David Reed, the Tory hopeful for the new constituency of Exmouth & East Exeter, chose to be photographed with Philip Skinner for the first post on his facebook page, following selection.

An “interesting” choice, given Phil’s record.

Are the Tories so demoralised that they couldn’t field a more significant “personality” to witness the selection? A County councillor, for example?

Party members at the selection meeting look from the photos to be thin on the ground, compared to 2019. It’s also a very low key event. (See images below).                  

Phil Skinner, former Tory group leader in EDDC, was rejected in May by the electorate in a straight fight with Lib Dem Cllr Richard Jeffries.

He had been a councillor for 24 years. One of the leading proponents of the pro-development “build, build, build” policy of the “Old Guard”, leading on the ill fated Exmouth Seafront “regeneration” taking little note of local opposition, and acting as the EDDC lead on the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan (GESP).

“Chapter and verse” on his record and exploits can be found by searching the copious East Devon Watch archive.

Phil was notoriously sacked by Sarah Randall Johnson in 2011 after sending her a “cheeky” Christmas Card. (He signed off: XX Phil – See below)

Owl wonders whether David Reed, apart from his time as a Royal Marine, has any real connection or “feel” for Exmouth.

In the May local elections he was active in his support for Pauline Stott and Richard Parr. 

Stott and Parr’s joint campaign, claiming that the pair will be “standing up for our environment” if elected and will “protect our seas and rivers”, reached the national news when it was revealed that Parr had paid £82,000 to a local environmental group after being found guilty of running an unpermitted landfill site on his farm, and running mate Pauline said “I don’t even know him”!

The electorate, wisely, rejected both.

Richard Parr is also a major developer around Exeter.

Owl recalls the old adage: “A man is judged by the company he keeps”.

Are Exeter Conservatives on board with all this?

Selection meetings 2019 and 2023 compared

The David Reed selection 2023 (actual selection but before confirmation which came two days later?)

Compare with Jupp’s selection 2019

XX Phil

Councillor ‘sacked’ over Christmas card comments www.exmouthjournal.co.uk

A COUNCILLOR has been sacked from his role as Rural Champion at East Devon District Council after he offended the authority’s leader with comments he wrote in a Christmas card.

Conservative Philip Skinner, who represents the Talaton area, sent the card to Sara Randall Johnson and headed it “My greatest adversary”.

He went on to write: “The rest I can demolish in my sleep, but you are in a class of your own.

“Despite our forever on-going spats, that I and I’m sure you enjoy, I do have a huge amount of respect for you.

“Roll on February.

“Hope you are well. Don’t take the world on, on your own, it’s not worth the personal cost.

“It’s business not personal.”

Councillor Skinner ended the letter with two kisses and two footnotes, the last of which stated: “If only things had turned out different, we’d have made one hell of a team.”

Councillor Randall Johnson informed councillors of her decision to sack Councillor Skinner in an email sent out on New Year’s Day.

She wrote: “I wanted you to know that I have reluctantly had to take the Rural Champion position away from Philip Skinner. We met on Thursday afternoon when I hoped he would have taken the honourable route, but he declined.

“The reason for doing this lay in a disagreement over a message he sent in a Christmas card. I was disappointed and concerned at its tone towards members of the council.

“Being called “my biggest adversary” is something I can well shoulder, but I am not prepared for all members to be so summarily dismissed. This is not tolerable and why I felt it necessary to take such a drastic step.”

Councillor Skinner declined to comment when The Herald contacted him.

The Tories could be locked out of power for a generation if supporters of other parties vote tactically at the next general election, the Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, says on Sunday, after his party chalked up another stunning West Country byelection victory.

Toby Helm www.theguardian.com 

A massive 29% swing to the Lib Dems saw Sarah Dyke take the Somerton and Frome seat, overturning a Conservative majority of more than 19,200. Davey’s party now has a comfortable 11,000 majority of its own, the largest it has ever had over the Tories in the constituency.

In June last year the Lib Dems won Tiverton and Honiton from the Tories, overturning a 24,000 Conservative majority as Boris Johnson’s reputation reached its nadir.

Tactical voting clearly played a large part in the latest victory, with Labour’s share of the vote dropping sharply to just 2.6% compared with almost 13% at the general election in 2019, putting the party way back in fifth place.

The Lib Dems were themselves squeezed in the other two byelections held on Thursday: in Selby and Ainsty in North Yorkshire, where Davey’s party won only 3.3% of the vote compared with 8.6% in 2019, and in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, where it won only 1.7%, down from 6.3% in 2019.

As Davey hailed his party’s recovery in its traditionally strong territory of the south-west, he told the Observer that there was now a clear opportunity to remove the Tories from office at the next election and keep them out for the foreseeable future, if tactical voting occurred across the West Country and more widely.

“It is no secret that some Labour and Green party voters lent us their votes in Somerset and we are very grateful for their support,” he said. “In many seats across the south-west, voters at the next election will be faced with a similar choice between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives.

“My message to all voters who want to get rid of this out-of-touch Conservative government is clear: if the Liberal Democrats can win back our heartlands in the West Country, it could lock the Conservatives out of power for a generation.”

