Marland’s Wikipeida entry states he was then ‘made Chairman’ of the Council, whereas in fact, as the Director and 50% shareholder of the £2.00 company, he plainly accorded himself the title of Chairman.

The website of the Commonwealth Investment and Enterprise Council (CWIEC) is surprisingly uninformative about its limited company status in the ‘About Us’ section, preferring to concentrate on the apparent relationship with the Commonwealth Secretariat, which has provided the company with ‘small’ office space at its headquarters in Malborough House.

Indeed, the CWIEC appears to have acquired what it describes as “a mandate” to organise trade events for the Commonwealth Secretariat and says it is a not for profit company dedicated to boosting trade and enterprise within the Commonwealth. Notably, it was the CWIEC that organsied the face-saving Britain/Malaysia trade event for Najib at Malborough House in June 2016, shortly after the Department of Justice published its court filing over 1MDB that showed a billion dollars of borrowed cash had gone from the fund into Najib’s bank accounts.

That trade conference took place just two days after Cameron’s ‘Anti-Corruption Conference’ in London, which was in exactly the same location at Malborough House.

Questioned by Channel 4 News outside the controversial event, Lord Marland implied there could be no proof that Najib had taken the money, until his own appointed Attorney General launched a prosecution (thus ignoring the fact that Najib had just fired the previous AG, who had attempted to do just that).

Although the conference was described as non-official by UK government spokesmen, who claimed no ministers would attend, in the event Hugo Swire, then a Foreign Office Minister, none the less attended it. Swire at the time told the Wall Street Journal “I am not setting myself up as a judge and jury” on Najib, thus registering an apparent Government line towards the 1MDB affair.

Political Clout

The newly appointed Director of the ‘Commonwealth Investment and Enterprise Council’ is none other than Hugo Swire MP, who took up the job after losing Foreign Office post in a government re-shuffle in late 2016. Swire has now been registered as a controlling individual of this limited company as of July 27th last year. The good relationship with the pseudo-official company has therefore provided valuable political support for Najib in the UK.

The Ipswich firm won the council contract to redevelop the site in 2016 and its application for the homes was given provisional approval by SCDC’s planning committee in October 2017.

But it needed to satisfy conditions – including affordable housing – before councillors would grant full planning permission.

Since then, nothing has come before the planning committee and critics said the project had stalled, leaving the future of an important site in doubt. …

The proposals had already generated hundreds of objections, many criticising the design of the buildings, which have been described as “cheese wedges”. Public scrutiny has been heightened due to the site’s prominent location and its role in SCDC’s accommodation plan.

The plan, which saw the council move to new £3.9million headquarters in Riduna Park, Melton, in 2016, is hoped to save the taxpayer £8m over 20 years through cheaper running costs.

Although SCDC insists it is still on course to make the savings, the council cannot finalise the sale of Melton Hill until planning permission is granted.

It is understood affordable housing is the main issue to be resolved. AUPG had entered a partnership with Flagship Homes, one of Suffolk’s largest providers of social housing, but the agreement was dissolved in August 2017.

Councillors familiar with the deal claim Flagship’s involvement influenced SCDC’s choice of developer, due to its reputation and financial position. They say Flagship’s withdrawal as a partner in the scheme should have led SCDC to question how AUPG could deliver the project alone.

David Hughes, a director with AUPG, said the partnership’s dissolution was due to a “change in personnel” at Flagship and he expected the planning application to go before the planning committee on April 19.

He insisted the affordable housing would be delivered and said its plans were submitted to the council’s planning department “before Christmas”.

Flagship Homes managing director Tony Tann has not commented on the partnership ending but said Flagship was still involved and “would be pleased to procure the affordable homes”.

He said Flagship was awaiting a response from AUPG regarding its offer.

Much of the criticism of AUPG’s proposals has focused on the difference between its designs and those in a masterplan, released in April 2016.

While the first plans were for 68 homes, retaining two older buildings and the Drummer Boy statue, AUPG’s revisions released last June were for 100 homes and to remove the older buildings.

Council tax payers are already paying some 35% of their taxes to cover interest payments to the banks and a massive pension pot deficit, without subsidising another several million £££ build and running costs for this white elephant.

The whole stadium and conference centre has been poorly costed (£14m?? Really? Add another £20-£30m to that; who’s dubious figures have they used? Have any councillors actually seen the fully costed plans?), whilst the running costs of storing raw sewerage and then transporting this through a busy western corridor into Truro, to Newham, will, with other running costs, mean tax payers are looking at another £10m annual bill – we cannot see Dickie Evans’ Pirates, Truro College, Better or especially not Truro City FC (with its 200 fans), forking out this sort of money to run this poorly planned stadium; so tax payers will pay for the shortfall for another 10 years or more, despite 95% of the population never benefitting from this ludicrous project.

