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14 Jan 2019

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Inequality, Poverty

Unused army ration packs to be donated to elderly and food banks

“Army ration packs are to be given to charities supporting the homeless and lunch groups for the elderly, the government has announced.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) says that up to 20,000 unused ‘operational ration packs’ are to be donated over the next few years.

The military will provide the packs to FareShare, a charity that distributes food to nearly 10,000 charities across Britain, including community groups, homeless hostels and lunch groups for the elderly.

The ration packs include items for breakfast, lunch and dinner and each provide 4000 calories, enough to sustain an active person over a whole day.

Minister for Defence People and Veterans Tobias Ellwood said: “Ration packs help provide nutritionally balanced meals to our armed forces on operations around the world. But charity begins at home, and I’m pleased our partnership with FareShare will make sure no food goes to waste.

“FareShare does a fantastic job redistributing food across the country and I’m proud the military can support communities in this way.” …”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/01/14/pasta-peaches-powdered-balti-army-rations-menu-homeless-elderly/

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13 Jan 2019

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Hugo Swire

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What is it with Eton Tories and their (and other people’s) bottoms?

“Boris Johnson was pictured having his derrière tweaked in the street by his new 30-year-old love interest, just months after announcing his divorce. …”

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-bum-pinched-street-13849069

“Watch the moment David Cameron strolls past minister at China state banquet and playfully slaps him on the bottom. …”

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3283007/Watch-moment-David-Cameron-strolls-past-minister-China-state-banquet-playfully-slaps-BOTTOM.html

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12 Jan 2019

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High Street decline

“Taxpayer’s charity shop subsidy blamed for high street decline”

“Taxpayer support for charity shops has grown by more than £1 billion over the past decade, adding to concern that subsidies are increasing their number and spoiling high streets.

Figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government show the cost of offering charities an 80 per cent discount on business rates rose to almost £1.9 billion in 2017-18 from £850 million in 2008-09. Retail analysts say this is crowding out the independent shops, cafés, and leisure premises needed to revive town and city centres.

The number of charity shops in Britain has grown rapidly over the past 15 years to more than 11,000 today. Residents and retailers in some towns complain that their high street seems to be overrun by charity shops. Although the £1.9 billion cost of the rates relief is not all taken by charity shops, because the discount also applies to other charitable premises, the subsidy is certainly helping the shops to buck the general trend of high street decline.”

Source: The Times, pay wall

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12 Jan 2019

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Accountability, Education (local), Inequality, Poverty

“Tory MP attacks ‘politically-motivated’ headteacher after she claimed that ‘poor pupils are so hungry they are taking apple cores out of the bins’ “

Owl doesn’t care what her motivation was – it salutes her”

“A Tory MP has attacked a ‘politically-motivated’ head teacher after she claimed that some pupils from poor families were so hungry at school they ate apple cores taken out of bins.

Siobhan Collingwood said children were turning up for classes with ‘nothing in their lunchboxes’ and spent the day ‘fixated on food’.

She told Breakfast this week: ‘It’s heartbreaking.

‘We have children who are stealing fruit cores from the bins.’

Mrs Collingwood, of Morecambe Bay Primary School, Lancashire, also claimed she had seen desperate families watering down milk and loaning each other food – and linked the problems with benefit changes and universal credit.

However, David Morris, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, insisted the claims were unfounded and part of a campaign by Jeremy Corbyn-supporting Momentum activists in the area.

Mr Morris said: ‘Recently a governor has resigned from this school due to politicisation.’

Last night Mrs Collingwood stressed: ‘Everything I said was based on personal experience.’ …”

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6583579/Tory-MP-attacks-politically-motivated-headteacher.html

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11 Jan 2019

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Accountability, Sleaze, Tax avoidance

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“MPs attack ministers over delay to tax havens’ public registers”

You can guess the rest of the article…..

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/11/mps-attack-ministers-over-delay-to-tax-havens-public-registers

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11 Jan 2019

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Local Government Finance, Transport (local)

“Local councils blame austerity for lack of investment in road improvements”

“Council leaders have hit back at suggestions rising revenues from car parking charges are not re-invested in roads in Great Britain.

All surplus income generated from parking charges was funnelled back into “essential transport projects”, the Local Government Association said, responding to a report from price comparison website confused.com.

Councils in Great Britain made £847m from parking activities in the 2017-18 financial year, according to confused.com’s analysis of government data.

