From a correspondent:

Hello Mr Jupp, any thoughts? ….. Of course, you did support Sunak … so what will you do next?

A quick impression of last night’s extraordinary consultative meeting.

Back in April the council voted unanimously, with one abstention, to conduct an investigation into how Humphreys continued in his council roles, with access to children, and then became an honorary Alderman after his arrest. 

The Chief Executive, Mark Williams, was asked to advise how this could be done. So it may surprise readers to know that five months later the Council met again last night to vote on whether or not to conduct an investigation.

In the interim, Mark Williams had decided to advise the council against taking any such action because, in his opinion, all that was to be known was known and such an exercise would be a waste of taxpayers money. Just how Mark Williams can make such a categorical statement hasn’t been revealed. He kept repeating the mantra that the council must be “Fact specific”.

This “foot dragging” led Cllr Jess Bailey to take the unusual step of raising a ”requisition order” to appoint, after research, a specific independent investigation organisation, Verita, to conduct one (referred to as Option A). For a requisition order to be put to the vote it has to be supported by nine councillors. 

Her move prompted Mark Williams to come up with an alternative (Option B) which would involve commissioning a legal practice to undertake the investigation. However, his first recommendation to the council was to drop the notion of conducting an investigation, but if the council rejected this advice then it should consider his Option B as an alternative to Option A.

After debate, the council voted to conduct an independent investigation by 27 votes to 9 with 5 abstensions. There were quite a few apologies.

The council then turned its attention to the two options put before it.

During this, in what seemed a surprising move to Owl, the Chief Executive started to sow confusion by spewing out other options such as conducting an external audit or even getting asking the Secretary of State to conduct a review through a process whereby the council reported itself for misconduct!

During discussion yet more options emerged such as using Ofsted, the option recently adopted by Devon County Council. 

When put to the vote Council members voted:

22 votes to choose Option A, zero votes for Option B with 18 abstentions.

So the option concocted by the Chief Executive was completely rejected. 

Owl was left with the overwhelming impression that the council has been badly let down by Mark Williams, Chief Executive.

In April he was asked to advise how an independent investigation could be conducted. This was the moment when he could have come up with the idea, that Devon County Council came up with a couple of weeks ago, of using Ofsted or indeed any of the other options he suddenly threw into the pot last night. But he didn’t, he left a void and failed to give any constructive advice other than an investigation is unnecessary and a waste of money.

We know the debate was watched by one of the victims. He very courageously gave an introductory speech as a member of the public. Special arrangements had been made so that he could do this anonymously. He spoke about how his life had been wrecked, how important it was for his rehabilitation to be heard and how an investigation would help him.

As Cllr Eleanor Rylance put it: Humphreys weaponised his role as a councillor, later an Alderman, to elevate his status in society to put him into a position of being beyond reproach. He used it to intimidate his victims.

Some councillors were close to tears whilst making their contributions during debate. But, watching the debate, the victim may have been left with the impression that a significant “establishment” barrier lurks in the background.

Not sure it ever started – Owl

Bank of England forced to issue emergency statement after UK leader’s mini-budget triggers market turmoil.

Esther Webber, Emilio Casalicchio www.politico.eu 

LIVERPOOL, England — As an inexperienced leader taking charge of a country in crisis, Liz Truss knew she needed to hit the ground running this month.

But three weeks into her fledgling premiership, the new U.K. prime minister finds herself scrambling to stay ahead of events as last Friday’s tax-cutting mini-budget spooked financial markets, sending Britain’s borrowing costs soaring and the pound tumbling to an all-time low.

“If you start going off on a dangerous tangent,” one former Tory Cabinet minister mused, “the markets will intervene.”

And intervene they did. The pound fell to a record low against the dollar Monday morning as markets reacted to the biggest package of tax cuts in 50 years, a plan that raised expectations borrowing will surge.

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng was forced to issue an emergency statement late Monday, promising a fresh package of supply-side reforms over the coming weeks and a fully costed “fiscal plan” on November 23 to get U.K. debt levels falling over the medium term.

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey offered no immediate rates rise, but warned the bank’s monetary committee “will not hesitate to change interest rates as necessary” to push down double-digit inflation. The pound rallied somewhat later in the day, but nowhere near enough to recover recent losses.

The economic turmoil set nerves jangling on the Conservative backbenches, with MPs fearing their party’s long-held reputation for sound economic management is now at serious risk. Traditionally the Tories have found political success in painting their Labour opponents as high-spending and economically illiterate.

“[I’m] very worried,” said one of the dozens of Tory MPs who backed Truss’ opponent, Rishi Sunak, in the summer-long leadership contest. “It’s the effect on interest rates that scares the bejeezus out of me. If you think things are bad now, just wait till we see home repossessions.”

Such trepidation about Truss’ approach is commonplace on the Tory backbenches. The new PM entered Downing Street three weeks ago in a precarious political position, having failed to secure support from the majority of her own MPs in the parliamentary stage of the leadership race.

Her friends and critics alike suggested she may only have two or three weeks to prove to the party she has what it takes to lead the country through a time of economic crisis. 

But while a multibillion-pound energy bailout announced on Truss’ third day in office went down reasonably well, she did not get the chance to sell it to the country as her planned agenda was overtaken by the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Her first big appearance on the world stage then fell somewhat flat after she was offered a graveyard 9 p.m. slot for her speech at the U.N. General Assembly. And her domestic position appears to have weakened further in the wake of last week’s much-hyped mini-budget. 

“It’s worse than Black Wednesday,” said another Sunak-backing Conservative MP., referring to the infamous Sterling crisis of September 1992. “This is self-inflicted and without a mandate, whereas at least [Black Wednesday] was perceived as a bid to manage a crisis.”

Another MP said: “This is dangerous territory … What the PM hasn’t realized is that any gains made by the tax cuts will be more than outweighed by increased mortgage payments.”

Nor is disquiet in the Tory ranks confined to Truss’ sworn opponents.

One former minister who backed her in the leadership race said the decision not to publish official economic forecasts alongside last week’s tax cuts was “a bit of an own goal.”

“The Chancellor should have set out the fiscal position last week,” the MP said. “Markets hate uncertainty.”

Part of the markets’ reaction has been sparked by the absence of any clues from the government about where they might make spending cuts to reduce levels of borrowing.

“You can’t just borrow your way to a low-tax economy,” former Tory Chancellor George Osborne told Channel 4 News. “Fundamentally, the schizophrenia has to be resolved — you can’t have small-state taxes and big-state spending.”

Some fear, in addition, that Truss’ top team lacks the savvy to deal with multiple economic crises. 

“They look lightweight to me,” said a former Downing Street aide of the new-look No. 10 operation. “There’s not a lot of experience in there.”  

The former adviser questioned new chief of staff Mark Fulbrook’s organizational skills and highlighted the relative youthfulness of many of his Downing Street colleagues.

Others heaped fresh criticism on Kwarteng’s decision to dismiss Tom Scholar, the long-serving top official at the Treasury, as one of his first acts in office. 

“To fire your only official with serious experience of crisis management and then precipitate a crisis a fortnight later brings postmodernism to a new level,” tweeted former Treasury Permanent Secretary Nick Macpherson.

Typically a new prime minister can at least expect a significant, if temporary, poll bounce on entering office — but no such phenomenon appears on the cards for Truss, with the Labour Party maintaining a 12-point lead.

Yet Truss’ supporters are urging their colleagues to be patient, arguing that party members picked someone offering a radical change for a reason.

One Truss-backing minister said: “The dollar is strong, and we have just seen a significant change in economic policy. It is inevitable that would have an impact on trading. Things will settle when the markets get used to it.”

And another Sunak-supporting MP insisted that excitable Westminster chatter of a further leadership challenge so soon after the ouster or Boris Johnson was overblown.

“There’s a huge amount of ill feeling,” the Tory MP said. “People are angry. But I think self-preservation is a much more motivating factor.

“We haven’t got any choice. We have got to get behind this. Governments who get things wrong tend to lose elections but governments that are split definitely lose elections.”

An ex-Ofsted inspector will lead an independent review into how Devon County Council failed to properly deal with concerns made in 2014 about a former school governor from Exmouth who was later jailed for historic sex offences, writes local democracy reporter, Ollie Heptinstall.

[Rather undermines EDDC Chief Executive Mark Willliams’ criticism of Cllr Jess Bailey’s suggestion that a specialist investigative company, rather than a “Legal 500 recommended firm of solicitors” should conduct the EDDC investigation. One wonders whether DCC is “sufficiently sighted on the legal framework, issues and implications of this issue”, to quote again from MW. Horses for courses? – Owl]

Watch the EDDC debate on whether or not to conduct an investigation on the EDDC Youtube channel 6.00pm tonight.

eastdevonnews.co.uk 

John Humphreys, who also previously served as an East Devon district Councillor and mayor of Exmouth, is just over a year into a 21-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting two teenage boys in the early 1990s and early 2000s.

