Import problems on leaving the EU

Full Council met Thursday 17th December. It was a long meeting, with my motion coming late in the day.  I introduced this nearly as follows (except the text is edited as I had no documentary support for the import percentages except as now modified from government sources).

“We left the European Union on the 31st January 2020. The Transition Period will end on 31st December 2020. We may be 3/4 of the way through a pandemic but whether we had this challenge to society, to businesses, or to personal budgets, or we didn’t – one thing is certain … 2021 will produce difficulties for all but the rich.

We are yet to find out whether we are

. leaving with a deal,

. leaving with no deal, or

. asking for an extension to the transition.

But I’ll start with the good news. There will be no customs checks on imports until July 2021 (that’s taking back control). Therefore we might be OK for food imports. Just as well as we import both food for processing and raw foodstuffs including 26% from the EU and 19% from the rest of the world.

However, you don’t build a 27 acre lorry park in Kent for no reason. Lorries not able to get out of Britain won’t be there to bring back imports. Lorry drivers will prefer to work within a free trade area rather than sit in a Kent toilet park.

It’s even said our wooden pallets won’t pass regulations.

Those of our poorer residents and those without work due to Covid have needed unusual help:

. free meals for schoolchildren (though only provided because one man had a conscience and influence); and

. a massive increase in the use of Foodbanks.

So what can we do? We’re not a charity, we’re a service provider. There are quite a few practical things that can be done but let’s not do the detail – let’s do the principle. SHDC staff contributed much time and effort with local Covid-support measures. Let us agree that staff can be allocated to identify issues; and to communicate with residents.

I encourage you to make available the resources we have to counter the worst excesses of the coming year.

Let the officers discuss the problems and identify the opportunities where the Council can help.

Let us stand by our residents.

The motion had been discussed with the Leader of the Council and was modified prior to the meeting. There was a further short discussion and then it was put to the vote.

‘Whilst recognising the valuable work being undertaken by the SHDC Officers in addressing the issues arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic Council resolves to assist those residents and businesses within the District who are affected by the import and/or export problems arising at the end of the Transition Period for leaving the European Union, using our established joint working arrangements across Devon and that are reflected in our existing work programmes and resources to do so.’

With 28 present at the time, 27 voted for and 1 abstained.

Parking payments over the phone

The convenience fee charged across South Hams car parks when purchasing parking tickets through the RingGo app has been removed. This  brings charges in line with tickets purchased at the meters.

The use of the RingGo app through the COVID-19 pandemic has allowed the public to pay for parking without needing to use a Pay and Display machine.  Thereby eliminating the need to encounter multiple touchpoints and interact with others when standing in queues. 

Cllr Keith Baldry, Executive Member for Environment at South Hams District Council, said: “In the current climate, paying touch-free has become increasingly important. Since most people carry a smart phone these days, paying through the RingGo app is very convenient for consumers and this is shown through the increase in payments via the app this summer. 

“It means that drivers no longer need to queue or handle cash to pay for their parking. During the pandemic, touch-free parking is even more important as it reduces the risk of transferring the virus.”

A morning in the life of …

a District Councillor.

Just received a 2 hour briefing (over Zoom) on changes to the planning regime introduced to support businesses with us being in the Covid-19 pandemic. To see the history though, there are changes going on every now and again – what a lot of work for our professional planners at the District Council to keep up with.

For elected members, local Councillors representing a Ward (as we all do), or on the planning committee (termed, the Development Management Committee, DMC), we have the support of these planning professionals and a legal team to help us come to a decision. We can apply our local knowledge or just represent society by being part of our communities, but we cannot decide without advice, guidance and caution.

So the morning also included a little local party politics, and keeping up to date with the Police and Crime Commissioner campaigns. I hope to contact a management company for one of the new housing estates this afternoon, finalise my reading for tomorrow’s DMC meeting (with 3 principal applications), and commence writing my report for Ugborough Parish Council which takes place tomorrow night.

Keeping up to date

It’s a challenge to stay current and there’s not always a lot of time for reading. However, if I gave less time to social media, perhaps I’d have more reading time. I never did get very far with Simone de Beauvoir’s, ‘The Second Sex’ even though I’m told it’s required reading. I did manage Caroline Criado Perez’, ‘Invisible Women’. What’s so striking is the overwhelming way the world assumes men as standard. It’s shocking. It’s my personal recommendation. Did you know snow clearance is a feminist issue?! Did you know police stab vests are (were, I hope) only designed for men and a smaller version rather ignores some important features. Did you know vehicle emergency air-bags are safer for men than women?!

But writing on taking men as standard, how challenging it is to be told white is standard. As much as women are ignored, people of other ethnicities are ignored – and their arguments about the implicit bias in society. The extent of US Police bias resulted in the headline, ‘Black Lives Matter’, only for it to be met by the obfuscation of, ‘All Lives Matter’ – as if we didn’t know that already. So to a book. I’ve read fewer on racism than I have on feminism but I can offer Reni Eddo-Lodge’s, ‘Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race’. Just read the Preface about her original blog. No, don’t – read the whole book. We need to learn, to change, and to be inclusive. We can afford to; it does not subtract from what I have as a white person.

