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28 Jul 2015

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NHS (local)

More on the NHS and Cabinet Minister Michael Gove’s ankles

Following on from our story on Michael Gove’s journalist wife writing about his visit to an NHS minor injuries unit: over last weekend

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2015/07/25/cabinet-minister-michael-goves-wife-complains-about-his-treatment-at-minor-injuries-unit-and-a-nurse-replies/

the following has just appeared on “The Sun” website:

“More than 9,000 people have shared an open letter to Ms Vine (wife of Michael Gove) from consultant Tony Cartwright, who vented his anger on Facebook. The doctor – who says he’s left Britain for Abu Dhabi after becoming fed up of Tory reforms – accuses the Goves of making ‘no effort’ and resorting instead to ‘open vitriol’.

He’s the latest medic to sound off at the Tories’ plans for a 7-day NHS, which medics say is badly thought-out and ignores the many services already offered on the weekend.

Addressing Ms Vine, Mr Cartwright wrote: “I am another UK doctor who is writing a letter to government, if only to satisfy my own anger and frustration. You must all be getting quite tired of this, really.

“Ms Vine, you took your husband to a 17 bed community hospital out of hours… and you really expected the full flow of a trauma centre? This is an unrealistic expectation and will never be the case.

We could staff Shepton Mallet Community Hospital with a 24/7 radiology department for the use of ‘people like us,’ as you describe yourself and as you suggest at the end of your missive. However I suspect your husband’s friend, Jeremy, and indeed the PM himself may have something to say about that and the funding and staffing involved.

Your nearest emergency department is either in Yeovil or Bath, both a fairly tiresome 40-60 minute drive. Had you gone to either of these hospitals you would have had an X-ray at any time of the day or night and been referred immediately to orthopaedics if required, oh, and been reviewed by a Consultant, for urgent treatment if required. That would have resolved your issue later on the Sunday, however I suspect you had many more important things to do than ensure the comfort and health of your husband.

It was your and/or your husband’s choice, for whatever reason, to not take your husband to a doctor in an emergency department in a timely fashion following his injury.

You see, with repeated changes to funding and allocation of resources within the NHS, the local A&E departments that I remember as a child have been wound down and closed.

You and your husband have the freedom to be able to choose to live in a beautiful leafy part of Somerset far from the madding crowds. Surely you could have used a little of your husband’s 10% pay rise to cover the cost of a little petrol/diesel and some hospital parking to get either to Bath or Yeovil, both centres of NHS excellence?

Your decision not to is not our fault. Do not blame us for your lack of effort or forward thinking.”

Source: The Sun Website today

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27 Jul 2015

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East Devon Electoral/Returning Officer, Electoral Commission, General Election, Mark Williams CEO EDDC, Transparency, Voting

Council launches review of polling districts and stations

“East Devon residents are asked for their views and suggestions on polling stations ready for council to consider in December

East Devon District Council is due to launch a review into the district’s polling districts and polling places and is seeking feedback from the public.

The council will be pleased to receive views from anyone, but particularly stakeholders, such as electors, parishes, political parties and councillors. It will also be grateful for comments from people and organisations with expertise in access for people with disabilities.

Anyone who would like information about a particular parish or part of the district should contact us either by e-mail (elections@eastdevon.gov.uk) or telephone (01395 517550).

East Devon District Council’s Chief Executive, Mark Williams, said:

“Over the years, the locations where voting takes place in East Devon have remained the same, except for occasions where a building is no longer available. Following the recent election we now need to review the existing situation.

“If anyone thinks we should be looking at alternative locations to the polling stations that were used in May this year or have comments on the stations that were used, please could they let us have their views as soon as possible.”
Views and comments should be made in writing, setting out any alternative suggestions, by no later than Friday, 25 September 2015 to the Electoral Services Manager, East Devon District Council, Council Offices, Knowle, Sidmouth EX10 8HL

The Chief Executive will make proposals to the council, taking account of all the views and comments that are received. The council meeting where the recommendations will be considered will be held on Wednesday 16 December 2015 and will be open to the public.”

If you have any reservations about locations or access to polling stations do let Mr Williams know. It is a very long time since these locations were first chosen and some of them may now be inappropriate.

One assumes that locations in the ownership of or linked closely to serving councillors will not be considered appropriate.

