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5 Oct 2015

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Independent Councillors

Chameleon Lord Adonis and his East Devon counterparts

The Labour peer, appointed by the Conservative Party to lead a new infrastructure commission, will now sit as an Independent in the House of Lords after having been a Social Democrat councillor and Liberal Democrat election candidate before joining Labour.

Reminds me of one or two people in East Devon … REAL independents start that way and end that way and as a result are not trusted with majority party committee Chairmanships where a rogue vote could change policy nor are they admitted into their inner sanctums …

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5 Oct 2015

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Affordable and Social Housing, National Planning Policy Framework, Planning System

Osborne to cut planning rules yet again

“… Mr Osborne will today ‘sweep away’ planning rules on so-called ‘brownfield’ sites that have been developed before. A source said ripping up the rules would ‘increase the supply of homes for sale’.

The Chancellor will also announce an extra £5 billion for infrastructure spending from the proceeds of government asset sales. Mr Osborne is privately furious with the attitude of some local authorities who have frustrated progress on major infrastructure projects for years. Critics point to the example of Heathrow’s Terminal 5 which took almost 20 years to get off the drawing board.

He will tell activists: ‘Where would Britain be if we had never built railways or runways, power stations or new homes? Where will we be in the future if we stop building them now? …

… “The move will revive grassroots Tory fears that the Chancellor is plotting a fresh assault on the planning system, just three years after a bitter battle with the National Trust and other campaigners. The new National Planning Policy Framework was meant to be the final word on reform when it was introduced in 2012, but ministers have been dismayed by continuing delays in the system.

The Chancellor has said previously that Britain’s Green Belt will be protected in the push for new housing and infrastructure.

But new figures revealed last week that almost 5,000 acres of Green Belt land were lost to the bulldozer last year – the largest amount for five years. The Campaign to Protect Rural England described the figures as ‘the tip of the iceberg’.

In a separate warning, the National Trust said much of the country’s most beautiful scenery was threatened by inappropriate development, as planning rules were not being applied properly.” …

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3259937/Let-s-start-building-says-Osborne-Chancellor-vows-axe-planning-rules-drive-one-million-new-homes.html

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5 Oct 2015

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Affordable and Social Housing, Rural communities

Extended right-to-buy will harm rural communities say CPRE and housing associations

Organisations across the South West are today urging the Government to protect affordable homes in rural areas from new plans that would worsen the countryside ‘housing crisis’.

They say extending the right-to-buy to cover social housing will hit the countryside disproportionately hard.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), the County Land and Business Association (CLA) and the National Parks Association are among those calling for a complete exemption for countryside areas.

“We are very concerned that the stock of affordable housing, built up over many years, will be lost,” said Dr Nigel Stone chief executive of Exmoor National Park Authority.

The policy looks set to be implemented voluntarily by housing associations under a proposal put forward by the National Housing Federation.

The plan would mean that there would be a presumption in favour of sale in most circumstances but housing associations would retain some discretion.

But the rural groups have now called for a total exemption for countryside areas.

The organisations, also including the Hastoe Housing Group, National Association of Local Councils, Action with Communities in Rural England, and the Rural Services Network, said a “portable discount” offered to tenants would not help rural areas.

They also warned landowners would be reluctant to offer land for social housing if there are no guarantees it will remain affordable and not be sold on within a few years. The groups said that 8% of rural housing was classed as affordable, compared with 20% in towns and cities.

Without a comprehensive rural exemption, this measure will make it harder to sustain mixed communities and local services such as shops and pubs, they said. …”

http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Right-buy-rules-worse-rural-housing-crisis/story-27919706-detail/story.html

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5 Oct 2015

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Austerity cuts

Taxpayers Alliance: Cut pensioners benefits – “many will be dead or have forgotten who did it by the next election”

Ministers should waste no time to make unpopular cuts to pensioner benefits, a think tank director has said.
Many of those hit by a cut to the winter fuel allowance might “not be around” at the next election, said Alex Wild of the Taxpayers’ Alliance.

And others would forget which party had done it, he added.
At the group’s meeting at the Conservative conference in Manchester, former defence secretary Liam Fox said spending cuts must be “for keeps”.