It was revealed in June that the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) had raised concerns about him in 2014, when allegations had already been made to the police.

But Devon County Council chose not to take any action after officers discussed the case with police, a decision the council’s cabinet member for schools, Councillor Andrew Leadbetter (Conservative, Wearside and Topsham) has admitted was wrong, and that it should have shared the concerns more widely.

In his written response in June to county and district councillor Jess Bailey, Cllr Leadbetter said: “I can confirm that the local authority designated officer (LADO) received a referral via the NSPCC in 2014. As part of the LADO process, our officers discussed the case with the police.

“The police were already aware of the individual and the allegations that had been made and advised us that there was not enough evidence to investigate further, and it was agreed that no further action would be taken.

“We have evaluated the response that was made in 2014 and concluded that we should have held a multi-agency meeting to share information and consider what, if any, next steps could be taken.”

After previously confirming the investigation would be undertaken, the council has now revealed it will be carried out by experienced social care practitioner and former Ofsted inspector Mike Ferguson.

Since 2018, he has worked as an independent children’s social care consultant, undertaking practice reviews with a range of local authorities.

Work has begun on the review and is expected to be completed later in the autumn.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) has also been looking into how Humphreys – despite his 2016 arrest – was allowed to carry on in his role as Councillor until May 2019, then awarded the honorary title of alderman later that year.

Later this week (Wednesday, September 28) EDDC will decide whether to conduct a formal investigation into why Humphreys was not removed from his position sooner.

More on the timeline of who knew what about John Humphreys.

The point that Owl made in Monday’s post was that information has emerged piecemeal, only when someone has had the courage not just to ask questions, but to press them home.

What prompted this latest revelation was Cllr Jess Bailey formally asking, in June, when concerns were first raised with Devon County Council about John Humphreys and what action had been taken to keep children safe.

In a written response, to her, Cllr Leadbetter (Cabinet member for Children’s Services and Schools) said: “I can confirm that the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) received a referral via the NSPCC in 2014. As part of the LADO process, our officers discussed the case with the police. The police were already aware of the individual and the allegations that had been made, and advised us that there was not enough evidence to investigate further, and it was agreed that no further action would be taken.

We also need to bear in mind that what the Conservative Party “knew” might be less than what its individual members knew. Until we have a better understanding of the timeline of events it is difficult to see what needs to be done to reduce the chance of this happening again.

Devon County Council is now conducting its own investigation but the Devon and Cornwall Police Force is not. Tomorrow, EDDC is to consider two options.

It is over a year since John Humphreys was jailed for 21 years

Georgia Cornish. www.exmouthjournal.co.uk

The Conservative Party claims it was not informed about a paedophile councillor among its ranks, despite Devon County Council and East Devon District Council officers being aware of allegations for many years.

John Humphreys was an East Devon councillor for around 20 years, and at one point also mayor of Exmouth. In 2021 he was charged with 10 accounts of serious sexual offences against two teenagers in the 1990s and 2000s, and is now serving 21 years in prison.

A motion to be put this week to East Devon District Council (EDDC), which was run during that time by the Conservatives, but is now under the control of the East Devon Alliance party, asks the council to commission an investigation into how Humphreys was able to continue as a councillor and a school governor, despite his arrest in 2016.

On Wednesday 7 September, EDDC received a reply from the Conservative Party following a request to East Devon MP Simon Jupp to investigate. Mr Jupp says he is not involved in selecting prospective councillors and passed the letter to the chair of the local party for a response.

In that letter, Cllr Bruce De Saram writes: “Devon County Council has admitted that they were notified of concerns by the NSPCC dating back as far as 2014 and of [John Humphreys’] arrest in 2016 and failed to follow the correct process…..EDDC were informed of the case by Devon County Council in March 2016 through the LADO process.”

LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) is a role in the children’s services department of the county council role which coordinates a response to concerns about risks to children. They convened meetings to discuss Cllr Humphreys case in 2016.

Mr De Saram’s letter to EDDC continues: “The Conservative Party was not invited to join these LADO meetings. The Conservative Party was not informed by the LADO of the case.

“The LADO process provides a vital opportunity for information to be shared in a confidential environment between all relevant organisations in circumstances such as this.

“It is concerning that the Conservative Party was not informed or invited to attend as we clearly had a role in this, which the current council is undertaking to hold us accountable for.

“Had we been involved in this process and made aware of the details we would have been able to take the appropriate steps. This involvement would have ultimately prevented from him becoming a Conservative candidate and undertaking activities on behalf of the Conservative Party as detailed in your letter.”

In May, East Devon’s chief executive Mark Williams confirmed in a memo to councillors that one of its officers attended two LADO meetings called by Devon County Council in 2016, the year Cllr Humphreys was arrested on suspicion of assaulting one boy. However, he was not charged or the information about his arrest made public. He had also been questioned for similar offences in 2005 but no charges were brought.

In Mr Williams’ email in May this year, prompted by an enquiry by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he told councillors of a further LADO meeting planned for November 2016 “prior to any decision by the police to charge Mr Humphreys. While a further LADO meeting was organised for January 2017, this was postponed a number of times, and then cancelled.”

Mr Williams describes how the East Devon council officer then had no further communication with the county council or the police after November 2016. “The officer was unaware that Mr Humphreys had been charged [at a much later date] or that he was later to face trial,” Mr Williams wrote.

“He only became aware of the fact that Mr Humphreys had been charged and stood trial after the conviction in 2021.

“It is important to know that LADO meetings are held in the strictest confidence. Furthermore, the police also give clear instruction on what can or can’t be said so as to avoid potentially jeopardising any information.”

East Devon District Council is holding an extraordinary consultative meeting on Wednesday [28 September], at which the report concerning Mr Humphreys will be reviewed. The council will be asked to decide whether they believe an independent investigation is necessary.

Councillor Jessica Bailey has put forward a proposal for an independent investigation which is estimated to take eight to 12 weeks if commissioned.

Labour has surged to its largest poll lead over the Conservatives in more than two decades, with voters turning against Kwasi Kwarteng’s tax-cutting budget. A YouGov poll for The Times today puts Labour 17 points clear of the Tories — a level of support not seen since Tony Blair won his landslide victory in 2001.

Oliver Wright, Steven Swinford, Chris Smyth www.thetimes.co.uk

The survey revealed widespread public opposition, including among Tory supporters, to the tax-cutting measures announced by the chancellor last week.

Kwarteng’s decision to scrap the 45 per cent rate of tax for those earning more than £150,000 was opposed by 72 per cent of voters including 69 per cent of those who backed the Conservatives in 2019.

The move to lift restrictions on bankers’ bonuses was rejected by 71 per cent of the electorate, including 67 per cent of Tory voters.

Just 9 per cent of voters thought that the measures outlined in the budget would make them better off, while only 15 per cent believed they would achieve the government’s aim of kickstarting economic growth.

Overall, 60 per cent said Kwarteng’s £45 billion tax giveaway was unaffordable for the country and 25 per cent thought that the government had a clear plan to manage the economy.

The poll findings will alarm Tory MPs coming on top of today’s market reaction to the government’s plans to increase borrowing in the short term to boost growth.

Just 19 per cent of voters thought Kwarteng’s budget was “fair” — the worst polling figure since YouGov began to ask the question in 2010.

One Conservative source said: “If your plan is unpopular with the markets but popular with voters, then that’s an OK place to be. But if you’ve spent all this money and it’s unpopular with everyone, then that is very dangerous.”

YouGov’s survey, which was conducted over the weekend, showed that Tory support had fallen by four points to 28 per cent in the aftermath of the budget while Labour’s had risen five points to 45 per cent and the Lib Dems were unchanged on 8 per cent.

It is the biggest Labour lead that YouGov has recorded since it began polling in 2001. In the election that year, Labour won 43 per cent of the vote and took 412 seats. The Tories won 30 per cent of the vote and 166 seats.

The decline in support for the party appears to be linked directly to the reaction of the public to last Friday’s “mini-budget”. Just 10 per cent of voters thought that Kwarteng was doing a “good job” while 68 per cent said that the government was managing the economy badly.

Despite announcing tax cuts and scrapping Rishi Sunak’s national insurance rise, only 9 per cent of voters said they felt they would be better off next year. The same proportion believed that Kwarteng’s growth strategy would make the country as a whole better off over the next 12 months.

Ministers will point to some of the specific measures in Kwarteng’s package that voters supported in the poll.

Jon Ashworth: Working people think Liz Truss has lost the plot

Some 60 per cent backed the move to cut the basic rate of income tax from 20 to 19 per cent while 59 per cent supported reversing the national insurance rise. About half backed the planned changes to stamp duty.

