19/11/2013 Spotlight

transformation of the NHS in England. That

Tonight, the Police Commissioner embroiled in a new controversy after

spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on consultants. Tony Hogg's

already faced criticism for the number of staff he employs. Now

there's anger over the latest revelations about his advisors. He

needs to go to the public and say, what do you think? And the majority

would say, put police back on the streets. Police say they're

increasingly concerned for Joan Russell's safety. And the local

council that's taken its own members to court nine times, for not paying

their council tax. Spotlight can reveal tonight that Devon and

Cornwall's police and crime commissioner is at the centre of a

new controversy after spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on

consultants at a time of severe budget cuts to policing. A freedom

of information request has revealed Tony Hogg expects to pay out almost

?700,000 for advisors and other staff. He's defended the spending,

but the Taxpayers' Alliance says it's unnecessary and very worrying.

Spotlight's home affairs correspondent Simon Hall reports.

Whipton, Exeter, suffers problems with anti`social behaviour. Vicki

has seen vandalism around her house and thinks the commission should

concentrate on front line policing, not consultants. It is ridiculous.

He needs to go to the public and say, what do you think watching Mark

and the majority would say, let us see the police back on the streets.

Freedom of information act request revealed that Tony Hogg spent more

than ?700,000 on consultants, advisers and other it external staff

since taking over last November. Up to the end of March next year he

expects to spend another ?500,000, a total of nearly ?700,000. This is an

incredible sum of money to spend on consultants, at a time when police

forces have got to be finding savings in every part of their

budget and there have got to be questions over what value this is

providing for taxpayers. As a staff association we have been saying

there had been concerns about the spiralling costs of the commission.

It was sold to the public of Devon and Cornwall that it would replace

the police authority that was not visible and accountable. Tony Hogg

has been in office for almost a year. His backroom costs have been

one of the most controversial features of his job. A spokesman for

the commission said that it was only right to bring in experts to help

fulfil the commission duties. In a statement they added we are aware of

the need to use resources efficiently. Devon and Cornwall

police have been defending the way they dealt with a Polish taxi driver

who was considering suicide and went on to drive into another car,

killing himself and a 16`month`old boy. The boy's father also died

later from injuries he sustained in the incident in Torquay. Spotlight's

Janine Jansen reports. Four people died following this tragic crash in

Torquay. A 26`year`old Polish taxi driver had left a suicide note.

Police were looking for him. He was arrested at the scene but later

died. The inquest was told that CCTV footage showed that a car thought to

be belonging to the Polish taxi driver did a two`mile circuit, 12

circuits of Hamlyn way, just before the accident happened. He drove into

this Volkswagen golf coming from the opposite direction. In it was a

family on holiday from Ireland. Their son, 16 month ordered Oisin,

died from catastrophic head and neck injuries. His father, Conn, died

from his injuries. His widow was pregnant. Her daughter was

stillborn. The police were questioned about their specific lack

of training the `` dealing with suicidal drivers. They said that

they had made no changes the guidelines and that none are

planned. PC Ben Bickford, seen here in the helmet, was the officer who

spotted the Polish driver. He spotted him and turned on his blue

lights at 244. The accident happened immensely. Up until that point ``

that moment, the man had been driving normally. Devon and, police

said that if there is a high risk missing person, it must be dealt

with as a matter of urgency. He said that nobody could have foreseen that

outcome. It is tragic and it has affected the whole police community,

but it was in line with guidelines. The legal team representing the man

accused of causing the M5 crash in Somerset which killed seven people

have said the case against him simply does not stack up. Geoffrey

Counsell faces one charge of failing to ensure public safety at a

firework display. He denies the charge. Clinton Rogers has been at

Bristol Crown Court today and joined us a short time ago from Taunton

Rugby Club where the display was held. I began by asking him what the

defence had been saying. Adrian Darbyshire QC, opening for the

defence, started telling the jury something about his client.