Mr Wild said the Tories could not wait until a year before the next election to make the necessary cuts to the winter fuel allowance, free bus passes, the Christmas bonus and other pensioner benefits.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34439965

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4 Oct 2015

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Austerity cuts

Conservative delegates at conference advised to be publicly anonymous

“Among some Tory delegates the atmosphere was a little tense. In an email to conference delegates last week, the Conservative party chairman, Lord Feldman, said it was “particularly important” this year for activists to take the Tory-branded identification badges off when around town due to safety concerns.”

http://gu.com/p/4d2vz

That “Northern Powerhouse” centred on Manchester not quite taken off, it seems!

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4 Oct 2015

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Affordable and Social Housing, East Devon Tories

Tory-led council group slams right to buy extension

“David Cameron’s bid to extend right-to-buy to people in housing association homes has been branded unworkable on the eve of the Conservative party conference by the Tory-led body representing councils across the country.

The Local Government Association (LGA) will today publish the first independent review of the controversial policy, which finds that the policy will cost councils £6bn over the next four years, at a time of huge cuts in funding for local authorities.” …

Right-to-buy extension branded unworkable by Tory-led council group
http://gu.com/p/4dxjn

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4 Oct 2015

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NHS (local), Transparency

NHS crisis much bigger than government is letting on

“Government ministers have buried NHS statistics that show the service hurtling towards an unprecedented £2bn deficit to avoid overshadowing the Tory party conference, say top NHS officials.

One senior figure at the health service regulator Monitor said his organisation had been “leaned on” by Whitehall to delay its report, which shows that NHS finances are worsening.

Neither Monitor’s quarterly report on how the NHS is faring, nor equivalent data from the NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA), have been published, as they usually are around the time of the organisations’ board meetings last month. Hospital trusts passed their information to the two regulators two months ago.”

http://gu.com/p/4dxy6?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Well, we all know that the crisis in Devon is being covered up by the fragmented way bad news on bed closures is being fed to the media and residents hospital by hospital over a period of time instead of all at once. And we know that positive spin takes the place of real numbers and total lack of information and transparency in press announcements.

It is never too long before the excrement that hits the air circulation system starts dropping down on us all.

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3 Oct 2015

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EDDC, Exmouth, Moirai Exmouth project

“Exmouth Splat” and Moirai Capital UK

The developers behind what some are calling “Exmouth Splat” is Moirai Capital UK.

Strange name Moirai – what does it mean?

“The Moirai or Fates were three sister deities, incarnations of destiny and life. Their names were Clotho, the one who spins the thread of life; Lachesis, she who draws the lots and determines how long one lives, by measuring the thread of life; and Atropos, the inevitable, she who chose how someone dies by cutting the thread of life with her shears. They were often described as being ugly and old women, stern and severe. Three days after a child was born, it was thought that the Moirai would visit the house to determine the child’s fate and life.

It seems that the Moirai controlled the fates of both mortals and gods alike. It may be that Zeus was the only one not bound by them, as an epithet that was used for him was Moiragetes (he who commands the fate). Other sources suggest, though, that he was also bound by the Moirai. It is also uncertain who their parents were; in some myths, they were daughters of Zeus and the Titan goddess Themis, the goddess of divine order. In others, they were daughters of Ananke, the personification of necessity.”

greekmythology.com

The moral of this story is: Beware Greeks bearing gifts especially those who spin, those who measure the inevitable and those who control your life, especially when they are able to cut it off with shears and who ars not sure of their parentage!

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3 Oct 2015

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EDDC, Exmouth, Moirai Exmouth project

Exmouth Splat – spot the missing words

EDDC said:

“Our aim is to bring all-year-round attractions to the seafront, which will be enjoyed by a wider range of people – visitors and residents alike.

“Tourism is key to Exmouth’s long-term economic success and we want a seafront that combines the traditional and modern.

“We are working closely with our tenants to help them with the changes that are happening so that they can be part of this regeneration, if that is possible. Currently we have developers waiting to submit planning applications and there will be detailed future consultation on plans for the site.”” …

What’s missing? Nothing about the new luxury apartments that dominate this site!

And, as for those forthcoming “consultations” people might want to check that what is being consulted on is the scheme EDDC is actually working up with developers in secret meetings rather than something that will bear no resemblance to what is being discussed. Designs at consultation somehow don’t seem to pan out later on …..

Will luxury apartment really want to look out on noisy children playing in expensive enclosures, blocking their expensive views of the sea?

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2 Oct 2015

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East Devon Alliance, EDDC, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

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Sidmouth Herald: EDA Councillor Cathy Gardner sounds alarm over “eastern Sidmouth”

” …This isn’t about the Mill Street car park – it’s about the whole of the eastern side of town,” said Cllr Gardner. “It’s to do with plans for Port Royal and the seafront. Everyone can get excited about the rights and wrongs of increasing parking charges, but it’s part of a bigger picture.