However, just 31 per cent supported the decision to freeze corporation tax while 11 per cent agreed with scrapping the 45 per cent tax rate for the highest earners.

They were also unconvinced by Kwarteng’s plan for new investment zones free from some planning restrictions and regulations, with only 34 per cent saying they were a good idea.

Labour reacted jubilantly to the market turmoil, with a senior frontbencher mocking the government’s “clown show” economics.

Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, called Friday’s statement a “kami-Kwasi budget”. He suggested that Liz Truss was still “a deep-state Liberal Democrat, deliberately crashing the Conservative Party — there is no other plausible explanation for the clown show we’ve seen last week”. The prime minister was president of Oxford’s Lib Dem society as a student.

Lord Mandelson suggested that the next election could be comparable to the 1997 victory by Tony Blair for Labour. He claimed that the mini-budget saw the Tories forfeit their reputation for competence on the economy and described the government as “exhausted and run out of steam”.

Huw Merriman, a senior Tory MP, said Labour’s largest poll lead over the Tories in more than 20 years suggested that Truss was losing voters “with policies we warned against”.

He tweeted: “Those of us who backed Rishi Sunak lost the contest but this poll suggests that the victor is losing our voters with policies we warned against.

“For the good of our country, and the livelihoods of everyone in our country, I still hope to be proven wrong.”

“The last time the pound sunk as low as it is today, I was 15 and doing economics O’level. If I have a good search in the garage, I might find my text books in which case I’ll be happy to lend them to the PM and the Chancellor. Their need is apparently greater now…”

The pound Kwatanks – the Metro

Out of Control – Mirror

Don’t panic we have got a plan – Daily Express

The savage sell-off in the pound in east Asia overnight [Monday] was further evidence – should any be needed – that confidence in the new Liz Truss government is rapidly draining away.

Larry Elliott www.theguardian.com 

Sterling fell to its lowest level against the dollar, and despite an attempt at a rally in early London trading, the likelihood is that parity against the dollar will be tested before long. September tends to be the month for a sterling crisis – and so it has proved again.

Part of the story of the pound’s weakness is a function of dollar strength but that does not explain why sterling has fallen so rapidly since the end of last week. There are three UK-related factors behind the fall.

First, once a currency hits the skids it is hard to stop it. Momentum trading took over in the aftermath of Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget and it has proved hard to halt.

Second, Kwarteng committed a schoolboy error by pledging further tax cuts in a full budget planned for later this year. If the markets are worried about the state of the government’s finances and the increase in borrowing needed to fund your plans, it is not the wisest course of action to add to those concerns. Kwarteng’s inexperience has been exposed.

Third, the financial markets don’t really know how the Bank of England will respond to the events of the past three days. Threadneedle Street raised interest rates by half a point last Thursday but there has been speculation of an emergency meeting of the Bank’s monetary policy committee as early as Monday.

Paul Dales, the chief UK economist at Capital Economics, says a rate rise of one – or even one and a half – percentage points would give the markets some reassurance that the Bank was committed to returning inflation to its 2% target.

While that would look like the Bank passing judgment on Kwarteng’s tax cuts, the alternative would be for the governor, Andrew Bailey, to give a strong statement that the MPC will raise rates again at its next meeting in November.

However, as Dales points out, November looks a long way away in the context of what has become a disorderly rout for the pound. Kwarteng would also need to show the Bank and the Treasury were of one voice by making clear he was committed to financial discipline, which would be seen as a U-turn by the chancellor after his weekend comments.

East Devon is pressing ahead with its local plan 2020-2040 with recommendations to endorse the sites suggested for development, despite protests from several strategic planning committee members.

seaton.nub.news

On Tuesday [6 September] the committee discussed a report outlining a number of preferred and “second best” sites for what they call tier one and two settlements around the district that may be suitable for development.

The tier system references a hierarchy of settlements being discussed, with tier one indicating places in Exmouth, tier two being Honiton and Sidmouth, three covering Axminster, Seaton, Ottery St Mary, Budleigh Salterton and Cranbrook and finally, tier four which includes Clyst St Mary, Uplyme, Colyton, Beer, Broadclyst, Lympstone, Woodbury and Dunkeswell.

Concerns raised in the report included the current plan failing to reach the desired number of new homes, and is currently expected to be 1,899 properties short.

Allocating additional “second best” sites could alleviate the shortfall in tiers one and two, with additional housing planned for tiers three and four once assessments have begun at that level. 

Housing density, currently being modelled at “reasonably typical standard density levels,” could be increased too. Other adjustments could limit the shortfall, as could expanding Cranbrook.

Whilst some objections were raised about the locations of the proposed developments, more concern was expressed about the lack of infrastructure to support these new settlements.

Councillor Jess Bailey [Independent, West Hill and Aylesbeare] said the target for housing was “incredibly burdensome,” and that she feared the manner in which the proposed sites have been assessed is “too anecdotal”.

She is calling for more refined assessments, ones that outline what would happen should infrastructure such as schools and healthcare provision be lacking.

The lack of infrastructure across Devon has been highlighted recently in a BBC survey finding that no dental practices in the county are accepting adult NHS patients.

The waiting list is reported to have reached 78,000 patients last summer, with an increasing number of dentists dropping patients from their NHS lists.

The recommendations, backed by the majority of committee members, will be applied to future plans and revisited at future meeting.