This was a 24% increase (£165m) on the £682m they earned in 2013-14, the report calculated from local authorities’ published accounts. Over the same period, however, their spending on road improvements fell from £2.8bn to £2.4bn, confused.com said.

Amanda Stretton, confused.com motoring editor, said: “While councils are often justified in charging for parking and issuing fines for illegal parking, many motorists are confused about why this money isn’t being re-invested into our roads.

“Poor road conditions is a major concern for drivers, with roads riddled with potholes and unclear markings, it’s no wonder drivers want councils to be putting more into making these better.”

The LGA said the report ignored the effects of austerity on councils.

Martin Tett, Transport, spokesman for the Local Government Association, which represents 370 councils in England and Wales, said: “Any income raised through on-street parking charges and parking fines is spent on running parking services and any surplus is only spent on essential transport projects, such as tackling our national £9 billion roads repair backlog and other local transport projects that benefit high streets and local economies.

“This report completely ignores central government funding reductions. Between 2010 and 2020, councils will have lost 57p out of every £1 the government had provided for services, which is a much more significant source of funding for roads than surplus parking income.”

He added: “Surplus parking income is not the only source of money for roads and not all transport spend is spent on roads but can still be helpful to motorists, such as supporting concessionary bus fares to help reduce congestion.”

A government-commissioned report recently advised councils to slash parking charges to bring shoppers back to the high street. The High Street Report was carried out by a panel led by retail expert John Timpson.”

https://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2019/01/local-councils-blame-austerity-lack-investment-road-improvements

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11 Jan 2019

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Hinkley C, Local Enterprise Partnership

Disaster for some LEP members with fingers in Wales nuclear pie

Several members of our Local Enterprise Partnership also have an interest in this nuclear power plant in Wales …..

“Hitachi set to cancel plans for £16bn nuclear power station in Wales”

… Just one new nuclear power station, EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point C in Somerset, has been given the green light and begun construction. The French company and Chinese firm CGN both want to build more.” …

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/11/hitachi-cancel-plans-nuclear-power-station-angelsey-wales

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11 Jan 2019

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Accountability, Democracy, Lobbying, Sleaze, Spin

MP who earns (possibly massively) over £350,000 gets loan from lobbyist for office and staffing costs

Pigs, snouts, troughs – though with this income and STILL needing a loan maybe he needs some help or counselling?

£275,000 from Daily Telegraph, his MP’s salaryand expenses AND staffing costs. AND his Register of Interests (in full after the article) shows another £100,000+ from other sources.

“Boris Johnson received £23,000 in loans and donations last month from a company run by the Australian political strategist Lynton Crosby, official documents have revealed.

The former foreign secretary, who is widely regarded as a potential Conservative leadership contender, declared he had been given an interest-free loan of £20,000 from CTF Partners, in the latest register of MPs’ interests.

Earmarked for “office and staffing costs”, the loan is due to be repaid by 20 January. Johnson also received a £3,000 donation from CTF Partners before Christmas. …

[Johnson] He has since become a regular columnist for the Daily Telegraph, using the platform to to offer a strident critique of the government’s Brexit strategy. According to the register of MPs’ interests, Johnson receives £275,000 a year for the column, which he has estimated takes him 10 hours a month to write.

Johnson was criticised in December after it emerged he had accepted a £14,000 trip to Saudi Arabia from the country’s foreign affairs ministry only a few days before the journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in Istanbul.

Crosby was closely involved in May’s disastrous 2017 general election campaign. The £4m the Conservative party paid for his company’s services was its single biggest outlay. …”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jan/11/boris-johnson-received-23000-from-lynton-crosby-strategy-firm

BORIS JOHNSON REGISTER OF INTERESTS (in full as of today):

Johnson, Boris (Uxbridge and South Ruislip)

Johnson, Boris (Uxbridge and South Ruislip)
1. Employment and earnings
Payments from Hodder and Stoughton UK, Carmelite House, 50 Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y 0DZ, via United Agents, 12-26 Lexington St, London W1F 0LE:
29 September 2017, received £15,372.17 for royalties on book already written. Hours: no additional hours. (Registered 20 December 2017) This is a late entry which was the subject of a Report, published on 6 December 2018, by the Select Committee on Standards.

