Parish Councillor slams his Cornwall Council colleagues following full council meeting on Tuesday; his take on John Betty and Kate Kennally’s new strategy: On 21 Feb 2018 9:01 pm “Dear All, I am not so generous as Kevin in that I think the greater majority of the "elected members" are SPINELESS MINDLESS, GUTLESS, MORONIC POLITICALLY BIASED, ILLEGITIMATE and a TOTAL WASTE OF SPACE!! How can they just vote by political flag over such an important and obviously common sense issue. Even Bert Biscoe didn't have the guts to stand up and vote with his brain! Have any of them got a brain at all?? I'm just a stupid farmer but I can see through their bloody schemes, so why can't these so-called clever people? I simply cannot believe that they are so easily whitewashed by a bunch of morons. WE ARE SADDLED WITH THIS FOREVER NOW! Next will be that stadium again, but this time the officers will make the decisions. Look at what is happening with the "HFC" being shut for 2 years and a £20m refit which is going to be paid for by you and me yet again! Good old KK! Why oh why is one of the biggest businesses in Cornwall run on politics by useless prats??? Sorry rant over, but to say I am disappointed in our democratic system would be to put it very mildly indeed. I'm glad I am as old as I am, as I won't have to live with these stupid systems for much longer. All the best and many thanks for trying!” Whilst one supporter replied: “Farmers are far from stupid and democracy has long since been dead. I just don't know what will wake these people up to be honest. Maybe that's the master plan at KK; for Officers to be the puppets and Westminster the puppet masters. Unfortunately, our children/grandchildren are the ones that will be living with the decisions that are made now...” Another parish councilor reported from the same meeting: “I arrived at CC at 9.45 am - surprisingly an amazing number of CCs came up to me in the Long Gallery! The agenda was 493 pages long! We need to keep the details of the budget and the New Housing Company in our files. There were a number of questions as to why there were to be NO ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ON THE BOARD OF THE NEW COMPANY. This is something we should insist on - the number proposed was three, which seems reasonable. We shall never know what has been agreed - throughout the debate, Mr. Betty sat looking complacent, as he knew it was going through without any problem. However, Cllr. Dwelly made an excellent statement online which warned everyone that whatever the report says, CC IS NOT BUILDING ANY COUNCIL HOUSES - THERE WILL BE SOME 35% AFFORDABLE - THE REST WILL BE FOR SALE ON THE OPEN MARKET! Yet everyone fell for it, except about 3 Councillors! What is worse is that it was not clarified whether these 1000 houses will be over and above the already agreed 52,000 houses (without any infrastructure). Barry Jordan spoke extremely well. It was a long day and Councillors frequently moved in and out - Bert was not present for the crucial debate on the Housing Company, which saddened me somewhat but arrived back two hours later. So what happened today? Well lots really - the elected members have relinquished yet more of their power to the officers and will soon realise there is no point in attending because they have no further decisions to make….. Mr. Betty will make all the decisions for them and so they can remain quietly at home speaking to their constituents.