51`year`old Geoffrey Counsell, day job, HGV lorry driver. Not a man to

take risks. A man who had been organising firework displays for

many years without any problems whatsoever. Then he went on to talk

about the events that took place at Taunton Rugby Club almost exactly

two years ago. He said the prosecution case against Geoffrey

Counsell simply did not stack up. It was, according to the defence,

simply a very foggy night, that night. Fog and fog alone. He said he

would call witnesses for the defence who would say they did not see any

smoke blowing from here across the motorway. Have we heard any more

from the prosecution? In wrapping up the opening of their case, they have

been criticising Geoffrey Counsell's lack of preparedness for

the event. The fact that in their words he did not have an adequate

health and safety awareness, he did not have a proper risk assessment

for the night, but they also say he did not adapt to what was happening

on the night. When they said that the weather conditions and

visibility significantly deteriorated, he should have

considered calling off the display and he didn't. What happens next?

The jury will be brought to Taunton Rugby Club and will see exactly

where the fireworks display to lace. They will also see the motivator

that Mac `` the motorway, so they would get a clear idea of the

proximity of the clubhouse and the grounds to the motorway.

There are reports tonight that an important deal to supply India with

helicopters from Yeovil will be cancelled tomorrow, amid allegations

of bribery. Italian police are investigating the former chief

executive of Finnmeccanica, the parent company of Augusta Westland,

who are making the helicopters in Somerset. A GP's wife is still in

hospital being treated for her injuries after her husband was found

dead at their home in Cornwall. Dr Gary Hughes was a GP in Redruth.

Floral tributes have been left outside the house in Feock. His wife

Marion Hughes is expected to be questioned by police later. Police

say they are growing increasingly concerned tonight for the safety of

a pensioner missing in Exeter. Joan Russell, who is 78, disappeared last

Friday from her home in Emmanuel Close, as Spotlight's Johnny

Rutherford reports. Joan Russell has not been seen since last Friday. Her

sister has left most of her life with her and says that her

disappearance is out of character. She must be somewhere. She hasn't

got nowhere to go. We have not got any other relatives she can go to.

She never took her walking stick but she cannot walk very far. A lot of

things wrong with her. Her best friend, Jean, who lives in the flat

above, fears that Joan Russell's suffering below, has led to the

worst. I said that your eyes are not as they should be but better than

the last time. She said, as they should be but better than

not know what to do, do you? We have employed specialist search teams,

both land`based and waterborne. We have used dog teams to assist in

finding tracks and used CID officers to conduct inquiries. What I would

ask the public is to make contact with us, with any leads, thoughts,

or inquiries that they might feel good benefit the investigation.

Joan, please come home. We have been in touch with the police. I do not

know what has happened to her. The company which runs most of the

region's trains has been accused of "laughing all the way to the bank"

by the rail union, the RMT. It's because of the low premiums that

First Great Western has to pay for the rail franchise it was recently

awarded. But the RMT itself has been accused of ignoring the facts. Our

business correspondent Neil Gallacher reports. First

GreatWestern has been awarded another two years of our main

service to London and local trains. As part of the deal, First

GreatWestern must pay the Government ?32 million. It is a small sum

compared to what it was playing in the last two years of its previous

arrangement with the Government. The RMT has been digging into the

figures and does not like what it sees. When will this government and

all politicians get that the only way to run the railways is to bring

it back under public ownership? That money should be reinvested in

rolling stock, better lines for the south`west and four passengers fares

to be kept down. It is absolute madness. I just do not understand

them. First GreatWestern issued a frank statement in response.

These include a major overhaul of the InterCity 125 fleet and higher

payments to Network Rail for using the expanded Reading station.

