’s legislative programme which is already under severe pressure in these unprecedented times.

“We are also mindful of the excellent progress that has been made on our vaccination programme and the announcement of the Government’s roadmap for lifting Covid-19 restrictions. Given this context, the Government has concluded that it is not possible to bring forward emergency legislation on this issue at this time.”

He added: ““While local authorities have been able to hold meetings in person at any time during the pandemic with appropriate measures in place, the successful rollout of the vaccine and the reduction in cases of Covid-19 should result in a significant reduction in risk for local authority members meeting in person from May 7, as reflected in the Government’s plan to ease Covid-19 restrictions over the coming months.”

The economic value of the UK’s coastal waters has been put at more than £200bn amid growing recognition of the sea’s importance for renewable energy and as a barrier against global heating.

Richard Partington www.theguardian.com

In an official estimate for the value of marine natural assets, the Office for National Statistics said offshore wind production had soared in value by 37 times in the past decade.

Reflecting the growth of renewable electricity generation, the annual value of offshore wind energy generation increased to £296m in 2018, more than double the value in 2017, and 3,612% higher than in 2008.

Britain has become a world leader for wind power in recent years, with turbines on land and sea generating nearly a fifth of overall UK electricity, as the second-largest source behind gas. The UK recorded its greenest ever day for power generation over the Easter bank holiday, as a result of the windy and sunny weather, when 41% of electricity came from wind and 21% from solar farms.

However, official figures show the number of direct jobs supported by the offshore wind sector has only increased marginally in recent years despite the energy boom, growing by just 14% from 6,300 in 2014 to 7,200 in 2019.

The ONS said there were three main ways that the value of Britain’s marine ecosystems could be calculated: as a cultural and recreational asset; in the provision of natural resources; and as a regulator of environmental factors such as carbon emissions and water flows to prevent flooding.

Recreation had the highest value to the economy, worth an estimated £75bn. The study found more than 1 bn hours are spent on beaches and by the sea in Britain each year, representing a tenth of total hours spent on outdoor recreation with the coastal environment the key draw for millions of tourists and more than £1.7bn in consumer spending. It also said there was an average added-value of £8,100 for house prices with a sea view.

Highlighting the importance of aquatic habitats, sand dunes and salt marshes for capturing carbon – helping to limit global heating – the ONS estimated that between 10.5 and 60.1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent are sequestered in UK waters, with a value of between £742m and £4.3bn.

However, it warned there was increasing pollution from nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater discharge, while the extent of natural salt marshes in the UK had also declined at a rate of 40 hectares a year for the last 50 years, damaging natural defences.

Estimating the contribution from fishing, the ONS said the value from the marine environment was about £7.5bn. It found that a total of 395 different species of fish were caught in UK waters, but that more than half the tonnage was made up of just two species: herring and mackerel. Overall, the report found a rise in sustainable fishing between 2015 and 2019.

However, the total net profit from catching fish in UK waters fell from a peak of £366m in 2017 to £284m in 2018, according to the latest available figures.

Democracy in the Dark – our new report commissioned from two of the UK’s leading election finance academics reveals a major rise in online spending during the 2019 general election – with little transparency over how it was used. 

www.electoral-reform.org.uk 

Nearly a year after the 2019 election, official insights on party spending returns have not yet been published. Even when the official figures are released, lax reporting rules mean voters will be little wiser as to how campaigners were targeting their resources.  

In Democracy in the Dark, Dr Katharine Dommett and Dr Sam Power have estimated how much was spent on social media platforms by campaigners and parties during the election and tracked the rise of non-party ‘outriders’.   

Online spend increases

In the six weeks before polling day in 2019, the Conservative Party raised more money in donations than all other parties combined during the same pre-poll period in 2017. But little information is available about any of the main parties’ spending online or offline, not least in terms of how they targeted voters. We do know that in 2019 the Conservatives invested dramatically more in Google than other parties – roughly triple Labour’s spend.  

