Dodgy Dealings? -Cornwall

 An example of dodgy dealings that occur within Cornwall Council, something which has been known for years but never proven.

” Dear John,

As you know, I share your utter frustration with the mess that the Langarth Farm planning fiasco has entirely predictably descended into.

Given the prompt positive response received this morning from Mrs Newton, it is heartening to see that she appears to be getting up to speed with matters, in some part due no doubt to your welcome intervention.

Yesterday, during a group meeting, a mutual acquaintance described how, as a principal objector to Langarth in the early stages, he received a personal visit from the MD of Inox who floated the concept of a £50k ‘’consideration’’ if this person were to withdraw his objection; naturally, what was effectively a bribe, was refused.

I am presently fascinated by the interesting possibility of an inappropriate connection via the ”old boys” network, between the former Cornwall Council consultant Mr John Betty, and Mr Rob Saltmarsh MD of Inox (the developer behind the ”free stadium” scam) in relation to the Langarth Farm planning fiasco.

This is given some imperative by way of the fact that Mr John Betty now occupies a senior post at Cornwall Council as Strategic Director Economic Growth and Development.

The recent announcement of the imminent departure of Ms Sandra Rothwell smacks of a Betty style purge to stamp his authority, given that during a recent conversation relating to another matter, a Cornwall Councillor hinted that Ms Rothwell was ‘’under pressure’’; this councillor also emphasised how vital it is that Cornwall Council is challenged wherever and whenever necessary.

Mr Betty’s contagious enthusiasm for Cornwall Council purchasing a non serviced and difficult-to-develop section of Langarth Farm as principal developer, would very conveniently bail Inox out of a very sticky financial situation, which a cynic may not interpret as a mere coincidence.

Why are so many Cornwall Councillors failing to do their homework?

In this process of omission they are arguably failing in their duty of care to their electorates by not rigorously challenging this incredibly risky project, at a time when the debt laden development sector could at best be described as precarious.

In view of the associated risks, is it right that any potential financial shortfall in relation to Langarth, will have to be underwritten by Cornish council taxpayers while those Cornwall Council Officers responsible would, as stated in an answer to a recent question put to cabinet, be immune to any negative consequences by way of culpability or accountability?

In the light of this clear and present danger, following the collapse of Carillion, I recently posed two further relevant questions to Councillor Adam Paynter; regrettably, Councillor Paynter has not yet seen fit to respond.

1 Given the unpalatable fact that there is frenzied activity by these various corporate development concerns within Cornwall what if any contingencies do Cornwall Council have in place to mitigate any potential fallout and cost implications from any future Carillion style failure by a similar developer working in Cornwall ?

2 Furthermore how do you see Cornwall Councils emerging role as a corporate developer in its own right weathering the inevitable financial shocks of any impending housing market correction in the light of the £600 million level of borrowing recently projected by Mr Betty to accomplish Cornwall Councils stated objective?

I presume that Cornwall Council will revert to its usual fall-back position expressing undying confidence in Mr Betty while wilfully refusing to look at the possibility of any inappropriate connections between the gentlemen in question, my absolute contention being that if there are no inappropriate connections the air will have been cleared and neither of them have anything to worry about.

I feel so strongly about this that I am mindful to approach a private investigator to shed a little light into what I feel could be a very dark little corner

The whole sorry saga of the ‘’Langarth mess’’ (as personally described by the councils own chief of planning recently) stinks and should be abandoned forthwith before any more public money is wasted on a mire of eye wateringly expensive incompetent pseudo corruption.”
 

 Who knows what goes on behind closed doors.

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