17 October 2017, received £1,167.40 for Bulgarian and Hungarian subrights and royalties on book already written. Hours: no additional hours. (Registered 20 December 2017) This is a late entry which was the subject of a Report, published on 6 December 2018, by the Select Committee on Standards.

8 February 2018, received £499.49 for Czech subrights on book already written. Hours: no additional hours. (Registered 12 March 2018) This is a late entry which was the subject of a Report, published on 6 December 2018, by the Select Committee on Standards.

30 March 2018, received £6,013.27 for royalties on book already written. Hours: no additional hours. (Registered 17 April 2018)

17 April 2018, received £560.13 for Czech subrights on book already written. Hours: no additional hours. (Registered 09 May 2018)

10 July 2018, received £11,290.17 for French and US royalties on books already written. Hours: no additional hours. (Registered 22 August 2018) This is a late entry which was the subject of a Report, published on 6 December 2018, by the Select Committee on Standards.

28 September 2018, received £8,968.27 via United Agents, 12-26 Lexington St, London W1F 0LE, for royalties on book already written. Hours: no additional hours. (Registered 02 November 2018)

12 December 2018, received £525.12 for Hungarian subrights on book already written. Hours: no additional hours. (Registered 17 December 2018)
Payments from HarperCollins UK, 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF via United Agents, 12-26 Lexington St, London W1F 0LE:

26 September 2017, received £1,382.58 for advance on book already written. Hours: no additional hours. (Registered 20 December 2017) This is a late entry which was the subject of a Report, published on 6 December 2018, by the Select Committee on Standards.

11 January 2018, received £5,970.76 for US and Dutch royalties on book already written. Hours: no additional hours. (Registered 05 February 2018)
5 July 2018, received £37.82 for French royalties on book already written. Hours: no additional hours. (Registered 22 August 2018) This is a late entry which was the subject of a Report, published on 6 December 2018, by the Select Committee on Standards.

23 October 2018, received £491.75 via Rogers, Coleridge and White Ltd, 20 Powis Mews, London W11 1JN, for royalties on books already written. Hours: no additional hours. (Registered 02 November 2018)

Payments from HarperCollins UK, 1 London Bridge St, London SE1 9GF, via Rogers, Coleridge and White Ltd, 20 Powis Mews, London W11 1JN:
30 September 2017, received £42.79 for royalties on books already written. Hours: no additional hours. (Registered 20 December 2017) This is a late entry which was the subject of a Report, published on 6 December 2018, by the Select Committee on Standards.

30 April 2018, received £244.91 for royalties on books already written. Hours: no additional hours. (Registered 09 May 2018)

5 September 2017, received £63.72 from Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, via United Agents, 12-26 Lexington St, London W1F 0LE, for royalties on book already written. Hours: no additional hours. (Registered

20 December 2017) This is a late entry which was the subject of a Report, published on 6 December 2018, by the Select Committee on Standards.
From 11 July 2018 until 10 July 2019, articles for the Telegraph Media Group Ltd, 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0DT, for which I expect to receive £22,916.66 a month. Hours: 10 hrs a month. First payment received on

13 August 2018. I consulted ACoBA about this appointment. (Registered 17 September 2018) This is a late entry which was the subject of a Report, published on 6 December 2018, by the Select Committee on Standards.

28 September 2018, received £800 from The Spectator (1828) Ltd, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP, for an article. Hours: 2 hours. (Registered 15 October 2018)

9 October 2018, received £2,000 from Associated Newspapers Ltd, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT, for an article. Hours: 2 hrs. (Registered 02 November 2018)

2 November 2018, received £94,507.85 from GoldenTree Asset Management, 300 Park Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10022 via Chartwell Speakers, 14 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8HN, for a speaking engagement on 8 November 2018. Travel and accommodation also provided. Hours: 2 hrs. (Registered 09
November 2018)

2. (b) Any other support not included in Category 2(a)
Name of donor: Jon Wood
Address of donor: private
Amount of donation, or nature and value if donation in kind: £50,000 for office and staffing costs
Date received: 1 October 2018
Date accepted: 1 October 2018
Donor status: individual
(Registered 17 October 2018)

Name of donor: CTF Partners Limited
Address of donor: 4th Floor, 6 Chesterfield Gardens, London W1J 5BQ
Amount of donation: Interest free loan of £20,000 for office and staffing costs, to be repaid by 20 January 2019.
Date received: 20 December 2018
Date accepted: 20 December 2018
Donor status: company, registration 07196537
(Registered 04 January 2019)