• Single storey side/rear extension with raised decking, enclosure to front porch, installation of 29 x solar panels to roof and erection of a single storey home office with 12 x solar panels installed to roof. 2 Seaward Close Branscombe Seaton EX12 3AWRef. No: 22/2083/FUL | Validated: Sat 17 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T25 – Beech. Crown lift to 3m above ground level and prune north western and western aspect by: Two lowest limbs 3m, maximum diameter of cuts (MDC) 60mm, upper canopy by 1.5m MDC 30mm Reduce upper south western canopy by 2m MDC 25mm. Reduction of heavy limbs growing towards the property, pruning for weight alleviation and to achieve a balanced crown. T22 – Silver Maple. Crown reduce by 2.5m MDC 40mm. Reduce etiolation and pruning to achieve a balanced crown. 54 Douglas Avenue Exmouth EX8 2HERef. No: 22/2079/TRE | Validated: Fri 16 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Covered Silage Clamp with Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) funded roof -BUILDING 2 Higher Bagmores Farm Woodbury Exeter EX5 1LARef. No: 22/2081/FUL | Validated: Fri 16 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Covered Silage Clamp – Building 1 Higher Bagmores Farm Woodbury Exeter EX5 1LARef. No: 22/2080/FUL | Validated: Fri 16 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side extension. Sundale Cottage Cotleigh Honiton EX14 9SYRef. No: 22/2066/LBC | Validated: Thu 15 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side extension. Sundale Cottage Cotleigh Honiton EX14 9SYRef. No: 22/2065/FUL | Validated: Thu 15 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey replacement rear extension, conversion of garage to modern open plan living space and utility and removal of front porch. 9 Ashleigh Road Exmouth Devon EX8 2JYRef. No: 22/2053/FUL | Validated: Wed 14 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two Storey rear extension, single storey side extension with alteration to fenestration with internal alterations. Dirks Garden Birchill Devon EX13 7LFRef. No: 22/2061/LBC | Validated: Fri 16 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two Storey rear extension, single storey side extension with alteration to fenestration with internal alterations. Dirks Garden Birchill Devon EX13 7LFRef. No: 22/2060/FUL | Validated: Fri 16 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of garage to home-office/guest room 1 St Margarets View Exmouth Devon EX8 5BJRef. No: 22/2054/FUL | Validated: Fri 16 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed conversion of existing garage to kitchen and erection of single detached garage within grounds. 1 Ivydale Exmouth Devon EX8 4TARef. No: 22/2050/FUL | Validated: Wed 14 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single storey front extension, single storey side extension, garage conversion to annex with alteration to fenestration and construction of an outbuilding. Lower Hawley Hawley Bottom Axminster Devon EX13 7HRRef. No: 22/2049/FUL | Validated: Wed 14 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey replacement rear extension and demolition of existing single storey extension and shed. 3 The Teeds Woodbury Devon EX5 1LQRef. No: 22/2052/FUL | Validated: Wed 14 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Application for the modification of the S106 agreement from 17/1019/MOUT to include an additional 5 first homes Land North Of Old Tithebarn Lane Clyst HonitonRef. No: 22/2046/V106 | Validated: Wed 14 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed extension to barn and installation of 34 no. solar panels. Higher Whitehouse Farm Holy City Axminster Devon EX13 7JZRef. No: 22/2041/FUL | Validated: Tue 13 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of existing attached garage to additional accommodation. 1 Talaton Farm Barns Talaton EX5 2SARef. No: 22/2043/FUL | Validated: Tue 13 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side/rear extension with associated external alterations and installation of 28 x solar panels to roof. Route 303 Yarcombe Devon EX14 9NDRef. No: 22/2040/FUL | Validated: Thu 15 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Lime : To crown lift over adjacent buildings to give a 3 metre clearance from property; to reduce weight and increase light levels via a crown thin removing 20% of the foliar area, target pruning cuts of up to 75mm. T2, Elm : Dismantle to ground level; the tree is in decline with poor vitality, possibly suffering from DED; it is also suppressed by the adjacent Lime. Olive Tree Cottage Gittisham Devon EX14 3AFRef. No: 22/2023/TCA | Validated: Tue 13 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Birch : To dismantle to ground level and plant a replacement in a more suitable position (species to be confirmed); the crown has been historically reduced in a manner that makes it difficult to re-prune without causing detriment to the tree; there is also evidence that the root system is starting to lift and damage the adjacent driveway. Pipers Chantry Convent Road Sidmouth Devon EX10 8RERef. No: 22/2022/TCA | Validated: Mon 12 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 Liqidamber. Remove dying limb. As can be seen from the photos the limb to the East has very sparse leaf coverage and the bark is peeling away showing decayed wood underneath, close the union with the main stem. 1 Church Stile Cottages Church Stile Lane Woodbury Devon EX5 1HPRef. No: 22/2021/TCA | Validated: Tue 13 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed stone track over a non-hard track, extending to an existing hard track. White Horn Woods (Part Of Spilcombe Copse Woods) Spilcombe Copse Offwell EX14 9SGRef. No: 22/2019/AGR | Validated: Fri 16 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of a single storey flexible office/community hub building, single storey side extension to existing bin store to provide 5 WCs and installation of 23 x photovoltaic panels Exmouth Beach Queens Drive Exmouth Devon EX8 2GDRef. No: 22/2030/FUL | Validated: Mon 12 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Extension to the existing office, rest room and storage building to provide more storage Rainbow Plants Holcombe Lane Ottery St Mary EX11 1PGRef. No: 22/2035/AGR | Validated: Thu 15 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 Willow tree: Tree has split and fallen over boundary line. Cut back the crown over hanging the boudary. T2 Ash tree: Crown lift the ash tree by removing the marked brances in image 4 and 5. Cut back to boundary to alleviate the issue. 17 Willow Walk Honiton EX14 2FXRef. No: 22/2027/TRE | Validated: Wed 14 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 willow tree: Re-pollard a willow tree in rear garden which over hangs the neighbours car parking and garden. The tree is to be pollarded back to the last pollards growth points to reduce chance of limb failure. 239 High Street Honiton EX14 1AHRef. No: 22/2026/TCA | Validated: Fri 16 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Remove front stems from cotoneaster leaning over parking bay reduce remaining cotomreaster to approx. 2.5 – 3 m and shape. Remove previously cut branches Reason – tidy up tree to make it more aesthetic pleasing Willow Cottage 71 Fore Street Otterton Devon EX9 7HBRef. No: 22/2038/TCA | Validated: Tue 13 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey side extension and single storey rear extension with alteration to fenestration 43 Park Road Beer EX12 3HJRef. No: 22/2020/FUL | Validated: Mon 12 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed replacement garden decking area 1 Bramble Close Budleigh Salterton Devon EX9 6JSRef. No: 22/2032/FUL | Validated: Mon 12 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement of an existing single storey dwelling and detached garage with a 2 storey split-level dwelling with integrated garage, reconfigured on-site parking and associated landscape alterations. Belvedere Rocombe Lyme Regis DT7 3RRRef. No: 22/2025/FUL | Validated: Wed 14 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed ground floor rear annexe, removal of conservatory. 5 Phillipps Avenue Exmouth EX8 3HYRef. No: 22/2012/FUL | Validated: Wed 14 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of Condition No.2 (Approved Plans) on application 20/2891/LBC to supplement the approved drawing list with new drawings issued under this application. Ley Farm Yarcombe Honiton EX14 9LWRef. No: 22/2015/VAR | Validated: Wed 14 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of lawfulness for single storey rear extension.36 Essington Close Exmouth Devon EX8 4QYRef. No: 22/2007/CPL | Validated: Tue 13 Sep 2022 | Status: Approved
• Certificate of existing lawfulness application to demonstrate the use of shed structure as donkey house and the use of the remainder of property for grazing. Land At Fire Beacon Lane Sidmouth EX10 0LRRef. No: 22/2010/CPE | Validated: Fri 16 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of existing detached garage/store and single storey side extension, relocation of front entrance, porch to front forming a granny annexe and store room. Zanzibar House Aylesbeare Devon EX5 2BPRef. No: 22/2002/FUL | Validated: Mon 12 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• First floor side extension, replacement single storey side extension, rear roof extension, demolition of existing rear conservatory, alterations to fenestration and internal modifications and erection of a detached double garage. Blackmores Elsdon Lane West Hill Devon EX11 1UBRef. No: 22/1998/FUL | Validated: Wed 14 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of freestanding air source heat pump within rear garden Manor Cottage Upottery Devon EX14 9PNRef. No: 22/1999/FUL | Validated: Thu 15 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacing timber frame barn with like-for-like steel frame barn Lower Woodmanton Farm Woodmanton Woodbury EX5 1HGRef. No: 22/1987/FUL | Validated: Tue 13 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Outline application with some matters reserved (access) for the residential development of up to 63 dwellings and associated infrastructure. Land East Of Sidmouth Road Ottery St MaryRef. No: 22/1973/MOUT | Validated: Fri 16 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed change of use class to New Pharmacy E(e) from Existing Building (use class E(f)) with alteration to fenestration. Westcott Mill 67 New Street Honiton Devon EX14 1BXRef. No: 22/1962/FUL | Validated: Thu 15 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a permanent two storey 3-bed detached agricultural workers dwelling and demolition of existing temporary structure and caravan. Hawkmoor Farm Hawkchurch Axminster EX13 5UTRef. No: 22/1974/FUL | Validated: Wed 14 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Application for a certificate of lawfulness for proposed use or development – Installation of Biomass Boiler, Axminster Carpet factory.Axminster Carpets Ltd Woodmead Road Axminster EX13 5PQRef. No: 22/1949/CPL | Validated: Thu 15 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a detached double garage. Satterleigh Church Road Whimple Devon EX5 2SXRef. No: 22/1935/FUL | Validated: Sun 18 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of connection to the gas main through the outbuilding stone wall (aligned to bottom line of the adjacent render). The pipe is to travel behind the external wall of the listed building, in the outbuilding. The meter will be installed in the outbuilding and the boiler in the privvy. May Cottage Musbury Axminster EX13 8ARRef. No: 22/1860/LCPL | Validated: Mon 12 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two-storey rear extension. 7 Bridge View Rockbeare Exeter EX5 2LHRef. No: 22/1830/FUL | Validated: Tue 13 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of temporary mobile stable and adjoining tack room in west agricultural paddock. 22 Underhill Crescent Lympstone EX8 5JFRef. No: 22/1815/FUL | Validated: Mon 12 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of new shop signage 28 H Carter And Sons Rolle Street Exmouth Devon EX8 2SHRef. No: 22/1810/ADV | Validated: Tue 13 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Cedar: crown clean of deadwood and removal of major deadwood. Also to target prune the lower radial limbs to a height of 8ft and to crown lift and ‘bring in’ the outer edges off of the Irish Yews. T2/T3, Hornbeams: target prune the lower limbs that are reaching over the square to lift away from parked cars and vans. T4, Yew: remove small amount of deadwood from the central area of the crown. T5, Ash: reduce and shape the small Ash tree. T6, Birch: crown clean of the major deadwood and target prune/removal of branches obscuring the streetlight. T7, Yew: crown clean of major deadwood. T8, Oak: crown clean of major deadwood. T9, Magnolia: minimal crown lift and target prune away from the footpath. T10, Sycamore: to sectional fell the sycamore that is showing advanced signs of dieback. T11, (x5) Irish Yews (five): to tie in with galvanised wire and hedge trim the sides. Also reduce the trees height to an overall uniform 10ft height. The proposed tree work is for ongoing management and the removal of potential issues concerning deadwood, lower limbs and public access to the area. St Marys Church West Street Axminster Devon EX13 5NURef. No: 22/1814/TCA | Validated: Tue 13 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of storage containers and installation of bases for the siting of static caravans and decking, with access, car parking, hard and soft landscaping and associated infrastructure works. Devon Cliffs Holiday Centre Sandy Bay Exmouth EX8 5BTRef. No: 22/1802/FUL | Validated: Tue 13 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of dwelling and double garage; and installation of bases for the siting of static caravans and decking, with access, car parking, hard and soft landscaping and associated infrastructure works. Upper Deck Gore Lane Sandy Bay Exmouth EX8 5BZRef. No: 22/1803/FUL | Validated: Tue 13 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of condition 1 of planning permission 04/P0756 (variation of condition to allow use of campsite from April to September), to allow year round holiday use. Prattshayes Campsite Maer Lane Exmouth EX8 5DBRef. No: 22/1510/VAR | Validated: Thu 15 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

Sewage spills into rivers and the sea often go undetected because water companies are supplying faulty data to a government watchdog, analysis for The Times suggests.

