There’s a curious continued reluctance of the relocation Team to fully answer SOS Chair Richard Thurlow’s Freedom of Information request on the matter. Details here: http://saveoursidmouth.com/2015/01/13/energy-costs-for-relocation-disclosure-of-information-still-refused/
Category Archives: Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury
Another split amongst East Devon Tories?
All is not quite as it seems in the (02/01/2015) Sidmouth Herald photo of MP Hugo Swire with three of the Sidmouth District Councillors!
See http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/polopoly_fs/1.3902104!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_490/image.jpg
Conservative Cllrs Drew, Newth and Sullivan voted AGAINST putting the Knowle relocation project on hold (proposed by Independent Cllr Claire Wright), just a few days before Mr Swire’s press release followed Cllr Wright’s lead. (Mrs Wright is of course standing against Hugo Swire in this year’s May election, as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for East Devon).
The same three councillors were present at the public open meeting organised by the Sid Vale Association in advance of the Full Council vote on Knowle (Dec 17th 2014). But the straightjacket of party politics seemed to restrict their perspective on Knowle. Cllr Frances Newth (appears by Hugo’s right shoulder in the picture), former EDDC Environment champion, did not utter a word about the environmental impact of relocation; Cllr Christine Drew (pictured on Hugo’s left) appeared blissfully unaware of the knock-on effect of the loss of the major Sid Valley employment site, and the ‘need’ for a large business park planned alongside a minor country road between Sidford and her beloved Sidbury; and Cllr Peter Sullivan responsible for Health and Wellbeing, made no comparison of the benefits of a workplace set in parkland with that of an industrial estate (as now proposed at Honiton).
As 2015 unrolls, will they all just keep smiling for the camera …?
Will the Councillors stay loyal to Leader Paul Diviani, or to their local MP?
A tricky call!!
Council staff speak out about office relocation
..and they should know! Some telling comments (already referred to on our own website) are put into context in the comprehensive summary of how the plan to move from Knowle has proceeded, on today’s blogpost at http://futuresforumvgs.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/knowle-relocation-project-if-knowle-is.html
EDDC “Lurching from one idea to another at taxpayers’ expense”, claims council employee
Sidmouth Town Council unhappy with Chair of Development Management Committee for ignoring councillors
This letter, in the public domain, has been passed on to us:
It seems that ward councillors, even those of her own party, just don’t count in Mrs Parr’s world – where she appears to have become very regal …
Advice from relocation advisors
Sidmouth Councillors, were you listening?
It was left to opposition councillors , and to the public, to point out the “alarming weaknesses” in the relocation project, at the Full council meeting yesterday evening. Here’s what SOS had to say: http://saveoursidmouth.com/2014/12/18/relocation-has-alarming-weaknesses-in-assumptionsplanning-and-estimating-says-sos/
The “excellent move” TO Knowle
Sidmouth District and County Councillor, Stuart Hughes, was unable to attend the Public Open Meeting (Tuesday 9th Dec) organised by the Sid Vale Association (SVA). He did, however, send his view on relocation to SVA Chair, Alan Darrant, to be read out at the meeting. Here is Cllr Hughes’ statement:
‘I’m not sure that this is the time to be contemplating any move away from Sidmouth as the future of local government is already raising its head and I do believe we could well be looking at a two tier system becoming the norm with the parish/town councils taking on a greater role.
It was the hindsight of Ted Pinney when the Districts became into being that he secured the Knowle back in 1974 and when you really look deeply why this was such an excellent move, then you only have to look at its location at the centre of the coastal towns of Exmouth Budleigh and Seaton and a short distance from East Devons only Primary road the A3052 (this runs from one side of East Devon to the other) Clyst St Mary (just off M5) and the Dorset border (Lyme Regis).
If and it looks as though a move will given the go ahead then we must take the serious threat of further flooding and ensure that as part of any development that the Surface Water Management Plan recommendation for a SUDs storage at Knowle is tied in with any development.
Finally loss of jobs and we should be looking to retain some of the services here in Sidmouth if the move is agreed at Council……………I have a suggestion that I feel should be explored and will elaborate more on that at the EDDC meeting next week.’
The Full Council will decide whether to agree a move FROM Knowle, at their meeting on 17th December, 6.30pm at Knowle (plenty of parking; set in lovely historic parkland; convenient access; energy rating certificate ‘C’; etc…)
What can you get for £15,000,000…..(EDDC estimate for Knowle refurbishment) ?
Some comparisons, to give us an idea….
Castle Drogo refurbishment £11m
http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Castle-Drogo-s-pound-11m-restoration-adds-visitor/story-18365257-detail/story.html
What you get for £11m:
‘The flat roof is roughly equivalent to two international football pitches. A high-tech roof system, designed by Bauder is being installed. This two layer membrane is designed to cope with the extremes of temperature experienced on Dartmoor.