The Lib Dems, who suffered a near wipeout at Westminster after forming a coalition government with the Tories in 2010, are now rebuilding at national and local government levels.

Having returned only eight MPs to Westminster in 2015, they are now up to 15 after their victory in Somerton and Frome and have their eyes on 15 other Tory-held seats in the West Country alone, where the Conservative majorities are lower than in Somerton and Frome. They now run eight councils in the West Country, up from two in 2016.

Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best for Britain, which campaigns for better democracy and favours parties working together to remove the Conservatives, said her organisation would be providing guidance to voters ahead of the next election.

“In the absence of opposition parties standing aside for one another to defeat this failing government, progressive voters have little choice but to make tactical decisions come polling day,” she said.

“But voters can’t take for granted who the main challenger to the Tories is, so Best for Britain will provide constituency-level guidance. For as long as we have an arcane first-past-the-post system that structurally favours the right, such tactics will be necessary.”

Neal Lawson, the director of Compass, a centre-left pressure group, who is facing possible dismissal from the Labour party for encouraging people to vote tactically, said it had gained 250 members since his argument with Labour came to light last month, suggesting support for his argument. He added: “To translate big by election wins into a more widespread general election and deep political victory means Labour and the Lib Dems, and also the Greens, systematically squeezing the Tory vote and building an ideas agenda for lasting change.”

But Opposition councillors want money spent on families in need instead

Torbay councillors have been urged not to let the bay’s most needy families ‘go to hell in a handcart’ by keeping money in reserves rather than spending it on helping them.

Guy Henderson, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk 

“Don’t turn your backs on those in housing need,” urged Cllr Steve Darling (Lib Dem, Barton with Watcombe) as the full council debated its finances at a meeting this week.

But the bay’s Conservative administration insists that £400,000 left as a surplus from last year’s budget should go into capital reserves to help offset what they say is a “massive hole” in the capital programme.

Leader David Thomas (Con, Preston) said: “We are committed to having a strong grip on our finances, and the capital hole is absolutely massive.”

Opposition Liberal Democrats and Independents tried to persuade the administration to use the money to help families in need. Cllr Darling urged them: “The cost of living crisis is massively impacting many local residents. We want to address this immediately, rather than putting this money away for a rainy day.

“For many people in our community, it is already raining cats and dogs.”

Cllr Darling said the money could support people in their homes and help prevent them becoming homeless which increases pressure on council finances.

“We need to support our communities now, rather than leaving it to the future,” he added.

“Either we put the money in now, or we are going to have to find it somewhere else in the budget, or officers will be instructed by the cabinet to turn the taps off and let people go to hell in a handcart.”

And Cllr Nigel Penny (Lib Dem, Roundham with Hyde) said: “We are stashing away £400,000 into our pockets. People will say the council doesn’t understand them, and is lining its own pockets with this money.

“It’s a welcome windfall, but why should we keep all the luck? Why not share it with those in need? We can help people in genuine need now if we so choose.”

Cllr Darren Cowell (Independent, Shiphay) said the council must make sure it was supporting local families in need. “I don’t hear any words about social responsibility from this administration,” he said. “It’s all about pound signs.”

But Cllr Thomas insisted the council was still committed to supporting people in poverty and housing need, and added: “This money is not being squirrelled away into somebody’s deep pockets.”

And Cllr Alan Tyerman (Con, Churston with Galmpton) pointed out: “The financial position we have inherited is quite worrying.

“I am not unsympathetic to the argument that our residents need that help, but I still believe that this is the prudent way of acting at this particular time.”

The majority Conservative side of the council chamber voted down the Lib Dem and Independent amendment and agreed to put the £400,000 into council reserves.

Wrangling over?

Simon Jupp congratulates David Reed but, unusually for Simon, shows no selfie with him. 

Was Simon rooting for one of the others?

There has now to be a big question mark hanging over David Reed’s head. 

From David Reed’s facebook page, the only local Tory “Grandees” greeting his selection are Philip Skinner and Ben Ingham!

Looks a bit down market (second stringers) to Owl

Worth remembering how Ben Ingham described Simon Jupp at his selection meeting in 2019::

“If they wanted someone charismatic, which is what I think they tried to do, they would have been better off with Iggy Pop in my opinion. People would be able to relate to him more than a DJ from Plymouth.“

If it’s not the “wrong” people on the selection panel then it must be that Tory members “didn’t get the message”!

Take you pick – Owl

[Whatever happens now, the Tories are going to find it difficult to unite behind whoever does “emerge”.]

Exact date Britain will see a month’s worth of downpours in just 48 hours

Brits are in for heavy downpours as up to a month’s worth of rain is expected to fall in 48 hours while the rest of Europe continues to bake in a record-breaking heatwave.

Up to 60mm of rain could fall across a 48-hour period of Saturday and Sunday, medium-term forecasts indicate.

www.mirror.co.uk

Same also seems to apply to the candidates.

With the “writing on the wall” have they all barricaded themselves in a very small room?

Or is the result being challenged? – just asking Owl

Affordable homes are among 180 newbuilds given the green light for East Devon, this week agreed by council planners.