Rhys Blakely www.thetimes.co.uk 

The findings will fuel concerns that a £56 billion plan to reduce discharges will be undermined if water companies are allowed to continue monitoring their own performances.

The issue will be in the spotlight in a High Court hearing this week at which Ofwat, the water industry regulator, will be accused of ignoring its duty to protect the environment.

The latest analysis looked at spills of sewage into rivers and the sea from “storm overflow” emergency outlets that are supposed to be used only in severe conditions.

By looking at detailed data collected in 36 sewage treatment works — information that the Environment Agency (EA) can access but does not routinely check — 1,516 days were identified between 2018 and 2021 when it appeared highly likely that sewage was released in conditions that did not meet permits, making them illegal.

The EA is supposed to be made aware of them but many were not reported. For example, the analysis included the sewage treatment works at Henley-on-Thames, a noted rowing area. Thames Water, which operates the sewage works, told the EA there were no spills in 2020. The analysis suggests the plant released sewage in breach of its permit on seven days that year.

The analysis also looked at the Woodstock sewage treatment works which discharges into the River Glyme which flows through lakes in the grounds of Blenheim Palace.

Thames Water told the EA in 2020 there were no spills but added that this was a mistake and the report would be corrected. The new analysis suggests the sewage plant, in a site of special scientific interest, spilled for about 363 hours that year.

The private utility company has not updated its 2020 report, which was submitted 18 months ago. It has not disputed the new analysis. The report also includes the Ambleside sewage plant in Cumbria, which discharges into the River Rothay and into Windermere, England’s largest lake. Pollution concerns were raised this summer because the lake suffered high levels of potentially toxic blue-green algae.

Ambleside appears not to have submitted any data on spills to the EA for last year. Data supplied by United Utilities for the analysis suggests that it spilled for more than 900 hours. United said it did not agree with the analysis, claiming it was “largely based on assumption rather than evidence”.

Overall, 16 of the 36 sewage works examined appear to have provided incorrect data to the EA.

Professor Peter Hammond, of Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (Wasp), carried out the analysis. His exposure of illegal spills helped to force the government to begin an investigation that led to a proposal last month to tackle the problem.

The spills involve “storm overflows” which act as relief valves for the sewage system. They are supposed to discharge excess storm water, combined with untreated sewage, directly into water bodies during periods of heavy rainfall.

Hammond has shown that many overflows are spilling waste into rivers when there is little or no rain and before treatment works are working at full capacity.

The government plan calls for a mandatory £56 billion investment programme by the water companies.

There are about 13,350 storm overflows in England, discharging to rivers. A report commissioned by the government looked at 9,240 of them and concluded that they were used more than 340,000 times in 2020.

The government plan calls for a 14 per cent reduction in these spills by 2030 and a 50 per cent reduction by 2040. The new analysis suggests, however, that the EA will not be able to monitor compliance if it continues to rely on water companies monitoring themselves.

Ofwat said that it was reviewing Hammond’s analysis. The regulator said: “What we are witnessing, with sewage being released into the environment, isn’t acceptable. Water companies do not take enough responsibility for their impact on the environment.”

A spokeswoman for the Rivers Trust said: “This report emphasises the inherent failures with the current system of self-reporting sewage spills. It’s clear the data has not been adequately audited and in many cases is invalid.

“We need a much better process of quality assurance from the water companies themselves, plus a stronger audit from the EA.”

Five of the ten water companies that were covered did not take issue with Hammond’s analysis of the performance of the treatment included in the study. However, United Utilities Severn Trent, South West, Anglian Water and Yorkshire said that they did not agree with his findings. An Anglian representative said: “We don’t recognise the data being put forward in this report as being correct.”

Hammond’s report also highlights the difficulty he has faced in getting some water companies to share data. “There are 40 STWs named [in the new report] but only 36 analysed because of data being withheld,” he said.

He said Severn Trent and United Utilities — judged by Ofwat to have met an “industry leading” standard for environmental performance — have refused to supply detailed data for sewage spills in 2020 and last year from 4,500 overflows whereas the other eight water companies complied fully with the request.

A spokeswoman for United said: “While there is an ongoing regulatory investigation into the performance of wastewater treatment works, it is right and proper that the relevant data is shared only with the investigating authorities.”

Councillors debate what a freeport will mean

Councillors in South Hams were asked to choose between sheep and jobs  – including an exchange about the relative merits of eating grass or money – during a debate about the planned Plymouth and South Devon Freeport.

Philip Churm, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk

Langage Energy Park (image courtesy: Google Maps)

They were discussing the need to acquire land for the proposed Langage Energy Park through compulsory purchase orders (CPO).

In April, South Hams District Council (SHDC) agreed to take part in the freeport project, which involves Plymouth, South Hams and West Devon. 

Freeports are areas where normal tax and customs rules do not apply. Imports can enter with simplified customs documentation and without paying tariffs.

During Thursday’s full council meeting [22 September] members debated a recommendation to approve an area of land next to the A38 at Langage which may need to be obtained by compulsory purchase. 

The legal costs for this could reach £350,000.  

Green Party councillor for Dartington and Staverton, Jacqi Hodgson, criticised the plan, suggesting the land could be better used.  

She said: “We need the land that we have for food, if we’re going to reduce our carbon footprint as massively as we need to, and we’re going to need all the land we can to grow our food. 

“And I know this is all about money, but as they always say, ‘you can’t actually eat money.’ 

“I would just ask, if we’re meant to be requiring net biodiversity gain, how are they going to do that by converting green-field land that’s currently supporting sheep farming and food production?”

Langage Energy Park including the area that may need to be compulsorily purchased (image courtesy: SHDC)

Council leader and Conservative member for Salcombe and Thurlestone Judy Pearce responded by highlighting how the economic benefits outweighed the disruption. 

“It’s all very well to say that we ought to have sheep on the land or we ought to be building houses instead or something like that,” said Cllr Pearce. “But actually this freeport is going to provide some really well-paid jobs.”

Cllr Pearce suggested successful businesses and well-paid employees pay tax which benefit all members of society.  

“If we don’t have things like freeports and employment areas, we’re going to get none of those taxes in – none of those business rates. And there’s not going to be any money to run any of our public services.

“So you take your choice. You can either have sheep or we can be better off.  And a lot of people these days are vegetarians anyway. So what are you going to do, go out and eat the grass?”

Langage Energy Park is one of three freeport tax sites proposed for Devon. The others are at South Yard in Devonport and part of Sherford Employment Zone; providing a combined footprint of around 130 hectares for development.

The vote to approve the compulsory purchase orders was passed by 21 in favour, four against and four abstentions.  

Total capital investment in the freeport is expected to reach £311 million; made up of £25 million in a government seed capital grant and matched locally with £29 million.  The total private sector investment is expected to be almost £247 million.

John Humphteys was convicted in 2021 of the historic rape of two boys and sentenced to 21 years.

He was first questioned in 2005 but police did not find sufficient evidence for a prosecution.

Following a complaint by a second victim, Humphreys was arrested eleven years later, in 2016, before being released on bail on suspicion of sex crimes against children. 

John Humphreys was Mayor of Exmouth from 2012 to 2014 and served for 12 years as a Conservative councillor on East Devon District Council (EDDC). He was also a governor of a primary school in Exmouth and was appointed an alderman by EDDC in 2019. He accepted the honour despite knowing that he was under investigation by the police.

EDDC in an Extraordinary Consultative Meeting to be held online on Wednesday 28 September at 6.00pm is to decide whether or not to investigate how all this could have happened and what lessons can be learned.

The issues couldn’t be more serious: the protection and safeguarding of children.

Owl believes this online meeting must be witnessed by as many East Devon residents as possible, preferably in real time, alternatively later on the EDDC Youtube channel. 

More than enough evidence for investigation

In May the inews.co.uk carried an investigative report on Humphreys uncovering evidence that:

“The council knew Humphreys was being investigated for sex offences from 2016 but did nothing to prevent him continuing with his duties, which involved him coming into contact with children”

Also:

“A senior council official knew about the police investigation into Humphreys in 2016 because Devon and Cornwall Police asked him, in a formal meeting, if Humphreys’ continuing role as a councillor would bring him into contact with children, i has learned.”