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27 Jul 2015

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Affordable and Social Housing, AONB, Blackdown Hills, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Paul Diviani

That Messianic speech from Our Glorious Leader translated for the masses

We aim to secure an outstanding and sustainable quality of life for everyone in East Devon.

Now, let’s get it straight: we are talking about developers here – who did you think I was talking about?

Where we live, work and play has a tremendous influence on our well-being. We shall seek to conserve and enhance the environment through the social and economic well-being of the people who live and work here. We must achieve a proper balance between the environment, the economy and our communities by weighing the relative merits to ensure sustainability and resultant harmony.

Of course, I am talking only about the Blackdown Hills here – the rest of you will just have to cope with whatever developments we decide to throw at you.

We want to be safe in our communities and to that end we will work in partnership with the other authorities to achieve that. We will look after the disadvantaged of all ages, to ensure that lack of finance and opportunity is not a barrier to the quality of life we all desire. With local housing for local people our top priority, we shall enable good quality and sustainable development to produce the 250 affordable homes we need every year. Then, at last, we will enable families to live and work in close proximity to each other, emulating the cohesive neighbourhoods we remember and desire.

I’m not daft: I shall be needing the police to provide me with a bodyguard if things get any worse and they cut 25-40% of our government grant AND we build a new HQ for ourselves. And we are still talking about developers: we will ensure that they never lack finance or opportunity to ensure that they have the quality of life they all desire and we will always look after them. 250 affordable homes – well, 90% of a massive average house price is affordable to our pals, what are you grizzling about.

We want our public realm to remain attractive; whether it be the award-winning parks and gardens or the pavements and pathways we traverse daily. We are fortunate that we can all share not only the nationally designated Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty), but also the only English, internationally recognised, natural World Heritage Site, known as the Jurassic Coast, which together comprise two-thirds of our District. As our landscape defines our style, so we shall recognise that renewable energy will have an increasingly important part to play in the way our district looks and powers itself.

Did you really have to put parks and gardens in there (those Sidmouth people will moan about that) and AONBs and the Jurassic Coast in this bit speechwriter? Oh, well, if you must, just don’t expect us to worry too much about them if they are not in the Blackdown Hills.

We want there to be equal opportunity for work and in particular to achieve high quality jobs in the emerging high tech and green industries. No longer should our young people be forced to leave through lack of housing or employment. Those who wish to depart will always have the option to return to their roots in later years. If they do, we will be there to look after them.

High-tech jobs for rich but dim kids for whom we will buy houses or buy-to-let properties in their names from our profits or cashed-in pensions.  Er, what exactly are “green industries” speechwriter?  Oh, that’s right, industrial sheds at the Growth Point painted in Racing Green!

Recognising our foremost economic activity, we welcome visitors drawn to our stunning coastline, our vibrant market towns and villages set in our beautiful countryside, which would not be so but for the custodianship of our farmers who we will support in their efforts to maintain food security and in the process, bring delicious local produce to market. In recognition of the many small rural businesses which are the backbone of our economy, we shall continue to lobby for fast broadband which will also stop our youngsters being disadvantaged solely through location.

I will always support the Farmers Market in the Blackdown Hills and will ensure that we get broadband before everyone else in the countryside, the rest of you will just have to cope as best you can.  And any farmers out there who want to put up your land for great big developments like others have before you – come and see us very soon!

We shall communicate in a positive manner with all our residents which will ensure positive leadership and positive partnerships. We want people to feel they really can influence public decision-making but realise, in the spirit of localism, individual and community initiatives reflect responsibilities rather than rights. Truly sustainable places are about happy communities, living and working together in wonderful places.

We ALWAYS communicate with our residents in a positive manner, even when it is bad, bad news and we DEFINITELY have positive partnerships with our developers. And NO WAY are the plebs going to influence us – we have the rights, they have the responsibility to do as we say! And if our developers are happy, we are happy.

We all want to be proud to live in East Devon and when that is realised, we shall be content.”

Except that WE will build dark, Satanic mills!

Fade out with the Monty Python film with the famous scene of the masses offering adulation to the Messiah and his mother saying

“He isn’t the Messiah, he is a Very Naughty Boy”.

Original taken from – notes in RED from The Owl.

http://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2015/07/cllr-paul-diviani-our-mission-in-east-devon.html

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27 Jul 2015

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Affordable and Social Housing, AONB, Austerity cuts, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Environment (local)

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Joke of the millenium: Paul Diviani’s “vision” for East Devon!

