Below is a link to an article in the Exeter Express and Echo about Exeter’s increasing levels of debt:

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Ben-Bradshaw-Soaring-levels-debt-Exeter-8216/story-18991622-detail/story.html

And here is a letter I have received from the Citizens Advice Bureau with further details of the problems caused by the Government’s reforms (click for full size):

Below is a link to my article in the Exeter Express and Echo  about Exeter’s longest serving Councillor:

http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/Ben-Bradshaw-tribute-Exeter-s-longest-serving/story-18867421-detail/story.html#axzz2SbKRusbY

Below is a link to an article from the Sidmouth Herald on the issues caused by housing developments on the edge of Exeter:

http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/news/you_plonkers_exeter_mp_slates_east_devon_on_housing_1_2109770

I’m pleased to see Exeter Hospital (R.D.&E.) still doing very well in the latest league tables despite a dip on 18 week waits, details can be found on the table and graph below.

Full details: http://mhpccom.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/health/files/2013/03/Quality-at-a-glance.pdf

This is great news. I’d like to thank Exeter City Council and Devon County Council for their help in lobbying and the floods Minister Richard Benyon for heeding our concerns. As well as the Express and Echo for their campaigning on the issue. Not only should the work help reduce the risk of serious flooding to Exeter in the years to come, it will also provide a much needed boost to the local economy and the construction industry in particular. There is likely to be disruption during the construction phase – but that is inevitable and is a small price to pay for better protection from the devastating impact of flooding in the long term.

I wrote a short article for The Exeter Daily on flooding and its effect on our local area, the future of Exeter and recent Human Rights cases on religious freedom: 

http://www.theexeterdaily.co.uk/news/local-news/message-ben-bradshaw-mp

As the mopping up continues following the floods we can breathe a big sigh of relief that Exeter’s defences did their job. Although water levels were worryingly high at their peak last weekend we did not suffer the devastation we used to before the defences were built back in the 1960s. But, as I’ve argued repeatedly in the Echo and elsewhere catastrophic flooding poses a real and present danger to our city. The Environment Agency – the independent body that did such a great job keeping us informed during the floods – has warned upgrading Exeter’s flood defences is the top priority in the whole of the South West. The protection that’s kept us safe for the last 50 years is not adequate for the more regular and worse flooding expected because of climate change. The Government cut investment in flood defences by 30% when it came to power. I argued at the time that was a false economy, as for every £1 you invest in flood defences you save £8 in the long run from flooding damage and the costs associated avoided. The Government has also passed responsibility for some of the funding for schemes to local councils and businesses. Exeter City and Devon County councils have already said they’d be willing to pay their fair share to upgrade Exeter’s defences – in spite of the cuts they’ve suffered. It’s now time for the Government to step up to the mark. More and more economists are saying we need more investment in infrastructure to get our stagnant economy moving and save money in the long run. There’s no better place to start than flood defences.    

The Government also needs to renew the deal urgently with the insurance industry that ensures householders and businesses can get flood insurance at affordable levels. This deal, established by the last Labour Government, runs out next summer and the Government had promised it would be renewed by last July so people renewing their annual policies would not be hit. Premiums are already going up and some people face the real prospect of not being able to get insurance. There is no country in the world, including the United States, that leaves flood insurance to the free market. They all have some level of risk sharing and government underwriting. If the rumours are correct that the blockage is in the Treasury, Mr Cameron, who promised to do all he can to help the flood affected areas over the weekend, needs to have and quick firm word in Mr Osborne’s ear.

Amid all the concern about the flooding we shouldn’t forget a young woman was tragically killed by a falling tree in Exeter during Saturday’s storms. Details are still emerging, but it seems the 21 year old was sheltering in a tent with some other homeless people on Western Way, close to the city centre. Those who survived are still being treated for their injuries. Until we know more about the dead woman’s circumstances and how she came to be sleeping in a tent in such atrocious conditions we need to be careful about drawing conclusions. But here are some facts about homelessness in Exeter and the impact that recent changes in Government policy have had on it.