And:

“A leaked memo from East Devon District Council (EDDC) chief executive Mark Williams, which was sent to all 60 councillors earlier this month, states: “An officer knew something dating back to 2016 but was under a duty of confidentiality.”

“A second councillor is also alleged to have told a fellow member that he knew Humphreys had a court hearing coming up but it is not clear if he knew details of the charges.” ( Covered in this post)

These are more than enough grounds to prompt an investigation. Obviously in a spirit of candour to learn lessons, rather than recrimination.

What has happened since decisions to proceed were taken in May?

At the time this inews article was published in May, EDDC seemed intent on conducting an external investigation looking into the circumstances around Humphreys from 2016, when he was first arrested to the point when he was convicted and jailed in August 2021. The Chief Executive, Mark Williams, was tasked with investigating how this might be done.

In June Mark Williams is quoted as saying “Rushing something as important as this is, in my opinion, inappropriate.”

Then, in the September cabinet meeting, at short notice, Mark Williams outlined reasons why he now advised against a separate independent investigation and requested an extraordinary consultative meeting (EGM) to consider this.

He indicated that, in his opinion, the council should be focusing its attention on the future, rather than rake over old ground. “That’s why I don’t think it would be a proportionate use of public money merely to sort of focus in on Humphreys.”  

Council is now to consider two options

This crucial meeting is now scheduled to be held online on Wednesday 28 September at 6.00pm.

The council will be asked to decide between two options. 

Option (A) This Council hereby commissions Verita [an independent investigations company] to carry out an independent investigation in accordance with Verita’s proposal attached (“the Investigation”) and instructs Simon Davey the Strategic Lead for Finance immediately to complete (or authorise completion of) the contract and any necessary paperwork with Verita; Approves a budget of up to £45,000 (exc VAT) for the Investigation. ……[Veritas to work through Lead for Strategic Finance and Cllrs Ian Thomas (Chair), Sarah Jackson (portfolio holder for Democracy and Transparency) and Jess Bailey].

In brief, this is a proposal to conduct an investigation with the aim of establishing a timeline of what was known, to understand what decision-making processes were involved and the extent that Humphreys was considered a safeguarding risk, to determine whether any improvements could be made and to flag up any other significant issues that arise. [View full Verita proposal here]

Option (B) That Council approves a budget of £45,000 and that a Legal 500 recommended firm of Solicitors is appointed in accordance with contract standing orders to undertake an investigation and report which will provide the Council with a full understanding of the legal issues and implications arising from the investigation, prosecution and conviction of John Humphreys as far as it relates to the role of EDDC and its officers and members and that delegated authority be given to one of the statutory officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Council & Corporate Coordination and Democracy, Transparency & Communications, to progress the investigation.

In brief, this looks like an officer led, administrative review of procedures and legal issues concerning the council, focusing on the future.

Comment: Owl doesn’t see how you can look to the future (Option B) without having fully understood what lessons needed to be learned from the past (Option A).

Candour and transparency

It is now six years since Humphreys was arrested and a year since he was convicted. Despite his very long sentence, reflecting the gravity of his crime, there has been very little press coverage. Information has emerged piecemeal but only when someone has had the courage not just to ask questions, but to press them. For example, it was only after a question from Cllr Paul Arnott on 4 May asking for clarification that Simon Jupp MP issued the following statement saying

 “For less than two months in 2019, I lived at a flat owned by Mr Humphreys but was completely unaware of his abhorrent crimes for which he was jailed in August 2021.

“I deplore his actions. Had I known anything about his crimes, I would not have lived at the property and would have immediately reported my concerns to the police.”

At that time the local Tory party was very much in “No Comment” mode.  Over a year since Humphreys’ conviction we can, at last, see a formal “nothing to see here” response from them dated 7 September.

Would it be unfair for Owl to describe all this as foot dragging?

Administrative inertia?

Reading between the lines it looks as if a few feathers have been ruffled in trying to set up an inquiry.

Given the persistent reluctance, to date, to grasp this problem with urgency, frankly this is a good sign.

Note these quotes from the agenda papers “Report”, para 12, page 7.

“Cllr Bailey did not discuss her proposal with any of the statutory officers. We have highlighted our concerns to Cllr Bailey in correspondence but in summary form, having reviewed the Verita website, the Verita proposal and also read the report that Verita did for the Green Party, it does not suggest that Verita have relevant legal expertise and knowledge or experience of local government to warrant an exemption being made to contract standing orders. For example, the aim of investigation section displays a fundamental misunderstanding in that it assumes the Council was in the position (assuming it had knowledge) to take decisions in relation to John Humphreys continuing as a councillor.”

[Despite Mark Williams comments above, see here for Verita’s credentials and track record for conducting sensitive investigations of this sort, particularly for the Green Party, see here, and form your own view. It is worth mentioning that Cllr Jess Bailey is a member of the Law Society].

Followed by this general “put down” :

My reflection on what has been said so far in Cabinet and Council is that members are not sufficiently sighted on the legal framework, issues and implications of this issue. 

However, the briefing pack contains Counsel’s advice “In the Matter of John Humphrey” commissioned by Mark Williams. 

The Council the power but has it the will?

The “bottom line” from this legal advice is that the Council does have power to undertake an investigation, provided it is reasonable to do so and follows the advice given in para 21 with its scope observing the principles outlined in paras 16 and 23 to 28.

Footnote:

In June, Cllr Jess Bailey, formally asked when concerns were first raised with Devon County Council about John Humphreys and what action had been taken to keep children safe.

In a written response, Cllr Leadbetter (Cabinet member for Children’s Services and Schools) said: “I can confirm that the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) received a referral via the NSPCC in 2014. As part of the LADO process, our officers discussed the case with the police. The police were already aware of the individual and the allegations that had been made, and advised us that there was not enough evidence to investigate further, and it was agreed that no further action would be taken.

Owl understands that Devon County Council is now conducting its own investigation but the Devon and Cornwall Police Force is not.

The prime minister’s chief of staff is being paid through his lobbying company in a highly unusual arrangement that could allow him to pay less tax.

Gabriel Pogrund www.thetimes.co.uk

Mark Fullbrook insists he is not being paid through his company for tax reasons and has obtained no tax benefit from the arrangement. However, he is refusing to explain the agreement that lets him direct government strategy without being directly employed by the government.

Previous holders of the role have been treated like any other special adviser (Spad), appointed on a temporary civil service contract and paid a salary that is made public. Fullbrook is instead a contractor and will receive any payment through Fullbrook Strategies, a private lobbying company he created in April but which he says has suspended commercial activities.

One Whitehall source said it was “unheard of” for a No 10 official of his seniority to be employed in this way although Fullbrook disputed this. It is unclear what the implications of the arrangement are from a financial and transparency perspective.

Between April and June, according to the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists, Fullbrook’s company contacted the government on behalf of clients including the Libyan House of Representatives, which is opposed by the West and the UN, an energy provider and a PPE firm linked to a fundamentalist Christian sect.

It announced it had “suspended” its commercial activities earlier this month after Fullbrook was appointed by Liz Truss to be her top aide.

However he is continuing to use it as a vehicle to receive his publicly funded salary. The equivalent post under Boris Johnson carried a salary of £140,000.

The arrangement will lead to questions days after No 10 scrapped the so-called IR35 reforms of previous Conservative governments that were designed to stop people paying themselves via a company to avoid tax.

In 2019, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) won a case against BBC presenters who were told to pay back hundreds of thousands of pounds in tax after working via personal service companies when they were employees in all but name.

In 2017 and 2021, the Treasury introduced measures that made employers responsible for determining the tax status of workers who provided their services through a company.

They were required to decide if a person was a freelance contractor, meaning they could pay corporation or dividend tax on any earnings, or whether they were effectively an employee and liable for income tax. Employers who got it wrong were required to pay tax, penalties and interest.

On Friday, Kwasi Kwarteng, the chancellor, said the burden would once again fall on employees to determine their own status, with critics saying the system would become vulnerable to abuse.

Dan Neidle, a tax expert and the founder of Tax Policy Associates, said he could not fathom any reason for Fullbrook’s arrangement. “I don’t understand why someone would do it,” he said. “Before yesterday, responsibility for applying IR35 [rules] — and liability for getting it wrong — would have fallen on the civil service. I’d expect them to take a very conservative view.

“The effect of the budget change is that Fullbrook gets to decide himself. Of course [it is] subject to later HMRC challenge, but it still gives him an ability to take a more aggressive view than the civil service would have permitted.”

Fullbrook is already facing questions after The Sunday Times revealed he had been interviewed by FBI agents in connection with an alleged criminal conspiracy to bribe a US politician and influence the outcome of an election in Puerto Rico.

He has since signed an agreement with US law enforcement and is co-operating as a witness. It is understood that he is not under investigation. He denies any knowledge of the bribe and in a statement says he is “confident” he behaved within the law at all times.

