No-show Tory health minister faces call to resign over private emails

Matt Hancock has gone but more allegations of sleaze are swirling around the Ministry he led. – Owl

Tory health minister Lord Bethell faces calls to quit amid allegations he used his personal email account to discuss PPE contracts.

Rachel Wearmouth http://www.mirror.co.uk

Labour’s Jon Ashworth told new Health Secretary Sajid Javid his minister should be “relieved of his responsibilities” following revelations some business may have been conducted in secret.

Minutes of an official Department for Health meeting, obtained by the Good Law Project, claim that he “routinely uses his personal inbox and the majority of [approvals for contracts] would have been initiated from this inbox”.

The news follows an explosive few days for the government, after Matt Hancock’s resignation in the wake of news he broke social distancing rules by kissing aide Gina Coladangelo.

It has also emerged that Mr Hancock appointed Ms Coladangelo personally and that he and Lord Bethell used private emails for government business – something Downing Street disputes.

Separately, Lord Bethell has been referred to the standards watchdog over claims he sponsored a parliamentary security pass for Ms Coladangelo, despite reports that she never worked for him, which is against the rules.

He dodged appearing at the despatch box in the Lords on Monday as the scandal rumbled on, sending Government whip Baroness Penn in his place, prompting allegations he was “in hiding”.

Mr Ashworth said to the Health Secretary in the Commons later: “Does he have confidence in this minister?

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“Isn’t it time this health minister was relieved of his responsibilities as well?”

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner also pressed Cabinet Office minister Julia Lopez over the issue.

She asked: “Can the minister now say from this despatch box categorically and on the record that no minister or prime minister has used or does use private email for Government business, especially when it involves spending public money?”

She said: “This morning a Government spokesperson claimed that all ministers only conduct Government business through their departmental email addresses, yet I have right here the minutes of a departmental meeting in which senior civil servants report Government contracts being approved from the minister’s private email address. Who is telling the truth?”

Ms Rayner also called for the government to refer the matter to the information watchdog.

Ms Lopez said “official devices, email accounts and communications applications” should be used for government business.

She added: “At the time at which we’re in the height of the pandemic, a huge volume of correspondence was coming to ministers via their personal email addresses, to their parliamentary email addresses, to their ministerial email addresses – I am not suggesting that there is something that we should not be looking into – my point is there were 15,000 offers of help in securing PPE that came in following the Prime Minister’s call for assistance.

“The important thing to note is that when PPE offers did come in, they went through the same eight-stage process, so no matter which way those things were communicated, they went through the same process and that should provide assurance.”

The final straw: how appeal from 80 Tory MPs sealed Matt Hancock’s fate

According to the Telegraph, 80 Tory MPs complained about Matt Hancock to the whips’ office. 

Owl wonders whether Neil Parish and Simon Jupp were amongst them. It’s all a question of being on the right side of history. Though in this case Owl thinks the choice was pretty obvious.

By Christopher Hope, Chief Political Correspondent www.telegraph.co.uk (Extract)

Matt Hancock resigned after being told that 80 Tory MPs had complained to the whips’ office that he had not quit over breaching lockdown rules with his mistress in his office.

Mr Hancock finally stood down on Saturday night, admitting that the news he had breached social distancing rules by kissing an aide in his Whitehall office had begun to “distract attention” from the Government’s response to Covid-19.

Separately, Mr Hancock is unlikely to accept the three-month pay-off  worth around £16,000 for resigning as a minister. Critics were already comparing it to the one per cent pay offer to nurses……

Are holidays causing regional surges?

Since the early days of the pandemic Owl has always regarded Tim Spector’s Covid study as providing the first indications of what is happening.  It is now ringing the alarm bells.

His latest symptom tracker results (28 June) suggest that East Devon has suddenly become a hotspot in the South West, along with Exeter, with a number of active cases estimated at 527 per 100,000. A week ago things were very different with case rates low in East Devon. Just a blip or is it a trend?

Are holidays causing regional surges?

Covid.joinzoe.com 24 June

According to ZOE COVID Study figures, it is estimated that among unvaccinated people in the UK there are currently 15,099 new daily symptomatic cases of COVID on average, based on PCR test data from up to five days ago [*]. An increase of 18% from 12,830 last week. Comparatively there are currently 4,023 new daily symptomatic cases in partly or fully vaccinated people, an increase of 37% from 2,930 new cases last week (Graph 1 below). The data continues to show that the positivity rate is much higher in those with just a first dose, compared to those who are double vaccinated (Graph 2 below). 

The ZOE COVID Study incidence figures (new symptomatic cases) are based on around one million weekly reporters and the proportion of newly symptomatic users who have received positive swab tests. The latest survey figures were based on data from 6,435 recent swab tests done between 6 June to 19 June 2021. The data excludes lateral flow tests.   

In terms of prevalence, on average 1 in 264 people in the UK are currently estimated to have symptomatic COVID [1] (Table 1 below). 

The UK R value is 1.1 and regional R values are; England, 1.1, Wales, 1.1, Scotland, 1.1 (Table 1 below). These are the lowest R values that have been seen since the third wave started in the UK. One of the highest R values is in the South West of England which appears to be driven by an increase in cases in Cornwall (map below).

According to the prevalence data by age, the number of cases in the 20-29 age group continues to rise, however cases in the age groups over 30 have begun to level off. (Graph 5 below). 

According to our data, a small proportion of those who have been vaccinated still get infected. ZOE collected reports last week from 487 contributors who had an infection after two doses of the vaccine, and 284 who reported an infection after one dose. The following approximate risk factors for infection based on one, two or zero doses of the vaccination, have been recorded using the latest ZOE data:

Current risk of new daily COVID infection:

  • In the unvaccinated: 1 in 1,664
  • after 1 vaccine dose: 1 in 4,374
  • after 2 vaccine doses : 1 in 13,506

This data shows that when people have received both vaccinations they have much greater protection against COVID-19.

The ZOE COVID Study Local Authorities’ Watch list for Active Cases of COVID-19‍

The following are UTLA regions with the highest estimates of prevalence rates averaged over the past week. Please note, that the local authorities’ watchlist is intended to be an early indication system of areas where cases might be rising, but these prevalence estimates might be volatile due to the limited amount of responders and positive cases in some areas.

Tim Spector OBE, lead scientist on the ZOE COVID Study app and Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London, comments on the latest data:

“ZOE COVID Study data this week shows rates in former hotspots, such as Scotland and the North West of England, continuing to plateau. At the same time, top UK holiday destinations like Cornwall are emerging as new areas with rapidly increasing cases. I think this is down to a number of factors, including the sudden influx of holidaymakers over half term, as well as the recent G7 summit and a previously unexposed local population. We need to remain vigilant of these UK holiday destinations as summer holidays approach, and ensure that we minimise outbreaks by following government guidelines.

Since early on in the pandemic, the data from the ZOE COVID Study has shown that there are over 20 different symptoms of COVID-19, not just the classic three: fever, cough and anosmia. The COVID-19 situation in the UK is different to last summer due to new variants and the vaccine roll out. We’ve found that the symptoms in younger people and post-vaccination are both different. People urgently need to know there are more than just the three classic symptoms. The top symptoms being currently logged in the Zoe app are; headache, runny nose, sneezing, fatigue and sore throat, which for many will feel more like a common cold. The earlier people can catch the infection, the quicker they can self-isolate until symptoms abate and stop the spread. We encourage anyone feeling under the weather to take a test as soon as they can and stay at home.” 

Professor Tim Spector gives more detail in his weekly video update on YouTube here

The app is delivered in collaboration with King’s Health Partners, an Academic Health Sciences Centre based in South East London.

Graph 1. Daily new cases of COVID in UK by vaccination status

Graph 2. Positivity rate in vaccinated (1st and 2nd dose) and unvaccinated

Table 1. Incidence (daily new symptomatic cases)[*], R values and prevalence regional breakdown table 

Please refer to the publication by Varsavsky at al. (2020) for details on how R values are calculated 

Graph 3. The ZOE COVID Study UK Infection Survey results over time 

The ZOE COVID Study map of UK prevalence figures

Graph 4. The ZOE COVID Study daily active cases by region in the last month

Graph 5. Daily prevalence rates by age group

Planning applications validated by EDDC for week beginning 14 June

Demolishing 50,000 buildings a year is a national disgrace

Demolition is construction’s dirty secret. If the government is serious about wanting to Build Back Better, it must recognise that the greenest building is one that already exists.

Will Hurst www.thetimes.co.uk

This summer the government will strike a blow against our throwaway culture by giving consumers a right of repair on electrical goods. Under new rules, manufacturers will be legally obliged to make spare parts available, slashing “e-waste” and carbon emissions in the run-up to November’s Cop26 climate conference. The plans will put “more money back in the pockets of consumers while protecting the environment”, according to the business secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng. In promoting intensive and long-term use of resources, the move is a commendable example of circular economy thinking.

Yet ministers have barely scratched the surface when it comes to harnessing this approach to help meet Boris Johnson’s world-leading pledge to slash carbon emissions by 78 per cent by 2035. While the country generates 1.5 million tonnes of electrical waste each year, the figure for construction is 126 million tonnes, almost two thirds of all waste produced in the UK.

Buildings, much like electronic gadgets, are quickly viewed as obsolete with 50,000 demolished annually. Many could be revitalised and enlarged where necessary. Instead, they are erased and replaced with shiny new structures built of fossil-fuel-hungry steel and cement. No wonder the construction sector accounts for about 10 per cent of the country’s carbon emissions, a percentage only likely to grow.

As we emerge from the pandemic, you might have thought that all the talk of a green recovery would have slowed the wrecking ball, yet the opposite seems true. Save Britain’s Heritage, a charity established almost half a century ago, says it has never been busier fighting for historic buildings under threat. Great chunks of towns and cities such as Worcester, London, Coventry and Grimsby are earmarked for demolition or already condemned to it. What’s perverse is that this wasteful system is encouraged by the planning rules and a VAT system that charges 20 per cent on most refurbishment work and a rate of zero on much new-build construction, including housing.

What if ministers promoted a new approach based on reusing existing buildings wherever possible? That is what’s proposed by the Architects’ Journal’s RetroFirst campaign, which has widespread industry support and is the subject of a new short film voiced by the architect and broadcaster George Clarke.

Demolition is construction’s dirty secret. If the government is serious about wanting to Build Back Better, it must recognise that the greenest building is one that already exists.

Will Hurst is managing editor at the Architects’ Journal

UK Covid live news: minister brushes aside claims PM does not care about standards by stressing he’s popular

 

They just don’t get it do they? Owl

Andrew Sparrow www.theguardian.com 09.25

 

Minister brushes aside claims PM does not care about standards by stressing he’s popular

Good morning. If Boris Johnson was hoping that Matt Hancock’s Saturday night resignation as health secretary was going to draw the line under the many questions about this matter – not least why Johnson did not sack Hancock as soon as it became clear he was ignoring his own lockdown rules – then this morning there will be a need for an urgent rethink. This became obvious about 30 seconds into Nick Robinson’s superb interview with Robert Buckland, the justice secretary, on the Today programme. Robinson started by asking why Hancock was not on Friday. Buckland responded by claiming to be “amazed” that Robinson was asking about this, and not probation service reform, given that Hancock has now gone, but Robinson just laughed this objection.