Political party spending on platforms is likely to have increased by over 50 percent in 2019 compared to 2017, with around £6 million spent on Facebook and just under £3 million on Google by the three main UK-wide parties. However, social media giants’ online ad archives – set up to provide a veneer of political transparency – are insufficient and often error-prone. 

The rise of outriders

Adverts placed by national parties constituted only a fraction of the total campaign spend: we also saw the rise of the ‘outrider’. Sixty-four of these organisations registered in 2019 as a whole and 46 were registered after the election was (officially) confirmed on 29 October. Voters are too often kept unaware of who is behind these opaque outfits.

• Campaign material from non-party actors

According to new analysis of Facebook data, 88 UK organisations were listed as non-party campaign groups during the 2019 election. These groups placed 13,197 adverts at a calculated cost of £2,711,452. It is often difficult for voters to work out who is behind campaign material from a non-party actor.  

There is a lack of information available in key areas around the digital campaign such as how much was spent on online, who was behind key election spending, how such messages were targeted, what they said –  and how voters’ personal data was used to do it. 

It is currently ‘exceedingly difficult’ if not impossible to uphold the principles of the UK’s foundational electoral legislation.   

 While the government has committed to legislating for digital ‘imprints’ to show who is paying for ads, it has not yet set out a clear timeline as to its implementation.  

10 key reforms

In Democracy in the Dark, the authors highlight 10 key reforms – beyond online imprints – needed to shine a light on online political campaigning: 

1. Require campaigners to provide the Electoral Commission with more detailed, meaningful and accessible invoices of what they have spent, boosting scrutiny and transparency over online vs offline spend. 
2. Strengthen the powers of the Electoral Commission to investigate malpractice and create a stronger deterrent against wrongdoing by increasing the maximum fine it can levy. 
3. Implement shorter reporting deadlines so that financial information from campaigns on their donations and spending is available to voters and the Commission more quickly after a campaign, or indeed, in ‘real time’. Currently, voters have to wait far too long to see the state of the campaign.  
4. Regulate all donations by reducing ‘permissibility check’ requirements from £500 to 1p for all non-cash donations, and £500 to £20 for cash donations. The current rules are riddled with loopholes and haven’t kept up with the digital age, raising the risks of foreign or unscrupulous interference.  
5. Create a publicly accessible, clear and consistent archive of paid-for political advertising. This archive should include details of each advert’s source (name and address), who sponsored (paid) for it, and (for some) the country of origin.  
6. New controls created by social media companies to check that people or organisations who want to pay to place political adverts about elections and referendums in the UK are actually based in the UK or registered to vote here.  
7. New legislation clarifying that campaigning by non-UK actors is not allowed. Campaigners should not be able to accept money from companies that have not made enough money in the UK to fund the amount of their donation or loan. 
8. Legislate for a statutory code of practice for the use of personal information in political campaigns, to clarify the rules and ensure voters know their rights. 
9. A public awareness and digital literacy campaign which will better allow citizens to identify misinformation. 
10. Rationalise Britain’s sprawling, Victorian-era electoral law under one consistent legislative framework. 

Openness and transparency are the key foundations for any democracy. Yet nearly a year after the general election, voters remain in the dark about who is targeting them online.  

It’s likely that we’ll never get a full picture of who was behind the online ads that so many voters saw during the election, digital campaigning remains an unregulated Wild West, and the government must get to grips with this now. But rather than giving our election watchdog the powers it needs to shine a light on what’s going on, we are instead seeing growing threats made to its future. 

There is near-unanimous agreement that our election rules are not fit for purpose and are undermining our democracy. As technology moves ahead, analogue-age campaign laws are putting the integrity of our elections at risk. But with the clear recommendations for change in this report, we can safeguard against dodgy donors, dark ads and disinformation, and restore faith in our democratic system.

We asked the authors for their thoughts on the importance of Democracy in the Dark. Dr Kate Dommett said: “This report sets out the clear impetus for change and shows the scale of the challenge we confront. Reflecting on the numerous recommendations that are already out there, we demonstrate the need to move beyond inquiries and begin to act.”  

