Conservative whip chooses councillors for Port Royal project

“During Wednesday’s meeting the cabinet agreed two Sidmouth councillors – Cllr John Dyson and
Cllr David Barratt – would represent EDDC on the group.

Councillor Phil Twiss said: “We must not forget Sidmouth is more than just a town, we have Sidford, Sidbury and Sidford rural – they will be excluded if it is just seen as an EDDC town ward councilproject.

“We want to include as many people as we can, in every way we can – we weren’t perfect in Exmouth and we have all learnt lessons from that – we have to be more open and inclusive.

“This has gone on for far too long, it seems like it has been 40 or 50 years … It is a part of the
town that is let down badly. We need to help Sidmouth Town Council go ahead with this.”

Cllr Twiss proposed they had one town council ward member on the group – Cllr John Dyson along with Cllr David Barratt, so they could have a more wider and open representation.

Cllr Dawn Manley said: “I have every faith in Cllr Barratt and Cllr Dyson but I find it extraordinary [that] the Conservative whip has chosen who they want to go forward. It makes no sense to me that the town councillors, who were voted for because of these specific issues are being
sidelined.”

http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk/cathy-gardner/20160925/cabinet-stitch-up-port-royal-representation/

Owl says: Councillor Twiss ALWAYS says he does not whip despite holding the post which would be redundant if he did not!

Now he can prove it by allowing Sidmouth councillors to choose their reps!

Swire accuses “some local politicians” of misleading the community on NHS and should apologise

From Swire’s Twitter account 22 September 2016

5.13 am

1/2 Pleased to attend Exmouth Town Council on Monday. Good discussion with Devon Doctors on proposed changes to out-of-hours GP services.

5.18 am

2/2 Fully agree with them that some local politicians have been misleading the local community and should apologise.

Anyone have any idea what he means – he sounds very unpleasant – or perhaps on the back foot?

Any “local politician” heard from Swire with a demand to apologise?

And what’s he up to at 5 am – on his way to Saudi, perhaps!

Cranbrook: vandals cause at lease £4,000 damage which all home occupiers will have to pay

From the Cranbrook Herald e-edition:

Vandalism and graffiti  damage has taken place in the play park, fencing and to town signage as well as fly-tipping.  EDDC says that the cost of putting in right will fall on all householders and the money will be clawed back from the “Estate Rent Charge” (whatever that is) which each and every dwelling has to pay and for which there are no discounts for single parents or those on benefits or low incomes.

Exmouth seafront regeneration: an alternative view

In this week’s Exmouth Journal an interview with Dr Louise McAllister, spokesperson for Save our Seafront:

img_1304

“Footballers’ £400m social housing dream unveiled”

“… A year ago, former England captain Rio Ferdinand, West Ham United skipper Mark Noble and ex-Brighton striker Bobby Zamora turned up at the conference to unveil their Legacy Foundation – a regeneration charity with a plan to build a series of social and privately rentable housing schemes, backed by private investors.

The stars (all three of whom have played for West Ham) are coming back to present their first project, worth £400m, to build 1,300 homes on a 22-hectare site in a run-down area in Houghton Regis near Luton. The scheme is a partnership with Central Bedfordshire council, which they met at the conference last year, and is being funded by Aviva Investors. …”

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/sep/24/footballers-400m-social-housing-dream-unveiled?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

EDDC parking meter overpayments

According to the response below “What is this excess revenue spent on? – This income is not separated from the total income received from car parking, which is used to fund the service itself and helps to fund a range of services provided by the Council.”

Er, what range of services? Income from parking is meant to be spent only on parking related projects and creaming-off the overpayments for “other services provided by the council” is very questionable to say the least and possibly illegal, though Owl will bow to the expertise of EDDC’s legal eagles on that point – and fortunately we do gave an expert councillor too – Chairman Hughes.

Let’s hope they follow correct procedure for using surplus funds, which is:

“Safer Parking:
In deciding how to spend their parking surplus, local authorities should have regard for the advice given in the Local Government Association’s Circular 535/00. This circular urges authorities to work towards Safer Parking Accreditation (Park Mark®), and to consider using parking surpluses to fund the necessary measures.

The circular refers to section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and argues that this Act together with the provisions of section 55 of the 1984 Act makes it both necessary and desirable for authorities to prioritise spending on crime prevention measures in car parks before consideration is given to spending parking surpluses in other areas.”