Developers and retailers have already abandoned this “golden opportunity” because of the potential huge costs involved, and Phil Mason has publicly said the Truro western corridor is a “mistake”, whilst Threemilestone, Tregavethan & Penstraze residents are very angry at this smog-induced mess; but somehow, oracle John Betty has it all planned out, and with his magic wand, has convinced many cabinet members that it all adds up…

We ask, adds up for whom? Inox? Patrons at the Chiverton Arms? Or just him and his [] mates? Easy to make promises when you waltz into town on a wage higher than the Prime Ministers’, then disappear into the Bristol fog, but who’s going to foot the bill for all this, now and for years to come? And that’s after another 5.1% Council Tax increase this year alone.

This leads us to think that this part-time council officer is a one-man menace to Cornwall’s residents, worse still than Phil Mason…

Adam Paynter – Leader of the Council – obviously can’t handle the heat, as he’s off skiing in Australia, so will John Betty “convince” his remaining colleagues on Wednesday 28th March that his pet project at Langarth is value for money… for ALL of us? Probably, if we allow it.

EXTRAORDINARY CABINET MEETING AT CORNWALL COUNCIL
(which includes Stadium for Cornwall) 28th March 2018 at 10.0am

QUESTIONS TO BE SUBMITTED BEFORE 12 NOON TOMORROW (FRIDAY)

To – cabinet@cornwall.gov.uk

Report here:
https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/documents/s108991/Stadium for Cornwall Report.pdf

A reminder about housing stats in Cornwall, to counter some of the nonsense peddled by several officers, and swallowed hook, line and sinker by the more gullible councillor element, ie. Dwelly and Eathorne-Gibbons:
https://cornwalldevelopersparadise.wordpress.com

Also:
“Cornwall Council has had a cleansing of the database and since 26th February. They now have 6,500 people on the register. They have said:

“We did have 19,000 people on it. As of yesterday (26th Feb), we now have 6,500 people on it. We are expecting the figure to go up, but not to the level it was before. We have carried out a cleansing of the database. We have tidied up the connection criteria and looked at whether to allow people to stay on the database if they’ve turned down housing.”

So who’s the 52,500 new homes for, let alone the additional ones which John Betty and Kate Kennally are trying to tag onto this figure?

Note that the regional inspector, Simon Emerson, who forced through the council’s 47,500 new homes plan (and then added another 5,000 to accommodate second homes), has since retired and is now acting as consultant… to the developers. And so the cycle of moral bankruptcy and [] is complete…

Letter from one Truronian to counter the [comments]Councillor Dwelly seems to have swallowed:

“Dear Mr Dwelly,

Thank you for your reply. I was surprised to learn that the Council has been carrying out “large surveys” of the origin of the residents of new housing, as I have not heard of this research before. I assume that it has not made such evidence public, despite requests by people for evidence to back up assertions that most new housing goes to local residents. I would be very grateful if you could direct me to the evidence of these surveys so that we could evaluate the methodology and better understand whether in-migrants are predominantly buying/renting new or old properties. In the meantime, I remain unconvinced by your statement that 80% of new housing goes to local people. They simply can’t afford most of these properties. With Cornwall’s population increasing by 4 – 5,000 each year, and natural change being negative, that increase has to be from in-migration. Mr Mason tried making similar assertions back in 2015, but was swiftly de-bunked in this piece: https://cornwalldevelopersparadise.wordpress.com/2015/02/21/new-housing-and-migrants-some-evidence/ The article refers to a study of residents of new estates, carried out in 1987 and conducted by the then County Council and the Districts. It found that 44% of households had moved directly to Cornwall from outside, and another 11% moved to the new properties via a short stay in other rented or owner-occupied housing. Those findings are clearly at odds with the planners’ claims that, these days, only 20% of new housing goes to in-migrants, given that current net in-migration rates are running at a similar level.

As you say, it matters not whether I am an incomer or not, so I am surprised you should raise the subject. And I would be grateful if you would refrain from using the acronym NIMBY. It is emotive, has a sneering tone that is unwelcome in rational debate, and suggests prejudicial stereotyping on your part.

I have heard various figures banded about concerning the amount of developed land, anything between 3% to 12%. In any case, the point is that green fields are being consumed at an alarming rate and being replaced by concrete – Cornwall is being subjected to a creeping urbanisation. Whether viewed from air or land, the cumulative effect of hyper-development is to continue to diminish Cornwall’s rurality and all the special qualities that it comprises. Even the Council’s own reports state that biodiversity is falling as not just housing, but vast industrial estates and roads, chop up the integrity of the countryside. What is very clear from an aeroplane is that Cornwall is a small, finite territory. However, our future is infinite, which is why true sustainability is an issue which desperately needs to be addressed in a serious way.