In order to lay the new waterproof system, 2,355 granite blocks weighing 680 tonnes have to be removed and then reinstated. This will involve moving and reassembling entire battlements and large sections of the castle walls.
We have also had to redesign the roof gullies to accommodate the heavy Dartmoor rainfall.
Repointing; the cracked cement pointing is being removed and replaced with an improved lime based mortar. The sheer amount of new pointing required stretches to an impressive 60,000 metres (laid in a line it would stretch all the way from Castle Drogo to Lundy Island).
In addition some 913 windows containing over 13,000 panes are being cleaned and the lead replaced to stop them leaking.’
Cunard Building Liverpool – £15m refurbishment cost
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/cunard-building-costs-top-15m-7635478
Historic 5 storey building
Why refurbish?
http://www.building.co.uk/cost-model-office-refurbishments/5038491.article
Eastenders studio http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a551445/eastenders-elstree-set-revamp-to-cost-over-gbp15m.html#~oXRuqDJRiMpbez
A whole studio gutted and rebuilt
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-21933903
New bus station Stoke on Trent
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bf3deae0-5098-11d9-b551-00000e2511c8.html#axzz3LJgcHSFq
Royal Institution, London
High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bf3deae0-5098-11d9-b551-00000e2511c8.html#ixzz3LJgrhJ5J
Besides museum space on three floors, the redevelopment features expanded archives, a Young Scientist Centre, a café and bar – and the infrastructure required to support a huge increase in visitors to the building.
Is Head of Knowle relocation scheme to be trusted?
In a swingeing attack on EDDC Deputy Chief Executive and Head of the Relocation Project team, Richard Cohen, Sidmouth resident Richard Eley told last night’s Public Meeting, that he had no confidence in Mr Cohen because (we quote) he was:
“The man who moved the southern boundary of the Knowle to include the parkland without telling anybody and in contradiction to the specific instructions of the Development Management Committee (1). I was told this would not be investigated because the Inspector (2) would look at it, which he would not do because it was not within his remit. So this has never been investigated by anybody at the Knowle.”
“He did it without managing to record that process; without recording any conversation or without writing a single email, or keeping a single note or sending any kind of correspondence to any third party. Because I made a freedom of information request, and there was nothing there.”
“He did it unilaterally, on his own, secretly, and he didn’t tell a single soul, and I only found out by accident.”
And in another gross miscalculation, added Mr Eley, Richard Cohen had underestimated the size of the Knowle offices by 40%.
He concluded, “This is not the kind of person that I would trust to do these calculations. When he says, ‘It’s going to cost £15.5 million to refurbish (the Knowle)’. I would tell him, “That’s a load of rubbish!”
(1) editorial note: after the DMC had refused EDDC’s outline planning application for the Knowle in March 2013
(2) editorial note: at the public examination of the draft Local Plan, in February 2014.
Last night’s meeting with Sidmouth District Councillors
In a brave, but probably for some politically-suicidal gesture, six of Sidmouth’s seven district councillors met their electors last night at a public meeting organised by the Sid Vale Association to discuss their attitude to Office Relocation Project.
The packed, at times angry meeting in the Dissenters Chapel overran the planned one and a half hours. The key headlines for the evening:
• Councillors Drew, Kerridge, Newth, Sullivan, and Wale basically supported leaving the Knowle, despite protestations of regret, and parroted well-worn phrases, “not fit for purpose”. “too expensive to refurbish”, “people working in bathrooms”.
• Councillors Troman and Hughes oppose the move. Troman mentioning the disastrous loss of jobs; Hughes (in a statement, he was at a County meeting) saying it was the wrong time to be moving, and development of the Knowle site would add to Sidmouth’s flood risk.
• Despite having attended a morning briefing (from Richard Cohen?) most of the councillors seemed out of their depth with the technical details of the project. Christine Drew didn’t even realise a big chunk of the gardens had been offered to developers! Many of the audience were far better informed. Her remark early on in the meeting, that “You’re doing our job for us!” seemed rather ironical.
Stand out contributions from the floor came from:
• Richard Thurlow of Save our Sidmouth who demolished the Council’s figure of £5.5 million in energy saving as a result of the move.
• Richard Eley completed the job saying that Richard Cohen’s estimates of 10% annual energy prices increases over 20 years with 2% annual inflation were “rubbish”, and adding that EDDC’s embedded consultant Steve Pratten would end up costing taxpayers £1 million.
• Keith Northover (Knowle Drive Residents’ Association) pointed out that Robin Fuller’s detailed study in 2012 showed the viability of refurbishing the 1980’s purpose-built offices which could easily accommodate the fewer employees that will be needed.
• Mike Temple passionately condemned the possible destruction of one of the finest gardens in the county as the upper lawns had been included in the area to be developed (apparently by a unilateral decision of Richard Cohen).
• Michael Brittain said it was incedible EDDC felt they needed to move when their existing conditions were better than many hospitals enjoyed.
