Western Morning News

Can we trust our politician­s to manage precious assets wisely?

Promised developmen­ts have not been delivered in Plymouth, writes Alan Grant

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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.

 ??  ?? Questions concerning how Plymouth City Council has managed major projects, including the sale of Drake’s Island, go back decades
Questions concerning how Plymouth City Council has managed major projects, including the sale of Drake’s Island, go back decades

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