Name of donor: CTF Partners Limited
Address of donor: 4th Floor, 6 Chesterfield Gardens, London W1J 5BQ
Amount of donation: £3,000 for office and staffing costs.
Date received: 21 December 2018
Date accepted: 21 December 2018
Donor status: company, registration 07196537
(Registered 04 January 2019)

3. Gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources

Name of donor: Surrey County Cricket Club
Address of donor: The Kia Oval, Kennington, London SE11 5SS
Amount of donation, or nature and value if donation in kind: Two tickets with hospitality to Test Match at the Oval, value £1,800
Date received: 8 September 2018
Date accepted: 8 September 2018
Donor status: company, registration IP27896R
(Registered 01 October 2018)

Name of donor: Democratic Unionist Party
Address of donor: 91 Dundela Avenue, Belfast BT4 3BU
Amount of donation, or nature and value if donation in kind: Hospitality and travel to Belfast for myself and a member of staff, estimated value £355.94
Date received: 24 November 2018
Date accepted: 24 November 2018
Donor status: registered political party
(Registered 20 December 2018)

4. Visits outside the UK

Name of donor: American Enterprise Institute (AEI)
Address of donor: 1789 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036
Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): For myself, flights £6,666.09, hotel accommodation £1,459.52 and other costs of £1,059.56; for my staff member, flights £6,666.09, hotel £994.82; total £16,846.09
Destination of visit: Washington DC, USA
Dates of visit: 13-15 September 2018
Purpose of visit: To receive Irving Kristol Award at AEI Annual Dinner.
(Registered 15 October 2018)

Name of donor: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Address of donor: PO Box 55937, Riyadh 11544
Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): Travel, food and accommodation, estimated value of £14,000
Destination of visit: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Dates of visit: 19 – 21 September 2018
Purpose of visit: Meeting with regional figures to promote education for women and girls.
(Registered 17 October 2018)

6. Land and property portfolio: (i) value over £100,000 and/or (ii) giving rental income of over £10,000 a year
From 1 November 2016, house in London, owned jointly with my wife: (i) and, from 1 March 2017, (ii). (Registered 20 March 2017)

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/190107/johnson_boris.htm

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11 Jan 2019

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Accountability, Democracy, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton

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Seaton disgraced ex-Mayor Peter Burrows: town council responds, names names

“Seaton Town Council has revealed the details behind the resignation Mayor Peter Burrows.

He stood down last week after it was revealed he used his position to make an ‘offensive’ remark on social media about a local business.

In an official statement issued today (Friday January 11) the town council says:

“On Monday evening, January 7, at the Seaton Town Council meeting, councillors were advised by Cllr Burrows that he had been involved in an altercation on Facebook which resulted in him referring to himself as Mayor and using a Twitter account named “Seaton TIC” to ask members of the public to ‘avoid’ The Hat micropub.

“However, Mr Gary Millar, proprietor of The Hat, had not been involved in the altercation and was therefore an entirely innocent party.

“Seaton Town Council wishes to make it clear that despite using the term Mayor and using what purported to be a Tourist Information Centre account, Cllr Burrows was not authorised to use his title for personal matters, nor was he authorised to represent the TIC.

“He was acting in a purely private capacity and the council dissociates itself from his actions. Nevertheless, we apologise unreservedly to Mr Millar and The Hat for the impression which Cllr Burrows gave that he was acting on behalf of the council.

“On Monday Cllr Burrows tendered his resignation as chairman and Town Mayor because he recognised that his behaviour had brought his office as Town Mayor and the council into disrepute. The council will now report Cllr Burrows to the Monitoring Officer for breaching our Code of Conduct.

“The council will also be considering a motion at a meeting on Monday January 21, calling for Cllr Burrows to resign as a town and district councillor. The council has also asked Cllr Burrows to close the Twitter account involved and he has done this.

“Seaton Town Council enthusiastically supported the opening of The Hat and recognises the distinctive contribution this attractive, well-run establishment has already made to the town’s life.

“The Council is keen to support the town centre and The Hat is exactly the kind of new business we want to see in Seaton. Mr Millar has conducted himself with dignity throughout this affair and we deeply regret the harm Cllr Burrows attempted to cause to The Hat. We wish it and Mr Millar the very best for the future.”

