Can we trust our politicians to manage precious assets wisely?
Promised developments have not been delivered in Plymouth, writes Alan Grant
From personal experience in a variety of organisations and at various levels I have learnt not to trust politicians particularly near election times. In “Yes, Prime Minister” there was a line: ‘The truth in politics means any statement that cannot be proved false’.
It is worth seeking out the truth when dealing with councillors or MPs. However, we, Joe Public, previously ignored and mushroom managed (look it up), have a new weapon. It is the Freedom of Information Act, which obliges public bodies to reveal information and facts previously hidden well away from the electorate and to do so within a reasonable time frame, usually 21 days.
A recent headline such as “Plymouth faces a £11million budget deficit in 2019” might be true. However, one has to ask what is the council definition of “deficit”. Plymouth, like all parts of the UK, has been the subject of a Government austerity programme since 2010. Our public services to the most vulnerable are severely curtailed, with libraries and centres closed, and the quality of life of many people significantly impaired. However, what if the budget deficit was self-inflicted?
National reports show that councils have lost up to 50% of their revenues during this time, and yet Plymouth has escaped relatively unharmed when one examines expenditure during this period. It must have. Using the Freedom of Information Act it reveals that Plymouth City Council has given £5,111,000 to the Theatre Royal Plymouth in direct grants/revenue payments since austerity started. This, when they have closed public libraries, allowed our roads to deteriorate to dangerous levels and let their community down.
The Theatre Royal, a fiercely commercial, profitchasing organisation, has somehow got itself registered as a charity. During the same period, they should have paid £1,449,019 in business rates. Because they have a charitable status, they can seek 80% exemption. They should still have paid £295,803. The city council, however, only charged them £113,198, leaving £182,605 in business rates unpaid. For six years they paid nothing all. Meanwhile, local businesses have been going to the wall on a monthly basis, often because they could not afford rising costs, such as business rates.
Therefore, at a time of clear severe austerity, with basic public services being cut to the bone, Plymouth councillors found £5,293,605 for the Theatre Royal.
Isn’t it interesting that their chief executive and board suddenly “magicked” up £500,000 for the erection of a statue? They must have really needed that council money!
How many hours of care could have been provided for £5million? How many beds unblocked in our NHS hospital? How many roads could have been improved? It is a public disgrace. Every councillor who attends the opening ceremony and approved the expenditure in the first place should be ashamed.
Will local politicians now tell their constituents the real reason when they complain about their quality of life deteriorating? No. Will they continue to wring their hands about budget deficits? Yes. Are people right to distrust most politicians? Judge for yourself.
This is not a new phenomenon in terms of how they manage major projects. In 1995 the council sold
Drake’s Island for £384,000. It is currently on the market for £6million. The original sale was to the chair of a major engineering company, who also was the chair of Plymouth Argyle. Senior councillors and key officers were apparently so overwhelmed by promises of redevelopment and grandiose ideas, they forgot the restrictions and objections likely to occur in such a sale, in terms of environmental issues.
The result was 20 years of stagnation, planning disputes and a major fall-out with the owner. Meanwhile, Drake’s Island lay neglected, with promises in terms of redevelopment of Home Park not delivered and the relationship between owners and council soured for years. Sound familiar? Should do, as it shows how little councillors have learnt. In 2012, they handed the Plymouth Pavilions complex over for free to the new owner and chair of Plymouth Argyle. Not only that, they gave him near a million pounds to manage it, on the basis it would be refurbished as a prelude to another redevelopment of Home Park. Media reports promised investment around £83million.
What happened? The car park was sold off to a major hotel chain. The main buildings and site are now up for sale for £6million and nothing has been achieved in terms of a major refurbishment.
Local councillors and officers completely out of their depth, in terms of dealing with shrewd businessmen?
They almost gave away the Civic Centre for £1 to the same organisation, then changed their mind and sold it instead to Urban Splash for that amount. At least Urban Splash redeveloped Royal William Yard. Meanwhile, after a sale in 2015, we still await the actual redevelopment of the Civic Centre. Not a good omen. Should we trust our politicians?
Judge for yourself.