Sally Allen: 'Cavalier' use of public funds is misjugded

Last week I attended a Wellswood Community Partnership meeting and, as is normal, passions ran high. It’s actually what makes Wellswood a rather special area in Torbay as the residents are exceptionally passionate about retaining its history and beauty. The meeting kicked-off with, what I initially thought would be a pointless and boring, presentation on loan sharks! I naively thought how on earth could that be relevant to Torbay. Well, how wrong was I. A representative from Stop Loan Sharks which investigates and prosecutes illegal money lenders and provides support for borrowers in the UK, gave a fascinating and disturbing presentation.

Did you realise that Torbay is THE national hot spot for loan sharks? Shocking and scary in equal measure. Obviously, loan sharks don’t get a grip in a flourishing economy, so it emphasises the dire straits of people in our community that Torbay is number one in the country. One statistic that was given to us, which I can’t stop thinking about, is that the worst case he has come across was a loan shark charging 4.3 million percent with violence.

It takes your breath away to imagine how people can cope under such horrendous pressure – but of course, a lot don’t and there are numerous suicides as a result. So, if you know anyone who is vulnerable, or already in the clutches of these low life loan sharks, please contact Stop Loan Sharks on 0300 555 2222. They can offer direct support and advice, and in some cases, even relocation and anonymity.

Before the presentation we also had an update from Sgt Natalie Booth on how she and her team were coping with policing problems in Torquay, and in particular, Wellswood. Sadly, anti-social behaviour is thriving across the Bay and the number of police available to squash or even deal with the problem make this a massive uphill problem for her and her colleagues, and therefore to the community in general.

The lack of police personnel in this area is dreadful, and if you are as old as I am, it beggars belief. Up until the last 20 years or so, police have always been evident and therefore a deterrent to troublemakers. I remember as a young teenager in the 60s the drug use on the Strand was significant, but there was rarely a problem because the police were always there ensuring our safety. As a result, I always felt safe in those days. I now avoid walking in the area like the plague and feel unsafe at night pretty much everywhere. 

So, this neatly brings me on to the totally, at best barking and at worst outrageous, appointment that Alison Hernandez has made for Mark Kingscote to become her ‘unelected’ deputy police and crime commissioner. Really?? This is shocking misjudgement on Hernandez part particularly as even the members of the Devon & Cornwall Police and Crime Panel advised against the appointment. The alleged £59,000 salary that Kingscote will receive for this ‘part-time’ job could be put to much better use funding two additional full-time police officers in our Bay. Surely much better use of the money. Kingscote has no relevant experience other than being a long-term sidekick of the current Commissioner. This is seriously taking cronyism to a new high, plus it is not even a democratically elected post or incumbent. Hernandez was at least elected to her post, and I wish her well in it, but she must be having a ‘giraffe’ at us all to have made this appointment against the wishes of her colleagues and without referring it to a democratic vote. Are we now living in a one person police state? It should always be remembered that this is our money that is being spent on a whim. What is Kingscote actually going to do that is of more value than two additional police on the streets of Torbay?

When, oh when, will elected officials of all hues and colours understand that it is the public that they serve, and it is the public who pay their wages. They are all supposed to do our bidding and not the other way round. It should not be possible for our money to be spent in such a cavalier fashion without going through vigorous checks and balances. 

With decisions like this, it only emphasizes the problem of people being elected to do jobs without any thought to public perception of their behaviour. To do a job well you need to get people on your side, not inflame them by indescribably poor judgement and decision making. This tail wagging the dog culture should be stopped.

With people like Sgt Nathalie Booth under such pressure to do their job and being totally under resourced, thought needs to be given to the structure of the overall organisations running, not just our Police Force, but also the civil service in general who give the impression of being suits behind closed doors making decisions on our behalf without, it appears, even the merest scrutiny.

On a positive note, I am so pleased that the overdue agreement for the Council to secure the lease back from MDL for the Pavilion appears to now be in reach. I say ‘appears’ because we have been down this road before and even seen the Council leader and his deputy outside the building in a press release on 14th December last year, stating that the deal was virtually over the line. The required signatures are now expected to formalise the surrender of the lease on 30th September this year, with work starting in October. This is great news of course, but we can’t wait until then to cover the building to protect it from our horrendous weather and most importantly, vandals. Just look what happened to the Coppice Hotel? There is money in the coffers, and it is vital remedial work starts without any delay. The Council will never be forgiven if anything should happen to this beloved building, which is truly a gem and the focal point of our town and seafront. Some things can’t wait, whatever the cost. It is likely to become more and more expensive with each day work is delayed, so please let’s get cracking in restoring this historic building.