We have had clean, green and seen – now we have the ultimate in hypocrisy. a full critique will appear after Owl has lain in a darkened room for some hours mulling on this triumphalist nonsense.

Moses and his Ten Commandments and Ed Milliband’s Tablet of Stone have nothing on this guy!

On the “Conservative Home” website today:

“We aim to secure an outstanding and sustainable quality of life for everyone in East Devon.

Where we live, work and play has a tremendous influence on our well-being. We shall seek to conserve and enhance the environment through the social and economic well-being of the people who live and work here. We must achieve a proper balance between the environment, the economy and our communities by weighing the relative merits to ensure sustainability and resultant harmony.

We want to be safe in our communities and to that end we will work in partnership with the other authorities to achieve that. We will look after the disadvantaged of all ages, to ensure that lack of finance and opportunity is not a barrier to the quality of life we all desire. With local housing for local people our top priority, we shall enable good quality and sustainable development to produce the 250 affordable homes we need every year. Then, at last, we will enable families to live and work in close proximity to each other, emulating the cohesive neighbourhoods we remember and desire.

We want our public realm to remain attractive; whether it be the award-winning parks and gardens or the pavements and pathways we traverse daily. We are fortunate that we can all share not only the nationally designated Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty), but also the only English, internationally recognised, natural World Heritage Site, known as the Jurassic Coast, which together comprise two thirds of our District. As our landscape defines our style, so we shall recognise that renewable energy will have an increasingly important part to play in the way our district looks and powers itself.

We want there to be equal opportunity for work and in particular to achieve high quality jobs in the emerging high tech and green industries. No longer should our young people be forced to leave through lack of housing or employment. Those who wish to depart will always have the option to return to their roots in later years. If they do, we will be there to look after them.

Recognising our foremost economic activity, we welcome visitors drawn to our stunning coastline, our vibrant market towns and villages set in our beautiful countryside, which would not be so but for the custodianship of our farmers who we will support in their efforts to maintain food security and in the process, bring delicious local produce to market. In recognition of the many small rural businesses which are the backbone of our economy, we shall continue to lobby for fast broadband which will also stop our youngsters being disadvantaged solely through location.

We shall communicate in a positive manner with all our residents which will ensure positive leadership and positive partnerships. We want people to feel they really can influence public decision making but realise, in the spirit of localism, individual and community initiatives reflect responsibilities rather than rights. Truly sustainable places are about happy communities, living and working together in wonderful places.

We all want to be proud to live in East Devon and when that is realised, we shall be content.”

http://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2015/07/cllr-paul-diviani-our-mission-in-east-devon.html


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26 Jul 2015

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Transparency

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How can we believe anything our politicians say?

From “The Sun” expose on Baron John Sewel, 69 — Deputy Speaker of the Lords:

One of the girls claims she met the peer in a strip club in London’s Soho in 2012.

As a member of the Lords, he is involved in legislating on sexual offences acts, prostitution and brothel-keeping laws.

As Deputy Speaker he would also be expected to demonstrate higher standards of moral behaviour than ordinary peers.

Sewel helped draw up a code of conduct which insists peers act with “selflessness, integrity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership”.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/6560352/Baron-John-Sewel-drug-binges-with-prostitutes.html

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26 Jul 2015

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Austerity cuts

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“A chancellor who shrinks the state will end up shrinking his popularity”

William Keegan writes:

“The rhetoric about ‘scroungers’ plays well, but the size of Osborne’s assault on services is so large that he may end up facing a widespread public backlash.

The Conservatives are riding high at the moment and Labour are laid flat on the floor. Seldom has a serving chancellor of the exchequer appeared as triumphalist as George Osborne – although memories are evoked of the high points in my old friend Nigel Lawson’s chancellorship during the boom of 1988.

However: history demonstrates that Labour is capable of coming back from the dead – eventually. And to my mind, with his naked experiment in social engineering and drastically reducing the size of the state, George Osborne could well be riding for a fall. I for one would not risk too much money backing him to become prime minister.

David Cameron and George Osborne present themselves as “one nation Tories” who have captured “the middle ground”. Ed Miliband has been condemned for being too leftwing, although the prime minister and chancellor have shamelessly stolen his leftwing minimum- and living-wage clothes; and, with its changes in taxation of dividends and treatment of non-doms, the recent budget has upset the top 10% of society just as much as Miliband and Ed Balls would have done.