From there, for Buckland, it just got even worse.

The most telling moment probably came near the end. Buckland refused to accept the claim that Johnson does not care about ethical standards in government. But then, in what sounded a more candid defence, he suggested it was only Johnson’s critics who were raising these points, and that it did not matter much because Johnson was popular. Inadvertently, he seemed to be confirming Robinson’s point.

Here is the exchange.

NR: There is a sense that this government, in particular this prime minister, believes that the rules are for little people, standards are to be sneered at and ignored, provided the prime minister is ahead in the opinion polls. Is that the view of this government?

RB: I think it’s entirely the opposite of the truth. This government is all of the people’s priorities.

NR: I’m asking you about standards, not the people’s priorities, Mr Buckland, you well know. You see, there is an argument, and many people would have is, it doesn’t matter if the public don’t care about standards. Standards are standards. You’re a lawyer, you’re a justice secretary, I suspect you believe, to the very core of your being, that you should uphold the law and uphold the rules. I’m putting to you that that is not the spirit in Boris Johnson governs this country.

RB: I entirely disagree, I wouldn’t be in government, if I felt that the prime minister didn’t agree with me on those fundamental principles. He does.

And I think that, frankly, all the rest is just talk, and usually talk by people who have an agenda that clearly is against that of the prime minister.

I think the truth is a lot of people just don’t like the PM, and they veil their dislike in this sort of language. I think they can’t get over the fact that he is popular in the country and liked in the country, and has won a resounding election victory.

Burnthouse Lane baffled by Exeter boundary shake-up

If there’s one community in particular in Exeter where its residents love and are proud of where they live its ‘The Laners’ in Burnthouse Lane.

Remember the consultation on boundary changes is still open – Owl

Anita Merritt  www.devonlive.com

There are even those who refuse to identity themselves as being part of Wonford because living in the Lane is deemed to be an area in its own right.

To have recently been told that boundary changes could mean the street would no longer be part of Exeter but East Devon instead has not gone down well among those who have heard the news.

The common feeling though seems to be that regardless of whether Burnthouse Lane – along with parts of Countess Wear, and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital – are moved ‘out of Exeter’ under proposals for a shake-up of England’s electoral map in 2023, it won’t make any difference.

That’s because the residents say they will always be part of Exeter no matter what anyone else says, and they don’t expect it to have much impact on their lives.

If the parliamentary boundary is changed it will not affect local government boundaries or services such as bin collections so the areas will still come under the remit of Exeter City Council.

As part of the proposals, Devon will gain an extra MP and arts of what is the existing Exeter constituency will be moved into a new Exmouth seat – which primarily covers the existing East Devon seat, with areas around Sidmouth and Ottery St Mary moving into a new Honiton seat covering the east of the county.

The proposals from the Boundary Commission for England says the aim is to make Parliament fairer by giving each MP a roughly similar number of voters, which involves redrawing and renaming some seats.

A final decision will be made on July 1, 2023, following a series of consultations.

Burnthouse Lane resident Terry Mills said: “It won’t change anything as this is Burnthouse Lane. We feel part of Exeter.

“I had not heard of the boundary changes before. I would rather be in Exeter and I don’t want an MP who I am not used to, and they would not know our issues.”

Mum-of-five Debbie Coles said: “I don’t agree with it because I’m in Exeter, not East Devon. I have lived in Exeter all my life and have lived off The Lane for five years.

“I don’t quite get it.”

David James, who works behind the bar at The Dolphin pub in Burnthouse Lane, said: “I never realised they were going to change the boundaries. I live in The Lane and it would not bother me at all because it does not really change anything; I’ll still be living in The Lane.”

Harry Crompton, who now lives in St Thomas but used to live in The Lane, said: “I find it some what disappointing in that the government is manipulating votes to get into more streets. It’s unfair for the people who have voted.

“It’s basically about adjusting the boundaries so they can inherit more seats in the House of Commons.

“It will reduce the chances of a Labour seat at the next elections.

“I think a lot of people are not going to be fussed as a lot of people don’t vote anymore, and they will just carry on with their lives.”

Samantha Welch said: “I didn’t know anything about it either. I don’t think it will change anything to be honest. I live in Burnthouse Lane and the changes don’t bother me because it’s always going to be Exeter to me.”

John Mills, 72, lives in neighbouring Hazel Road, said: “I’m not really worried about it at all. It is what it is. I was born and bred in Exeter, and I like living here. I will still say I’m in Exeter, not East Devon, if it does change. I’m Exeter and nothing else.”

Angela Sowden, who also lives in The Lane, said: “I have always liked Ben Bradshaw; I have always got on with him and he has helped my family. He’s a very good MP.

“I would be disappointed if the boundaries are changed because we’ve always known this part as the west of Exeter. I prefer things as they are thanks.”

Her daughter Rebecca added: “I don’t see what the point is personally. We’ve always been known as part of Exeter so what difference will it make?

“People have always voted for Ben here so there will probably be a bit of an uproar. I can’t see an MP for East Devon travelling all the way over here to ask our opinion or that they will feel like one of us.”

Pensioners Sylvia and Tom Crawford are also not keen on the proposals.

Sylvia, who has lived in the same house in The Lane since she was a toddler, said: “It’s horrible,” and joked, “but does it mean we’re going into the posh part?

“Everybody is mucking about with everything.”

Tom added: “It sounds a bit ridiculous to me after all these years. In all honesty I don’t think it will make a difference to me.”

Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw said: “I would strongly encourage anyone with concerns to make representations to the Boundary Commission’s consultation. It is quick and easy to do and it is common for the commission to change its initial proposals if enough people object.

“The people of the Burnthouse Lane estate have every right to feel they are an integral and historic part of Exeter.

“When making representations it is important to stress local community and historic ties and helpful to suggest an alternative solution, given the Exeter parliamentary seat must lose at least one local council ward under the maximum size rules.

“Any change in the parliamentary boundary will not affect local government boundaries or services. Everyone in Wonford and the rest of Exeter will continue to be covered by Exeter City Council and its services.”

A spokesman for the Boundary Commission said: “We encourage everyone to use this opportunity to help us shape the new constituencies – the more responses we receive, the more informed our decisions will be when considering whether to revise our proposals.

“Our consultation portal at www.bcereviews.org.uk has more information about our proposals and how to give us your views on them.”

Six arrested after Extinction Rebellion dumps manure outside Daily Mail offices in ‘Free the Press’ protest

Six people were arrested after Extinction Rebellion (XR) dumped a pile of manure outside the offices of the Daily Mail as part of a planned ‘Free the Press’ protest.

www.independent.co.uk

Climate activists dropped 7 tonnes of the fertiliser outside the entrance of Northcliffe House, in Kensington, west London, at 6.40am on Sunday and also targeted the offices of the Daily Telegraph at Victoria.

The environmental group said in a statement it wants to send a message to “the 4 billionaire owners of 68 per cent of the UK’s print media” and is demanding “an end to media corruption that suppresses the truth from the public for profit.” Protesters left signs behind saying “cut the crap” and “free the press”.

Police said five people were arrested in Kensington for an offence under section 148 of the Highways Act 1980, which is punishable with a fine. Four of the five were also arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage.

A 54-year-old man was also stopped by police as he attempted to empty manure from a truck onto the pavement near the Telegraph’s offices in Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria. “Had he succeeded, it would have caused disruption to employees and members of the public,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. He was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

XR later posted a video of a small number of activists spraying paint on the News Corp building at London Bridge before they too were detained by police.

The protest was one of several different demonstrations to sweep the capital over the weekend.

On Saturday anti-lockdown protesters threw tennis balls at Parliament and Downing Street and also let off flares.

Protesters, many not wearing masks, carried placards bearing anti-vaccine and anti-restrictions messages, while others waved flags.

Meanwhile, in a separate action, the People’s Assembly, an anti-austerity group, held a demonstration against the government, which included criticism of a range of issues including the controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

Images and videos shared on social media by Extinction Rebellion showed people marching through London and speeches in Parliament Square, including from former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Other protesters sharing images on social media appeared to be marching for causes including the rights of Palestinians and trans people.

Three people were arrested during the protests for breach of the peace, assault on police and an individual who was already wanted for a previous assault.

On Sunday the Save Our Scene group held a “Freedom To Dance” march from Regent Street to Parliament Square in protest at the government’s treatment of the live music industry during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a post on Instagram, the group said: “We are demanding that the government lift all restrictions on the music & hospitality sector without any further delay.”

At the end of Sunday’s demonstrations, the Met Police confirmed that a total of 23 people had been arrested “as a result of the proactive operation”.

The damning emails that prove Matt Hancock misled the public about his friend’s Covid contract

  • Emails show Matt Hancock sent friend’s plea for business to senior civil servant 
  • Within weeks friend Alex Bourne had secured a £30m deal to supply test tubes
  • Ex Health Secretary as repeatedly insisted he had ‘nothing to do’ with the deal  

 www.dailymail.co.uk (Extract)

Matt Hancock is facing fresh scrutiny after The Mail on Sunday obtained bombshell emails contradicting his insistence that he did not help a friend win a lucrative coronavirus contract.

The messages, obtained after a Freedom of Information battle, reveal the ex-Health Secretary personally referred a plea for business by former pub landlord Alex Bourne to a senior civil servant in the Department of Health.

Matt Hancock is facing fresh scrutiny after The Mail on Sunday obtained bombshell emails contradicting his insistence that he did not help his friend Alex Bourne win a lucrative coronavirus contract

When Mr Hancock was asked about the contract in December, he insisted: ‘I had nothing to do with this contract. I don’t have anything to do with the signing of individual contracts.’

Last night, Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, accused Mr Hancock of misleading the public over the issue. 

‘The charge sheet against Matt Hancock grows by the hour,’ he said. 

‘These damning emails reveal the beleaguered Health Secretary misled the public over his help for his pub landlord friend winning lucrative public contracts.’

His officials fought tooth and nail to stop us getting bombshell messages

The Department of Health and Social Care battled for months to keep email exchanges between Matt Hancock and his friend a secret – and only caved in when threatened with court action.

The Mail on Sunday submitted a request for information on February 23, asking for copies of emails and WhatsApp messages exchanged by the two men between March and December 2020, as well as the transcripts of any relevant telephone conversations. The DHSC failed to reply to that or a subsequent request for an internal review.

The MoS then complained to Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham, who – after reminding officials of their responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act – issued a Decision Notice on June 15 in which she stated that a failure to respond was a breach of the law.

She warned that a failure to respond within 35 calendar days could lead to High Court action for contempt of court. Three days later, the DHSC capitulated.

Read details  www.dailymail.co.uk

Chris Whitty sent in to save Britain’s sick seaside towns

We have been here before, for example the deprivation of Seaside Towns was examined by Clive Betts MP’s committee in a benchmarking study 2006/7:

On Deprivation

  •  26 of the 37 principal seaside towns in England have an overall level of deprivation greater than the English average. 
  • On most individual domains within the Indices of Deprivation, with the notable exception of crime, a majority of seaside towns have above-average deprivation. 

The report concludes that, taking account of a range of evidence, on average England’s principal seaside towns are rather more disadvantaged than the rest of the country, but not markedly so. 

However, there is considerable variation between seaside towns, with some towns faring markedly better than others and in quite a number of cases better than England as a whole.