** Cllr Burrows confirmed to the Midweek Herald that he had stepped down after offering his ‘unreserved apologies’ to the business concerned. He said he would be making a statement to The Herald shortly.”

https://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/cllr-peter-burrows-brought-the-authority-into-disrepute-1-5848139

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11 Jan 2019

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East Devon economy

“Flybe rescued by Virgin and Stobart”

Wonder where its profits will end up?

“Shareholders in Flybe will receive 1p a share, while the consortium, which also includes venture capital firm Cyrus, will inject £100m.
It will operate under the Virgin Atlantic brand.”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46834827

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10 Jan 2019

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Affordable and Social Housing, Housing (local)

“[Mortgage] Loans lasting up to 40 years can leave buyers unable to save for pension, say regulators”

“First-time buyers are taking out jumbo loans on longer terms that will leave four in 10 borrowers paying off their mortgage well into retirement, regulators have warned.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) found that 40% of borrowers who took out a mortgage in 2017 will be aged over 65 when their mortgage matures – leaving them unable to save for a pension, and vulnerable to any financial shocks.

The 40% figure represents a huge change over the last five years. As recently as 2012, just 22% of mortgages were expected to run into the borrower’s retirement. But that number has nearly doubled as buyers stretch themselves to pay for escalating house prices.

Historically, buyers have taken out 25-year mortgages to pay for their home, and in 2007 the 25-year term was still the most common deal. But the FCA found that 30-year terms have now become the norm, with 34% of loans taken out in 2017 lasting 30 years or more.

Most lenders now allow mortgages of 35 years, while Halifax and Nationwide, the two biggest lenders, will offer loans with 40-year repayment terms.

Many first-time buyers are also delaying a purchase until they are in their 30s as they save to afford the deposit.

In a grim assessment of the financial health of UK households, the FCA warned that the burden of a mortgage throughout people’s working lives is likely to limit their ability to save for a pension and deal with financial shocks. …”

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jan/10/four-in-10-uk-first-time-buyers-will-retire-with-mortgages-fca-warns

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10 Jan 2019

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Accountability, Hugo Swire, Post-Brexit Adjustments

Swire Brexit intervention “flimsy rubbish” says Brexiteer MP

“In normal times, a PM’s ‘late’ decision to adopt a backbench amendment can swing the ten or so rebels needed to win a vote. However, the new normal on Brexit is that battle-hardened backbenchers are less likely than ever to cave to such tactics. The string of ‘concessions’ announced by Brexit secretary Steve Barclay and pushed by No10 yesterday met with a collective shrug at best and ridicule at worst.

The Hugo Swire amendment, to give MPs a final say on the ‘backstop’ or the transition period, was burned off by Brexiteer Steve Baker as “flimsy rubbish which will only persuade those who have decided to be persuaded”.

The DUP’s Nigel Dodds said the plan – which No.10 insiders admit would involve the UK struggling to meet its international obligations – was ‘meaningless and cosmetic’ “

Source: The Waugh Zone, Huffington Post

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10 Jan 2019

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Accountability, Audit (EDDC), EDDC, Local Government Finance

Many local authorities not providing value for money

“The number of public bodies in England failing to provide value for money is “unacceptably high” and increasing, the public spending watchdog has warned.

Of the nearly 1,000 councils, police, fire and NHS bodies across England, 208 (22%) were found to have “significant weaknesses” in securing value for money in 2017-18, a National Audit Office report out today revealed.

This was higher than the 170 (18%) of public bodies awarded a ‘qualified’ audit conclusion – signifying the significant weaknesses – in 2015-16.

“This increase varies between local government and NHS sectors”, the report found – with NHS bodies seemingly faring worse than other public bodies….

Financial performance issues that can lead to a qualified conclusion, include failure to meet financial targets, such as annual spending limits or delivering planned savings.

The NAO report said: “Qualified conclusions on arrangements to secure value for money locally are both unacceptably high and increasing.”

It continued: “The proportion of local public bodies whose plans for keeping spending within budget are not fit-for-purpose, or who have significant weaknesses in their governance, is too high. This is a risk to public money and undermines confidence in how well local services are managed.” …

The report also suggested that a large proportion of local bodies may not fully understand the purpose of an auditor’s conclusion on arrangements to secure value for money.

Of 61 local public bodies that responded to the NAO, 82% said auditors identified issues they were already aware of, but the NAO stressed that the auditor’s report is to provide public assurance on the adequacy of arrangements in place, not to uncover new issues.