Both their election campaign and latest, unfettered-by-the-Liberals budget demonstrated that yet another idea the Conservatives stole from Miliband was the concept of “the squeezed middle”. The budget measures are, to put it mildly, hardly aimed at alleviating the plight of the poor and vulnerable, but the government is quite happy to go along with the tabloid myth that most of the unemployed or benefit claimants are merely “scroungers”.

As the old cockney saying goes: “It’s the same the whole world over: it’s the poor what gets the blame, it’s the rich what gets the pleasure. Isn’t it a blooming shame?”

It is not just leftwing extremists who remain up in arms about the way that the banks continue to live in a world where they expect to be bailed out by the taxpayer if – or perhaps when – things go wrong again.

Why, Lord Lawson was making the point in a fascinating conversation with Peter Hennessy on Radio 4 last week. Lawson is annoyed that retail banking is still not properly separated from investment banking.

He is not alone in arguing that one of the fundamental problems behind the financial crisis was the way that the risk-taking culture of investment banks infected good old-fashioned retail banks like RBS. Indeed, I have heard many a rightwing acquaintance complain that the real scroungers were those financial operators who nearly brought the world economy to its knees and then had to be bailed out.

Lawson speaks with some authority on the subject, but seems to have forgotten that the seeds were sown by the Big Bang deregulation in 1986 of which he was so proud. It was that which led to the fusion of retail and investment banking, and all that followed!

And what do we find now? The banking lobby is as shameless and influential as ever, and the chancellor favours easing up on regulation.

But it is not merely the poor and the defenceless who are going to suffer even more from an austerity policy whose origins lay in the consequences of the banking crisis. When the wider public wakes up to the impact of the formidable cuts in public services now being planned by local authorities throughout the land, Osborne may find there is quite a backlash.

Even the Financial Times, which has been a cheerleader for him, is beginning to express concerns about his headlong rush to shrink the size of the state.

Let’s face it. All this stuff about “one nation” and “compassionate Conservatism” is so much guff. When people say how pragmatic and centrist this chancellor really is, I, for one, start counting the spoons. As Tony Travers, professor in the British government department at the London School of Economics, writes in the coming August issue of the National Institute Economic Review, Osborne’s desire for “a 36% state” (as a proportion of GDP) “is well below the longer-term average for UK state spending, and will require very large further cuts to ‘unprotected’ services such as local government, the police, fire, transport and housing.”

Travers is a leading authority on local authority finance. He points out that, despite all their spending responsibilities, in the UK local authorities’ taxing powers amount to a mere 5% of total taxation, compared with 35.7% in Sweden. It is a cliche that the British want Scandinavian levels of public service but with American levels of taxation. Osborne appears to be planning a massacre of public services.

Oh, and by the way: a little-noticed item in the budget indicates that this chancellor, with boundless ambition, is creating a “joint security fund”, access to which will be contested by the Ministry of Defence and the intelligence services. At a stroke Osborne has put himself in charge of the strategic defence and security review, and will decide the priorities.

I am beginning to wonder whether we may yet see the kind of tensions between this prime minister and chancellor that we saw so much of under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

http://gu.com/p/4bx4p?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

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25 Jul 2015

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Democracy, EDDC, Electoral Commission, Mark Williams CEO EDDC, Voting

Scrutiny Agenda: Thursday , 30 July 2015 ; 6.00pm

Click to access 300715-scrutiny-agenda-combined.pdf

8  NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group decision on community hospital beds (pages 9 – 10)   A representative from the NEW Devon CCG has been requested to attend by the Chairman to discuss the recent decision on community beds on 16 July 2015, with particular focus on the weight given to the stakeholder report, chaired by Sir JohnEvans.
9
Financial Plan and Draft Transformation strategy
(pages 11- 45) A  chance for the Committee to debate the Financial Plan and draft Transformation
Strategy that sets both the financial and cultural approach for the future.
10
Sickness absence (pages 46–51) A report on measures in place to impact on the number of working days lost due to sickness absence. The requirement for this report was previously identified by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in reviewing the performance indicator relating to working days lost.
11 Media Protocol (pages 52 – 62) An opportunity for the Committee to familiarise themselves with the recently updated and approved protocol and raise questions in respect of the Council’s East Devon District Council communications.   The protocol as presented to Cabinet on 17 June 2015 is reproduced in these agenda papers.
12
Local Elections 7 May 2015 (pages 63 – 71)  A report of the Chief Executive on the issues raised by the Committee in relation to the recent local elections and the learning points for future elections.
13
Scrutiny forward plan (page 72)  Opportunity for the committee to raise topics for scoping, to determine if and when they should be listed on the forward plan.