The ‘economic’ data suggests that Bognor Regis, Exmouth, Greater Bournemouth, Greater Brighton, Greater Worthing, Sidmouth, Southport, Swanage, Whitley Bay and Whitstable/Herne Bay have the stronger local economies among seaside towns.

The same data suggests that Bridlington, Clacton, Great Yarmouth, Ilfracombe, Lowestoft, Morecambe/Heysham, Penzance, Skegness, Thanet, Torbay and Whitby have the weaker local economies among seaside towns. 

Among the larger seaside towns/areas, with more than 100,000 people, the economic data also points to a ranking of disadvantage from Thanet (the most disadvantaged) through Torbay, Hastings, Greater Blackpool, Isle of Wight, Southend, Greater Brighton and Greater Bournemouth to Greater Worthing (the least disadvantaged).

Chris Whitty sent in to save Britain’s sick seaside towns

Ben Spencer, Science Editor  www.thetimes.co.uk

Professor Chris Whitty has turned his attention from the coronavirus to deprived coastal towns.

The chief medical officer is compiling a report, due later this summer, to highlight the “unique health challenges” faced by those living on the coast. It keeps a promise he made just before the pandemic.

Experts have long warned that seaside communities around Britain have been left behind. Employment levels, academic achievement, economic growth and health are all worse in coastal areas.

According to a Social Market Foundation report published in 2019, life expectancy is six months shorter for men and five months shorter for women living on the coast.

Employees in seaside communities earned about £5,000 less than those further inland.

That picture has been only made worse by the pandemic as the tourism industry was shut down for long periods.

Whitty is to oversee the new Office for Health Promotion, which will take over much of the work of the disbanded Public Health England. He has developed a special interest in the plight of people in rural and coastal areas, which has been long neglected in public health.

When Whitty was appointed chief medical officer in October 2019, he set out tackling health inequalities as a priority for his tenure. Last autumn he started a programme of visits to coastal towns and ports, such as Hull and Morecambe, to gather information for his report.

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference in December, Whitty said more and more older people were living in rural and coastal areas with poor healthcare provision, but the problem could be solved.

“It is possible to raise the health outcomes of the least healthy closer to the outcomes of the healthiest — we should be aiming for that,” he added.

The Department of Health said: “Addressing health inequalities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic and levelling up the health of communities across the UK is a priority for this government.

“The chief medical officer’s report will consider the inequalities experienced in coastal towns and recommend actions to improve outcomes for people in these areas.”

Now we’ve finished giggling, can I just ask: does no one care about decency any more?

Camilla Long www.thetimes.co.uk (Extract)

Why is personal character now so irrelevant, when it used to be what really mattered? Read the ministerial code and nearly all of it is a joke: of the seven principles of public life, Hancock has breached every one in this incident alone. No “high standards of behaviour” for him; no being “professional” with colleagues; no being transparent about the people who are working for you when you’re shipping in your old Oxford mates for shags in the office. No effort to make sure “no conflict arises” — just what was he doing even hiring the PR and marketing director of Oliver Bonas, a crime far greater in my view than the open-mouth kissing? In what way does hawking tatty candle baskets to Sloanes at railway stations qualify you for advising on Test and Trace? And at what point did she actually become his mistress: before or after he gave her the job?

Dorset National Park Team – Summer newsletter

Features articles on

  • The Dorset & East Devon National Park Proposal being considered by Natural England later his year
  • The Background and Opportunities for the Nation and for Dorset & East Devon
  • Some Questions Answered
  • How the National Park family promotes a collective vision.
  • News from the South Downs National Park
  • Passing on our Heritage to Future Generations.

Read the newsletter here.

Owl has already drawn attention to:

This interesting detail in the newsletter: National Parks are not subject to central housing targets. Neither would the whole of the Dorset Council and East Devon Council areas be subject to such targets since planning law enables the partner local planning authority and the National Park to develop a local approach to determining the housing need for their areas. So did the EDDC “Old Guard” regime, fearing they would lose control, never bother to read the small print?

Owl also noted: the immediate priorities Natural England has established to meet the Government’s aim that 30% of the country should be protected and improved for nature by 2030. Is EDDC working in step with this?

The sooner we learn whether the Glover proposal for a combined Dorset and East Devon National Park is going to get the approval of Natural England the better.

‘New towns’ and 10,000 plus homes for Devon

More than 350 sites have been put forward for potential development across East Devon – including three potential ‘new towns or villages’.

When the value of agricultural land can increase by as much as 100%, with planning permission, are we surprised to see such a long list? Gaining planning permission must be like winning the lottery like. Me, me, me.

Owl notes from the latest Dorset National Park Team’s newsletter: National Parks are not subject to central housing targets. Neither would the whole of the Dorset Council and East Devon Council areas be subject to such targets since planning law enables the partner local planning authority and the National Park to develop a local approach to determining the housing need for their areas. So did the EDDC “Old Guard” regime, fearing they would lose control, never bother to read the small print?

Owl also notes: the immediate priorities Natural England has established to meet the Government’s aim that 30% of the country should be protected and improved for nature by 2030. Is EDDC working in step with this?

The sooner we learn whether the Glover proposal for a combined Dorset and East Devon National Park is going to get the approval of Natural England the better.

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

East Devon District Council received a total of 359 site submissions as part of the Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) process ahead of the review of the Local Plan which is under way.

Of the 359, 194 of those are ‘new’ sites, while 165 were previously submitted to the council in 2017 when a call for sites as part of the now defunct Greater Exeter Strategic Plan process.

The call for sites provided the opportunity for individuals and organisations to submit sites that they think have the potential to be developed for housing, economic or other uses, and officers have started the process of reviewing these sites ready for assessment work to commence

Among the submissions were three different proposals for new settlements, in the west end of the district – with a Clyst Valley Garden village on land south of Clyst St Mary and Clyst St George, land around Denbow Farm between the A30 and the A3052, and a site between Crealy Adventure Park and Greendale Business Park known as ‘Greenbrook’.

No decisions have yet been made as to the amount and location of development, but East Devon District Council’s strategic planning committee on Tuesday heard that the amount of development attributed to existing settlements will aim to be broadly consistent with the settlement hierarchy – although a future committee meeting would be asked to discuss a revised settlement hierarchy.

And the committee meeting also heard that residents across East Devon have been left split over how development should take place, the number and location of new homes to be built in the district, and if another ‘Cranbrook-style new town’ should be built, leaving no consensus among what residents wanted.

Ed Freeman, service lead for planning strategy and development management, told the committee that a more ‘West End’ focused approach to new housing development was the most popular, with 31 per cent of responses, closely followed by 27 per cent supporting the existing strategy, which would still see most new homes being built at the West End, but 16 per cent supported less focus on the West End and more homes at towns and villages elsewhere in the district.

He added: “Those settlements with a higher population, a greater range and number of jobs, community facilities and shops, better connectivity, and serving a wide area, will be placed at the top of the settlement hierarchy. Other, smaller settlements have fewer jobs and facilities, and therefore perform a more local but still important role – these settlements will be grouped lower down the hierarchy.

“The amount of development to be attributed to existing settlements will aim to be broadly consistent with the settlement hierarchy, however, factors such as district-wide housing and employment requirement, environmental constraints, sustainability appraisals, land availability, infrastructure requirements and viability will also be considered in identifying the amounts of housing and employment development at each settlement.

“Once these factors are considered, decisions can be made as to whether to focus more development close to Exeter in the western quadrant of the district, have a more even distribution across the western quadrant and existing settlement, or disperse development more widely to existing towns and villages across East Devon with less in the western quadrant.

“If a close to Exeter/western quadrant focussed approach is preferred, given the constraints elsewhere, particularly the area of AONB, this will likely mean one or more new settlements in the western part of the district.”

Councillors had previously heard that the north-west quadrant of the district, between the north of Exmouth and west of Ottery St Mary, was the least constrained part of the district for accommodating growth and would be the ‘logical’ location for any growth to take place.

No decision as to whether a new town, a series of new villages, or expanding existing villages would be the preferred option for development has yet been taken, with the villages of Poltimore, Huxham, Clyst St Mary, Clyst St George, Ebford, West Hill, Woodbury, Woodbury Salterton, Exton and Farringdon would be most likely to be included as ones that could be expanded further, based on them being in the quadrant and close to existing infrastructure.

The first potential ‘new town’ would be for a new ‘garden village’ on land around Clyst St Mary and Clyst St George. The site has been submitted as part of the HELAA process, and maps show that the site would extend to the north of the existing Clyst St George settlement to around where Winslade Park currently lies, before expanding out to the east towards Crealy Adventure Park, as well as out from the east of Clyst St George towards Woodbury Salterton.

The second proposal for a new town is at Denbow Farm. That scheme, which was also suggested during GESP, covers a large area of 660 hectares largely of rolling farmland extending from the A30 to the A3052, before adjoining the Hill Barton industrial area to the south.

It covers the parishes of Clyst Honiton, Sowton, Farringdon, Aylesbeare and could see 10,000 homes built, as well as employment land provided, and could deliver a new route connecting the A30 to the A3052, a self-sufficient, mixed-use garden community and it could deliver a regional hub for sports.

The third is on land south of the A3052 between the Greendale Business Park and Crealy Adventure Park – the proposed ‘Greenbrook’ development. The map shows that the entirety of the land between the two sites is included, with it also stretching slightly further south towards the edge of Woodbury Salterton.

As part of the Local Plan consultation, suggestions had also been made that ‘one or more’ new towns should be developed, including land at Axehayes, west of Hill Barton Business Park, Clyst Valley Garden Village in vicinity of Clyst St George, at Denbow Farm, and along the M5 between Cullompton and Cranbrook all being mentioned, as well as a whole new town redevelopment on the Smeatharpe Airfield site.

But other responses said Cranbrook shows that the new town approach does not work as the promised amenities have not happened, that sites on the edge of towns with limited environmental constraints that do not require major new infrastructure should be prioritised, and that a joint plan with Exeter should be produced covering Cranbrook and the West End with numbers kept separate from the remainder of East Devon, to reflect that this area is meeting Exeter’s housing need.

And other concerns raised were that as the AONB largely prevents development outside the western part of the district, it may be necessary to expand to expand some towns and villages in AONB if there are no alternatives, while the plan needs to take into account new development just outside East Devon’s boundary, such as the large expansion in Chard and Bridport, in Somerset and Dorset respectively.

Mr Freeman also added that ‘unmet need’ from neighbouring authorities was something that East Devon would have to take into account when revising the Local Plan.

He said that in their response, Dorset Council had said that as there were limited opportunities in Lyme Regis, which is adjacent to the Devon border, to meet needs for affordable homes and employment, there needs to be a consideration of opportunities in the vicinity to help meet the needs and sites in East Devon well related to the town may be more suitable than sites in Dorset.

And Torbay Council had advised the GESP that Torbay is unlikely to accommodate its standard method of 586 homes per year beyond 2030, and therefore the East Devon Local Plan needs to take account of neighbouring needs as part of ongoing consideration of cross boundary needs, with East Devon already meeting a substantial part of Exeter’s need which will continue.

Mr Freeman said: “We are bound by duty to cooperate and that is an issue we will have to address. We don’t have to accept what they are saying or their needs, but these areas have raised it as an issue.”