But do we have the sewage capacity? – Owl

Local Democracy Reporter eastdevonnews.co.uk

Up to 180 new homes will be built near Rockbeare as part of the wider Cranbrook development, writes local democracy reporter Ollie Heptinstall.

East Devon District Councillors approved the outline plan, for land west of Gribble Lane and south of London Road, at a planning meeting on Tuesday [July 18].

It is thought around 27 affordable homes could be built as part of the latest plans. Affordable housing will account for 15 per cent of the homes (classed as up to 80 per cent of market rates), and four per cent will be custom or self-build plots.

The homes agreed for land west of Gribble Lane. Image: EDDC planning documents.

The development includes an adjoining piece of land to be used as natural green space, while all other matters will be considered as part of a detailed ‘reserved matters’ application at a later date.

Approval was given despite more than 100 public objections, as well as from Rockbeare and Whimple parish councils.

It was suggested the development contravenes the local plan and Rockbeare Neighbourhood Plan, that Cranbrook was originally planned with no building south of the former A30 (London Road), and it would have an adverse impact on wildlife.

Others suggested it would have a “detrimental impact on the rural character of the area,” cause greater pressure on local public services, go against efforts to reduce climate change, and lead to a loss of agricultural land.

However, subject to a number of conditions, planning officers recommended approval, deciding it would be an “attractive and legible development, which would integrate well with the natural environment within the site and beyond.”

Councillor Mike Howe (Independent, Clyst Valley) agreed, stating: “Our policies here and now dictate the Cranbrook Masterplan overrides the neighbourhood plan of Rockbeare. It’s the newer document and, as such, it has prominence.”

“When you add that to the fact we still don’t have a five-year housing land supply and, to be frank, this looks – I know it’s indicative and we’ve got reserved matters [to come]– like a lovely scheme. And this is the type of scheme we should be having.”

The planning committee voted to approve the plan by eight votes to three.

He tweets: “I’m working with Ofwat & @EnvAgency to get South West Water to clean up their act & our water.

Great replies, doesn’t seem to be convincing anyone, see below! – Owl

Campaigners gathered outside the AGM of South West Water’s parent company Pennon Group to protest against the ‘failure to keep rivers and waterways’ safe. Groups gathered before the meeting – before a further group protested inside the AGM on Thursday.

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

Protesters from Extinction Rebellion, Surfers Against Sewage, Friends of the River Exe and Greenpeace, wild swimmers, kayakers and citizen scientists attended the meeting at The Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Sandy Park. Their protests highlighted concerns over the state of our rivers and waterways.

A further group protested inside the AGM with a number of speeches. Searching questions to the board followed and the meeting ended with the unfurling of a ‘Dirty Profits = Dirty Water” banner. The protesters message was clear – Clean up your act!

Last week, South West Water (SWW) has been rated as among the worst water companies in England for water pollution. The company was given two stars, out of a possible four, in the annual Environmental Performance Assessment report for 2022.

It is an improvement on the previous rating of one star but the Environment Agency (EA) said the level of pollution remained “unacceptable”. SWW said it had delivered the biggest improvements on pollution sector-wide – but overall, SWW was ranked at the bottom of national performance tables – alongside Anglian Water, Thames Water, Wessex Water and Southern Water, the EA said.

In response to the protests, a Pennon Group Spokesperson said “We were pleased to see our customers at the Annual General Meeting today. The views of all our customers matter hugely to us and we fully respect the rights of those who wish to protest peacefully.

“We are listening and there is more to do. We are investing more than ever, delivering improvements in our environmental performance, and protecting our region’s beautiful seas and rivers.”

Campaigners gathered outside the AGM of South West Waters parent company Pennon Group

Alison Campbell from Extinction Rebellion, said: “This action is a result of the growing public outrage at South West Water’s poor record of sewage overflows and under investment. On average, last year there were over 100 sewage overflows from their network to our beaches and rivers every single day. South West Water puts profits before people and planet. This has to stop.”

Marcus Kern from Surfers against Sewage, added: “Clean water is a basic human right; protecting our waterways and seas is vital. In what world does poisoning the planet while paying out dividends to greedy corporations achieve this? As we protest outside, Pennon shareholders voted to help themselves to a whopping £112 million dividend, an increase of 11% over last year, while their water infrastructure fails to protect us from jaw dropping sewage pollution.”

Including Simon Jupp! – Owl

George Thorpe www.somersetlive.co.uk

Lib Dem leader vows to ‘get clowns out of No 10’ after Somerset by-election success

Sir Ed Davey came to the county to celebrate his party’s victory in the Somerton and Frome vote after Sarah Dyke gained the seat from the Conservatives overnight

Sir Ed Davey and new MP Sarah Dyke were greeted with loud cheers in Frome

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has lauded his party’s victory in a by-election overnight in Somerset as they gained another seat in the House of Commons. Sarah Dyke won the vote in the Somerton and Frome constituency, which was triggered by David Warburton’s resignation, overturning a Tory majority of 19,000 in the process.