… Happy days. CC is just a “salami” slice nearer to becoming a “dictatorship”, in other words “Barnet by the Sea”. I trust this is a fair report … at least that is how I saw and heard it from the public gallery.” Separately, another resident who attended the meeting reported: “Several members of all persuasions were very welcoming particularly Dick Cole who has been avoiding me of late but he made the effort to come up to the balcony for a proper chat, Bert studiously avoided me and a few exhibited that predatory glint that suggested they would rather be sticking pins in my eyes. My question was answered in some detail by Councillor Bob Egerton. I did take a liberty with the supplementary but managed to say my piece so that all councillors heard what I had to say. The chair was irritated and told me off. Councillor Egerton was obviously very annoyed as he declined to give an answer (nothing new there), but hey-ho, such is life. I simply cannot understand the cabinet surrendering more and more powers to officers in the manner of turkeys voting for Christmas. Mr John Betty sat in the midst of his charges looking suitably smug, having recently sidelined Phil Mason and dispatched Sandra Rothwell. Phil Mason made an early very brief token appearance at the back of the chamber, dressed in civvies, with the startled look of a rabbit caught in the glare of a car headlight just before it is run over. The recently appointed, all singing all dancing, jet-setting CEO of THE NEW ARMS LENGTH COMPANY has already left, almost certainly under a cloud, with all details of any reason or severance package strictly embargoed in the usual haze of opacity that seems to be the norm in these circumstances. We can only hope and pray that a similar fate awaits Mr Betty in the very near future. What was particularly noticeable to me was how virtually every councillor who spoke made great play of emphasising that they were representing and working for their electorates. The Conservatives made great play of the fact that the people they represented came before the Westminster party, what a great pity that their words were not more aligned with their deeds in the recent past. They were all playing to the webcam but the impression was that while none of them are likely to admit it, messages are clearly being received and behaviour patterns are being modified behind the scenes, as the penny drops that the natives really are restless. I must emphasise that not all of KK is bad. There are also some very good councillors who must be encouraged and assisted in any way possible to fight their corner on our behalf. I just wonder what form the almost inevitable counter-offensive will take. If Councillor Timothy Dwelly’s little outburst at the weekend is any guide, it could be to our huge advantage as a surge in petition signatures clearly illustrated. ALL A BIT LIKE EVICTING THE WEASELS FROM TOAD HALL!” One commentator noted separately: “Planning portal reports today that 450,000 houses with planning permission have yet to be built. The entire housing policy is a sham, and probably a scam.” And this link (text in full below) may explain some the damage being inflicted on Cornwall today; Private Developers’ Forum anyone? www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1457651/lobbying-creating-developments-serve-no-one-investors-developers Lobbying 'creating developments that serve no one but investors and developers' 21 February 2018 by Michael Donnelly , Be the First to Comment A claim that professional property lobbyists are helping create developments that serve no one but investors and developers features in today's newspaper round-up. Writing in The Guardian, the author and corporate transparency campaigner Tamasin Cave says that planning consultations, carried out by lobbyists working on behalf of developers, are "a tool that serves to draw out community opposition and provide it with a managed channel through which to voice concerns, but with no hope of tangibly changing the outcome". Cave says that many councillors work for lobby firms and highlights one company that "employs numerous local councillors, including one who sits on a council planning committee, as well as prospective and former councillors, plus a former council leader". She adds: "These people not only understand how decisions are made, but in many cases are the decision-makers themselves. This is valuable for any developer needing