He added: “The HELAA process is about what can be delivered or achieved on the sites, not whether they are suitable, and which sites are to be allocated is for you to discuss following advice from the HELAA panel and officers.

“While brownfields are desirable, they have their own constraints and these kinds of issues can add to the costs of developing them, but we do agree with the principle of bringing them forward first and they should come forward through the process.”

The committee were told by chairman Cllr Dan Ledger that Tuesday’s meeting was not one where discussion of any individual sites should be raised, but Cllr Eleanor Rylance said that the West End of East Devon is ‘not a desert’ and is a collection of villages that already have been swamped by development.

Cllr Philip Skinner added: “If we don’t allow some development in the villages in which we live, then they will wither on the vine. It can be difficult to understand the balance going forward, but the villages want to see a little bit of housing, but not 50 houses and neighbourhood plans with villages are vital for how we go forward with the plan process.”

Cllr Jess Bailey asked whether communities which have experienced vast levels of developments would have that taken into account when looking at future development.

But Mr Freeman said that it could be looked at, but was difficult as East Devon is trying to focus growth in sustainable locations.

He said: “The areas that didn’t last time have much development probably was because they weren’t considered sustainable so unless they have become sustainable, I don’t think we can distribute growth to them just because they didn’t last time, and it may mean it has to go in the areas that they went last time.

“But I understand that may be difficult for communities to accept, and if they keep delivering growth to the areas, then further growth may not be sustainable.”

A further report on the strategy for development will come to a future strategic planning committee meeting, with the Strategic Planning Committee agreeing to note the various issues and options relating to the strategy for the distribution of development in the emerging Local Plan, the feedback report and the consultation responses received to the Local Plan issues and options report, and for a HELAA panel meeting to be held, with them to operate in an advisory capacity, making use of their specialist knowledge to advise on ‘achievability’ of the proposed sites.

Not all sites will be deliverable or achievable, nor will progress to the stage where they are consulted on with the public as part of the issues and options consultation to be run at a later date

HELAA submission Site Address Site Postcode 1 Land lying to the south of Knights Lane, All Saints, Axminster (Gated access between the properties of Pendle and Spindlewood) EX13 7LS 2 Land At Smallridge, Axminster, Devon EX13 7JJ 3 Land at Church Hill, Awliscombe, Devon, EX14 3GB EX14 3GB 4 Land on the south and west side Hillcrest, Awliscombe, Honiton EX14 3NU 5 Land North of Shoals, Musbury Road, Axminster, Devon EX13 8TQ 6 Land adjacent to Fire Station at Lyme Close, Axminster EX13 5BA 7 Land at Kings Farm, Woodbury Lane, Axminster EX13 5TL 8 Land at Green Lane, Raymonds Hill, Axminster. EX13 5TD 9 Axminster Carpets Factory Site, Woodmead Road, Axminster EX13 5PG 10 Land off Wyke Lane, Axminster, Devon EX13 5TL 11 Great Jackleigh Farm, Axminster EX13 8TN 12 Scott Rowe Building, Axminster Hospital, Chard Street, Axminster EX13 5DU 13 Land on the south east side of Axminster

14 Land at Lea Combe, Field End, Axminster EX13 5BD 15 Axe Cliff Golf Club Squires Lane Seaton EX12 4AB 16 Land south of Chapel Street, Axmouth, Seaton, Devon EX12 4BT 17 Land south west of Stepps Lane, Axmouth, Seaton, Devon EX12 4AS 18 Land at Stedcombe Vale, Axmouth, Seaton, Devon EX12 4BJ 19 Land on the north side of Shute Road (Gapemouth Corner), Kilmington, Axminster

20 Land to the south of Stepps Lane, Dowlands, Rousdon DT7 3XP 21 Land adjacent bramble mead and north of Withen Lane Aylesbeare EX52BX 22 Land Part Halls Farm, Aylesbeare

23 New Nutwalls, Harp Lane, Aylesbeare EX5 2JL 24 Land on the outskirts of Aylesbeare near the chestnuts

25 Land adjoining New Nutwalls, Harp Lane, Aylesbeare

26 Land on the outskirts of Aylesbeare near the Old School EX5 2BY 27 Land adjoining New Nutwalls

28 Land at Houndbeare Farm, Rockbeare Hill – to the south west of ‘Ferndale’ EX5 2EZ 29 Land at Oaklands Field, north of Martins Gate, Sidmouth Road, Aylesbeare

30 Land to the west of Barton Farm, Aylesbeare

31 Land adjacent to Bramble Mead and Withen Lane Ex52bx 32 Barton Farm, Village Way Aylesbeare EX5 2FF 33 Land off village way Aylesbeare EX5 2BY 34 Land at Houndbeare Farm, Rockbeare Hill EX5 2EZ 35 Part South Down Farm, Common Hill, Beer EX12 3AH 36 Land to the west of Cott Mead, north side of the road EX12 3BH 37 Field forming part of Cotte Barton Farm EX12 3BH 38 Land at Deems, Branscombe, Seaton EX123BG 39 Land Adjacent to Langaton Lane EX1 3SL 40 Land Adjacent To Sandycote, Honiton Road, Blackhorse, Clyst Honiton EX5 2AN 41 Land at Heathfield (Southeast of Woodbury View), Broadclyst EX5 3HL 42 Brock Hill House, Station Road, Broadclyst EX5 3AR 43 Land at Brockhill, Station Road, Broadclyst, Exeter EX5 3AR EX5 3AR 44 Land on the west side of Station Road, Broadclyst EX5 3AZ 45 Land at Langaton Lane, Pinhoe, Exeter, East Devon EX1 3TX 46 Land at Mosshayne Lane, Pinhoe, Exeter, East Devon EX1 3TR 47 Land adjoining Killenaule, Clyst Honiton, Exeter EX5 2AN 48 Land at Church Lane, Broadclyst EX5 3EL 49 Land to the south east of Pitmans Farm, Dulford – (Easting 307064, Northing 105814) EX15 2ED 50 Orchard Cross Paddocks, Dulford EX152EG 51 Land at Causeway End EX14 3LW 52 Causeay End, Broadhembury EX14 3LR 53 The Old Orchard, Broadhembury, Devon NK 54 Land to the North of Lucerne Road from Colliton Cross to Haskins Cross, Luton, Payhembury EX14 3HZ 55 Land South of the Vicarage, Broadhembury, Devon, EX14 3FF. EX14 3FF 56 Land at Barn Lane, Knowle, Budleigh Salterton EX9 6QW 57 Land at Barn Lane, Budleigh Salterton

58 The Old Orchard, Halse Hill, EX9 6AD 59 Little Knowle, Budleigh Salterton

60 Budleigh Salterton Community Hospital, East Budleigh Road, Budleigh Salterton, Devon EX9 6HF 61 Land opposite Clay Steps, Chardstock EX13 7DA 62 Chubbs Yard, Chardstock, Axminster EX13 7BT 63 Land off Green Land, Chardstock, Nr. Axminster, Devon EX13 7BH EX13 7BH 64 Approximately 10.5 acres – Clyst Road, Topsham

65 Land at Clyst Road, Clyst St Mary, East Devon EX2 7JP EX2 7JP 66 Land to the west side of Blue Ball, Sandygate, Exeter EX2 7JL EX2 7JL 67 Land to the rear of Barley Way, Ebford (Land adjacent to the A376} (A) EX3 0OX 68 Land to rear of Barley Way, Ebford (land adjacent to the A376) (B) EX3 0QX 69 Land at Branscombe Farm, lower side of Ebford Lane, Ebford EX3 0QX 70 6.3 acres off Old Ebford Lane and Lower Lane in Ebford, East Devon

71 Approximately 20.3 acres fronting Clyst Road, Topsham

72 Old Winslade Farm, Clyst St Mary, Exeter EX5 1AS 73 Court Farm, Clyst St George, Exeter EX3 0NP 74 Approximatly 7.5 acres east of Clyst Road, Topsham

75 Land at Odhams Wharf, Ebford (A) EX3 0PD 76 Land at Odhams Wharf, Ebford (B) EX3 0PD 77 Darts Farm EX30QH 78 Approximatly 19 acres west and east of Clyst Road, Topsham, Devon

79 Land adjoining Darts Farm EX30QH 80 Land to the north of Ebford Lane, Ebford EX3 0QU 81 Land opposite Clyst St George Church, Clyst St George EX3 0RF 82 Land at Addlepool Farm, north and south of the Woodbury Road, Clyst St George unknown 83 Land east of Kingston House, Ebford Lane, Ebford EX3 0QX 84 Clyst Valley Garden Village, Land to the south and east of Clyst St Mary and Clyst St George

85 Bypass Site, Clyst Honiton, Devon EX5 2NH 86 Land at Clyst Honiton, Clystside Road EX5 2LX 87 Land south of P&R Autos, Clyst Honiton EX5 2HR 88 P&R Autos, Road from Little Hill Cottage to Marlborough Farm, Clyst Honiton EX5 2HR 89 Axehayes Farm, Clyst St Mary, Nr. Exeter EX5 1DP 90 Land to north (Phase 1) of Exeter International Airport, Exeter, Devon, (37.51 acres) EX5 2BD 91 Land adjacent Park Close, Clyst Hydon EX15 2NE 92 Hardy’s Paddock, Colaton Raleigh

93 Land to north of Treetops, Hawkerland, Aylesbeare. EX5 2JS 94 Alpine Park Cottages, Exmouth Road, Aylesbeare EX5 2LF 95 Land adjacent the Old Sawmill, Colaton Raleigh

96 Land to the West of Fair View Lane, Colyford

97 Land at Hillhead, Colyton

98 Land adjacent Fair View Lane, Colyton

99 Whitwell Lane, Colyford EX24 6HN 100 Land to the north of Colyford

101 Land to the south of Colyford

102 Land to the East of Fair View Lane, Colyford

103 Land adjoining Clay Lane, Colyton

104 Land on the east side of Apple Orchard, Hillhead, Colyton

105 Land adjoining Misbourne , Seaton Road colyford (Franklin acre) Ex24 6qw 106 Land west of Coly Road, Colyford EX24 6RJ 107 Clarkham Cottages Swan Hill Road Colyford Devon EX24 6QF 108 Land and Buildings at Three Mariners Farm, Cotleigh EX14 9HP 109 Land west of Cranbrook New Town – allocated in the Local Plan already EX5 2 110 Land at Lower Cobden Farm, Whimple EX5 2PZ 111 Land North of Louis Way, Dunkeswell EX14 4XT 112 Broomfields Dunkeswell EX144QH 113 Land off Frogmore Road, East Budleigh

114 Land at bottom of Bapton Lane, Exmouth between 14 Bapton Lane EX8 3JT and Cats Motel Bapton Farm EX8 3JT None 115 Douglas Gardens, Exmouth

116 Littleham Fields, Exmouth

117 Land to the South of Courtlands lane, Exmouth EX8 3NZ 118 Land off Marley Road, Exmouth EX8 5QB 119 Green Farm Buildings, Exmouth