“EDDC owns a lot of land there and I don’t know if people are aware of how much – the lifeboat station, the Drill Hall and the sailing club are all in the Local Plan for development. …”

http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk/cathy-gardner/20151002/sidmouth-herald-war-cry-over-future-of-eastern-town/

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2 Oct 2015

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NHS (local)

New leader for our “special measures” (now branded a “Success Regime”!) local NHS named

“Judith Dean, a former nurse, is the programme director of the scheme which is aimed at providing increased support and direction to the most challenged systems.

Previously Judith worked on transformational work in Wiltshire, following periods in senior NHS roles across the Thames Valley.

Dame Ruth Carnall, former head of the NHS in London, will take on the role of chair of the programme. As well as chairing the Success Regime’s Programme Board, her responsibilities will include top-level liaison with stakeholders including MPs and other elected representatives.”

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Leaders-Devon-s-new-Success-Regime-appointed/story-27909252-detail/story.html

Love the way it is being branded a “Success Regime” – sounds like something out of North Korea!

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2 Oct 2015

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Misc, Transparency

EDDC: an awful lot of Freedom of Information requests pending

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/body/east_devon_district_council

Hint: the more transparent you are, the fewer Freedom of Information requests people make.

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1 Oct 2015

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Ottery St Mary

Ottery’s Salston Manor Hotel to be converted into 27 flats

Planning permission given today for 27 flats – 2 more than originally planned:

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Historic-Manor-Hotel-near-Exeter-converted-27/story-27903670-detail/story.html

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1 Oct 2015

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EDDC, Exmouth, Moirai Exmouth project, Richard Cohen

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EDDC boards up legitimately trading cafe on Exmouth seafront without telling the owner

A seafront cafe owner was heading back to Exmouth today to find out just why his premises had been boarded up overnight.

Dean Gardner, owner of the popular DJ’s Cafe on Queen’s Drive, Exmouth, was in the Midlands looking after a sick relative, when he heard the bad news.

Mr Gardner, who has run the cafe for 11 years, said he had been told by East Devon District Council last month that the cafe could remain open for the “foreseeable future” in the run up to the redevelopment of the Exmouth seafront.

But in the early hours of October 1 a small number of contractors, went to the premises changed the locks and boarded up the premises up.

A notice, signed by Richard Cohen, Deputy Chief Executive EDDC, stated that council had taken possession of the premises.

The notice also indicates that: “as you have not made an application to the court before the expiry date (of the notice to terminate the lease) EDDc has exercised the right to take possession.”

Mr Gardner said: “It is a living nightmare. I restocked the cafe on the basis of being told that nothing was going to happen for the foreseeable future and now they have taken possession and boarded the place up without any notice.

“I have to say that when the Carriage Cafe was hauled away I wondered what was going on but I knew they had had enough and had a new site set up in Cornwall.

“I didn’t expect this to happen and I am now heading back to Exmouth straight away to find out what on earth is going on.”

Mr Gardner added that he had spent thousands of pounds on the cafe but was being offered “less than £15,000” in compensation.

According to campaigners opposed to the seafront development, EDDC said on its website that businesses operating in Queen’s Drive will be able to continue to trade beyond 30 September 2015

A Council spokesperson said previously: “East Devon District Council would like to make clear for the benefit of local residents, as well as its Queen’s Drive tenants and customers, that businesses currently operating at Queen’s Drive, who have formally notified the council that they wish to renew their tenancies, will continue to trade beyond 30 September 2015 until the necessary legal processes have been followed and concluded regarding their future.

“The council would like to apologise for any misunderstanding that has occurred.”

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Exmouth-seafront-caf-owner-shocked-premises/story-27904199-detail/story.html

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1 Oct 2015

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Newton Poppleford

Newton Poppleford targeted again by developers

Poor Newton Pop – assaulted on all sides by developers whose sleight of hand with regard to so-called “community benefits” is quite breathtaking:

East Devon councillor Val Ranger said:

“Ultimately, I’m concerned about the number of homes, I’m concern about the flood risks, and I’m concerned that housing needs are not being met.”

The original plans submitted in February listed designs for a village hall with space for a badminton court, indoor bowls, a function room and garden.

These plans have been omitted from the refreshed plan after criticism was raised when, according to Cllr Ranger, it became apparent that the village hall plans were a proposition for the community of Newton Poppleford to install – with developers merely providing the space.