According to the Institute for Government, Spads are appointed as temporary civil servants. They are given contracts and their employment and salary band is published by the Cabinet Office annually. After leaving government they are required to inform the appointments watchdog of any private sector appointments.

A former No 10 insider said some Spads had in the past “topped up” their salaries by receiving extra income from Conservative Party Headquarters as they provided party political, as well as policy, advice.

Edward Lister, previously Johnson’s principal strategic adviser and now Baron Udny-Lister, continued to be paid for consultancy by a property developer while in Downing Street. But the ex-No 10 source also said there was no precedent for Spads being paid for their government work primarily through a consultancy company.

It is unclear whether Fullbrook’s salary will be reported as standard and whether being paid through his company could alter the usual terms of a Spad’s employment in any other way.

A spokesman for Fullbrook said: “This is not an unusual arrangement. It was not put in place for tax purposes and Mr Fullbrook derives no tax benefit from it.”

A government source said: “It is not unusual for a special adviser or civil servant to join government on secondment. Any government employee hired on secondment is subject to the usual special adviser or civil service codes.”

The government has been accused of launching an “attack on nature” with its mini-budget, which conservationists warn could roll back environmental rules.

Miranda Bryant www.theguardian.com 

Groups including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the Wildlife Trusts and the National Trust have criticised plans, announced on Friday, to create 38 “investment zones” across England.

The announcement of the new areas by the chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, where planning rules will be loosened to release more land for commercial use and housing, will act as a “carte blanche” for development, leading conservation charities warned, and represent an “unprecedented attack on nature”.

“Make no mistake, we are angry. This government has today launched an attack on nature,” the RSPB tweeted. “As of today, from Cornwall to Cumbria, Norfolk to Nottingham, wildlife is facing one of the greatest threats it’s faced in decades.”

Making reference to a new bill introduced to parliament on Thursday, which could lead to the removal of EU environmental protections such as the Habitats Regulations, the charity added: “What the government has proposed in today’s mini-budget on top of yesterday’s announcements potentially tears up the most fundamental legal protections our remaining wildlife has.”

Beccy Speight, the charity’s chief executive, said: “Nature is already in trouble. Taken together, these announcements, combined with the rumoured watering down of the new land management schemes for farming, could be the final nail in its coffin.”

She added: “Our economy and our health depend on a thriving natural world.”

In a strongly worded tweet in support of the RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts said: “Make no mistake – we are also incredibly angry.

“We stand with RSPB England in calling out the unprecedented attack on nature launched by UK government over the last few days. We’ll be challenging this together and asking for our supporters to stand with us.”

Craig Bennett, the trust’s chief executive, said environmental organisations were previously reassured over nature protections lost through Brexit, but now nature is in “catastrophe”.

“Farming reform was supposed to be the silver lining but now the government looks set to renege on that too,” he said, adding: “We need more nature.”

Sharing the RSPB’s tweet, the National Trust pledged to work with other nature charities and supporters to “defend important protections for nature long into the future”.

Labour also joined criticism over the planned investment zones, calling it “reckless”.

Lisa Nandy, the shadow levelling up secretary, said: “Slashing standards, destroying the environment and scrapping affordable housing is reckless and offers no prospect of sustainable growth. For most people, that’s levelling down, not up.

“This country needs a serious plan to get jobs and investment into every nation and region, money back into people’s pockets and locally driven growth, not more Amazon warehouses and deregulation.”

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) dismissed the claims, tweeting: “We have a plan for economic growth. It is not true to claim we are attacking nature nor going back on our commitments.

“We have legislated through the Environment Act and will continue to improve our regulations and wildlife laws in line with our ambitious vision.”

A Defra spokesperson added: “Farmers are brilliant at producing high-quality food for consumption at home and for export and now we need them to go further, as productivity gains have been flat for many years.

“To boost the rural economy, food production and our food security, we will continue to support farmers and land managers by reviewing farm regulation, boosting investment and innovation in the sector.

“This autumn we will set out our plans for working with industry to maximise the long-term productivity, resilience, competitiveness, and environmental stewardship of the British countryside.”

A Treasury spokesperson claimed that investment zones will “enable locally elected leaders to set out bold new visions for their areas, and we want to ensure that they have every tool available to them in driving forwards local growth.”

They added: “The government remains committed to setting a new legally binding target to halt the decline of biodiversity in England by 2030.

“We are working closely with areas to develop tailored proposals that support their ambitions and deliver benefits for local residents.”

It also shows Kwasi Kwarteng’s new tax and benefit policies will result in those on middle incomes losing most, with the poorest fifth of households gaining an average of £90, the middle fifth losing £780 and the top 5% of earners gaining £2,520.

Welcome to Trussonomics – Owl

Miranda Bryant www.theguardian.com 

The chancellor’s mini-budget will disproportionately benefit London and the south-east, a new analysis has found, marking a sharp U-turn from the levelling up strategy of the previous government.

According to the Resolution Foundation, an independent thinktank, households in London and the south-east could gain an average of £1,600 next year from Friday’s fiscal statement. This is three times as much as those in Wales, the north-east and Yorkshire, which it predicts will gain an average of £500.

Its calculations also found that overall, Kwasi Kwarteng’s new tax and benefit policies will result in those on middle incomes losing most, with the poorest fifth of households gaining an average of £90, the middle fifth losing £780 and the top 5% of earners gaining £2,520.

The measures announced by the new chancellor on Friday included a string of tax giveaways that are expected to benefit the rich at the expense of those at the lower end of the income spectrum.

The new measures include scrapping the 45p additional tax rate on earnings above £150,000, removing the cap on bankers’ bonuses, cancelling the planned rise in corporation tax to 25% and doubling the stamp duty holiday on property purchases to £250,000.

The incomes of the richest 5% will grow by 2% in the next financial year as a result of the tax cuts, the thinktank said, while the remaining 95% of the population will get poorer as the cost of living crisis mounts.

An additional 2.3 million people will fall below the poverty line, it estimates, including 700,000 children.

Meanwhile, the Resolution Foundation said borrowing is on course to settle at 3.4% of GDP in the medium term – 0.7% higher than the average level under the Labour governments between 1997 and 2010.

The £45bn of tax cuts announced by the chancellor would need to increase GDP in the long term by 4% to be self-funding. This, the thinktank said, is implausible.

It said in order for debt to fall in the middle of the current decade without raising taxes, the government would have to make spending cuts of £35bn in 2026-27, a sum that would be on the scale of former chancellor George Osborne’s spending cuts in 2010.

Torsten Bell, the thinktank’s chief executive, accused Kwarteng of “blowing the budget” on a £45bn package of tax cuts.

“In doing so he rejected not just Treasury orthodoxy but also the legacy of Boris Johnson as a wholly new approach to economic policy was unveiled,” he said.

“Today’s Conservative party is no longer fiscally conservative or courting the red wall, with debt on course to rise in each and every year, and its focus is shifting south, where the main beneficiaries of these tax cuts live.”

In spite of the chancellor’s announcement, the cost of living crisis will result in “virtually all households getting poorer” next year, he said, amid high inflation and rising interest rates.

“But while the measures announced won’t prevent more than 2 million people falling below the poverty line, they will mean only the very richest households in Britain seeing their incomes grow,” he added.

While he said the package was likely to boost growth in the short term, it would take a “large dose of economic good fortune” – such as a dramatic fall in gas prices – to make the move fully pay off.

“Should strong growth fail to materialise, and tax rises be ruled out, then Osborne-esque spending cuts would be needed to achieve the chancellor’s fiscal rules.”

The Resolution Foundation’s findings come after the Institute for Fiscal Studies thinktank said the chancellor was “betting the house” by putting government debt on an “unsustainable rising path”.

The Treasury did not comment on the findings, instead pointing to the chancellor’s speech on Friday.

Coronavirus cases and hospitalisations are rising once again in England after declining since early July, data suggests, with experts warning people should stay at home if ill and get a Covid booster if eligible.

Nicola Davis www.theguardian.com 

According to the latest figures on the government coronavirus dashboard, both the number of cases detected through mass community testing, and patients admitted to hospital with Covid have risen in the past seven days, suggesting the country could be facing a resurgence of the virus.

On Monday, 781 Covid patients were admitted to hospital in England, up from 519 the week before, with the seven day total rising 17%, from 3,434 in the week ending 12 September to 4,015 in the week ending 19 September.

As noted by the Health Service Journal, admissions in the south-west rose 39%, to 509, in the last seven days, and by 30% in the north-east and Yorkshire region.

While data on Covid infection levels across the UK is expected from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) tomorrow, data from the Zoe health study suggests cases are rising, with hints also seen in the latest figures for the number of cases picked up in mass community testing in England.

Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency, said there were actions people could take.