120 Land at South Lodge, St Johns Road, Exmouth EX8 5EG 121 Land off Capel Lane, Exmouth

122 Land to the rear of Elm Lane, Exmouth

123 Land to the South of Littleham, Exmouth

124 Land directly to the east of Liverton Business Park, Exmouth

125 Land adjacent to Upper Deck, Gore Lane, Sandy Bay, Exmouth EX8 5BZ 126 Land at St.John’s, Exmouth

127 Wares farm, Clyst Honiton Exeter EX5 2BL 128 Land at Waldrons Farm, Sidmouth Road, Farringdon, Exeter, EX5 2JX EX5 2JX 129 Land south of the Sidmouth Rd EX5 2JU 130 Land lying west of Ottery Road, Feniton

131 Land and buildings at Burland Mead, Feniton, Honiton EX14 3BS 132 Land Adjoining To The West Of Beechwood, Station Road, Feniton, Honiton EX14 3ED; and Land Lying To The Southeast Of Beechwood, Feniton, Honiton (Part) EX14 3ED 133 Land adjacent to Louvigny Close, South of Station Road, Feniton, Devon N/A 134 Land at Sherwood Cross, Feniton

135 Westlades, Feniton, EX14 3ED 136 Land to north (Phase 2) of Exeter International Airport, Exeter, Devon (18.34 acres) EX5 2BD 137 Land at Treasbeare Farm (Cranbrook south western extension area)

138 Land at Till House Farm, Broadclyst (Cranbrook)

139 Land to the south of London Road, Rockbeare. EX5 2EF 140 Land to the north of Hazel Grove

141 Land to the East of Rockbeare village, Exeter EX5 2EL 142 Land at Lowbook, Rockbeare, Exeter EX5 2EL 143 Land to the south of London Road, Cranbrook (A)

144 Land to the south of London Road, Cranbrook (B)

145 Land at Higher Cobden Farm, Whimple EX5 2PZ 146 Land adjacent to Sidmouth Road, Ottery St Mary NA 147 Slade Farm, Ottery St Mary, Devon. EX11 1QN 148 Church Path Field, Land East of Bylands, Slade Road , Ottery St Mary EX11 1QN 149 Approximatly 68 acres at Ridgeway and Littlewell, Ottery St Mary

150 Land East of Honiton, Northcote Hill, Honiton EX14 4PR 151 Land to the north of Long Lane, Exeter, East Devon (29 acres of green field land) EX5 2BD 152 Land to the East & North of the Hampton by Hilton Hotel, Long Lane, Exeter Airport, Exeter, Devon EX5 2LJ 153 Land to the east of Exeter International Airport, Long Lane, Clyst Honiton, Exeter EX5 2BD 154 Land to the south of Long Lane, Exeter, East Devon (20.75 acres of greenfield land) EX5 2BD 155 Land at Exeter Airport, South of the A30

156 Land at Denbow Farm N/A 157 Land to the north of the A3052 and to the west of Yeo Business Park and Hill Barton Industrial Estate (known as land at Axehayes). EX5 1DP. 158 Land to the North of A3052 between Cat and Fiddle and Devon County Showground, Sidmouth Road, Clyst St Mary

159 Land at Coxes Farm, Sidmouth Rd, Clyst St Mary, Exeter EX5 1DN 160 Land at Hill Pond, Clyst St Mary EX5 1DP 161 Hill Pond Caravan and Camping, Clyst St Mary, Nr. Exeter EX5 1DP 162 Land at Venns Farm, Sowton, Nr. Exeter EX5 2AE EX5 2AE 163 1 Sowton Village EX5 2AD 164 Land off Meeting Lane, Lympstone

165 Land to The West of Strawberry Hill / Glebelands, Lympstone

166 22 acres – land to the east of Lympstone off Strawberry Hill

167 Land east of Axminster (central parcels)

168 Land West of Chard Road, North of Axminster Town FC

169 Land on the western side of Hayne Lane, Gittisham, Honiton EX14 3PD 170 Land to the West of Combe Garden Centre, Gittisham, Honiton

171 Land to west of Hayne Lane, Honiton

172 Hayne Farm, Hayne Lane, Honiton EX14 3PD 173 Norton Store, Hawkchurch, Axminster, Devon EX13 5XW 174 Field south-east of Hawkchuch School, behind and adjacent to School Close EX13 5GL 175 Land at Heathfield, East Of Hayne Lane, Honiton EX14 3TX 176 Land to the rear of Oaklea

177 Land to the north and south of King Street, including former Foundry Yard, Honiton EX14 1JZ 178 Former Millwater School, Honiton Bottom Road, Littletown, Honiton EX14 2ER 179 Land at the South Side of The Glenn Honiton EX14 2NT 180 Land at Ottery Moor Lane EX14 1AR 181 Honiton Cattle Market, Silver Street, Honiton EX14 1QN 182 Land on the south-east side of Cuckoo Down Lane, Honiton and land at Lower Marlpits Farm, Honiton EX14 9TB 183 Middle Hill, Church Hill, Honiton EX14 9TE 184 Hurlakes, Northcote Hill, Honiton, Devon EX14 9UP 185 Land At Pit Orchard, Bim Bom Lane, Kilmington

186 Land at Gore Lane, Kilmington, Axminster

187 Land adjoining Breach, Kilmington, Axminster EX13 7ST 188 Fernwood, Kilmington EX13 7NU 189 Field to the east of George Lane, between Dares Field and A35 Highway, Kilmington EX13 7DL 190 Land east of George Lane, Kilmington, Axminster

191 Land to the west and south west of the Old Inn, Kilmington EX13 7RB 192 Land to the east of and off Whitford Road, between Ashes Farm and The Beacon Chapel, Kilmington EX13 7RF 193 Land off Whitford Road (north of The Beacon), Kilmington EX13 7RF 194 Little Paddocks, 22 Underhill Crescent, Lympstone, Devon. EX8 5JF 195 Land lying to the north of Clay Lane, Lympstone

196 Land to the south of Meadowgate Cottage, Church Road, Lympstone, EX8 5JU EX8 5JU 197 Land to the southwest of Dawlish Park Terrace, Lympstone EX8 5AA 198 Land at Courtland Cross, Exeter Road, Lympstone, Exmouth EX8 3NS 199 9.2 acres fronting Hulham Road, Exmouth

200 Land off Harefield Road, Lympstone

201 approximately 30.5 acres fronting A376 and Summer Lane, Exmouth

202 Kings Garden & Leisure, Higher Hulham Road, Exmouth EX8 5DZ 203 Coles Field, Hulham Road, Exmouth EX8 204 12.1 acres fronting Hulham Road, Exmouth

205 Land to the Rear of Old Post Office, Membury, Axminster EX13 206 Kinders, Membury, Axminster, Devon EX13 7AF 207 Oaklands Farm, Monkton (A) EX14 9QH 208 Oaklands Farm, Monkton (B) EX14 9QH 209 Baxter’s Farm, The Street, Musbury EX13 8AU 210 Churchpath field, Axminster Road, Musbury EX13 8AQ 211 Doatshayne Lane, Musbury, Axminster EX13 8TR 212 Littledown Farm, Littledown Lane, Newton Poppleford, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 0BG 213 Land to the West of Badger Close, Exmouth Road, Newton Poppleford EX10 0EA 214 Land to the east Of Exmouth Road, Newton Poppleford EX10 0EA 215 Bowhayes Farm, Venn Ottery, Ottery St Mary EX11 1RY 216 Land off Back Lane, Newton Poppleford

217 Field adjacent to Hawthorn House, Back Lane, Newton Poppleford EX10 0BX 218 Land off Down Close, Newton Poppleford EX10 0JD 219 Seniors Farm yard Ex10 0BH 220 Land to the North of Exeter Road, Newton Poppleford Ex10 0BH 221 Land to the rear of Langford Mews, Newton Poppleford EX10 0DU 222 Land on the north side of Back Lane, Newton Poppleford, Sidmouth

223 Pearces Yard, Bridge End, Newton Poppleford, Devon

224 Land on the west side of Backwells Mead, Northleigh, Colyton. EX24 6BH 225 Land Adjacent to Flintstones, 3 Offwell Barton, Offwell, Nr Honiton, Devon EX14 9SA 226 Land off Ramsden Lane, Offwell, Nr. Honiton, Devon EX14 9SZ EX14 9SZ 227 Barrack Farm, Ottery St. Mary EX11 1RB 228 Land south of the Old Post Office, Fairmile, Nr Coombelake, Devon EX11 229 Land adjacent Thorn Farm Way/Barrack Road, Ottery St Mary EX11 1RA 230 Land South of Otter Close, Tipton St John EX10 0JU 231 Land at Sandgate, Sandgate Lane, Wiggaton, Ottery St Mary EX11 1PX 232 Oakfield Farm, Fenny Bridges, Honiton

233 Land at Thorne Farm, Exeter Road, Ottery St Mary EX11 1QZ 234 Land to North and South of Salston Barton, Ottery St Mary EX11 1RG 235 Gerway Farm, Ottery St. Mary EX!! 1PN 236 Approximately 38 acres west of North Street and Butts Hill Ottery St Mary, East Devon

237 Gerway Farm, Ottery St. Mary, Ex11 1PN EX11 1PN 238 Approximatly 8 acres off Butts Road Ottery St Mary

239 Land at Bylands, Slade Road, Ottery St Mary EX11 1QN 240 Land of Bell Street, Otterton

241 Land adjacent to the North Star, Otterton

242 Land at Hayes Lane, Otterton, Devon, EX9 7JS EX9 7JS 243 Land at Plymtree, Cullompton (A)

244 Land at Plymtree, Cullompton (B)

245 Land North Hatchland Road, Poltimore

246 Land at Poltimore/Broadclyst EX40BQ 247 Land at Quarter Mile Lane, Marsh Green EX5 2EU 248 Land at Houndbeare Farm, Rockbeare Hill – to the west of Robin’s Nest EX5 2EZ 249 Land at Houndbeare Farm, Rockbeare Hill – to the west of Melton Court EX5 2EZ 250 Land at Houndbeare Farm, Rockbeare Hill – to the east of Marl Cottage EX5 2EZ 251 Land at Harrier Court, Clyst Honiton, Exeter EX5 2DR

252 1 and 2 Tillhouse Cottages, London Road EX5 2EE 253 L/A The Grange, London Road, Rockbeare EX25 2FP 254 Clay Common, Seaton

255 Land at Barnards Hill Lane, Seaton

256 Harepath Road, Seaton

257 Land Between Churston Rise and Couchill Copse, Seaton. O/S Ref: SY2390NW EX12 2HD 258 Land at Clay Common (Little Paddock), Seaton

259 Land south of Beer Road, Seaton

260 Land at Barnards Hill Lane, Seaton, East Devon EX12 2TE 261 Land at Whitecross Farm, Colyford Road, Seaton EX12 2SN 262 Land south west of Woolbrook Road, Sidmouth EX10 0LZ 263 Land to the east of The Lookout Coreway Sidford EX109sd 264 Land east of Burscombe Lane, Sidmouth N/A 265 Land west of Two Bridges Road, Sidford

266 Land South of Furzehill, Sidbury N/A 267 The Hams, Fortescue Road, Sidford

268 Land adjoining Fortescue Road, Sidmouth EX10 269 Land adj Stevens Cross Close, Sidford (east side) EX10 9QJ 270 Peak Coach House, Cotmaton Road, Sidmouth, Devon (excluding The Belvedere and No. 3 Peak Coach Cottages) EX10 8SY 271 Plot 1 Sidmouth Garden Centre, Stowford, Sidmouth EX10 0NA 272 Peak Coach House, (Numbers 1-3 Belfry Cottages), Cotmaton Road, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8SY and