council backing." Cave says that "until a light is shone on these relationships they will continue to flourish, and we will continue to get developments that serve no one but the investors and developers". The Guardian also continues its investigation into the activities of Robert Davis, the Conservative deputy leader of Westminster City Council and, until last year, the chairman of its planning committee. The paper runs an article that outlines Davis’ meetings with lobbyists and the developer behind the controversial Paddington Cube scheme in Westminster, which was approved in December 2016. Davis has denied any wrongdoing and said yesterday that his meetings were "properly declared and open to anyone to examine". Evening Standard columnist Jim Armitage says that, "at a time when residents feel developers always have the upper hand, [Davis] should apologise; of course local and national politicians should meet businesses regularly, but it shouldn’t be done so often over lavish hospitality". He adds: "Appearance is all in public life, and to voters like me, this looks rotten." The Financial Times reports that "Britain’s 10 biggest housebuilders have increased the amount of land they hold with planning permission by about a fifth during the past decade, as political pressure grows on the sector to build more homes". The paper says that "the largest housebuilders held almost 399,000 plots with some form of planning permission in 2016, compared with just over 330,000 in 2006, according to analysis from the Campaign to Protect Rural England, a charity that wants to restrict building in the countryside". It adds: "In 1998, the top 10 builders held 230,000 plots with planning permission." The Telegraph reports that "controversial plans to erect a series of zip wire rides across one of the most beautiful landscapes in Britain have been abandoned after a chorus of protests from residents and environmental campaigners". The paper says that Treetop Trek Ltd had applied for planning permission for a £1.8 million activity hub with eight aerial lines up to 1,200 metres long "criss-crossing" Thirlmere Reservoir in the Lake District National Park. An article in The Guardian examines how poor urban design has helped entrench inequality in American towns and cities. The piece says that "from highways carved through thriving ‘ghettoes’ to walls segregating black and white areas, US city development has a long and divisive history". The Guardian also reports that "major British towns and cities, including Glasgow, Wrexham, Aberdeen and Chester, could be much more severely affected by climate change than previously thought". The paper says that the study, by Newcastle University, "analysed changes in flooding, droughts and heatwaves for every European city using all climate models". The piece says that in a the "high-impact scenario, some cities and towns in the UK and Ireland could see the amount of water per flood as much as double". Remember this friends and supporters: The day that an elected representative or paid officer of OUR COUNCIL begins to view the electorate as something to be ridiculed or ignored is the day that he or she ceases to be fit for office. Finally, a bit of common sense from Ken Woodcock in Carnon Downs whose letter in the West Briton reads: “The stadium for Cornwall – it’s a no-brainer”. It certainly is. It’s a no-brainer that council money should be spent on filling potholes, keeping libraries and toilets open, providing accessible toilets (nobody should have to be changed on a floor) and a myriad of other public services. It’s not the job of the council to satisfy the dreams of sports clubs. If it really is a no-brainer, the private sector will be only too happy to fund it. Outside of the 14 main Cornish towns (Bodmin, Camborne, Falmouth, Hayle, Helston, Liskeard, Newquay, Penryn, Penzance, Re'Druth, Saint Austell, Saint Ives, Truro, Wadebridge), support for this petition comes