“While Covid-19 rates are still low, the latest data for the last seven days indicate a rise in hospitalisations and a rise in positive tests reported from the community,” she said.

“For those eligible, the time to get your autumn booster is now. Getting a booster will give your immune system time to build up your protection against being severely ill from Covid-19 as we move into winter.

“All of the available boosters provide good protection against severe illness from Covid-19 and getting your booster sooner rather than later is crucial.

“As it gets colder and we head towards winter, we will start to see respiratory infections pick up – please try to stay at home if you are unwell and avoid contact with vulnerable people.”

People renting homes in Devon are seeing their income increasingly squeezed as housing benefit has failed to keep up with rising costs. Almost all of the 556 privately rented properties available in Devon this week on the Zoopla website are advertised at more than the local housing allowance – the amount paid by housing benefit.

Edward Oldfield www.devonlive.com

The sum varies according to the local rental market but has been frozen since 2020. It is meant to be set to cover the cost of the cheapest 30 per cent of homes on the private rental market. But rents soared in Devon during the pandemic as landlords sold up or forced out tenants so they could switch to more profitable holiday lets. As a result, almost all the properties listed this week in Devon, from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom homes, were unaffordable from housing benefit payments alone.

That means renters claiming the support will have to find extra cash to cover the shortfall from their other income. It could also force families to move around the county in a kind of postcode lottery, to where the allowance most closely matches rents, usually in more rural areas. Others could end up homeless if they cannot find the extra cash to cover the gap when they are forced to move.

MPs on the select committee for Work and Pensions released a report in the summer recommending an increase in the local housing allowance. The housing campaign group Shelter says: “For renters, the cost of the living crisis is being driven by a failing housing policy. Having to make up ever-increasing shortfalls in housing benefits means that a growing number of families are now having to make the difficult choice between rent and food: eviction or eating. As the cost of living rises, growing housing benefit shortfalls risk pushing people into homelessness as they struggle to avoid rent arrears and eviction.”

Searching on Zoopla this week for two-bedroom homes suitable for a single parent with two young children, the cheapest rental in Exeter was a flat in Cowick Street, advertised at £183 a week. That is more than £25 a week above the allowance of £156.49.

Outside the city, but still in the area covered by the allowance, which has the highest rates in Devon, there was a flat in Starcross at £156, a flat in The Parade, Exmouth, at £167, and a two-bedroom semi-detached house at Christow at £179.

In South Devon, where the allowance is lower at £138.08, there were no affordable properties on offer. The cheapest two-bedroom home was a flat in Pembroke Road, Torquay, at £150 a week. In Torbay outside Torquay, the lowest price was £196 for a two-bedroom terraced house in Brixham. The cheapest similar property in Paignton was a cottage at £207, or a terraced house at £208.

Torbay has a particularly acute problem with housing affordability, as one in four households renting privately and there is a low level of social housing. That means families are even more vulnerable to the housing crisis, as rents rise due to a shortage of available homes, and rises in inflation and energy bills erode spending power. Commenting on a post on Facebook about the effect of the housing crisis in Paignton, one user said they had been looking for a property to rent for seven months, and had viewed around 50 without success.

In North Devon, the local housing allowance for a two-bedroom property is £126.58. Of the six homes available for rent in the Barnstaple area, the cheapest was a maisonette at Sticklepath at £164 a week, followed by a flat at Fremington for £167. In the Bideford area, a two-bedroom house was on offer at £138 a week in Great Torrington, the cheapest in the whole of Devon, but still more than £10 a week above the local allowance.

The cheapest three-bedroom home in Devon was a bungalow at Highampton, near Beaworthy, close to the western edge of the Exeter valuation area. The cost at £160 a week put it below the £189.86 Exeter allowance. Renters a few miles west or north are entitled to a much lower amount for the same size of property, at £149.59 a week. That is the rate payable in Braunton, where the next cheapest three-bedroom home was on offer at £173.

Three bedroom homes at £185 a week were advertised at Hatherleigh and Okehampton, both in the Exeter allowance area and therefore just below the allowance limit. At Paignton, where the amount payable is the South Devon figure of £168, the same rent for a three-bedroom home made it unaffordable for claimants.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics shows that the cost of private home rental in the South West region grew by the fastest rate ever in the twelve months to June. Prices were 4.1 percent higher in June 2022 than in June 2021 – the largest year-on-year increase since comparative records began in 2006. The record-breaking hike in home rental came at the same time that workers across Britain saw their regular pay fall by 3 percent, according to separate figures from the ONS.

A new area of open green space for local people to enjoy next year has been acquired by East Devon District Council.

eastdevondistrc-newsroom.prgloo.com

This first new public space marks an important landmark in creating the Clyst Valley Regional Park, which stretches from National Trust Killerton to Clyst St Mary near the Exe Estuary. The new space is expected to open to the public in 2023, providing a wider choice for residents and visitors as an alternative to protected sites such as the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths and the Exe Estuary.

Roughly equivalent to the size of 9 rugby pitches, the land for the area has been paid for by money from developers, known as Section 106 payments and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), as part of their obligations when building much-needed homes for local people.  Commercial sensitivity around the sale means that the purchase price of the land is not disclosed.

Work to establish the new green space will now start. The first step is to seek planning permission for change of use of the land from agricultural to public open space.

Councillor Geoff Jung, East Devon District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Coast, Country and the Environment, said:

I am really pleased to see this open green space coming forward, which will form a part of East Devon’s Clyst Valley Regional Park. The new area will provide access into our beautiful countryside with proposals to create ponds, woodland and flower-rich meadows in a nature-rich, public green space.

The new space will be located near Broadclyst Station and is presently a series of meadows and hedgerows with a stream running through. There are some characterful old oak trees, and lovely views towards Pinhoe ridge.

Councillor Paul Arnott, East Devon District Council’s Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Development, said:

This is one of the best schemes currently being run by East Devon District Council and when it is complete residents will gain quiet, sustainable travel routes from Cranbrook to Exeter without needing to get in a car at all.

We hope that local residents will appreciate a walk along the meandering stream through the middle of the site or just taking in the expansive new green space.

On behalf of East Devon District Council’s Ward Councillors for Broadclyst, Councillor Sarah Chamberlain, said:

We are really pleased to see this fantastic area of open green space come forward for the residents of Broadclyst Station and surrounding areas.

It is a great opportunity to use this area as the wonderful open countryside that it is. It enjoys many features including a very old tree that has gone almost silver in age, many fantastic views and even a stream.

We hope residents enjoy the space as a link to Exeter or just to relax and take a walk.

At a future meeting of East Devon District Council’s Cabinet there will be a discussion on the long term management of the site.

Budleigh loses a celebrated resident

Wolf Hall writer Dame Hilary Mantel has died “suddenly yet peacefully” surrounded by close family and friends aged 70, HarperCollins has announced. She was also famed for the follow-up novels Bring Up The Bodies and The Mirror and The Light.

Phil Norris www.devonlive.com 

In a statement, 4th Estate Books wrote: “We are heartbroken at the death of our beloved author, Dame Hilary Mantel, and our thoughts are with her friends and family, especially her husband, Gerald.

“This is a devastating loss and we can only be grateful she left us with such a magnificent body of work.”

Dame Hilary is best known for her epic The Wolf Hall Trilogy of which Diarmaid MacCulloch, Oxford theology professor and biographer of Thomas Cromwell said: “Hilary has reset the historical patterns through the way in which she’s reimagined the man.”

She won the Man Booker Prize twice, for Wolf Hall and its sequel, Bring Up the Bodies, which also won the 2012 Costa Book of the Year. The conclusion to her ground-breaking The Wolf Hall Trilogy,

The Mirror and the Light, was published in 2020 to huge critical acclaim, an instant number one fiction best-seller and longlisted for The Booker Prize 2020 and winner of the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, which she first won for Wolf Hall.

Bill Hamilton, Dame Hilary’s agent at literary agency A.M. Heath, said it had been the “greatest privilege” to work with her throughout her career. He said: “Her wit, stylistic daring, creative ambition and phenomenal historical insight mark her out as one of the greatest novelists of our time.

“She will be remembered for her enormous generosity to other budding writers, her capacity to electrify a live audience, and the huge array of her journalism and criticism, producing some of the finest commentary on issues and books.

“Emails from Hilary were sprinkled with bon mots and jokes as she observed the world with relish and pounced on the lazy or absurd and nailed cruelty and prejudice.

“There was always a slight aura of otherworldliness about her, as she saw and felt things us ordinary mortals missed, but when she perceived the need for confrontation she would fearlessly go into battle.

“And all of that against the backdrop of chronic health problems, which she dealt with so stoically. We will miss her immeasurably, but as a shining light for writers and readers she leaves an extraordinary legacy. Our thoughts go out to her beloved husband Gerald, family and friends.”