Highlight:

ELECTORAL COMMISSION REPORT ON MAY 2015 VOTING PROBLEMS:
“Multiple errors
64* –Some authorities experienced more than one issue in their delivery of the elections which either individually or cumulatively may have had a detrimental impact on voters and those standing for election.
*

Seven ROs overseeing elections in the following local authorities: Allerdale, Darlington, East Devon, East Lindsey, Kingston upon Hull, Stoke on Trent, and West Lindsey.”

So, when Mark Williams makes light of his difficulties with this year’s elections and blames  pressure of work and inexperienced staff , remember that only these 7 local authorities out of a total of 433 had multiple mistakes.

 

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25 Jul 2015

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Democracy, EDDC, Knowle/Honiton/Exmouth relocation, Local Plan

Extraordinary Meeting of the Council – 138 page agenda and background papers

“Newly elected Councillors please note that the Extra Ordinary and Ordinary meetings will be preceded at 5.00 pm with a briefing in the Council Chamber – the Chief Executive will outline the business of the meeting and the procedures.”

 

http://eastdevon.gov.uk/media/1227756/290715-combined-council-agenda-and-minute-book.pdf

#http://eastdevon.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/committees-and-meetings/council/council-agendas/

http://eastdevon.gov.uk/media/1141091/270515-annual-council-item-15c-constitution-update.pdf

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25 Jul 2015

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Affordable and Social Housing, Local Plan

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Planning Minister “will write local plans himself” if councils don’t buck up

He says he and his department will write up Local Plans “in consultation with local people” if any Local Plan is not finalised by early 2017.

Some voters might feel this is an innovation that may be worth waiting for, local people having had little or no influence on current Local Plans!

http://www.brownfieldbriefing.com/news/local-plan-seizure-threat-grows

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25 Jul 2015

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NHS (local)

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Cabinet Minister Michael Gove’s wife complains about his treatment at Minor Injuries Unit and a nurse replies

A bone to pick with NHS
My husband tripped over a toy and banged his foot in the middle of the night on Saturday (as you do).

The next morning, I drove him to the nearest minor injuries unit, where a nurse said it was probably broken and required an X-ray. Except, being a Sunday, radiology was shut. She suggested he come back on Monday.

But his work diary was packed (he left home before 8am and returned after I was asleep); Tuesday’s, too. He is still hobbling around on crutches, chucking down painkillers and groaning melodramatically. The foot has not yet been X-rayed. Obviously it’s not life threatening. But it is very painful.Trouble is, like most people, he doesn’t have a spare half-day to sit around awaiting the pleasure of the hospital radiographer.

No one is suggesting NHS staff don’t work very hard and do an excellent job. Just that the service needs to be a 24/7 one. And that means all departments — not just acute emergency departments — need to be available at weekends.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3170220/SARAH-VINE-m-proof-nanny-make-worse-mum.html

A nurse replies

Dear Mr Cameron and Mr Gove,

The hits just keep on coming as they say.

I read with interest this article published in the Telegraph yesterday. It would appear that the practice of besmirching the reputation of the people that keep the NHS working (predominantly on the basis of goodwill alone I might add) is spreading within the Cabinet that governs this nation.
Perhaps I could enlighten you on a few issues that have been grossly misrepresented in this article.

1. The headline claims that Mr Gove was ” left on crutches after doctors were unable to see him over weekend”. Well if Mr Gove attends a nurse lead minor injuries unit why would he expect to see a doctor? Its likely Mr Gove would have known he was visiting a minor injuries unit and it also clearly stated on the hospital’s website that its nurse-lead. Surely it is not beyond the wit of a former Education Secretary to realise this and if indeed a doctors opinion was specifically required, why not make use of the out of hours service? Finally and perhaps most important, is it being implied that an experienced nurse is incapable of providing sound medical advice?

2. Mr Gove was unable to receive treatment because of a lack of “Sunday services”. Again if you visit a hospital with a minor injuries unit who’s main function is rehabilitation (see website) what do you expect? It cannot be claimed that such a small community hospital is representative of NHS acute services. I’m pretty sure that Mr Gove would have been redirected to a hospital with an A&E if it was clinically indicated. There I’m certain he would have found plenty of consultants and dare I say it radiographers too!