Click to access PPN1%20-%20Charging%20for%20Parking%20-%20Aug%202011.pdf

Here is the Freedom of Information request:

“Date submitted: 15 September 2016

Summary of request

• Over the past five financial years how much money has the council made through parking-overpayments from its meters i.e. “over-vend” in parking meters that do not give out change?
• What is this excess revenue spent on?
• How many of these parking meters do the council manage?
• Over the past five financial years how much money has the council made in total through car parking meters?
Summary of response

• Over the past five financial years how much money has the council made through parking-overpayments from its meters i.e. “over-vend” in parking meters that do not give out change? – There were no overpayments in the financial years up to and including 2013/14 as our machines were programmed then to give the appropriate time for the money inserted into ticket machines. Because we wanted to add more choice to the customer, from the 1st April 2014 we introduced 2, 3 and 4 day permits. This meant that the memory available in the current ticket machines did not allow for the previous increments and so we introduced 50p increments without the option to give change.

2014/15 – £16,946 Gross inc VAT ( NET £14,122); 2015/16 – £15,066 Gross inc VAT (NET £12,555)

• What is this excess revenue spent on? – This income is not separated from the total income received from car parking, which is used to fund the service itself and helps to fund a range of services provided by the Council.

• How many of these parking meters do the council manage? – Currently we have 61 ticket machines.

• Over the past five financial years how much money has the council made in total through car parking meters? – The figures below are the NET income (which is how we report in the accounts/budgets etc) for the respective years just for the ticket machine income and Parkmobile charges.

2011/12 – £2,401,376
2012/13 – £2,244,874
2013/14 – £2,346,703
2014/15 – £2,477,864
2015/16 – £2,554,583

Date responded: 23 September 2016

show details
http://eastdevon.gov.uk/access-to-information/freedom-of-information/freedom-of-information-published-requests/

Green Party urges Progressive Alliance

“This week, after a seemingly endless campaign, the Labour party will choose its new leader. For those of us who oppose what the Conservative Government is doing to our country, the end of this bitter internal battle within the Labour party can’t come a moment too soon. We need everyone playing their part in providing effective opposition and holding Theresa May to account.

On Friday 23 September, we launched our Green Guarantee to set out our role in that: a promise to members, voters and supporters about what it means to be Green. And at the heart of that promise is a new politics of public service that combines honest, consistent and principled Green opposition, with a willingness to do things differently and search for bold solutions.

We also have a message for the new Labour leader – stop wasting precious time on what divides you and instead invest in cooperation. Join us in making a persuasive case for doing things differently by looking to the future, not to the past. Commit to a progressive alliance.

With a snap general election looking increasingly unlikely, it seems Britain now faces three and a half years of a Conservative Government run by a Prime Minister who has, so far, done nothing to indicate she has a grasp on how to rise to the challenges we face. How to build a new resilient economy that values relationships rather than transactions. How to create a community immigration premium and the strong social connections that would allow us all to benefit from free movement. How to deliver smart, future facing, properly funded public services run by the people for the people. Nor has she risen to the biggest challenge of all – a world unlimited by climate change.

A one-off general election alliance between progressive parties to try to prevent the Conservatives forming the next government could be a game change. That’s why our Green Guarantee contains a pledge to cooperate rather than compete, if it will deliver the best future for Britain.

Such an alliance is, critically, also an opportunity to unite behind a pledge to replace our outdated voting system with a citizens’ democracy. In 2015 more than 1m people voted Green and they deserve to have their views represented in Parliament by more than one MP. Almost 2m voted Lib Dem and yet they have just eight seats, while almost 4m Ukip votes claimed one MP. If we want a future where decisions are negotiated, not imposed, where power and wealth are redistributed, fair elections are essential. And if we genuinely want to heal the divisions revealed by the EU referendum campaign, to tackle the fear, inequality and hopelessness that’s been laid bare, we need every voice to be heard and every vote to matter.

Taking back control means having a second referendum on the terms of any EU deal. It means we need to be clear what we would like our future relationship with the EU to look like, what we’ll be negotiating for, and Parliament having a full debate and vote on triggering Article 50. And it means a general election to decide who delivers the deal.

Our Green Guarantee puts the principle of working together to solve common problems at the heart of any agreement – we still think this is the best way to protect our environment, workers’ rights and free movement. In this age of insecurity, collaboration and partnership matter more than ever before.