The Belvedere, Peak Hill Road, Sidmouth, EX10 0NW EX10 8SY 273 Plot 2- North Sidmouth Garden Centre, Stowford, Sidmouth EX10 0NA 274 Land at Dark Lane, Sidmouth EX10 9DR 275 Station Yard, Station Road, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 8NN 276 Units 2, 5A and 5B Alexandria Industrial Estate, Sidmouth EX10 9HL 277 Alexandria Industrial Estate, Alexandria Road, Sidmouth EX10 9HG 278 Sidmouth Health Centre, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 8ET 279 Land east of Two Bridges Road, Sidford N/A 280 Field bordering junction of Cotford Road and Roncombe Lane [OS: 805]. EX10 0QN 281 Land part of Lees Farm, Colyton Road, Southleigh, Colyton EX24 6SA 282 Land north of Sidmouth Road, Clyst St Mary

283 Langdon’s business park and the occupied units EX5 1AF 284 Denbowe EX5 1AF 285 8.81 acres fronting the A3052 at The Cat and Fiddle, Clyst St Mary

286 3.69 acres Bishops Court Lane, Clyst St Mary

287 Timbervale and part of Pine Ridge, Sowton Village, near ExeterER EX5 2AG 288 Land at Bishops Court Lane, Clyst St Mary EX5 1BX 289 Clyst Valley Garden Village, Land to the south and east of Clyst St Mary and Clyst St George

290 Axehayes Farm Clyst St Mary Nr. Exeter EX5 1DP 291 Land adjacent to Mannings, Stockland, Honiton EX14 9DS 292 Hornshayes Farm, Stockland EX14 9BX 293 Field 7414, Stoke Road, Stoke Canon EX5 4EG 294 Fields 7425 & 8333, Stoke Road, Stoke Canon EX5 4EG 295 Field 6700 & 6907, Stoke Road, Stoke Canon EX5 4EG 296 Land adjoininf Greenaces, Newtown, Talaton EX5 2RA 297 Land at Moorhayes Farm, Talaton EX5 2RE 298 Land adjoining Weeks Farm, Talaton EX5 2RG 299 Land to the east of Woodmans Orchard and Woodmans Hill Farm, Talaton EX5 2RW 300 Land at Sidmouth Road, Lyme Regis DT7 3ET 301 Goodlands Farm, Charmouth Road EX13 5ST 302 Land at Cowley, Exeter (A) EX5 5EN 303 Land at Cowley, Cowley, Exeter, Devon (B) EX5 5EN 304 Land at Cowley, Cowley, Exeter, Devon © EX5 5EN 305 Land at Westhayes/Hayes End, Eastfield, West Hill EX11 1UZ 306 Field at junction of adjacent to Prickly Pear House at junction of B3180 Exmouth Road and Bendarroch Road, West Hill, Devon EX11 1JY 307 Rear of Hasta-La-Vista, Windmill Lane, West Hill EX11 1JP 308 Land off Oak Road, West Hill, Nr. Ottery St Mary, Devon EX11 1SJ 309 Land north and east of Eastfield, West Hill EX11 1UQ 310 Land east of The Pygthle, Lower Broad Oak Road, West Hill EX11 1XQ 311 Hollybrook Nursery, Exmouth Road, Ottery St Mary EX11 1JZ 312 Weggis Farm, Higher Metcombe, Ottery St Mary EX11 1SQ 313 Pikes Farm, West Hill, Ottery St Mary EX11 1XJ 314 Flower Cottage, Elsdon Lane, West Hill, Ottery St Mary EX11 1TZ 315 Elsdon House, Elsdon Lane, West Hill EX11 1UA 316 WI Building and adjoining land, West Hill Road, West Hill EX11 1TP 317 Land at Cobden Whimple Devon EX5 2PZ 318 Land lying to the west of The Paddock Whimple EX5 2NP 319 Approximately 2.3 acres fronting Broadclyst Road, Whimple

320 Approximately 25 acres west of Church Road and Bramley Gardens, Whimple

321 Approximately 4.6 acres at the Junction of Church Road and Woodhayes Lane, Whimple

322 Land adjoining Woodhayes Country House, Woodhayes Lane, Whimple, Exeter EX5 2TQ 323 Approximately 4 acres Station Road, Whimple

324 Land off Lilypond Lane, Whimple, Nr. Exeter, Devon EX5 2QP 325 Land North side of Grove Road, Whimple, Exeter

326 Land at Perriton Barton, Whimple EX5 2QD 327 5.8 Acres off London Road, Whimple

328 Land Adjacent to 5 Woodlands EX5 2QW 329 Wilmington Quarry

330 Gibbons farm, Wilmington ex14 9jr 331 Field 4583, Exmouth Road, Exton EX3 0PZ 332 Land off Globe Hill, Woodbury

333 Land to the rear of Orchard House, Globe Hill, Woodbury EX5 1JP 334 Land Off Globe Hill, Woodbury EX5 1LL 335 Land at Gilbrook, Woodbury

336 Land to the East of Higher Venmore Farm, Woodbury EX5 1LD 337 Land of Broadway (Phase 2), Woodbury

338 Land on the east side of Parsonage Way, Woodbury EX5 1EQ 339 Ford Farm, Woodbury EX5 1NJ 340 Land North East of Webbers’ Meadow, Castle Lane, Woodbury EX5 1EE 341 Marandor, Exmouth Road, Exton EX30PZ 342 Land to the north and east of Exton Farm, Exton

343 Clyst Valley Garden Village, Land to the south and east of Clyst St Mary and Clyst St George N/A 344 Land at Rydon Farm, Woodbury EX5 1LB 345 Land Adjoining Woodbury Business Park, Woodbury EX5 1AY 346 Lower Pilehayes Farm, Woodbury Salterton, Exeter EX5 1QE 347 The Top Yard, Land at Venmore Farm, Woodbury EX5 1LD 348 Land to the South of Lower Road, Woodbury Salterton EX5 1AL 349 Former Sewage Treatment Works, Woodbury Salterton EX5 1QZ 350 Land at Honey Lane, Woodley Salterton, Devon, EX5 1PP EX5 1PP 351 Cricket Field off Town Lane, Woodbury

352 Greendale Business Park, Sidmouth Road, Woodbury Salterton, Exeter EX51EX 353 Land north of the A30 and south of Drakes Meadow, Yarcombe, Honiton, Devon EX14 9AA 354 Land north of the A303, Marsh, Yarcombe, Devon (A) EX14 9AJ 355 Land north of the A303, Marsh, Yarcombe, Devon (B) EX14 9AJ 356 Land adjacent to road through Marsh Village (Parish of Yarcombe) EX14 9AH 357 Land and buildings part at Yonder Marsh Farm, Marsh , Honiton EX14 9AH 358 Land to the north of Keets Mill Lane/south of Bishopswood Road, Bishopswood, Otterford, Somerset TA20 3RU 359 Land to the south of Higher Lane, Axmouth Nonwe

Hancock gone – why did it take so long?

Does Boris Johnson take us all for fools? – Owl

Blow to Johnson’s authority as his health minister loses all support

http://www.theguardian.com 

When Matt Hancock drove to see Boris Johnson at Chequers to tell him he was resigning on Saturday, it wasn’t just an admission that he had run out of supporters after admitting his infamous clinch with an aide breached Covid guidelines. It was also a rare moment when the prime minister’s legendary ability to defy political gravity appeared to falter.

Even by Saturday afternoon, when Tory MPs had begun to make their feelings known, Hancock’s own local paper had condemned him and senior figures in the NHS had concluded Hancock had lost all credibility, Downing Street stuck to its initial conclusion that the matter of the health secretary’s conduct was closed. The tactic, after all, had a good record of success. Be it the home secretary Priti Patel over bullying claims, education secretary Gavin Williamson over botched exams, or communities secretary Robert Jenrick over a Tory donor’s property deal, Johnson resolutely ignored demands for sackings. The regular use of the tactic had led Whitehall insiders and some Tory MPs to wonder what levers were still in place to hold faltering ministers accountable.

Yet it was the health secretary who concluded that the tactic could not save him. The previous 48 hours, and the collateral damage caused by the exposure of his alleged affair with his aide Gina Coladangelo, had left him with little doubt.

It was a vaguely absurd vignette on Friday night that demonstrated how little support Hancock had remaining. With his career hanging by a thread, facing a series of unanswered questions over hypocrisy and propriety following the exposure of his office clinch with Coladangelo, he faced an online meeting with 70-odd members of his local Tory party – and they weren’t happy. “He broke the rules when many of us weren’t allowed to see people we love dearly,” said one member. “Everyone is shocked. There is a lot of grievance. We were not seeing family. He’s told us to do that and we’ve followed him, and then you find out rules don’t matter to him.”

The embattled Hancock was spared an uncomfortable questioning by a friend. Members said that the chair, Rachel Hood, a Hancock supporter who donated £10,000 to him in 2018, did not allow any questions after he had given them all an update, largely on local issues. But the fallout continued.

By Saturday morning, the pressure on Hancock was intensifying, again in his own backyard. One local paper, the Eastern Daily Press carried the headline, “A complete and utter hypocrite”. Duncan Baker, a Norfolk MP, became the first Tory to call for his resignation. Meanwhile, there was also growing anger in the NHS, with influential figures amazed that Hancock had, at first, opted to stay and fight it out. “It is really difficult to see how somebody who has done what he has done can lead with credibility and authority,” said a senior NHS source. Tories reported to their whips that, much like Dominic Cummings’s trip to Barnard Castle, Hancock’s rule-breaking office clinch risked a major breach in public trust.

His resignation letter, sent to the prime minister on Saturday evening, was an admission that even if he had weathered the initial storm, he had lost crucial credibility. “We owe it to the people who have sacrificed so much in this pandemic to be honest when we have let them down,” he wrote. He could not hold the No 10 line. The support he subsequently received from Tory MPs was, to some extent, a sign of relief in the party that accountability still had some hold over the cabinet.

Downing Street’s hopes of simply closing down the issue were stymied by obvious questions. Coladangelo, a PR expert who had been a director of a lobbying company, was hired last year first as an unpaid adviser, and then as a paid non-executive director at Hancock’s department. Those appointments came with no public fanfare, while there was seemingly no independent process for her appointment as a director.

Meanwhile, more revelations emerged. On Saturday night, government sources confirmed that Coladangelo accompanied Hancock to the G7 meeting of health ministers in Oxford this month, with the department paying costs. The source said she was there in her capacity as a non-executive director with board oversight for international policy, and that the department paid for the whole delegation. Insiders suggest that she was acting more as a special adviser. There are already a series of demands for inquiries over how Coladangelo was appointed, including how she came to have a parliamentary pass sponsored first by Hancock in 2019 and then by health minister Lord Bethell.

In reality, many in the health service and political world concluded on Saturday morning that the growing charges against Hancock would simply weigh him down in the job. He had faced accusations of lying from Cummings, the prime minister’s former aide, who suggested Hancock’s handling of the pandemic, especially over PPE, testing and care homes, meant he should have been sacked several times over. Further revelations from Cummings last week showed the prime minister despairing of Britain’s pandemic response last year. Hypocrisy is the other glaring charge, most obviously in relation to Hancock’s conclusion last year that the scientist Neil Ferguson had no choice but to resign from the government’s science advisory committee over breaking lockdown rules. It left him few friends in the scientific and health fields.