3. “NHS radiology departments are closed on Sundays”. On what planet?! Ask the thousands of people involved in road traffic accidents, the people attending hospitals over the weekend with chest complaints, the inpatients who need urgent scans, the patients suffering heart attacks that need cardiologists; the list goes on. Most importantly, ask the legion of radiographers and radiologists who perform and interpret the images 24 hours a day 365 days a year. How dare you tell such a bare faced lie Ms Vine?!

4. Ms Vine also states that Mr Gove “like most people, doesn’t have a spare half-day to sit around awaiting the pleasure of the hospital radiographer”.

What an incredibly offensive statement. This exemplifies the total lack of understanding this government has. If you want 7 day services, PAY FOR IT! If you cannot or don’t want to pay for it be honest, say so and stop LYING to the public.

Indeed on this particular point, it is claimed that Mr Gove was too busy to see a doctor during the week because of his busy schedule. I’m afraid it was Mr Gove’s decision to wait till the weekend when his condition and pain worsened before seeking medical attention. If you are ill, see a doctor promptly if its that bad; preferably when the medical services are better staffed and equipped to deal with your complaint. If you insist on using under resourced acute and emergency services to fit in with your working life, please do not complain when you have to wait to see the hardworking and dedicated professionals that are prioritising their time according to clinical need.

Finally Gentlemen, lets stop with the propaganda and political games. It is simply dangerous to continue having this steady drip of negative press, its not journalism. There are far bigger issues to deal with and these “stories” are divisive and ultimately dangerous especially when given any semblance of legitimacy by the national press. We healthcare professionals understand this danger which is why we will never give in. So please roll up your sleeves and do what you were elected to do, solve the problems of our nation and don’t allow the NHS to fall apart under your watch.

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24 Jul 2015

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Cranbrook, East Devon Growth Point, EDDC, Exeter City Council, Greater Exeter, Skypark, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe

Anyone notice something about this press release for Exeter Science Park?

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Exeter-Science-Park-Centre-set-welcome-businesses/story-27477506-detail/story.html

Answer: it is a non-story! At no point in the puff job is a potential tenant named!

EDDC us a partner in this project, along with Skypark, once touted as a suitable place for its new HQ and still with the majority of its space empty.

It seems all is not well at these so-called high-tech industrial areas on the outskirts of Exeter and Cranbrook. Yet thousands of houses are already being built for people supposed to be working in them. Recipe for disaster?

But still, a good exercise in making no news good news!

Perhaps our councillors should be scrutinising these projects and how much it is costing us to keep these sites ticking over and publicised.

Exeter Science Park was “topped out” in August 2014:

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Exeter-Science-Park-counting-opening-new-centre/story-22122385-detail/story.html

Skypark was supposed to provide 7,000 new jobs. Only three companies currently operate on the site: the E.ON energy centre for Cranbrook, ampn ambulance call centre and a locally-relocated parcel delivery service. It has proved impossible to find on the net just how many NEW jobs these three organisations have provided at Skypark.

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24 Jul 2015

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EDDC

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East Devon District Council: happy-clappy Facebook and Twitter accounts

Did you know that EDDC has a Facebook account and at least three Twitter accounts?

They are all somewhat incestuously happy-clappy as you might expect (though would this be construed as political rather than informative?).

If you feel a burning need to give your feedback to EDDC in general or the recycling and procurement services in particular, here are the links:

https://www.facebook.com/eastdevon

https://mobile.twitter.com/eastdevon

https://mobile.twitter.com/eddcprocurement

https://mobile.twitter.com/recyclingeddc

and if you know of other EDDC social media accounts that we can utilise, please let us know!

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23 Jul 2015

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EDDC, Exmouth

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Moirai – the property company involved in Exmouth Water front development – a chequered past

The report below, together with the comments below it have in the public domain for a long time – certainly during the time that EDDC has been seeking a partner for the Exmouth waterfront development. And this is not (by far) the only case of EDDC choosing controversial partners.

The due diligence documentation will be interesting!

Labour Group Call for Termination of Oasis Agreement
Published 11th July 2014, Updated 12 months ago by JimGrant

The Swindon Labour Group Leader, Councillor Jim Grant, has called on Swindon Borough Council to terminate its Development Agreement with Moirai Capital Investments, following news that Moirai have breached its agreement with Swindon Borough Council.