Ms Dyke ended up claiming victory by 11,008 votes from Conservative rival Faye Purbrick during a victory which she described as “humbling”. This morning (July 21), members of the party gathered in Frome to celebrate the win, with Sir Ed being among the guests along with Ms Dyke and Bath’s Lib Dem MP Wera Hobhouse.

The party also unveiled a sign which featured a dig at the Tory Government, who lost another seat in a by-election for Selby and Ainsty but kept hold of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s old Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat. The sign, shaped like a cannon, said: “Get these clowns out of No 10!”

As he and Ms Dyke arrived at the celebration, Sir Ed quipped that was “really starting to like by-elections”. Along with last night’s win, the Lib Dems have also gained seats for North Shropshire, Chesham and Amersham, and Tiverton and Honiton in the past two years.

Speaking in Frome, Sir Ed said: “We are back in the West Country. We will certainly not take voters for granted.

“The Conservatives keep taking people in the West Country for granted with their appalling record on the health service, on the economy.

“We won’t be complacent at all. But there are 15 seats in the West Country with majorities smaller than Somerton and Frome was.

[E.g the old East Devon constituency which Simon Jupp held with only 6,708 votes]

“We’ve got every reason to believe that people across the West Country … are turning to the Liberal Democrats as the party best placed in this part of our country to defeat the Conservatives.”

Actions to provide the strong, united and informed managerial and political leadership

On Wednesday the council passed a motion to initiate six actions to reset the council and reinforce best practice by 28 votes to 17 with two abstentions. 

The motion was put by Cllr Paul Hayward, seconded by Cllr Todd Olive.

Paul Hayward said that the actions flowed from the letter to Michael Gove and were aimed at “looking to do things better”. An approach encouraged by the Local Government Association (LGA).

The full text of the motion can be found here.

Forceful case to reset the council came from unexpected quarter

The most forceful case for the urgent need to reset the council was made, not by the proponents of the motion but, unintentionally, by Tory Cllr Mike Goodman. 

Early in the proceedings he gave vent to an angry speech that was at times out of order. At one stage he had to be rebuked by the Monitoring Officer for naming officers. See below for verbatim quotes.

In reply, Leader Paul Arnott, said he would put aside all the venom and inaccuracies and deal with issues calmly and rationally. 

He stressed that this motion was as a result of the council, LGA and LGA(SW) coming together with the LGA offering to come forward to get this work underway. Otherwise the work was in danger of becoming piecemeal. 

See more detail on Paul Arnott’s reply below.

Costs and “value for money”

Cllr Goodman’s attack followed Conservative Group leader, Cllr Marcus Hartnell, contribution. Cllr Hartnell questioned the motives of the administration in bringing this motion to full council. 

Whilst saying that he could support the positive elements (at least five of the six) at Owl’s count. He ultimately voted against. 

The groove the Tories seem stuck in is one of cost and “value for money”. Though, as disclosed in the meeting, the bulk of the costs will be picked up by the  LGA and there is a motion item to review costs in any case. 

Later, Cllr Paul Hayward, Portfolio Holder Finance (Assets), confirmed that this would be covered within the existing “transformational” line of the budget. 

Technicalities

Both Cllr Eleanor Rylance (Chair) and Cllr Sam Hawkins (vice chair) voluntarily stepped down from their posts and left the chamber during this agenda item. This was because they were both signatories to the recent letter sent to the Secretary of State, Michael Gove, by the administration, revealed by the BBC.

The letter asked for government officials to become involved with overseeing an “improvement journey” aimed at bringing the cabinet and senior managers together as a “unified team” that can “move forward as one body”. The context concerns the “historic case of paedophilia and the way it has been treated within the council”.

Council agreed that Cllr Joe Whibley should take the Chair, (during the recorded vote he also followed suit and abstained). 

Quotes from Tory Cllr Goodman’s angry outburst 

Cllr Goodman started by saying (1hr 47approx on EDDC YouTube recording):

This has “nothing to do with helping residents, it is a personal motion to discredit officers of this council. We have all seen this in the tone of the letter Cllr Paul Arnott sent to Michael Gove….it is a reflection of the poor leadership of this council under Cllr Paul Arnott.” 

He then went on to accuse the Leader of undermining the Chief Executive Officer “This needs to be treated as a code of conduct issue and I have today reported this issue to the Monitoring Officer”.

He then, strangely, made heavy reference to the “mysterious report” reported last week.

“What a shame we have to wait for the critical Grant Thornton Report which I am confident will tell the truth about how the current Leader leads this council. This report was requested from this council after the procurement of the Verita report and was conducted independently by Grant Thornton [Fact check: the report was commissioned by the Chief Executive]. I have tried to get this report published before tonight’s meeting so members can make decisions based on facts. But I have not been successful…..We are here to serve our residents, not the ego of our leader.”

Calmer reflections from Paul Arnott

In reply, Leader Paul Arnott, said he would put aside all the venom and inaccuracies and deal with issues calmly and rationally. 

He made  three points:

It is a convention within the council that referrals to the Monitoring Officer are not made public. (This is probably his  fourth against the leader).

He stressed that this motion did not come from an ill-tempered councillor trying to dominate from the Chair, but was as a result of the council, LGA and LGA(SW) coming together with the LGA offering to come forward to get this work underway. Otherwise the work was in danger of becoming piecemeal. 