Then there are the imminent health service reforms that Hancock was due to present to some cabinet colleagues on Monday, before introducing them in the Commons. Like all changes to the NHS, they are proving controversial, but the main bone of contention is the extra powers that will flow to the incumbent health secretary. Insiders were already asking if the new bill, an immediate challenge for new health secretary Sajid Javid, should proceed as planned. “It feels a bit rich that on the one hand, he should be asking for extra power, and then on the other, basically showing behaviours that are completely incompatible with the increased power that he’s asking for,” said a senior NHS figure.

Some Tories thought Hancock could survive had he made it to the Batley and Spen by-election, when the focus will switch to Labour. However, the obvious lack of support, with the threat of more fallout in the days ahead, made Thursday seem a long way off.

And what of accountability in the age of Johnson? Opposition parties are already hoping that Hancock’s demise is a sign that, even with an administration as unusual as Johnson’s, gravity will always find a way to bring matters back to earth.

Hancock – there’s more………

Matt Hancock used private email account for government business

Gabriel Pogrund www.thetimes.co.uk 

Matt Hancock faces an investigation after using a personal email account instead of an official address during the pandemic in a breach of government guidelines.

Since March last year the former health secretary has routinely used a private account to conduct government business, concealing information from his own officials and potentially the public, according to documents obtained by The Sunday Times.

It means that the government does not hold records of much of Hancock’s decision-making, including negotiating multimillion-pound PPE contracts, setting up the £37 billion test and trace programme and overseeing the government’s care homes strategy.

The disclosure of Hancock’s secret account appears in minutes of a meeting between senior officials at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in December. Cabinet Office guidance states that ministers should use official email accounts in order to ensure that there is evidence of important decisions and of proper internal scrutiny.

Hancock was left fighting for his career after he broke his own coronavirus guidance — and potentially the law — during an affair with a senior aide.

Hancock, 42, is also accused of conflicts of interest after appointing Gina Coladangelo, 43, as his media adviser and a director of his department, earning £15,000 a year. However, according to leaked documents, he may have hidden details of their official dealings and his wider conduct in office.

The minutes record that David Williams, the department’s second permanent secretary, had warned about Hancock’s conduct, saying that he “only” deals with his private office “via Gmail account”. He stated that “the SOS [secretary of state] does not have a DHSC inbox”.

Williams disclosed that officials could not freely access key evidence or documents, saying the “threshold for requesting this personal account would need to be substantial”.

He added that Lord Bethell, Hancock’s ally and a junior health minister, engaged in the same practice, saying he “routinely uses his personal inbox and the majority of [approvals for contracts] would have been initiated from this inbox”.

The minutes concern a meeting about a Good Law Project legal challenge over Hancock’s decision to award a contract worth up to £75 million for “malfunctioning” tests to a firm linked to Sir John Bell, a government adviser.

In the minutes, Williams admits that he “doesn’t believe there was inappropriate acts on behalf of ministers but can clearly see the optics suggest otherwise”.

Since the meeting, Hancock has been given an official email account, although two Whitehall sources said that he still preferred to use Gmail. This is considered to be a less traceable form of communication.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, officials can request access to private email accounts. Yet the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) says such searches are rare. The individual must be asked to go through their own personal address and decide what to disclose, rather than handing it over to officials in full

The disclosures pose new questions about Hancock’s conduct. They suggest it will be difficult for officials to obtain evidence of his conduct in office before an independent inquiry into the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

His emails may also be important for any investigation into whether he breached MPs’ rules by sponsoring a parliamentary pass for Colandangelo. Cabinet Office guidance states explicitly that “it is expected that government business should be recorded on a government record system”.

Labour has demanded an investigation by the Information Commissioners Office. Angela Rayner said: “He needs to explain to the British people why he thought it was acceptable to have a secret and private email inbox for contracts for people that he had a direct relationship with.”

It is not the first time that ministers have been embroiled in controversy about the use of private email accounts. Ten years ago, Michael Gove faced an inquiry over similar allegations after Dominic Cummings, his chief adviser, refused to communicate via his formal inbox. He even wrote that would “not answer any further emails to my official … account”. Eventually Gove was forced to hand over his email to his department.

Hancock already faces potential investigations into whether he broke laws and guidance he helped create, and the ministerial code.

A DHSC spokesman said: “All DHSC ministers understand the rules around personal email usage and only conduct government business through their departmental email addresses.”

No 10 won’t launch inquiry into leaking of CCTV photo of Matt Hancock kissing aide

Whitehall sources rule out mole hunt to avoid whistleblowing claims from source of damaging images.

Denis Campbell www.theguardian.com 

The government will not launch any inquiry into who leaked a photograph of Matt Hancock kissing an aide, even though they believe they know who did it, the Guardian understands.

Downing Street and Hancock’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have decided not to instigate any hunt to try to identify who passed the image taken from a security camera in his ministerial office to the Sun.

The decision was taken at a meeting early on Friday morning involving Hancock, the DHSC’s permanent secretary, Sir Chris Wormald, and the department’s head of security, hours after the tabloid reported and provided evidence of Hancock’s encounter in his office on the ninth floor of the department with an aide, Gina Coladangelo.

Sources say that they have ruled out a mole hunt because if the person were tracked down they could then claim that they were a whistleblower who was exposing wrongdoing.

“Imagine if that person was dismissed for leaking what any employment tribunal that followed would be like for Matt Hancock,” said a source. “It’s hard to justify a leak inquiry when you’ve been caught brazenly doing something like this.”

Another source familiar with the DHSC’s handling of the fallout from Hancock’s behaviour said: “They aren’t going to do a leak inquiry. The thinking is that you could argue that whoever did it was a whistleblower. If someone was whistleblowing, putting sensitive information into the public domain, they deserve to be protected – that’s good practice with whistleblowers.”

The DHSC initially thought the photograph had been taken by someone using a long lens camera in a building opposite the DHSC’s headquarters on Victoria Street, a short walk from the Houses of Parliament. But it quickly discarded that theory and now believes that it came from a member of DHSC staff.

The DHSC believes the picture is a photograph of an image captured by the closed-circuit television camera in Hancock’s office rather than a screengrab that has been taken from CCTV footage. However, it is bracing itself for the prospect of the Sun publishing further material, possibly including moving CCTV footage of Hancock with Coladangelo, who one source described as “Matt’s style guru, someone to spruce up his image, as much as someone who advises him on what to say and how to say it in media interviews”.

Downing Street and the DHSC were asked if any leak inquiry would be held. A No 10 spokesperson said: “The prime minister’s spokesperson was asked about this at lobby [Friday’s briefing with journalists] and he said we don’t comment on security matters for obvious reasons, but he pointed journalists to DHSC for anything further on this matter.” Boris Johnson’s spokesperson declined at that briefing to say anything about an inquiry.

The DHSC had not responded by the time of publication.

Matt Hancock ‘affair’: Aide Gina Coladangelo’s brother has top job at company with NHS contracts

It appears that Matt Hancock’s “chumocracy” runs even deeper than we thought! – Owl

Mark Kleinman news.sky.com 

A relative of the Whitehall director alleged to have had an extramarital affair with Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is an executive at a private healthcare company which has won a string of NHS contracts.

Sky News can reveal that Roberto Coladangelo – who is Gina Coladangelo’s brother – works at Partnering Health Limited (PHL Group), a specialist in the provision of urgent and primary care services to NHS patients.

The disclosure risks deepening the crisis engulfing Mr Hancock, who has already been left weakened by allegations about his competence at tackling the COVID-19 pandemic in recent weeks made by Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s former adviser.

Mr Hancock has also become embroiled in several conflicts of interest scandals relating to coronavirus contracts, including one involving the former landlord of the health secretary’s local pub landing a deal to produce COVID test vials.

Roberto Coladangelo is PHL Group’s executive director of strategy and innovation

Mr Coladangelo is PHL Group’s executive director of strategy and innovation

In February, a judge ruled that Mr Hancock’s department had acted unlawfully by failing to reveal details of pandemic-related contracts in a timely fashion.

People who know Mr Coladangelo said that he and Mr Hancock’s aide were siblings, and social media profiles and electoral roll data appear to confirm a relationship between them.

None of those contacted by Sky News on Friday afternoon would confirm or deny the relationship between the Coladangelos.

More on Gina Coladangelo

Mr Coladangelo is PHL Group’s executive director of strategy and innovation, and has worked there since October 2019, according to his profile on the networking app LinkedIn.

He previously founded Youla, an elderly care business, but prior to that was a marketing executive in the sports and gaming industries.

PHL Group describes itself on its website as “an independent healthcare company providing services and quality solutions to the NHS and private healthcare partners”.

Its website also discloses the provision of “COVID-19 services”, although it is unclear whether the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) was the awarder of contracts relating to these.

The Sun’s revelation of Mr Hancock’s personal relationship with Ms Coladangelo, who is a non-executive director at the health department, prompted calls on Friday for him to be sacked because of his apparent breaches of lockdown restrictions.

Mr Hancock said he had “let people down” and was “very sorry”, with Boris Johnson saying he considered the matter closed.

However, any suggestion of further conflicts of interest relating to the awarding of public health contracts would risk damaging not only Mr Hancock.

The prime minister has also been trying to move on from the recent row over the refurbishment of his Downing Street apartment.

Ms Coladangelo is reported to have known Mr Hancock since their university days, and joined the DHSC board less than a year ago.

Whitehall departments’ boards are chaired by their secretary of state, with many of the non-executives now handpicked by ministers based on previous connections.

There was no suggestion on Friday that PHL Group or Mr Coladangelo had acted improperly in the procurement of government contracts.

Neither the value of PHL Group’s NHS contracts or the timing of their award could be verified on Friday.

A person close to the situation said that PHL had been providing services to the NHS since it was established 11 years ago, and that contracts awarded by the NHS followed the relevant procurement rules.

Mr Coladangelo did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

He is understood to be participating in a cross-country bike ride to raise funds for charity.

A page on the fundraising site JustGiving confirms that Mr Coladangelo received a donation from “Gina [and] Olly” – Oliver Tress is Ms Coladangelo’s husband – with a further donation made by a couple who are understood to be the Coladangelos’ parents, Heather and Rino.

Ms Coladangelo could not be reached for comment, while a DHSC source insisted that the Secretary of State had no involvement in awarding NHS contracts.

“Non-executive directors hold advisory roles and also have no role in awarding NHS contracts,” the insider said.

A spokesperson for PHL said: “PHL has been operating for over 11 years and at all times has secured contracts through the robust tender and procurement processes put in place by local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).

“At no time have any contracts been awarded outside of these rigorous processes and no contracts have ever been awarded by the Department of Health and Social Care.”

More detail on the NAO findings of costly failures in Dido Harding’s Test and Trace

Test And Trace Has Lost Track Of Nearly 600 Million Covid Tests

Paul Waugh www.huffingtonpost.co.uk

Boris Johnson’s £37bn Test and Trace service is facing fresh criticism after a damning new report found that it had lost track of nearly 600 million Covid tests.