The Labour Group Leader said he had obtained information that Moirai had breached its agreement with the Council by failing to obtain a planning application for its development master plan by the contractual deadline, March 13th 2014, and because of Moirai’s shell company, MW Contract Services Ltd (formerly Oasis Operations Ltd), going in to liquidation. Last month it was revealed that the shell company owed £850,000 to creditors at the time of its liquidation, including local small businesses like Storm Recruitment, based in Commercial Road, which is owed £4,721, and Carlton Services in Old Town, which is owed more than £2,000.

Councillor Grant said he had been told that if the agreement is terminated then the leases for phases 2, 3 and 4 (the former Clare’s site) of the proposed development will automatically terminate and the sites would then come back to the Council. However he’s been informed that the lease for the Oasis, which is phase 1, does not automatically terminate if the development agreement terminates, as this requires a fundamental breach of the agreement to happen.

The Swindon Labour Group Leader, Councillor Jim Grant, said:

“Following the recent revelations about Moirai’s handling of the Oasis development, I had asked Council Officers whether the company had breached its terms of agreement with the Council and I was told in no uncertain terms that they had. Morai have broken the terms of the agreement in different ways the most serious of which is that a shell company of theirs went into liquidation owing around £450k to HMRC and local companies.

When the development and long-term lease on the Oasis and surrounding area was proposed with Morai we did support the development because we felt regenerating the area in to a regional leisure destination was an exciting offer that the Swindon public would like to see and we had no reason to believe Moirai Capital Investments was anything other than a respectable company who would deliver on their commitments. However obviously new evidence has come to light that shows Moirai is not only failing to deliver on their commitments but also applying some questionable business practices which have affected local businesses in Swindon who have provided services to the Oasis and then have failed to be paid. We are standing up for those businesses as well as defending the interest of Swindon’s council-taxpayer.

It can’t be forgotten that the whole Oasis site is a hugely valuable site worth millions of pounds, so to give this site up for free to a company who have a track record in Swindon of failing to meet their commitments, doesn’t make sense to us in terms of delivering value for money to Swindon residents. And we think this decision will be supported by many those small businesses who are still owed money by Moirai’s shell company.”

– See more at: http://southswindonlabour.co.uk/south-swindon-constituency/2014/07/labour-group-call-termination-oasis-agreement#sthash.YyWfF1gy.dpuf
Outoftowner:

— Quote —What, as reliable as a WiFi IT Adventure, you mean?
— End quote —

I see a couple of blokes with a string of companies behind them, none of them successful and a few far from successful. Who does that remind us of? Why someone who SBC can put public trust and assets into the hands of obviously.

Yes, Tobes.
10 minutes on the https://www.duedil.com/web-site, a bus ticket to London and ask a question like, “Show me a previous successful business like you plan at The Oasis.”

Too much trouble to go to before giving away a public asset?
Terry Reynolds:
should be good at the cabinet meeting tonight…..
Weebleman:

— Quote from: Outoftowner on April 23, 2014, 03:10:05 PM —Moirai Capital Investments Limited – set up in 2009 and now Non Trading
Moirai Capital Investments (Swindon) Limited – set up in Jan 2012 has liabilities of over £200,000 more than it is worth.
Moirai Capital Investments (Torquay) Limited – set up in Nov 2012 and now Non Trading
Moirai Capital Investments (Milton Keynes) Limited set up in Dec 2013, has not reported yet.
Moirai Capital Investments (No 7) Limited – Operated for a few months in 2011 and then was dissolved.

All these companies have registered offices on the first floor of quite a nice terraced house, in Woodberry Grove, North Finchley, London.
Mr Sarju Rach and Mr Nicholas David Lewis are directors of all of the above companies as well as, Oasis Waterpark Limited and, Oasis Arena Limited.

To my untrained eye, all of the above looks about as solid and reliable as a few other companies that SBC have been dealing with in the recent past.

How much would it have cost to get the bus to London and knocked on the door of the “Registered Office” to see what these companies were about? :coffee:

— End quote —

Good hunting OOT, but you forgot to mention Oasis Ski Limited and Oasis Real Estate Limited — both of which were formed on the same date (30 June 2012) as the other “Oasis” companies. Just when did the council decide to give away the Oasis I wonder, and if it was after that date then who gave the “heads up” ?