Experts say that First GreatWestern is taking a risk over revenues at a

time when disruption will rise because of electrification and other

works. There are massive works at Reading station, and then you train

depot, translating into much higher track access charges, so, whilst the

premium is lower, that reflects that the costs are higher, and you need

to have both of those pieces of information to make any kind of

value judgement. We have not heard the last of this. In two years time,

another First GreatWestern franchise must be let. Still to come tonight

the councillors who didn't pay their council tax. Plus, Find out why this

man is so happy to be at the helm of Axminster Carpets. This is what

manufacturing should be all about. And a life on ice. The Plymouth man

hoping to inspire the explorers of the future. Relatives of the

imprisoned Greenpeace activists from Devon have been given a glimmer of

hope following the decision by a judge in Russia to release 12 other

campaigners on bail. The three were arrested in September after a

protest in the Pechora Sea against drilling in the Arctic. They were

initially detained in Murmansk, but have since been moved to St

Petersburg. Spotlight's Leigh Rundle reports. This is a live web feed

from the courtroom in Saint Petersburg were the Arctic 30 are

appearing. Since yesterday lunchtime around one third of the campaigners

had been granted bail. Not yet those from Devon. They are engineer Ian

Rogers, journalist Ciaran Brine, and PR, Alex Harris. Alex's farther back

home city is encouraged by the news that some UK needs have been

released. I just pray that she is also granted bail. I remember last

time she was before the judge, they turned it down, and she did

breakdown of little bit. That called on heartstrings for all of us. It is

now nine weeks since the 30 Greenpeace campaigners and the ship

were seized by the Russian authorities, in a protest against

drilling for oil in the Arctic. They have been detained ever since, but

the past few days have brought a glimmer of hope. Kieran Brian's

father and he said that now that someone other than a Russian

national has been granted bail, Kieran, Alex and Ian might have a

good chance of getting granted bail, dude. Charges of piracy and

hooliganism still stand, but the latest developments are being viewed

with optimism. It is definitely good news. There has not been much good

news coming back from Russia after this point. You cannot predict what

is to happen given the nature of the legal system there, but the

indications say that they should all be granted bail, but it is worth

remembering that we do not have any idea what the bail conditions are,

where they will be detained, so there was still a lot of unanswered

questions, but it is good news. The fate of all three Bevan activists

should be known by the end of the week. `` Devon. Councils across

Devon have taken their own councillors to court nine times in

the last four years to make them pay their council tax. And they've had

to send out a total of 76 reminders in that time. Our Political reporter

Jenny Kumah has been investigating and I asked her what was known about

the councillors involved. No names have been revealed but we know which

councils had to resort to court action to get councillors to pay up

and how often they have had to do that. Porridge, West Devon and mid

Devon have each taken legal action against non`dash`mac nonpaying

councillors. North Devon has had to chase a councillor for payment

through the courts every year for the past four years. What reasons

might there be for councillors not been council tax? Council leader

said that councillors are human like anyone else and can run into

financial problems, but they say that they do not condone councillors

not paying up, and this was a sentiment echoed on the streets of

Devon. I think it is amazing, crazy. Why would they do that? Everyone has

got to pay, everyone is hard up at the minute. They ought to be

upstanding citizens, I would say. That is not very fair, really,

because if they voted these things in, they should be prepared to pay

for them themselves. What consequences to the councillors face

if they do not pay? They face the same legal consequences as anyone

else would. They are not allowed to vote on matters affecting taxation

whilst in arrears. The leader of North Devon Council said he would

prefer that to be tougher sanctions against councillors who do not pay

up. A Cornish tourist attraction has laid off 19 people. Staff at the

theme park have had their working hours got or have been put on Flex

eater. The park is up for sale and it is hoped that the staff will be

re`employed. New research shows more than 27,000 families in the

south`west were affected in August by the government's controversial

new housing benefit reforms. The National Housing Federation says

families are an average ?782 worse off a year. Cornwall had the most

families affected, at 2,826. Charges in Exeter's council`run car parks

could be frozen next year to help stimulate economic growth in the

city. The proposal goes before the city council next week. It's also

looking at cutting charges in the run up to Christmas. Now, can one

man change the fortunes of an ailing company in just six months? It would

seem so. In March, Axminster Carpets went into administration with the

loss of around 300 jobs. It left a workforce of 104. One month later,

businessman, Stephen Boyd, stepped in, and now there are 159 full time

staff on the books. The company says it's doubled turnover, and is close

to meeting its target for the year. In the first of two special reports,

Spotlight's Andrea Ormsby has been to Axminster to find out more about

this change in fortunes. March the 5th, 2013, a bad day for Axminster.

Its biggest employer, the historic and world`famous Axminster carpets,

goes into Administration. Of the 400 jobs, 300 are lost, a huge

psychological and financial blow to the town. But then, just one month

later, something happened. More precisely, someone happened. Good

morning, Jill. Enter Stephen Boyd. Already chairman of two it

south`west companies and with a reputation for turning businesses

around. It is just wonderful. You have got high technology working

with traditional skills. You have got modern styles being used on

traditional materials. It is a wonderful combination. He has been

here six months and already has an impressive knowledge of every aspect

of this factory. He knows the name of every member of staff, Andy

cannot hide his almost childlike passion for the place. This is what

manufacturing should be all about. It is making something with skill,

with technology, with people, most of all, that can be turned into

something that the customer can really appreciate, because of its

beauty and the skill that has gone into making it. Now, keep to the

left. You should be able to see where you are going. Good morning.