He asked, through the Chair, whether Cllr. Goodman had seen the Grant Thornton recommendations? (Cllr Goodman replied that he hadn’t) Paul Arnott then asked “So why are you beating me about the head with it? ” (The publication date of this “report” is unknown.) Paul Arnott then suggested that unless Cllr Goodman had some privileged information it was not relevant to the motion.

Worth a reread from May 2020:

Tories in denial, they have finally lost what they thought was theirs by right

As with last week’s extraordinary Council meeting, the Chief Executive did not attend.

If it’s not the wrong sort of rain it must be the wrong sort of seagull poo. – Owl

Seagulls roosting under a pier could be to blame for a fall in water quality at a Portsmouth beach, according to a water company.

Adam Vaughan www.thetimes.co.uk

Portsmouth city council said this week it was working with the Environment Agency and Southern Water to investigate why water quality was deteriorating at a section of the beach at Southsea.

Quality at Southsea East declined from “excellent” in 2019 to “sufficient” last year, but officials fear bathing water tests this summer could result in it being classified as “poor” when this year’s results are released in November.

A poor rating would mean that swimmers would be advised against entering the water next year.

Southern Water said it took the decline “extremely seriously” and had been trying for more than a decade to tackle concerns in the area.

“Over this time, leaking ageing sewers have been identified as one contributing factor, prompting a major upgrade programme involving sealing pipes with special polymer linings and ensuring manholes are watertight.

“Other contributing factors include surface water run-off from roads and pavements, wildlife such as seagulls roosting beneath the pier and private sewer pipes wrongly connected to surface drains,” the company said in a statement.

Testing will be undertaken to establish whether gulls’ droppings are playing a role. Water testing by the company at Brighton Central beach last year found seabirds were an important source of pollution.

A spokesman for Southern Water said: “By looking at the samples we can find out the type of animal source it comes from.”

Southern Water used falconers with hawks to scare off seagulls at Worthing beach four years ago, much as a hawk is used to keep pigeons away from the Wimbledon tennis tournament each summer. The company ended the practice following local anger.

Southern Water’s environmental performance last year was ranked as two out of four stars — joint bottom for the industry — but up on the one star it achieved in 2021.

It is facing a private prosecution this week from the angling group Fish Legal over pollution of the River Test. The case relates to diesel from a tenant on an industrial estate which reached the river via a surface water drain owned by Southern Water. A company spokesman said: “An Environment Agency investigation into the cause of the incident and the identity of the polluters is ongoing.”

Not an auspicious day to announce the Tory candidate to contest the new Exmouth & East Exeter as the LibDems win Somerton & Frome taking 55% of vote. Tories share of vote crashes to 26%.

In retrospect was Simon Jupp’s chicken run towards LibDem country wise? Out of the frying pan into the fire?

Owl understands there was a short list of three: David Reed, a former Marine; Cllr Sophie Richards and Toby Williams who once worked for Hugo Swire.

Which prompted this wry commiseration to Sophie4Devon:

Lib Dems win 55% of vote giving them an 11.000 majority in Somerton & Frome.

Tories in West Country put on notice. – Owl

Eight bay beaches had sewage warnings at the weekend

Torbay Council’s Conservative administration is being urged to think again after turning down a call to hold the government and South West Water to account for sewage pollution at sea.

Guy Henderson, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk

The call, from the council’s Liberal Democrat leader Steve Darling (Barton with Watcombe), follows a weekend during which Surfers Against Sewage named 37 Devon beaches where sewage was already in the sea or likely to be discharged.

They included some of the bay’s showcase holiday beaches including Meadfoot, Beacon Cove, Torre Abbey, Hollicombe, Preston Sands, Paignton Sands, Goodrington and St Mary’s Bay. 

Cllr Darling, who is also the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Torbay, said: “It is shameful how the Conservatives are wilfully blind to this continuing blight on our waters in the bay. As someone who loves sea swimming, I believe with a passion that we need to be holding the government and South West Water to account on this matter.”

The council was asked at its overview and scrutiny board meeting on July 5 to undertake a spotlight review of sea pollution and demand answers from the government and the water company, but the motion was not passed.

Now Cllr Darling will ask again, this time at a meeting of the full council on Thursday 20 July.

His question to the council’s Tory leadership says: “This dumping is poor publicity that Torbay could do without at the start of the school holidays.

Residents and visitors should have clean waters to enjoy.

“Do you agree that it was a poor judgement not to agree to undertake a bespoke spotlight review that would have held South West Water and the government to account on pollution of our seas that is significantly impacting on Torbay’s aspiration to become the premier resort in the UK?

“And do you agree that in light of this, a spotlight review should be undertaken as a matter of urgency by Torbay Council’s overview and scrutiny board?”

Private equity takeovers of health services worldwide are associated with worse quality of care and higher costs, according to the largest study of its kind.

Andrew Gregory www.theguardian.com 

In the past decade, private equity firms have increasingly invested in, acquired and consolidated healthcare facilities. Globally, healthcare buyouts have exceeded £157bn since 2021 alone.