Anyway, I don’t know what you’re worried about. Handing over your money to a Nicholas David Lewis must be a shrewd move, after all being an active director of 17 companies at the tender age of 22 must make him a real wizz kid….. not educated in Swindon, that’s for sure. Wonder if he knows there’s a vacancy on the board of the Brunel Nightclub? :coffee:
Outoftowner:
http://ww5.swindon.gov.uk/moderngov/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=47351

Please read the above SBC document to see what clauses have been removed from the Oasis lease. This is to help Oasis Water Parks Ltd. fund their refurbishment. This is not quite what was promised was it?

Now see what he same outfit promised Paignton and Milton Keynes local authorities less than 2 months ago. Surely they won’t want to alter any terms in those leases too would they?

650 jobs in £45million Paignton leisure park dream.

http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/650-JOBS-pound-45M-LEISURE-PARK-DREAM/story-20660369-detail/story.html

UK’s largest waterpark could be built at Milton Keynes National Bowl

http://www.mkweb.co.uk/News/Developments/UKs-largest-waterpark-could-be-built-at-Milton-Keynes-National-Bowl-20140226185240.htm

It all reminds me of the time Dennis Grant was announcing big plans for the Cotswold Waterpark. I loved the one about creating a full size replica of Stonehenge. His stone supplier was someone whose largest stones are used to make stone jewellery!
Terry Reynolds:
Post cabinet report…. I reported the 5 moira investments that are either now not trading or dissolved or owing up to liabilities of over £200k, and the reply I received from Coun Williams, was that the company had been investigated in recent weeks and months and nothing toward was found and they had no debt problems, He didn’t reply about why they have sub let the Oasis to the GLL Group. But did say that the Oasis had a good future in front of it, Richard also asked questions about the group which I’m sure he will enlarge on.
I also asked about the 300k given to UK Broadband and was this the same road as the wifi fiasco. Mr McKellar, replied that the UK Broadband deal was a good one and they would return a good profit in the near future. He also did not reply to the question as to what we have to actually show for it now.
On another tack, this was the last cabinet meeting before the elections in May, and after public questions, councillors from all groups can ask questions on the subjects raised and take the cabinet to task. This evening, only one labour councillor and none from the lib dems came to the meeting, so apart from 2 or 3 points raised by Mr Moffat, they had a very easy ride.. Is that the oppositions role in life I wonder..

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23 Jul 2015

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NHS (local)

Which Health Care Commissioning group advertised its board meeting the day after in happened?

Yes, ours.

Board Meeting of the Eastern group which covers East Devon and now has no tenderers for its out-of-hours services advertised its latest board meeting in the Express and Echo which was published today (23 July) when the board meeting took place yesterday.

No wonder we are in an NHS nightmare.

Loved what it said though:

“Although the meeting will be [was] held in public, it is not a public meeting. You are invited to listen to the Board’s discussions, observe the decision-making process and have the opportunity to ask questions related to issues discussed at the invitation of the chairman of the locality board. Questions can be submitted to the Board 3 days in advance”

So, you can’t speak about what they say on the day, only on guess what you think they might say and submit a question that the Chairman may or may not allow!

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23 Jul 2015

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Axminster, NHS (local), Ottery St Mary

Contract for urgent care in Devon has no bidders – with fewer community hospitals what next?

Devon Doctors has withdrawn its tender to provide out-of-hours services to the NHS Northern, Easters and Western Devon Commissioning Group, as the money offered to provide urgent care services is less than the service will cost. They will cease provision in March 2016.

They were the only bidder (and current providers) of out-of-hours GP services, dentistry and minor injury treatment.

“When asked what impact this would have a spokesperson said …”Clearly this uncertainty is not helpful and could have an unsettling effect on staff and clinicians”.

We must also assume that this is one of the services meant to enable people to have treatment that, where possible, would allow people to be cared for at home.

With Axminster and Ottery St Mary hospitals now closing how on earth can people be treated at home if a crucial part of the service is not available?

Anyone remember the antiquated Army “Green Goddess” fire engines that were used many years ago when firefighters went on strike? How long before we have army ambulances and army doctors in East Devon?

Source: Express and Echo “Setback for delivery of urgent care”, page 2, Anita Merritt (no web link found)

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22 Jul 2015

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EDDC, Knowle/Honiton/Exmouth relocation, PegasusLife

Pegasus senior officer has colourful (and expensive) local authority past

A perfect fit for East Devon! Perhaps they could also recruit him to build Diviani Towers as the new HQ in Honiton!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10520269