They also underpin the innovative Green economy of tomorrow. A sharing and participative economy where the exploitative Uber model gives way to a taxi firm owned by drivers and passengers. An economy for the digital age where modern technology and a universal basic income allows us to live larger lives, and where work is about real purpose, not a means to an end. An economy that’s jobs rich, energy efficient and really means business.

Our Green Guarantee is that, as co-leaders of the Green party, we will embrace the rapidly changing uncertain world in which we live, not turn from it. Be brave enough to map the future, not simply react to it. We invite whoever is elected as the new leader of the Labour party to do the same.

Jonathan Bartley and Caroline Lucas are co-leaders of the Green party.”

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2016/09/dear-labour-stop-wasting-time-and-join-us-progressive-alliance

Neil Parish adopts a butterfly

“TIVERTON and Honiton MP Neil Parish has ‘adopted’ one of the UK’s most threatened butterflies in a bid to help boost its numbers.

The nationally scarce Marsh Fritillary is in decline across Europe, but can be found in small numbers across Devon, including on Dartmoor.

Mr Parish visited the national park recently after becoming a ‘Species Champion’ for the rare butterfly.

He said: “I am thrilled to be working with Butterfly Conservation (BC) to raise the profile of the Marsh Fritillary and I’m hoping that by being a ‘Species Champion’ I can contribute to securing its future.

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/neil-parish-adopts-rare-dartmoor-butterfly-to-help-boost-its-numbers/story-29745290-detail/story.html

Unfortunately, Parish has yet to tell us hovw he plans to secure the future of the NHS in East Devon.

Freudian slip?

“Which hospitals in Exeter and East Devon will be affected by the cuts are the subject a public consolation scheduled to begin next month.”

Read more at http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/devon-community-hospital-closure-plans-vehemently-criticised/story-29744503-detail/story.html

“Inclusive Devolution”

Here are the main points of the RSA publication referred to in the previous post:

A new policy framework to promote inclusive growth

The report proposes a policy framework based on the following elements:

Integrating economic and social policy — we argue for a model which combines economic and social policy to generate inclusive growth. That means integrating people-focused policies on skills, family support and education with economic development strategies linked to investment and industry policy.

Devolution that is social as well as economic — up until now, devolution to cities has mostly related to strategic economic functions. The next phase of devolution needs to have a much stronger social policy focus so that public service reform can support local growth.

More funding to support inclusive growth at local level — the context for devolution so far has been fiscal neutrality and austerity. The establishment of investment funds and the transfer of economic functions has been good for cities, but at the same time their overall revenue budgets have shrunk substantially. The next phase of what we call ‘grown up devolution’ will need to provide more funding for social and capital projects.

Prioritising prevention and early intervention — it is widely accepted that we spend too much on picking up the pieces of social and economic failure. Now is the time to begin the process of shifting the balance of spending towards prevention and early intervention, so that public services can support inclusive growth, rather than respond to the lack of it.

View at Medium.com

Devolution “myths” not myths at all, says Devon County Councillor

From the Facebook page of Lib Dem Councillor for Totnes, Robert Vint:

“On Monday Devon County Councillors were presented with a “Myth Busting” training session on Devolution. On Thursday there was a repeat session for South Hams District Councillors.

The “Myths” they were attempting to “bust” were that the Devolution process was led by the LEP, was undemocratic, would result in local government reorganisation / centralisation etc.

The explanations – or non-explanations – only strengthened my concerns. It was confirmed that there would be no public consultation on the economic development plan but only on the Combined Authority proposal and that the LEP had played a central role.

I asked why the plan did not start by identifying local needs such as rural unemployment and affordable housing then consult communities and small businesses on how to tackle these problems. They said not to worry as this was an outline economic plan – but later they confirmed that there would be no consultation on the economic plan or any opportunity to change it.

We have a Devolution Prospectus written by the few big businesses in the LEP to serve their own needs rather than those of the wider community of Devon and Somerset. This has then been rubberstamped by local authorities who did not have the staff, time or vision to rewrite it to meet our real needs and who failed to consult residents and small and family businesses. As a result we will be subjected, without any opportunity to comment, to a local economic development strategy that will serve the wealthy rather than the majority and that will fail to provide jobs where they’re needed or houses to the people who need them most.

In contrast the RSA – Royal Society of Arts – outlines how we should be delivering genuine, fair and inclusive devolution (see below).