Black Lives Matter

The never-ending discrimination in the USA was brought into the headlines recently by the death on camera of a US citizen under the knee of a Police Officer surrounded by others from his force who did not save the victim.

The consequential demonstrations in this country illustrate

. the parallels felt by BAME and other minority groups about the unfair treatment of individuals by a majority, and

. the blithe ignorance and indifference of the majority community to the everyday lives of others.

What can be done? What can be done in the South Hams? Is it relevant to us? @chev_oaks grew up in Cornwall and Tweets about her experiences then and now. I have seen examples of people seeking out black-run businesses, where such a positive action might make up for some of the losses suffered through ignorance or racism. I am seeking out relevant reading to broaden my understanding and for that, here’s a short US list (which I cannot comment upon as I have not yet read them):

. White Fragility, Robin Diangelo

. Dying of Whiteness, Jonathan M Metzl

. Lies my Teacher Told Me, James W Loewen

. Why are all the Black Kids sitting Together in the Cafeteria, Beverly Doniel Totum

I have been contacted by a resident in Ivybridge asking what can be done. If we do nothing, not even educate ourselves about our fellow citizens lives, we are failing severely. Do you have recommendations of BAME-run businesses to support in the South Hams or Devon? Do you know of introductory books which address British society? What can we do at a wider level, for example, to reduce our support to external police forces or the arms trade? I have ordered and have started to read,

“Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race”, Reni Eddo-Lodge, published by Bloomsbury.

I have another book ready to go, “Natives” Akala, 2019, published by Two Roads.

I am following @chev_oaks on Twitter.

I have a long way to go to be able to speak & write appropriately, and the South Hams could probably do better. I will try to improve my personal interactions.

28/06/2020 The email through this website may not be reliable but you can get to me via victor.ivybridge@gmail.com

Peter Doyle, Head of External Affairs, Devon County Council

You will have heard from Government briefings and in the media that the Covid-19 R number, one component determining the reproduction rate of the virus, has risen in the South West region as a whole. However, it is important to take into account the low numbers of cases and deaths, particularly in Devon which remains among the lowest in England.

This is what the Director of Public Health for Public Health Devon, Dr Virginia Pearson has said about the rise in R number.

“The R value is an important regional barometer based on modelling data, but while it provides an estimate of ongoing transmission, it alone cannot determine the rate of growth of coronavirus and does not accurately reflect Devon’s local data on the ground. As such it should be treated with a little caution.

“The South West R value spans from Isles of Scilly to Bristol, and while there have been hotspots in other parts of the region that increase the R value, Devon’s figures have remained low.

“We have the fifth lowest number of recorded cases when comparing Devon to all 150 upper tier local authorities and the consistency of the numbers suggest that levels have plateaued recently. That’s in part due to our residents adhering to lockdown, and heeding national guidance around staying home and social distancing. We have done well in that regard and need to keep that up.

“We continue to work closely with our Public Health and NHS colleagues to ensure the safety of our Devon residents, and we wait to hear the Government’s response to this latest R rate announcement.”

Devon County Council which is the South West region’s lead authority (Beacon Council) for Covid-19 Local Outbreak Management has published a news briefingwith authoritative commentary from Dr Pearson, Dr Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director for Public Health England and Prof Debra Lapthorne, Regional Director for Public Health England South West and Regional Director for NHS Public Health England South West.

Please feel free to share this briefing with constituents and contacts who may be concerned by the news.

South Hams support

The Covid19 Welfare Support Fund can provide small emergency payments to help with basic essentials such as food, household essentials, electricity and gas, etc. to help people in financial difficulties if:

  • They run their own business, and cannot currently trade, or their business has been drastically reduced because of the pandemic.
  • Their employment situation has changed and their income now no longer covers needs.
  • They have lost their job due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
  • They have still not received expected government funding (i.e self-employed).

These will be small one-off payments (majority likely to be under £30)

Applicants will need to complete an application form by following the links here:www.southhams.gov.uk/welfarefund and www.westdevon.gov.uk/welfarefund

Nuisance Noise

Help spread the message that noise can create problems for neighbours. 

So, while opening windows and playing music, sometimes at a high volume, might make some people feel better, it could make neighbours’ life less bearable. Other noisy activities such as the use of DIY power tools, practice drumming, loud TVs, etc can also be very intrusive.

So, please help us to keep the noise levels down in your communities. Neighbours will not able to escape nuisance noises and it could impact their mental wellbeing.  It may even be that some neighbours are key workers trying to get some rest between shifts.

With so many people currently dealing with unfamiliar, stressful and sometimes frightening circumstances, please respect others and consider the impact of your actions on your neighbours.

This is taken from South Hams District Council