Despite much speculation, evidence about the impact of this rapidly growing global trend has been lacking.

Now a systematic review of private equity healthcare service takeovers across eight countries including the US, UK, Sweden and the Netherlands provides it. Private equity (PE) ownership of healthcare services including hospitals and nursing homes is linked to a harmful effect on cost and quality of care, suggests the review published in the BMJ medical journal.

The authors of the review, which was led by the University of Chicago, said: “The most unequivocal evidence points to PE being associated with an increase in healthcare costs. Evidence across studies also suggests mixed impacts of PE ownership on healthcare quality, with greater evidence that PE ownership might degrade quality in some capacity rather than improve it.”

No consistently beneficial effects of private equity ownership were identified, the researchers said. “The current body of evidence is robust enough to confirm that PE ownership is a consequential and increasingly prominent element in healthcare, warranting surveillance, reporting and possibly increased regulation,” they wrote.

The researchers identified 1,778 studies, of which 55 met the inclusion criteria. They looked at the impact of private equity takeovers on costs, quality of care and health outcomes.

Nine of 12 studies revealed higher costs to patients or the funders of healthcare at services owned by such firms, three found no differences, and none showed lower costs.

Private equity ownership was also associated with a mixed to harmful impact on healthcare. Of 27 studies that assessed quality of care, 12 found harmful effects, three found beneficial, nine found mixed – some measures declined, some improved – and three were neutral.

Health outcomes showed beneficial and harmful results, but the volume of studies for this measure was too low for any definitive conclusions to be drawn.

Cat Hobbs, the director of the public ownership campaign group We Own It, said: “This important new study is sadly no surprise. When vital services are privatised, patients get the worst of both worlds: higher costs for worse quality care.

“Private equity firms will always put their duty to make a financial return first – that’s their job. But these incentives are in direct conflict with the public good. Healthcare is not just another investment opportunity. It’s a crucial public service which we all need at some point in our lives.”

She added: “Private equity ownership in the healthcare sector is on the rise fast, and the public need to know the risks it poses to care quality and access.”

David Rowland, the director of the Centre for Health and the Public Interest, a thinktank, said regulators and politicians needed to “get a grip” of how private equity takeovers impact healthcare.

He said: “How one makes the sizeable returns which these private equity funds require from providing care to a child with learning difficulties, for example, is a question which is never asked either by regulators or politicians. But it is clear from this research that squeezing profit from these types of services can put patients and vulnerable people at risk.”

Dr Tony O’Sullivan, the co-chair of the campaign group Keep Our NHS Public, said the review provided a “screamingly obvious piece of evidence”. Policymakers must prioritise public funding and provision of healthcare if they are to avoid “damaging” consequences for patients, he said.

Shocking urgent concerns have been raised about conditions asylum seekers are said to be enduring while being accommodated in an East Devon hotel. It is claimed some children who have sought refuge at Hampton by Hilton Exeter Airport are malnourished due to ‘inadequate’ and culturally inappropriate food being provided.

Anita Merritt www.devonlive.com 

Local councillors have condemned the ‘careless and inappropriate manner’ in which the asylum seekers are being treated following visit to the hotel. They have also raised concerns over medical concerns and transport issues to places such as schools and the doctors due to the hotel’s location. It’s even been alleged that children as young as four are being left to ride the school bus without someone looking after them.

At East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) cabinet meeting last Wednesday, July 12, members discussed the issues being experienced since asylum seekers were placed in the hotel by the Home Office. Since January, the hotel has been closed to hotel guests to accommodate asylum seekers and is said to be reopening again in early 2024.

The minutes of the meeting state that in the public speaking part of the meeting, Aynsley Jones, community hub manager at Cranbrook Education Campus told how 48 students on its roll were seeking asylum. She said following weekly meetings with families and from talking to the children, food was said to be substandard, the menu didn’t change and there was no consideration given to cultural differences.

From the evidence it has gathered, it was said 30 per cent of the children do not eat the food provided at the hotel, with two cases of malnutrition. There were said to be no individual cooking facilities or fridges, which impacted the storage of medication and baby milk, and snacks were provided on a first come first served basis, if issued at all.

It was also claimed 18 per cent of the pupils had severe trauma and through a lack of funds could not be adequately supported, and 21 per cent had potential undiagnosed Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Ms Jones added untrained hotel staff were triaging medical appointments resulting in residents ‘suffering’ and not getting the medical attention they required.

Multiple hotel management changes were said to have resulted in ‘misinformation or fear’. There was said to be no shuttle bus to Exeter or Pinhoe surgery and no provision of over-the-counter medication.

The taxi company being used was claimed to be ‘ineffective’ with an average waiting time of four hours. There was no transport for residents to leave the hotel and no clear complaints procedure.

She concluded there needed to be an independent body to coordinate the wellbeing of the hotel residents and commended the work being done by Refugee Support Devon. She called for a 40-strong volunteer buddy scheme supported by the Pickwell Foundation with financial support from EDDC and others.

Independent councillor Kevin Blakey, who represents the Cranbrook ward, read out a statement during the meeting that had been approved by all three ward members raising their concerns.