• Town councillor John Dyson pointed out-as did several others -that relocation would only start to save money after ten years but that the life expectancy of EDDC, because of inevitable local government reorganisation was likely to be less than five.
• John Rayson, who worked for many years at the Knwle, said the staff liked working there and didn’t want to move.
Sadly, it was clear that most of Sidmouth’s representatives were out of touch with their electors. As one frustrated resident shouted out “Start standing up for Sidmouth!”
Some predict a serious electoral cull in the town next Spring
Footnote from an EDA observer, on the above picture: “It would be nice to think enlightenment of the church comes from Tesco – but I think it is just a street lamp”.
Sidmouth: open meeting tonight, Knowle and Local Plan
Open Public Meeting 7.00 pm Tuesday 9th December, Old Unitarian Chapel, All Saints Road Sidmouth.
Knowle and Local Plan
The seven District Councilors for Sidmouth have been invited to outline their views and answer questions from the public.
Arranged by Sid Vale Association
Will latest relocation swerve be cost-effective?
Chair of Save Our Sidmouth has asked for clarification on EDDC calculations of comparative running costs. View his question to Richard Cohen, at this link: http://saveoursidmouth.com/2014/12/05/costs-of-running-knowle-compared-with-those-of-running-honiton-and-exmouth/
The relocation muddle continues.
Flooding in Sidmouth…why? And what to do?
Sidmouth District Councillors invited to meet the public at Open Meeting (Tues evening, 9th Dec)
Knowle and the Local Plan will be the main topics for discussion. Details here http://saveoursidmouth.com/2014/11/28/public-open-meeting-in-sidmouth-tues-9th-dec-at-7pm-our-local-district-councillors-have-been-invited/
Knowle relocation and EU Regulations: the questions that Overview and Scrutiny and/or Audit and Governance probably won’t ask
In Cabinet papers:
“On 4 June 14, Cabinet agreed that specialist expertise be commissioned to advise on the specialist area of European procurement, relating to Skypark. This advice has confirmed that a European procurement process for site acquisition and development was likely to be required, with additional cost and associated delay. Since June, however, as the body of the report explains, Skypark has in any case become less affordable due to the reduction in projected capital receipts likely to be available for the office relocation project.”
So, how come that for around 3 years no-one spotted that the new HQ project would require that it be done under EU regulations to promote fair competition and that this would result in additional costs?
What was EDDC planning to do that would have fallen foul of the regulations?
Who spotted it and how?
How much did the expert advice cost?
Why did the Relocation Manager not spot it earlier – wasn’t he recruited as an expert in these matters at huge cost?
Why is the construction of a new HQ in Honiton not under the same rules (or is it)?
Has anyone checked?
Why was Skypark dependent on the “all eggs in one basket” approach that fell at the first hurdle when the supermarket lowered its offer?
Was this included in the risk assessment?
Was there a risk assessment?
Whose head will roll?
And for future reference councillors and officers, here are the thresholds above which strict EU procurement guidelines are mandatory:
http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/publicprocurement/rules/current/index_en.htm
We like to be helpful where we can.
‘Will Tory turkeys vote for Christmas?’
Some thoughts sent in to EDA
‘In the event of the Exeter/East Devon/Teignbridge merger, the political makeup of the new authority will be very interesting. At present it is as follows:
Teignbridge: 22 Conservatives, 10 LibDems, 13 Independents, 1 Ukip
Exeter: 10 Conservatives, 3 LibDems, 27 Labour
East Devon: 42 Conservatives, 10 LibDems, 7 Independents
Total: 74 Conservatives, 23 LibDems, 27 Labour, 20 Independents, 1 Ukip.
It would be a Conservative controlled council, but only just.
Nobody believes for one moment that the three authorities will remain politically independent, or will be allowed to remain so under local government reorganisation. The idea of a shared workforce, based in Exeter, serving three different authorities and 145 councillors is obviously ludicrous.
So, if there is to be a Greater Exeter Authority, then there will be far fewer councillors, perhaps 60 or so. And political control will be very uncertain.
Will our East Devon Conservative councillors vote for a new regime that will leave then with 20 rather than 59 councillors, and perhaps in opposition?
Will Tory turkeys vote for Christmas?’
EDDC Deputy Leader rails against failure to provide details of finances, and about secrecy.
Cllr Andrew Moulding has said not a word about the same issues regarding Knowle office relocation.
But in his other role as a Devon County Councillor for Axminster, he seems greatly exercised by them. See him in action at this webcam link to DCC’s recent debate on the NHS failure to provide details of the finances for the community health provision rationalisation while maintaining secrecy.http://www.devoncc.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/118538 ( Just click on Cllr Moulding’s name, for his speech near the beginning of the meeting.)
New light on Knowle, thanks to Mark Williams
See today’s press release from Save Our Sidmouth http://saveoursidmouth.com/2014/11/20/chief-executive-sheds-new-light-on-knowle/
East Devon Watch 