Dr Sam Power added: “This report shows that in five key areas – money, non-party campaigning, targeting, data use and misinformation – our electoral regulation is being stretched to breaking point. Whilst we present new data, the basic argument is not novel. It contains recommendations that have been repeated again and again by campaigners and policy-makers alike, and reflect genuine public concern in this area.”  

With this report we call on the government to take urgent action, far beyond merely a consultation on digital imprints.

Read Democracy in the Dark here. 

Sign our petition to shine a light on ‘dark ads’

With the amorphous character of housing development sprawling around our towns and villages, it is only their centres that retain any character. But this character can now be changed “overnight” by new permitted development rights introduced by Robert Jenrick and described as a “complete gift to unscrupulous developers”.

From a Budleigh correspondent:

New rules allowing commercial premises to be converted into homes came into force on 31 March 2021 as “part of a package of measures to revitalise England’s cherished high streets and town centres”.

 “Permitted Development Rights” (PD) will be expanded which will enable developers to turn shops, pharmacies, restaurants and post offices into apartments without needing planning permission in town centres. A property will only have to be empty for 3 months before it can be converted. Until now, for example, while developers have technically had a permitted development right to turn shops and professional services premises into homes, this has only applied to properties smaller than 150sq m.

There will be no right for the local authority to object to the conversion on the basis that they want to retain commercial uses in a particular location, or in order to support the delivery of local plan policies around town centres.

The amount of activity of high streets would plummet which has to be really carefully managed and the quality of the accommodation would also plummet as has already been seen with current PD conversions.

PD conversions would bring in no section 106 money and councils would also lose business rates, while at the same time facing a potentially higher social services load as a consequence of people living in substandard accommodation.

And where would the wheelie bins go?

The “sting” is that this will also apply to Conservation Areas – albeit with an additional prior approval criterion added to consider the impact of conversion on the conservation area.  Architects, planners, conservationists and the National Trust have condemned this move.

East Devon District Council has designated 33 Conservation Areas in the district. We have many areas of special architectural or historic interest and the aim of these is to enhance or preserve the character of each area. They cover the historic town centres of all the seven major towns i.e. Exmouth , Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Seaton, Honiton and Axminster, and also include our historic villages. See designation here.

However, local authorities will have the ability to apply for so-called “article 4” directions exempting specific areas from the measures, if they can mount a persuasive case as to why that is necessary. My previous experience with EDDC’s Ed Freeman and Article 4 directions is there is a reluctance to apply these powers, so not much hope here.  (A number of London boroughs, for example, managed to secure similar exemptions from the 2015 “office-to-resi” rights. And they were enthusiastically deployed by prime minister Boris Johnson when he was mayor of London to protect the capital’s commercial heartland.)

We all agree that our towns need an uplift but a free for all is not the way to go about it as our historic town centres will be extremely vulnerable to “unscrupulous developers” and “substandard homes”.

The only excemption to these rights will be in Budleigh Salterton. The town is in the East Devon AONB and the only exceptions to this policy will be in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You may ask why Budleigh Salterton and not Sidmouth, a much older, historic town is in the East Devon AONB. Initially all towns were excluded when boundaries were set but the reasons for this exception were given in 1961 by the National Parks Commission  

(i) they believed that the quality of the coastline immediately west of Budleigh Salterton was so good that it justified the inclusion of the town itself in the AONB, and

(ii) while they agreed with the NPC view that Sidmouth should be excluded, the drawing of a precise boundary around the town should await the outcome of discussions between Sidmouth UDC and the County Council.

But has this exceptional inclusion had any effect on the town with EDDC planners? As a resident of Budleigh Salterton it has been obvious that the town’s inclusion in the East Devon AONB has always been a thorn in the flesh to EDDC planners and something very often completely forgotten or overlooked. We will see whether the blinkers continue with Permitted Development Rights.

We all know we need to upgrade our town centres but as Victoria Hills, chief executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said “the changes were a complete gift to unscrupulous developers”.