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Major-East-Devon-development-40-new-dwellings/story-27903248-detail/story.html

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1 Oct 2015

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Affordable and Social Housing, EDDC, Exmouth, Regeneration, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton

“Regeneration plans and meetings” – are they worth the effort

A correspondent writes:

“For years Exmouth and Seaton have had regeneration areas and Regeneration Boards. Until recently, all the Regeneration Board meetings were secret – now they are published but often with redacted parts.

But are these meetings, Boards, plans, consultations worth the bother?

Seaton’s regeneration area began life with a relatively small supermarket, housing, community and leisure facilities and a hotel, with 40% affordable housing in a total of over 400 houses. What they got was an enormous Tesco, less than 300 houses and no affordable homes.

Exmouth is now going the same way: it started as a purely seafront-themed “upgrading” but changed into expensive housing and cloned businesses.

So, we must ask ourselves: what were all these plans, meetings and consultations actually FOR? What we are ending up with on both sites is nothing like what was initially planned, or discussed or consulted on.

Regeneration Boards are top-heavy with the developers on each site, who appear to use them to push forward their plans, unchallenged either by councillors or officers – in fact, the total opposite, leaving said officers and councillors to ram through their development agendas.

Surely, this makes a total mockery of our officers, councillors and Regeneration Boards but, more importantly, the electors of East Devon, who were sold pups – coincidentally just before two major district elections.

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1 Oct 2015

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Asset Management Group, Asset sweating, Beach huts, East Devon Alliance, EDDC

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An excellent bit of research by EDA councillor on beach huts

Puts officer “research” and Asset Management Forum total lack of research to shame:

http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk/news/20150930/beach-huts-research/

Well done Councillor Marianne Rixon.

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30 Sep 2015

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Asset Management Group, EDDC, Transparency

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Councillors should not be concerning themselves with Asset Management, says officer

“Donna Best, Principal Estates Surveyor explained the reason behind the Asset Management Forum (AMF) and that most Local Asset Management Forums only consisted of officers and had little if any Councillor representation”

Click to access 030915-amf.pdf

ITS BEEN MEETING WITH OFFICERS AND COUNCILLORS SINCE 2009, AND MS BEST HAS ATTENDED SINCE THEN!

Has it taken her six years to come up with this and an explanation of what she thinks the Asset Management Forum is FOR? And why now, one wonders? Too much of a spotlight on it and a wish to go back to the shadows perhaps – no councillors means no agendas or minutes ..,

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30 Sep 2015

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Asset Management Group, Asset sweating, EDDC, Freedom of Information Act, Transparency

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EDDC forced to publish formerly secret Asset Management Group agendas and minutes

Re-posted from
eastdevonalliance.ork.uk:

“After a lot of pressure from opposition Councillors and from Freedom of Information requests, EDDC has now published all the Agendas and Minutes of their Asset Management Forum. There are some redactions.

The documents can be found here:

http://eastdevon.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/committees-and-meetings/asset-management-forum/

Just to remind you that it was at these meetings that the development of Exmouth seafront was discussed and also the proposals for beach huts were developed.”

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30 Sep 2015

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EDDC

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The risks of outsourcing risks

Internal auditors urge public sector boards to get assurance on risks of outsourcing

Public sector boards should not approve strategically important outsourcing projects “without first getting full assurance from their internal audit teams that the potential risks have been properly considered and effective controls are in place”, the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors has said.

In a report the Institute warned that failure to foresee and manage outsourcing risks could result in service failures, delays in the implementation of new projects, significant additional costs and reputational damage.

Such outcomes could undermine the cost savings and other benefits that outsourcing is intended to deliver, it added.
The Institute also argued that getting outsourcing right was increasingly important as it becomes more widespread among organisations seeking to cut costs and increase efficiency by buying-in specialist services.

It predicted that the increase in outsourcing by the public sector between 2010 and 2014 would continue with the pressure on public spending.

Dr Ian Peters, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors, said: “Outsourcing the service does not outsource the risk. Organisations may think they have thrown the risk ‘over the fence’ but this is absolutely not the case.

“Internal audit can support boards in relation to outsourced services. There should be an appetite at board and senior management level for assurance that the risks of outsourcing are being managed so that the organisation’s achievement of its strategic objectives is not compromised.”

http://localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24548:internal-auditors-urge-public-sector-boards-to-get-assurance-on-risks-of-outsourcing&catid=53&Itemid=21