The UK’s economic status-quo has resulted in huge sections of our population being ‘left behind’. So the RSA are proposing a radical programme of devolution, inclusive industrial strategies and investment in human capital to create a more inclusive, equal society.

https://www.thersa.org/discover/publications-and-articles/rsa-blogs/2016/09/inclusive-growth-proposals

Fords of Sidmouth sell business “to concentrate on property business interests”

“Fords of Sidmouth directors Tim and Mike Ford ‘will support the transition of their business into the Clearvac Group and will then focus on their property business interests’.”

http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/home/sidmouth_man_david_seals_deal_for_clearvac_to_take_over_fords_services_1_4707882

One might think they already believe their business park planning application is in the bag.

Neil Parish: what do you have to say about NHS bed closures?

A correspondent has quite correctly pointed out that Owl has not shone the spotlight on Neil Parish and his views on NHS hospital bed closures on his patch in East Devon.

Owl is so used to Neil Parish saying nothing at all – except about dualling the A303 or, at a push, farming – that he does drop off the radar. Apologies.

Parish does indeed need to let us know his views as he has seen all in-patient beds go at Axminster hospital and now he is seeing them all go at Honiton and maybe at Seaton. A dire situation for East Devon – though leavened for him in that the hospital at Tiverton (also in his constituency but in Mid-Devon council area) will definitely stay.

However, a word of caution on his views – like Swire’s they can bend with the wind. During the referendum he called himself a Remainer but after it he first threw his weight behind Boris Johnson for Leader and then, when he withdrew, he backed Angela Leadsom – both fervent Leavers.

But, as with Swire, these are totally safe Conservative seats so he can say what he likes.

Or can he?

Theresa May disbands the “David Cameron Business Forum”

aka his “Business Advisory Group”.

““Theresa May has disbanded the group of business leaders assembled by her predecessor to advise on City and financial matters. The prime minster has not created an alternative team after telling the dozen or so business leaders their advice was no longer required.

Her decision to break up the so-called business advisory group – which included the Legal & General chief executive Nigel Wilson and Virgin Money chief executive Jayne-Anne Gadhia – was seen as a signal of a clean break from Cameron’s way of dealing with the City and big business. …

… The move was welcomed by small business leaders, who will be hoping for a bigger voice and influence as the Brexit negotiations take place. May’s first event at No 10 was a meeting with small businesses.

Mike Cherry, national chairman at the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “This is the right moment for No 10 to review its business engagement structures and to broaden them – and we look forward to making sure that small businesses are part of that.”

The CBI, which represents big employers, said: “The CBI regularly meets with the government – the prime minister, chancellor and secretaries of state – for bilateral meetings on a wide range of issues affecting businesses and the economy.”

Cameron’s business advisory group was described as a “small group of business leaders from sectors of strategic importance to the UK that provides regular, high-level advice to the prime minister”. Members were often picked to travel with ministers on foreign visits and were

It was reshuffled after the 2015 election and also included Carolyn McCall, chief executive of easyJet and Xavier Rolet, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange. During the referendum campaign, its members’ views on Brexit were closely scrutinised. A letter backing the Remain campaign was not signed by some of the advisers including Alison Brittain, chief executive of Costa Coffee owner Whitbread, and Jeff Fairburn, head of housebuilder Persimmon.”

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/sep/22/theresa-may-tells-big-business-advisers-no-more-advice-please

When is a hospital not a hospital?

If a hospital loses all its inpatient beds, is it still a hospital?

No, it’s a “health hub”, or some other fancy phrase.

Until it gets sold off by NHS Property Services for development.

Which creates more householders to become patients – of the hospitals we haven’t got.

Unhappy Cranbrook neighbour

A story on the Daily Mail online about couple who didn’t realise housing estate being built next to their cottage:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3801805/Couple-s-rural-dream-nightmare-plans-approved-700-home-housing-estate-sides-isolated-farm-cottage.html

provoked this response from someone in the area of Cranbrook:

“Same thing has happened to us. Many of the new houses are rented privately or through housing association and some of the new residents are not very nice. Noise, crime and rubbish has increased enormously since they built these new houses, 450 of them in three small green fields. We have no choice but to move after 41 years in this house and raising a family here, this is what they call progress. There are no green spaces left in our village now and ALL of these new people are not from this area and many are not even British (how do they qualify for social housing here?)”

No welcome there then!

Swire says no hospitals will be closed … how does he get that idea?