Last year the Government cut the amount of money it gave Devon County Council to prevent and combat homelessness by 12%. More importantly, the Government removed what is called the “ring fence”, meaning that the remaining reduced funding no longer had to be spent tackling homelessness, but the county council could spend the money as it wished. Conservative run Devon decided to cut funding by a whopping 44%. Spending of £6.2 million in 2010/11 was reduced to £3.5 million in 2011/12.  In Exeter alone we lost 204 so called “supported bed” spaces. These are places where homeless people find refuge and the support they need to get themselves together and move on to permanent more independent accommodation. The cuts affected around 20 organisations in Exeter including the YMCA, Gabriel House, the Bridge Project and Mortimer House. At the time, Exeter City Council said: “We have significant concerns about the likely impacts which the changes to the County Council’s funding for housing related support will have on vulnerable people in the city. These concerns have already been expressed directly to Devon County Council; the Adult Safeguarding Board; senior DCLG officials and to Grant Shapps the Housing Minister.”

Like most fellow Anglicans and non-Anglicans I was shocked and dismayed by the Church of England Synod’s rejection of women bishops. Women have served parishes admirably in and around Exeter as priests for 20 years. We have an excellent female Canon at the Cathedral and female Deans at Salisbury and, soon, York. The Church needs to reverse this decision and do so within months, not years.

Amid all the media coverage about the flooding we shouldn’t forget a young woman was tragically killed by a falling tree in Exeter during Saturday’s storms. Details are still emerging, but it seems the 21 year old was sheltering in a tent with some other homeless people on Western Way, close to the city centre. Those who survived are still being treated for their injuries. Until we know more about the dead woman’s circumstances and how she came to be sleeping in a tent in such atrocious conditions we need to be careful about drawing conclusions. But here are some facts about homelessness in Exeter and the impact that recent changes in Government policy have had on it.   

Last year the Government cut the amount of money it gave Devon County Council to prevent and combat homelessness by 12%. More importantly, the Government removed what is called the “ring fence”, meaning that the remaining reduced funding no longer had to be spent tackling homelessness, but the county council could spend the money as it wished. Conservative run Devon decided to cut funding by a whopping 44%. Spending of £6.2 million in 2010/11 was reduced to £3.5 million in 2011/12.  In Exeter alone we lost 204 so called “supported bed” spaces. These are places where homeless people find refuge and the support they need to get themselves together and move on to permanent more independent accommodation. The cuts affected around 20 organisations in Exeter including the YMCA, Gabriel House, the Bridge Project and Mortimer House. At the time, Exeter City Council said: “We have significant concerns about the likely impacts which the changes to the County Council’s funding for housing related support will have on vulnerable people in the city. These concerns have already been expressed directly to Devon County Council; the Adult Safeguarding Board; senior DCLG officials and to Grant Shapps the Housing Minister.”

Exeter escaped by a whisker. We might not be so lucky next time. The Environment Agency says our 1960s flood defences are no longer adequate for the more frequent and serious flooding caused by climate change.

Upgrading Exeter’s defences is the EA’s top priority for the South West, but is being held up by the failure of Government to help fund the scheme. Cuts of 30% in flood defence investment mean that schemes like Exeter’s that used to be paid for nationally now require partial local funding. Both Exeter City and Devon County Councils have agreed to contribute, now the Government must step up the the plate. Cutting flood defences is a classic false economy. For every £1 you spend you save £8 in the long run from avoiding the damage and costs associated with flooding.

The Government must also deliver the deal it promised in July to renew Labour’s agreement with the insurance industry to guarantee affordable flooding cover for households and businesses. This should have happened by now as the deal runs out next summer and annual policies are already being affected. Premiums are shooting up and some people are not able to get cover at all.

The Government must also work with Network Rail to improve the resilience of our rail connections. Exeter and the Westcountry have essentially been cut off since Wednesday for rail travel. While there’s probably little or nothing that could have been done at the flooding’s height, rail services are increasingly being disrupted by less heavy rain. The emergency services, EA and our local media deserve warm thanks and congratulations for keeping the public informed and dealing with a very difficult situation.