He said: “The recommendation is that cabinet endorse measures being taken to ensure the Home Office are accountable for providing adequate feeding and safeguarding of the asylum seekers. This is fine so far as it goes but it does not address the real and urgent matter of the provision of inadequate food for the disparate groups of people occupying the hotel.

“I have been to the hotel, along with Cllr Kim Bloxham and Cllr Jess Bailey, to observe the food service operation. While the residents say that matters have improved with the availability of fresh fruit such as oranges and bananas over the last few weeks; since the local school raised its concerns with us, the main meals remain woefully unappetising to many.

“There was a lack of variety and no provision of fresh vegetables or salads to ensure a healthy and balanced diet. On the occasion we visited, people were taking platefuls of only rice or potatoes, much of which was then thrown away, particularly potatoes that had not had eyes removed before cooking and were pale in colour even though they purported to be roast potatoes.

“Meat is an issue. The small amount served sat in a bland sauce that some of the residents disliked, the remaining residents could not eat it because their faiths do not permit the consumption of red meats. They will not eat the chicken because, according to all those that we spoke to, the meat stinks and they do not believe it is safe or good to eat.

“While there are certainly cultural issues with food at the hotel, we understand that the children are eating all types of foods at the Cranbrook Education Campus which seems to confirm the problem with the quality of the food being shipped in by the current contractor at the hotel.

“MP Simon Jupp has been in touch with the service provider, who told him that they had received no complaints about the food and that all special dietary needs were being met. All the residents we spoke to complained about the food and two people who are diabetic have never been offered food appropriate to their medical needs. Perhaps these complaints have never been expressed to the service provider.

“Some of those we spoke to reported increasing illness and weight loss. In short, many are suffering from malnutrition. This is not about quantity, it is about the quality, nutritional balance and cultural acceptability of what is offered.

“Remember that a significant proportion of the residents are children who need suitably balanced food to grow. The monotonous and unappetising offering currently provided is not working.

“This is not about providing a restaurant experience for the residents. We are not forgetting that all the residents are waiting for their asylum or residency applications to be determined by the Home Office, who will decide whether they have valid reasons to be in the UK.

“Whatever the outcomes of their applications, it is clear to us that while they wait for the Home Office decisions, they should be treated humanely and with respect. The rights and wrongs of how the asylum seekers got here is not a matter for us, but in the 21st century, the UK has no excuse for treating anybody in such a careless and inappropriate manner. East Devon surely cannot permit poor treatment of our guests, whether they are welcome or not.”

Regarding transport issues, it was said that due to the hotel’s ‘isolated location’ residents are reliant on buses or taxis to get to schools or doctors.

Cllr Blakey said: “In the case of school transport, some children as young as four years are travelling without a chaperone which is clearly unacceptable. We suggest that some of the available budget be used to pay for a coordinator to manage all residents’ needs, including transport, health and food requirements so that children can get to and from school with appropriate safeguarding and that transport to doctors can be effectively arranged.”

The Cranbrook councillors stated they are calling for a number of urgent changes, including for the Home Office to cancel the current food supply contract and for it to be provided locally at the same cost, with an emphasis on pulses and fresh vegetables.

It added Cranbrook Education Campus is providing food and even school uniforms with no additional funding which is ‘unsustainable’ and the government should provide additional funding for the extra costs incurred by local schools.

Cllr Blakey said: “EDDC must press the Home Office to make the changes we have suggested. This is a highly emotive matter but I believe the decisions made by Cabinet today should be guided by the humanitarian needs that are pressing here and now. We feel sure you will make the right choices.”

It was added that a grant of £217,500 is available to meet local needs, of which £31,000 has already been earmarked for transport, leaving around £186,000 for other support. Cabinet members agreed to maintain pressure on the Home Office to ensure that asylum seekers in the district are ‘properly fed and safeguarded’ while in its care.

The minutes of the meeting state it was resolved to: “Delegate authority to the director of Finance, Director of Housing, Health & Environment in consultation with the portfolio holder Finance (Assets) and Portfolio Holder Sustainable Homes and Communities, as well Cllrs Bailey, Bloxham and Blakey, to spend up to £217k.

“The spend is to be used for welfare support, transport, kitchens, food contract, healthcare and medication, fridges, hotel management, safeguarding, insurance concerning the use of kitchens and infant food. To send a further letter to the Home Office expressing the council’s ongoing concerns, while still putting pressure on the local MP Simon Jupp to take further action with the Home Office.

“To explore the issues of an off-site meeting and the hiring of a co-ordinator type role.”

In response to the claims made during the meeting, the Home Office has told DevonLive it does not comment on operational arrangements for individual hotels. It assured all asylum seekers in hotels are provided with three meals a day along with snacks and water.

Where concerns are raised about any aspect of the service delivered by the hotel, the Home Office works with the provider to ensure concerns are addressed in a ‘timely manner’. It also said it speaks to accommodation providers about delivery and performance daily, as well as holding formal weekly, monthly and quarterly meetings to ensure contractual obligations are followed.

Weekly food surveys for residents are said to be carried out to account for cultural preferences for food. It was added supported asylum seekers have access to a Migrant Help 24/7 helpline to raise any concerns regards the support they receive and are able to make formal complaints which are followed up.

