Falmer - LDC's further costs

[Jim in the West]

For info, I wrote to LDC in early December asking how much they were spending on the additional consultants fees etc in relation to the questions asked by Ruth Kelly. They promised to post the answer on their web site within the 20 days allowed under the Freedom of Information Act, and seem to have complied with this deadline:

"We estimate that it will cost about £36,000 for transport and planning consultants to prepare the necessary evidence. Money is still available for costs because the Government became liable to pay all our costs when it conceded defeat in the High Court Action."

So, the council tax payers of Lewes will have to stump up a further £36k. To be honest, £36k is slightly more than I think is reasonable, but it shows they're taking it seriously.

 

[dougdeep]

Oh goody, more council tax this year then.

 

[Row Z Creased Shirt]

"We estimate that it will cost about £36,000 for transport and planning consultants to prepare the necessary evidence. Money is still available for costs because the Government became liable to pay all our costs when it conceded defeat in the High Court Action."

They do know that it is the government that is making the final decision don't they, this nothing to do with the courts.

 

[jakes right boot]

They did get a refund from Kelly's dept for the costs leading up to November, as did we because the Government was at fault for the original decision being misleading.

 

[ROSM]

here's the best bit though - they promised that their expenditure wouldn't exceed 25k. only now they are saying they goy 36k back from the government!

That means, they overspent their original budget without getting full council permission. (they need that for anything over 25k).

Neil commin offered to resign if the costs were greater than 25k. he did stand down but for other reasons. One wonders if he knew all along their costs would be higher or if he was misled by the officers?

 

[The Large One]

So, they've overspent by £11,000 on a report they don't need to commission over a piece of land which is unavailable attempting to find a solution to a parking problem as yet unfound, in an area in which the local authority will not grant permission to build a stadium on by another council which does not have the mandate to influence the planning decision on trying to influence a government which is already pissed off with them.

f*** me, LDC are a class act, aren't they?

 

[Dave the OAP]

why dont we all just wait until Ruth Kelly has made her decision - we all know what shits LDC are, why do people need to keep telling us?

 

[ROSM]

why dont we all just wait until Ruth Kelly has made her decision - we all know what shits LDC are, why do people need to keep telling us?

in which case we might as well say:

'why dont we wait til after to thransfer window to discuss possible sales or signings'?

'why dont we wait for all west ham tickets to be posted before speculating who has and hasn't got them'


actually the reason why people keep saying it is because there are some on here who from time to time \(maybe playing devils advocate) go on about how reasonable and lovely ldc really are.

 

[Dave the OAP]

Yes but being serious for a moment ade, you are preaching to the converted.

We all know LDC are spunking their ratepayers money up the wall. we all know they are going to lose. We all know people in Lewes will vote them all out and vote us in come the election.

There is nothing whatsoever we can do now until Kelly says yay or nay.

I know some people talk about "keeping up the pressure" but what pressure. Its not as if RK reads this board is it? In fact if you believe her press secretary she is not a football fan, also BTW this does not make good reading:

Ruth Kelly demonstrated some opposition to the development of skyscrapers from her first months as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. In November 2006, she stopped the Brunswick Quay proposal, which represented over £100 million worth of investment into Liverpool, from going ahead. The final report of the planners who carried out the public inquiry had recommended approval for the project.[26] In December 2006, she called a public inquiry into the 20 Fenchurch Street tower in London's financial district,[27] on the basis that a tall building would be "unsuitable for this site". A tower already existed on the current site and other skyscrapers are planned for the area. In the same week, she halted the development of another urban redevelopment scheme - the Islington City Basin towers, which was intended to regenerate a large canal area of North London.

 

[ROSM]

In fact if you believe her press secretary she is not a football fan, also BTW this does not make good reading:

Ruth Kelly demonstrated some opposition to the development of skyscrapers from her first months as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. In November 2006, she stopped the Brunswick Quay proposal, which represented over £100 million worth of investment into Liverpool, from going ahead. The final report of the planners who carried out the public inquiry had recommended approval for the project.[26] In December 2006, she called a public inquiry into the 20 Fenchurch Street tower in London's financial district,[27] on the basis that a tall building would be "unsuitable for this site". A tower already existed on the current site and other skyscrapers are planned for the area. In the same week, she halted the development of another urban redevelopment scheme - the Islington City Basin towers, which was intended to regenerate a large canal area of North London.

dave,

are we talking about her press secretary of the press secretary for her department? The reason I ask is because she claims to be a fan of her constituency club - bolton - and used this in her election literature.

you are correct she certainly has shown her own mind whilst in office, she has disagreed with planning inspectors reports on 20+ occasions showing a mix of granting approval and rejection. many of her approvals relate to greenbelt/aonb sites. Most are linked to regeneration projects based on education and jobs rather than houses.

 

[Brovion]

why dont we all just wait until Ruth Kelly has made her decision - we all know what shits LDC are, why do people need to keep telling us?

Eh? I could understand that comment if JitW's post just said 'LDC are a bunch of wankers! That is all!' Instead it's another nugget of information which I didn't know, so thanks Jim.

It all mounts up. It's all further information and grist to our mill. Also by replying to his emails/letters they're wasting more time and therefore money. And we know they monitor this board so someone else is going to have to waste time checking and rechecking this thread to make sure no hothead threatens to send them letter bombs. I'd LOVE to know how much time they've spent dealing will all the Falmer queries, I bet that isn't in their costs.

Try and be a bit more supportive of other people's Falmer efforts in future.

 

[Nemesis]

Try and be a bit more supportive of other people's Falmer efforts in future.

Especially when LDC have had to publicly disclose exactly how much more money they are spending in their hateful campaign. I doubt the ArseGas will pick up on that though.

Thanks for the info Jim.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

The more LDC squander on this vindictive course of action before the local elections in May, the better. Cos the matter won't be resolved by then, and the more they overspend, the bigger the stick they give the Seagulls Party to beat them over the head with. Not good news for LDC council tax payers obviously, but they will have their say at the ballot box.

Don't get mad, get EVEN

 

[Caveman]

I know this is wrong and not fair at all on the residents of Lewes
but I hope the town floods again. Deep down I don't mean this but it would teach LDC a leason as there would be a lot more finger pointing.

 

[Ccider]

I know this is wrong and not fair at all on the residents of Lewes
but I hope the town floods again. Deep down I don't mean this but it would teach LDC a leason as there would be a lot more finger pointing.

Unfortunately I don't think flood defences are LDC's responsibility.

 

[Easy 10]

Who's responsibility are they then ?

 

[Everest]

King Canutes.

 

[Tory Boy]

Money is still available for costs because the Government became liable to pay all our costs when it conceded defeat in the High Court Action.

And where exactly do Lewes Council think the govs money comes from?

TB

 

[Everest]

"It grows on trees, don't it?" so says Cruella De Vecchi

 

[The Large One]

Who's responsibility are they then ?

Not sure if it's Lewes DC or East Sussex CC. I do actually think it is LDC though.