from many other small towns, villages and hamlets, that are being blighted by overdevelopment on their doorsteps, notably in: Location (# of supporters) Advent 1 Altarnun 1 Angarrack 3 Ashton 2 Barripper 7 Blackwater 6 Blisland 1 Boconnoc 1 Bolingey 4 Boscastle 7 Breage 5 Bridgerule 2 Bude 26 Budock Water 8 Bugle 10 Burlawn 1 Burras 1 Callestick 2 Callington 19 Cambrose 1 Camelford 14 Canon's Town 3 Carbis Bay 15 Cardinham 1 Carharrack 13 Carlyon Bay 3 Carminnow Cross 1 Carn Brea 4 Carnhell Green 1 Carnkie 2 Carnkie Redruth 3 Carnmenellis 1 Carnon Downs 15 Chacewater 12 Chapel Amble 1 Charlestown 1 Churchtown 1 Coldvreath 1 Common Moor 1 Connor Downs 11 Constantine 8 Coombe 1 Coverack 4 Crantock 3 Crowlas 5 Cubert 5 Darite 1 Delabole 7 Devoran 8 Downderry 4 Drakewalls 1 Duporth 2 Edgcumbe 1 Edmonton 1 Egloshayle 8 Feock 5 Flushing 3 Four Cross 1 Four Lanes 10 Fowey 6 Foxhole 7 Fraddam 1 Fraddon 4 Frogpool 10 Germoe 7 Gloweth 10 Goldenbank 14 Goldsithney 3 Goonbell 2 Goonhavern 20 Gorran Haven 6 Grampound 13 Grampound Road 3 Greenbottom 1 Grumbla 1 Gulval 6 Gunnislake 10 Gunwalloe 1 Gweek 4 Gwinear 3 Harrowbarrow 1 Heamoor 14 Hewas Water 2 High Street 2 Higher Brea 1 Hugus 2 Illogan / Highway 28 Indian Queens 3 Isles of Scilly 1 Kea / Old Kea 3 Kilkhampton 3 Killigarth 2 Killivose 1 Kingsand 1 Ladock 5 Lamorna 2 Laneast 1 Lanivet 3 Lanlivery 2 Lanner 13 Lanreath 1 Latchley 1 Launceston 12 Lawhitton 1 Leedstown 3 Lelant 12 Lerryn 1 Little Sinns 2 Lizard 10 Lockengate 1 Long Downs 2 Longrock 5 Looe 14 Lostwithiel 21 Lower Town 3 Ludgvan 3 Luxulyan 8 Mabe Burnthouse 11 Madron 3 Malpas 2 Manaccan 2 Marazanvose 1 Marazion 8 Marhamchurch 3 Mawgan 1 Mawgan Porth 6 Mawnan Smith 6 Maxworthy 1 Mevagissey 9 Millbrook 7 Mithian 4 Mount Hawke 13 Mountjoy 1 Mousehole 1 Mullion 7 Mylor Bridge 6 Nancegollan 5 Nancledra 3 Nanpean 6 New Mill 3 Newbridge 2 Newlyn 23 No Man's Land 1 North Tamerton 1 Padstow 26 Par 33 Park Bottom 3 Paul 2 Pencoed 1 Pendeen 3 Penelewey 2 Penhale 2 Penhallow 2 Penhalvean 3 Penpillick 2 Penpol 2 Penponds 2 Penrose 1 Penstraze 1 Pentewan 4 Penwithick 9 Perranarworthal 5 Perranporth 35 Perranwell 1 Perranwell Station 8 Petherwin Gate 1 Phillack 2 Philleigh 4 Playing Place 1 Polgooth 2 Polmassick 1 Polruan 1 Polzeath 8 Ponsanooth 9 Pool 18 Port Isaac 3 Porthcothan Bay 1 Porthcurno 1 Porthleven 22 Porthtowan 12 Portloe 1 Portreath 6 Portscatho 5 Portwrinkle 1 Poughill 1 Praa Sands 2 Praze-an-Beeble 3 Probus 9 Quethiock 1 Quintrell Downs 3 Releath 1 Relubbus 1 Rescorla 3 Roche 10 Rock 1 Rose 5 Rosemellin 1 Rosudgeon 7 Ruan Minor 1 Ruanhighlanes 1 Ruthernbridge 1 Saint Agnes 24 Saint Ann's Chapel 2 Saint Blazey 15 Saint Breock 4 Saint Buryan 10 Saint Cleer 1 Saint Clement 3 Saint Clether 2 Saint Columb / Major 30 Saint Day 26 Saint Dennis 7 Saint Endellion / Trelights 2 Saint Erth 9 Saint Ervan 2 Saint Eval 15 Saint Germans 2 Saint Hilary 2 Saint Issey 3 Saint Ive 1 Saint Just 26 Saint Just in Roseland 1 Saint Keverne 12 Saint Kew Highway 4 Saint Keyne 2 Saint Levan 3 Saint Mabyn 5 Saint Martin 8 Saint Mawes 4 Saint Mawgan 1 Saint Merryn 8 Saint Minver 4 Saint Newlyn East 7 Saint Stephen 6 Saint Teath 2 Saint Tudy 5 Saint Veep 1 Saltash 8 Sancreed 2 Scarecewater 1 Scorrier 6 Sennen / Cove 5 Shortlanesend 9 Sithney 2 Skinners Bottom 1 Stenalees 5 Stibb 1 Sticker 3 Stithians 3 Stratton 8 Summercourt 1 Tehidy 1 Three Burrows 2 Threemilestone 16 Tideford 1 Tintagel 3 Tolgus Mount 3 Tolvaddon 1 Torpoint 2 Towednack 2 Townshend 1 Trebullett 1 Trebyan 2 Tredavoe 1 Tregavethan 3 Tregony 7 Tregorrick 2 Tregurrian 1 Treleigh 1 Trelowth 1 Tremail 1 Tremore 1 Tresillian 7 Tresmeer 1 Trethurgy 1 Trevarrian 1 Treverva 2 Trevingey 2 Treviscoe 2 Trewellard 1 Trewennack 2 Trewoon 7 Trispen / Saint Erme 6 Troon 11 Truscott 1 Twelveheads 3 Tywardreath 10 Upton Cross 3 Veryan 4 Voguebeloth 4 Warbstow 1 Washaway 1 Wendron 4 Wheal Rose 4 Whitecross 2 Whitemoor 2 Widegates 2 Widemouth Bay 4 Zelah 3 Zennor 1