While 95% of respondents said they had plans in place to address issues in the auditor’s report, only 5% said had already dealt with their auditor’s concerns.

Rob Whiteman, CIPFA chief executive, said: “Value for money conclusions should be treated as a cornerstone on which local bodies can show their dedication to transparency and accountability, crucial aspects of good governance in the public sector.

“Local auditors, councillors and directors should exercise their powers to hold executives to account, especially where local bodies are not taking sufficient action to address issues raised.

Meg Hillier, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said: “It is deeply concerning that local auditors are raising increasing numbers of concerns about local bodies’ arrangements to secure value for money, but these are often not being listened to and there is no consequence for the local bodies themselves.

“With ever stretched public services, citizens deserve to know that there are effective arrangements in place to make sure they are getting value for money.

“Local auditors should be using the full range of their powers and local bodies should be acting on their findings transparently, with departments holding them to account.”

https://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2019/01/more-public-bodies-failing-provide-value-money-says-nao

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10 Jan 2019

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Accountability, DCC, East Devon Alliance, Martin Shaw (Seaton), Post-Brexit Adjustments

“County Council leader tells me he ‘hasn’t got a clue yet’ about No Deal Brexit planning” says EDA Independent Councillor

“At yesterday’s DCC Cabinet meeting, Leader John Hart answered three questions I had put in writing about estimated risks from Theresa May’s Brexit and No Deal, about help to businesses for No Deal, and emergency planning for disruption to fuel, food and medical supplies in Devon as a result of No Deal.

The questions and answers are attached. It will be seen that Cllr Hart did not answer any of the questions. When I asked when he would answer them, he said ‘We haven’t got a clue yet’ about what is going to happen, and that there would be a meeting next week, with just 10 weeks left to when the UK will crash out of the EU with No Deal if no change is made.

It can be seen that there are no protections in place to protect Devon from the effects of a No Deal. Economy Cabinet member Cllr Rufus Gilbert said ‘we can’t plan for a hypothetical’ but at the moment No Deal is the default scenario for 29th March.

This is why Devon and Dorset MPs like Ben Bradshaw, Sarah Wollaston and Oliver Letwin are absolutely right to try to block No Deal. I told Cabinet it was irresponsible of them not to support these moves.

Martin Shaw
Independent East Devon Alliance County Councillor for Seaton & Colyton”

dcc leader’s replies on no deal brexit 9.1.19

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Accountability, Asset Management Group, Conflict of interest, EDDC, EDDC HQ, Knowle/Honiton/Exmouth relocation

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The Knowle “Flog It” scandal rumbles on

Recent Freedom of Information request:

“Dear East Devon District Council,

The following is a request in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Recently an email from a Conservative counsellor was released into the public domain regarding the purchase of a “very large table in the members room” as a result of “an auction of council furniture, chattels, etc” to the benefit of members and EDDC staff.

The email went on to state “I have been told that I have been successful in my bid so the table along with the 8’ extension is heading back to Exmouth to sit in (address of councillor), Exmouth in its rightful Town (some may say)” and then stated arrangements for its removal date in order that it could be used for the Councillor’s Christmas dinner for 22 family members.

Subsequently on 21st December 2018, the Leader of the Council made a statement about the disposal of a range of items, including this table. He said the large table “attracted little professional interest with one valuer estimate of just £50”.

I would like to know:

If one valuer’s estimate was £50, what were the other estimates?

What are the names of the valuers who gave estimates for the table?

Does EDDC audit not require a range and record of estimates for the disposal of council assets, as well as a record of disposals?

EDDC, like other councils, should have a written policy and procedure for the disposal of assets such as used equipment, furniture and other plant, What is that policy and procedure?

Who was the Councillor that successfully bid for “the very large table in the members room”?

How much did the Councillor pay?

Was the ornate clock on the mantel piece (as shown on the cover of the Residents Magazine, December 2018) part of this disposal process?

If so, what was the valuation given?

What price was paid?

Who bought this clock?

The Leader of the Council referred to proceeds of this sale and other sales going to the Chairman’s Civic Fund.

How much money was raised from this sale of “items of sentimental interest or practical use”?

What are the “other sales” Councillor Thomas refers to?

How much money was raised from each of these “other sales”?

What is the total now of the Chairman’s Civic Fund?