I would suggest that you are amongst a minority of councillors if you feel that the Local Plan figures are “too low”. What is clear, however, is that you do not value the rural dimension that Cornwall is fast losing and that you have no concerns about the loss of tranquility, ancient fields and woodlands; that you are unconcerned about rising levels of traffic, congestion and air pollution, and about the pervading ugliness of so much development that bears no relation to its surroundings. These are the things that opponents of the Council’s hyper-development culture are so shocked, horrified and angry about. Cornwall has been subjected to excessive development for decades now but that has not solved the housing issues you mention. All that has happened is that the population continues to grow and our precious heritage obliterated in order to feed developer profits. I would suggest that the issue is more one of tenureship and ‘affordability’ rather than actual lack of housing.

Regards”

Councillor Timothy Dwelly from Breage, who “represents” Penzance East, has yet to respond.

Another councillor was told:
Sent: 15 March 2018 09:19
Subject: Re Stadium for Cornwall to Cabinet on 28 March

Further to our phone call yesterday, I have asked Democratic Services for further information.

They have advised that, until the vote takes place at Cabinet, it cannot be known how the recommendation will be submitted to Council as, at this stage, there is no way of knowing who will vote for, against or abstain. The agenda pack for Cabinet will be published next Tuesday, 20 March 2018, and this will contain the report (with the recommendations) and any supporting appendices.

As for time, this will be down to the Leader, as Chairman of Cabinet, and the Chairman of Council for Full Council. There are no set timings for Cabinet and Full Council agendas.

There will also be an All Member Briefing on 11 April 2018 concerning the Stadium.

I hope that the above is helpful and please let me know if I can be of further help.

Kind regards”

But according to Eathorne-Gibbons, millions of our taxes are very “modest sums”; some might say “it ain’t your money, Eathorne!”

GOOD AND CAREFUL MANAGEMENT INDEED!

VERY FAVOURABLE FINANCIAL POSITION INDEED!

AT LEAST WE KNOW WHERE HE STANDS.

Mrs Harding is the clerk at Kenwyn Parish Council which is the parish most affected by the Langarth lunacy.

Dear Mrs Harding

Thank you for your correspondence.

I do not support your position.

A Stadium for Cornwall will bring considerable benefits to Cornwall.

The sum likely to be involved from Cornwall Council is very modest in relation to the Council’s very favourable financial position which is the result of good and careful management by members and officers.

When the matter comes to Cabinet I shall support it.

Regards.

Mike Eathorne-Gibbons
Cabinet Member- Customers
Councillor- Ladock, St Clement & St Erme

So much for listening to all the arguments and debates before deciding how to vote on this costly white elephant!!

Why not also write to some of the cabinet members involved, just to remind them which planet they’re living on and whose money they’re playing hard and fast with …”

https://www.change.org/p/11894170/u/22539901

From a correspondent:

“I am still trying to get my head around the extent of the gap between Clinton Devon Estates (CDE) publicity campaign and how much care they have actually taken over the ecological aspects of the application to extend the Blackhill Engineering site.

A previous blog:
https://eastdevonwatch.org/2018/02/05/clinton-devon-estates-desperately-tries-to-justify-quarry-industrial-units/comment-page-1/

provided a link to a Devon Live article on CDE’s application under the headline: “Quarry expansion plans will provide ‘space for nature and sustain local economy’”.

In the article Mr Rix (CDE) said: “Prior to submitting this application, we commissioned a comprehensive ecology report, which shows that, because the application involves replacing existing industrial equipment, the work is unlikely to impact on nearby designated sites, nor the County Wildlife Site. Nevertheless, we will be implementing an ecological mitigation plan.
But how much emphasis has “Space for Nature” actually been given in the application so far?

Outline planning was validated on 20 December. Formal closing date for comments was set for 6 February, this Tuesday, the day Natural England submitted their comments. Natural England is the government’s adviser for the natural environment in England, helping to protect England’s nature and landscapes for people to enjoy and for the services they provide. What do their comments at the end of formal consultation say?

“SUMMARY OF NATURAL ENGLAND’S ADVICE:
FURTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED TO DETERMINE IMPACTS ON:
EAST DEVON AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY (AONB)
EAST DEVON PEBBLEBED HEATHS SSSI
EAST DEVON PEBBLEBED HEATHS SPECIAL AREA OF CONSERVATION (SAC)
EAST DEVON HEATHS SPECIAL PROTECTION AREA (SPA)