In catered accommodation, asylum seekers receive £9.58 per week per each household member where eligible, and new mothers are provided with nappy packs and milk.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Despite the number of people arriving in the UK reaching record levels, we continue to provide support for asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute. Asylum-seekers in receipt of catered accommodation are provided with three meals a day along with snacks and water, and a weekly allowance where eligible.

“The food provided in asylum hotels meets NHS Eatwell standards and responds to all culture and dietary requirements. Where concerns are raised about any aspect of the service delivered in a hotel we work with the provider to ensure these concerns are addressed.”

East Devon MP Simon Jupp said: “I have been actively engaging with Home Office officials and service contractors on their delivery of contingency asylum accommodation at the hotel, including during my visit to the site earlier this month. I will continue to work constructively with all parties involved to resolve ongoing issues.”

Hilton and EDDC have both been approached for a comment.

The Liberal Democrats will need to rely on tactical voting from constituents who want to defeat the Tories in Thursday’s by-election in Somerton and Frome, party insiders have told i.

David Parsley inews.co.uk 

The party, which is hoping for its fourth by-election victory against the Conservative Party in just over two years, needs to overturn a Tory majority of 19,213 to take the seat.

While Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey insists the poll is heading for a “photo finish”, campaign sources within his party suggest internal polling is showing both Green and Labour voters are shifting over to their candidate, Sarah Dyke.

One Lib Dem source said: “In the last 48 hours we’ve noticed a lot of traditional Green and Labour voters in Frome are coming over to us as they realise this will come down to tactical voting.

“Many who want to kick the Tories out of Somerton and Frome are coming over to us this time.”

However, the source added that the Somerset town of Frome makes up only 25 per cent of the total vote, and that the party in this largely rural constituency still had “some way to go” before the Lib Dems could be assured of victory.

“Over the past week we have seen voters in the villages moving towards us as well,” added the source. “So, we’re optimistic but not at all complacent.”

Davey, who was campaigning alongside Ms Dyke at a local equine charity, said the result was a “two-horse race”.

As he toured the Glenda Spooner Farm near Somerton, he told i: “It’s a huge majority to overturn and there’s no doubt the Conservatives have been campaigning hard in this by-election.

“But, we’re not going to pretend we’re not optimistic and hopeful.”

The Lib Dem leader added: “Given our successes in three by-elections that no one thought we could win, we’re getting used to winning.”

But Davey did seek to manage expectations, warning that a shorter campaign, compared with last year’s overturning of a 26,000 Tory majority in Tiverton and Honiton, did mean Ms Dyke was facing a tougher challenge to persuade voters to eject the Conservatives, who have held the seat since 2015.

“We have to keep going until 10pm on polling day,” he said. “We’re not taking anything for granted. This is my sixth visit and I think that’s a sign we’re taking it very seriously.

“If you compare it to that other three campaigns that we won, it’s a lot shorter and that has created challenges for us.

“I think if we had another month or so then we’d probably feel even more optimistic than we do.”

The Conservative candidate Faye Purbrick was campaigning in Castle Cary on Tuesday, but refused several requests to answer questions from the media.

This latest opportunity for the Lib Dems to inflict a defeat on the Tories was been caused by the resignation of David Warburton, who was suspended from the Conservative Party over allegations of sexual misconduct.

Warburton denied the allegations.

In June 2021 the Lib Dems overcame a Tory majority of more than 16,000 to take the Chesham and Amersham seat, while in December of the same year the party reversed a near 23,000 Conservative majority in North Shropshire.

Then last June the party celebrated a 29.9 per cent swing in its favour to take Devon’s Tiverton and Honiton seat in what was the eleventh largest swing in by-election history, and the largest since 1985.

East Devon District Council are looking for people to take over the running of a derelict seafront building which has glorious views. The council is looking to lease out the Seaton Moridunum – which has been plagued with controversy for years.

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

Planning permission for the redevelopment of Seaton seafront was granted in 2017. It would have included pedestrianisation of sections of the seafront, demolition of the existing public toilets and Moridunum.

The plans would also have seen alterations to the highway layout and a new pedestrian crossing, as well as new public space with raised seating and siting of seasonal huts for commercial use. But the plans never came to anything, and three years on, were scrapped, despite more than £50,000 having been spent on the scheme – and a second hope that the plans could have got the go-ahead were dashed when the Axe Valley missed out on Levelling-up funding.

Now though East Devon District Council are hoping to find a use for the dilapidated moridunum on Seaton seafront. It is currently being marketed as a commercial premises – with the chance it can be transformed into a café or other leisure related facility.

What the Seaton Moridunum could look like

The moridunum on The Esplanade – a former toilet block with ramps either side and a viewing platform above – is currently being marketed for lease by Lambert Smith Hampton. The seafront property is in a prominent tourist location, has impressive sea views, the opportunity for development, and the location offers high footfall, the listing says.

The property would suit a food and beverage operation development or refurbishment, the council says. Although development would be subject to the necessary consents being obtained.

You can view the full listing here: https://www.lsh.co.uk/find/properties/devon/seaton/2050090