The National Audit Office spending watchdog concluded that the system was still failing to “deliver value for taxpayers”, with a lack of any targets for self-isolation by the public and a continued reliance on private consultants.

Test and Trace, which was run by Tory peer Dido Harding, has already come under fire for its use of private firms Serco and Deloitte and its repeated failures in 2020 to track down contacts of people who had Covid.

The latest report sets out a raft of problems, including paying for tracing staff it does not use, the use of emergency procurement powers that dole out contracts without competition and a lack of data sharing with local public health chiefs that hinders efforts to tackle outbreaks.

In the six months from November last year to April this year, it failed to reach nearly 100,000 people who had tested positive for Covid and as result failed to identify their contacts who could potentially infect others.

The NAO also criticised Matt Hancock’s decision to absorb its functions into a new UK Health Security Agency, saying there was “a risk that the restructuring will divert NHS TandT’s attention away from efforts to contain the spread of the virus”.

It has given the government until October to sort out the problems, including how it will “best support citizens to come forward for tests and comply with self-isolation requirements” – a clear signal that the watchdog believes the public need higher payments to home quarantine.

Labour pounced on the report and suggested that it ought to kill off the chances of former Test and Trace chief Harding’s bid to become the next chief executive of the NHS.

Shadow health minister Justin Madders said: “I would suggest this is essential reading for the interview panel in case there is even the slightest possibility that they are considering her appointment.

“This report is damning. The government has been told time and again that if we are going to bring down cases, it needs to ensure people can afford to self-isolate, but it has refused to listen.

“If lateral flow tests are going to play their part in helping society reopen, ministers need to make sure results are registered – it’s astounding that 550,000,000 tests have gone missing.”

The report found that only a small proportion of the Covid tests distributed have been registered as used.

Test and Trace had forecast that between March and May 2021, 655 million lateral flow tests would be used in the UK.

But up to 26 May, just 96 million (14%) of the 691 million tests distributed in England had been registered. “NHS TandT does not know whether the tests that have not been registered have been used or not,” it said.

NAO head Gareth Davies said Test and Trace had introduced a lot of changes since its last withering report, including mass testing, closer working with local authorities and initiatives to identify and contain variant forms of Covid.

“However, some pressing challenges need to be tackled if it is to achieve its objectives and deliver value for taxpayers, including understanding how many lateral flow devices are actually being used and increasing public compliance with testing and self-isolation,” he said.

Public Accounts Committee chair Meg Hillier pointed out that the report had found that 45% of Test and Trace staff at its head office were still private consultants, despite Harding’s promises to reduce their number and to replace them with civil servants.

“Test and Trace employed more consultants in April 2021 than it did in November 2020. Despite being nearly a year old, nearly half the central staff are consultants,” Hillier said.

“Testing and tracing are likely to be around for some time yet and it’s hard to understand why these roles are not now permanent or fixed term contracts. The danger is that institutional memory will disappear as consultants walk off with their fat pay cheques.”

The latest report shows that although Test and Trace has introduced more flexibility into its contact centre contracts, across its testing and tracing activities it is “still paying for capacity it does not use”.

It’s “utilisation rate” – the proportion of time someone actively worked during their paid horse – had a target of 50% but in reality rates have been well below this since November 2020, peaking at 49% in January and falling to just 11% in February.

The unit cost per contact traced went up from around £5 in October to £47 in February.

The NAO found that Test and Trace had used £13.5 billion of its £22.2 billion budget in 2020-21, an underspend of £8.7 billion. Of this, £10.4 billion went on testing, £1.8 billion on identifying and containing local outbreaks and £900 million on tracing.

Test and Trace told the NAO that the underspend is because a predicted high level of demand for testing in January and February 2021 did not materialise due to the national lockdown.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said it had started a programme of research to understand the low rate of test registration and was working to increase public awareness of the need to register results and improve the ability to track tests.

“NHS Test and Trace has played an essential role in combating this pandemic and the NAO has recognised many of the rapid improvements we have made in the short lifespan of this organisation.

“The testing and tracing being delivered across the country is saving lives every single day and helping us send this virus into retreat by breaking chains of transmission and spotting outbreaks wherever they exist.

“While NHS Test and Trace continues to be one of the centrepieces of our roadmap to return life to normal, our new UK Health Security Agency is going to consolidate the enormous expertise that now exists across our health system so we can face down potential future threats and viruses.”

The government insists that the system has successfully identified over 3.4 million positive cases and notified a further 7.1 million contacts, to tell them to self-isolate, since 28 May 2020. Rapid tests have picked up over 213,082 Covid cases without symptoms.

It claims that the high number of consultants was critical for accessing specific skills and abilities in order to deliver operationally. DHSC is also evaluating several pilot approaches to improve compliance with self-isolation.

Pascale Robinson, campaigns officer at We Own It said: “It’s abundantly clear now that despite millions upon millions of pounds being handed to private companies, they have demonstrably failed to deliver a functioning system, leaving us without a crucial defence against Covid transmissions and needlessly putting lives at risk.

“With new variants spreading through our communities, it’s clear that even with the vaccination programme we desperately need a properly functioning contact tracing system.”

Is a Metro Mayor the key to future prosperity in this part of Devon?

The Idea being floated is that devolution would be facilitated if there was a Metro Mayor for the combined area of Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon and Teignbridge.

The “moles” tell Owl that Devon County Councillor Phil Twiss, as newly appointed cabinet member for finance, is plotting to dismember Devon into several unitary authorities.

Would this proposal pass his “scrutiny”? Probably not because none of these districts is currently Conservative controlled! – Owl 

Daniel Clark, Local Democracy Reporter sidmouth.nub.news

Is a Metro Mayor the key to future prosperity in this part of Devon?

It’s been suggested that a Metro Mayor for the area of Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon and Teignbridge could drive forward infrastructure improvements across the area, boost the economy and support job creation.

Metro mayors hold powers over spatial planning, regional transport, the provision of skills training, business support services, and economic development, and are directly elected by residents.

Cllr Paul Millar floated the idea at East Devon District Council Strategic Planning Committee on Tuesday, June 22, as the best way to get the ‘first class infrastructure’ that the region needs in order to flourish and prosper.

His suggestion would see the authorities of Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon and Teignbridge – who were working together on a combined Greater Exeter Strategic Plan until it collapsed last summer – prepare a shared vision for devolution as they begin work on their joint, non-statutory strategic plan.

Why do we need a Strategic Plan?

The Greater Exeter Strategic Plan (GESP) was to be the formal, statutory planning framework for development across Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon and Teignbridge, but collapsed after East Devon and then Mid Devon pulled out last summer.

However, the four councils did all agree that in its place there should be a non-statutory Joint Strategy covering infrastructure matters that affect the four areas, and on Tuesday East Devon joined Mid Devon in agreeing to support the scope, resourcing, timetable and governance arrangements.

The Joint Strategy is an opportunity for the authorities to jointly identify a clear, ambitious future for the area, demonstrate a commitment to joint working on strategic matters and distil the key strategic issues facing the area. It would enable each of the authorities’ Local Plans to respond in a way that reflects local conditions, support joint evidence preparation where appropriate, and act as a prospectus to lever in external funding to overcome strategic issues and unlock development.

The case for having a Metro Mayor

Cllr Millar, speaking at the meeting, suggested that given the scope and the ‘recognisable brand’ of the Greater Exeter region, a Metro Mayor for the area may be a sensible route to achieve some of the aims.

He said: “It is important we retain the Greater Exeter brand as the region has a bright future and when you look at the rest of the country, to get first class infrastructure, the answer tends to be Metro Mayors, so I can see the Greater Exeter brand leading us down that route, so have there been discussion among authorities on what the branding may be at this stage?”

After the meeting, Cllr Millar added: “Take Greater Manchester and their Metro Mayor Andy Burnham, who is bringing public transport back under public control, making bus travel more affordable. Metro mayors have independence from their political parties, thus being able to get things done without the usual point scoring.

“We’re still working together on a joint plan as four authorities, but leaders are seemingly ashamed to refer to the idea of a ‘Greater Exeter’ since the GESP died.

“As a fairly recent graduate, I want to see the South West deliver more jobs and a greater range of them. Andy Burnham didn’t just get a massive transport budget and powers to go with them for his beloved Greater Manchester, but generous grants to kickstart apprenticeship schemes. This area desperately needs that to keep more of our young people and with Exeter University, we have the platform to do so.

“I am by all means aware that there are many precarious hoops to jump through before any devolution deal is granted by the government. But the idea of a Greater Exeter City Region – East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon and Teignbridge – makes a lot of economic sense.”

“For the future prosperity of our area, devolution matters, and a Metro Mayor and four combined unitary authorities would be the best way to achieve that.”

The argument against the Metro Mayor idea

However, Cllr Paul Arnott, leader of East Devon District Council, said that he didn’t expect the Metro Mayor suggestion to be taken up, and that given the backlash against the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan, the four leaders were unanimous in agreeing that the non-statutory strategy had to have a different name.

He said: “I think I don’t see Exeter going in the Metro Mayor direction any time soon. One of the difficulties GESP had was the areas on the extremities – like where I live in Colyton -we do business and look to Taunton and Bridport as much as Exeter and that was the same with far parts of Teignbridge as well.”

Cllr Paul Hayward, deputy leader of the council, added: “We need to seek assurance we are cooperating with the other authorities of South Somerset and Dorset as well.

“Axminster has a lot of interest in sites for development, as does Colyton and Seaton, Lyme Regis is looking to Uplyme to solve some of its problems, Chard is encroaching south into East Devon, so there is a great deal of interest along the boundary, so we need an assurance not just looking to the authorities that were in the GESP, but talking to the authorities in the east so what they do doesn’t impact on us and vice versa.”

Following a proposal made by Cllr Mike Allen, the committee voted by nine votes to one, with one abstention, that while they would be engaging a consultant to prepare the Joint Strategy on behalf of the authorities, and any brief would include the statement that each authority will consume its own housing need.


A top scientist has issued a warning over rising coronavirus infections in staycation hot-spots.

Holidaymakers must remain vigilant when enjoying staycations this summer amid the risk of a rise in coronavirus cases at popular tourist spots, a leading scientist has warned.

From today’s Western Morning News

A “sudden influx” of people holidaying in Cornwall over half-term is likely to be a factor in an increase in cases in the county, Professor Tim Spector said.

One local councillor described a recent rise in cases as a “tsunami” in the wake of the G7 summit held earlier this month, but the Government denied a link between the two.

Prof Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London and lead scientist on the Zoe Covid study app, said data this week shows “rates in former hot-spots, such as Scotland and the north west of England, continuing to plateau”. He added: “At the same time, top UK holiday destinations like Cornwall are emerging as new areas with rapidly increasing cases. I think this is down to a number of factors, including the sudden influx of holidaymakers over half-term, as well as the recent G7 summit and a previously unexposed local population.

“We need to remain vigilant of these UK holiday destinations as summer holidays approach, and ensure that we minimise outbreaks by following Government guidelines.”

The latest local authority area figures show that Cornwall and Isles of Scilly had 857 new cases recorded in the seven days to June 19, up from 411 the previous week.

The long-running Zoe study estimates that among unvaccinated people in the UK there are currently 15,099 new daily symptomatic cases of Covid-19, up 18% on last week.