The commissioning group has given four (and only 4) options:

A) 32 beds in Tiverton, 24 beds in Seaton and 16 beds in Exmouth.
B) 32 beds in Tiverton, 24 beds in Sidmouth and 16 beds in Exmouth.
C) 32 beds in Tiverton, 24 beds in Seaton and 16 beds in Whipton.
D) 32 beds in Tiverton, 24 in Sidmouth and 16 beds in Whipton.

Swire says:

“From the outset it is important to note that Devon’s NHS is currently in dire financial straits. Steps need to be taken now otherwise our local NHS could be facing a £400m deficit by 2020/2021.

Establishing a new, efficient and patient-centred model of care is absolutely vital for the long term sustainability of our local healthcare service. I am clear that a key part of any new model of care must be the provision of hospital beds.

‘It is also important to stress that the CCG are not consulting on hospital closures, they are consulting on hospital bed closures. Hospital closures are not on the table.”

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/hugo-swire-releases-statement-on-planned-closure-of-community-hospital-beds/story-29741811-detail/story.html

NOW, LOOK AT THE FOUR OPTIONS AND TELL OWL HOW ALL THE HOSPITALS WILL BE KEPT OPEN?

To begin with, Honiton hospital isn’t mentioned – the presumption is that it will close come what may.

In Option A – Whipton, Seaton and Sidmouth go
In Option B – Seaton and Whipton go
In Option C – Sidmouth and Exmouth go
In Option D – Seaton and Exmouth go

Or, is Owl missing something?

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/600-hospital-beds-to-be-axed-in-devon/story-29739152-detail/story.html

Whatever, it is clear that Swire views our hospitals as overspent and not underfunded.

And where is that extra £350 million a week??!!

Review of how regeneration boards operate

Residents will be pleased to hear that the Overview Committee at EDDC is considering a review how regeneration boards operate.

They will probably not be pleased to hear that no date has been set for the review.

Click to access 270916-overview-agenda-combined.pdf

(page 26)

Poor quality of new housing in Axminster

The EDDC Overview Committee deliberated about the poor quality of new private housing being built in East Devon, particularly in Axminster:

“A number of concerns and issues were noted by the Think Tank including common problems such as the quality of finish of plaster and cracking, the fitting of kitchens and bathrooms and other internal cosmetic issues.

More specific issues such as a development in Axminster where the retaining structures supporting split levels between gardens had been made of timber which had subsequently rotted leaving residents with gardens that were subsiding and concerns over who is
responsible for rectifying these fault.”

Click to access 270916-overview-agenda-combined.pdf

They had nothing useful to say about how this could be improved.

Honiton to lose all its hospital beds?

From the blog of Claire Wright, Independent councillor at Devon County Council and member of its Health Services committee.

“Okehampton and Honiton Hospitals are set to lose all in-patient beds in a cost cutting exercise by local health services.

72 beds are to be cut from 143 in all, with four options that will be consulted on, although health bosses have a preferred option of keeping beds at Tiverton, Seaton and Exmouth.

Other hospitals at risk of losing all their inpatient beds are: Sidmouth and Whipton Hospital in Exeter

Health chiefs hope that the bed cuts will save £5-6m a year, with around 20 to 40 per cent of current running costs reinvested in creating health hubs and providing more care in people’s homes.

Some councillors had a briefing this afternoon from the chief executive of the “success regime” which has been drafted in by government to make significant cuts to counteract a deficit of around £430m by 2020.

We should remember that this area of Devon has already lost all inpatient beds at Ottery St Mary, Axminster, Crediton and Budleigh Salterton.

Discharging people from the RD&E in Exeter has never been more difficult.

Not only is there a funding crisis in the local NHS, there is also a funding crisis in social care locally, which is one of the reasons why people are unable to be discharged in a sensible length of time. This budget is hugely overspent at Devon County Council.

The consultation on the bed cuts is set to start on 7 October, with a decision made next February by the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon CCG (NEW Devon CCG). If agreed proposals will be implemented in March.

For my views on hospital bed losses see – http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/health_scrutiny_committee_to_ask_to_health_select_committee_to_investigate

I was interviewed by BBC Spotlight about the cuts. Here’s how they reported the issue this evening, at 3 mins 43 – http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07v2gpz/spotlight-evening-news-21092016

For more detail see http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/where-will-72-community-hospital-beds-be-lost-in-devon/story-29738533-detail/story.html#R9PAwLxGj62bsWFV.99