Information about the Chairman’s Civic Fund is not easily accessible on the EDDC website; a word search on the site produces “no result”. Where can details of this fund and its administration be found?

Yours faithfully,”

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/auction_of_council_furniture_cha

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Accountability, Audit (EDDC), Austerity cuts, Local Government Finance, NHS (local)

“NHS and councils full of financial problems, says watchdog”

“National Audit Office shocked by state of bodies including police and fire authorities.

The number of NHS and local government bodies with significant financial weaknesses in their ability to give value for money is unacceptably high and increasing, according to Whitehall’s spending watchdog.

The National Audit Office has examined the financial statements from nearly 937 local health authorities, councils, police and local fire bodies which are responsible for about £154bn of net revenue spending every year.

Auditors conclude in a report published on Wednesday that the number of local bodies with significant weaknesses increased from 170 (18%) in 2015-16 to 208 (22%) in 2017-18.

It follows the publication of an International Monetary Fund report in October which found that the UK’s public finances were among the weakest in the world after the 2008 financial crash.

Sir Amyas Morse, the head of the NAO, said he was shocked by the persistent high level of qualified audit reports at local public bodies.

“A qualification is a judgment that something is seriously wrong, but despite these continued warnings, the number of bodies receiving qualifications is trending upwards,” he said.

“Let us hear no cries of: ‘Where were the auditors?’ when things go wrong. The answer will be: ‘They did the job, but you weren’t listening.’

“This is not good enough. Local bodies need to address their weaknesses, and departments across government should ensure they are challenging local bodies to demonstrate how they are responding.”

Each year, local auditors give an opinion on whether local public bodies have produced financial statements which comply with reporting requirements and are error-free, and conclude whether local public bodies have arrangements to manage their business and finances.

Wednesday’s report examined accounts from 495 local authorities, local police and local fire bodies in England; and 442 local local NHS bodies in England, which include clinical commissioning groups, NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts.

In the NHS, the number receiving qualified accounts rose from 130 (29%) to 168 (38%) across the same period. The number of local government bodies receiving qualified conclusions was 40 (8%) in 2015-16, but 18% of single-tier local authorities and county councils received a qualification in 2017-18.

Meg Hillier, the chair of parliament’s public accounts committee, said: “It is deeply concerning that local auditors are raising increasing numbers of concerns about local bodies’ arrangements to secure value for money, but these are often not being listened to and there is no consequence for the local bodies themselves.

“With ever-stretched public services, citizens deserve to know that there are effective arrangements in place to make sure they are getting value for money.

“Local auditors should be using the full range of their powers and local bodies should be acting on their findings transparently, with departments holding them to account.”

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/10/nhs-and-councils-full-of-financial-problems-says-watchdog

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10 Jan 2019

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Inequality, Poverty

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“MPs want hunger minister role introduced”

This is a cross-party group of MPs, not just opposition MPs. Truly shameful. But it seems only Brexit can enrage the general population these terrible days.

“A group of MPs wants the government to introduce a Minister for Hunger to respond to a growth in food insecurity in the UK – especially among children.

The Environmental Audit Committee highlighted 2017 Unicef figures showing 19% of children under 15 in the UK live with adults who struggle to buy food.

It says ministers have failed to recognise and respond to the problem.
The government says the number of children living in workless households is at a record low.

But MPs say the number of people without reliable access to affordable, nutritious food – or food insecure – is “significant and growing”, with the unemployed, sick or those with children most likely to be affected.
The committee wants to see the appointment of a new minister with “responsibility and accountability for combating hunger and food insecurity within the UK”.

The job would involve exploring the scale, causes and impact of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition and implementing strategies to improve the situation. …”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-46810707

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9 Jan 2019

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Accountability, Hugo Swire

Swire boasts he is mentioned in a book – objecting to excessive motor bike noise

Good to see Swire keeping his eye on the important balls:
https://m.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=251482645358785&story_fbid=513581455815568

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9 Jan 2019

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Accountability, Democracy, EDDC Monitoring Officer, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton

Update on Seaton ex-Mayor Peter Burrows situation

As reported here:

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2019/01/07/breaking-news-seaton-mayor-peter-burrows-resigns-after-bringing-the-office-into-disrepute/

Owl hears that the aggrieved party has made a formal complaint to the EDDC Monitoring Officer and is taking legal advice on possible further action.

Owl is awaiting an official statement from Seaton Town Council, which would be usual in these circumstances.