This is the inspection area where every single carpet is checked

individually and any force corrected by hand. Underneath, the light is

shining through, so any force show up. `` faults. Sue Ford has worked

for Axminster carpets for 40 years. She approves of her new boss. He's a

breath of fresh air. He's `` she is not alone. Stephen is around all the

time and there was a positive appeal to the place, it is moving forward,

things are changing, and we feel positive about the future. Praise

from the workforce must surely be gratifying to hear. It is but it is

not a personal thing, it is about building a team, and that is what we

have been doing for the last six months, building a team, throughout

the organisation, really getting people to be involved, to get

motivated and to appreciate that it is all of us working together who

will make the play successful. And the successful six months it has

been, with turnover doubled, new staff taken on, and targets on

track. And tomorrow, Andrea will find out more about the company's

modernisation plans and how it is winning new business. Have you ever

wondered what it would be like to ski to the South Pole? Polar

explorer Plymouth is helping young people understand what life was like

in the subzero temperatures of the Antarctic. Antony Jinman has set up

a project, allowing schools to follow his latest expedition online

and interact with him along the way. He set off from Plymouth last week

and starts his trek on Saturday. Along the way he'll cover 730 miles

and is expected to take up to two months to reach the South Pole.

Spotlight's Jenny Walrond has been to meet some of the children Antony

hopes to inspire to follow their own dreams. A taste of life as a polar

explorer. The schoolchildren will be following the exploits of Antony

Jinman as he skis, Solo, to the South Pole. He was inspired by

Captain Scott and he hopes to do the same for these children. The purpose

is to inspire children in the south`west and in Plymouth, raising

aspirations about career opportunities and helping them with

their lifestyles and let them follow their own dreams in life. Anthony

has reached the North Pole already, and it will be taking part in

experiments looking at the impact of the cold on memory and bitumen body.

200 schools in Plymouth and around the world have signed up to track

its progress, interacting with Anthony and performing their own

scientific experiments. Do we have any budding explorers amongst this

group? That depends where it would be. I think it is a little man,

going on your own, but I would love to. It would be a good experience.

The opportunity to meet a real`life polar explorer such as Anthony is

just wonderful. It brings learning to life. Even if they do not set out

on their own expeditions in future, these children have really enjoyed

learning about life as a polar explorer. Nowhere near polar

conditions here, but it is a bit colder. We have had some photographs

posted on the Facebook page of a little bit of snow. You have been

doing training for this Antarctic expedition by not turning the

heating on! Christmas eve, it can go on.

We have had some snow flurries on higher ground. Lower down we have

had some showers, most of which have gone, but Laura Bourton glee, again,

we're going to see a frost tonight, widespread across the east of the

region, but not lasting until dawn tomorrow, `` low bone.

The strongest gusts of wind along the North Cornish coast. Let us look

at what is happening over the next 24 hours. We have cloud coming in

across parts of Scotland. That is an area of low pressure that will

gradually sweep south during the course of the night. Don't expect a

frosty start, but certainly a damp one. The lowest temperatures and the

first half of the night, which will then start to pick up. Then we have

a line of heavy rain covering most of this Southampton, moving quite

fast, and behind it, colder air. As we move into Thursday and the

weekend, we have high pressure coming in and cold air coming in

from the North East again. There is the satellite picture and more in

the way of detail. You can see that cloud over most of Ireland and

Scotland. A few showers drifting down on that northerly breeze. Those

showers will probably carry on for a short while, keeping things above

freezing for most of West Cornwall and parts of North Devon. Further

east, that post will bring temperatures down as low as `2.

There is a risk of some stretches of ice, but by the end of the night,

that milder air will arrive. That will bring thicker cloud and

freshening winds as well as rain. By dawn tomorrow morning, most of us

waking up to start, but increasingly windy, with the wind coming in from

the west or north`west. Temperatures higher tomorrow, although not

feeling warmer goes it is windy, and rain from the start of the day will

gradually become more persistent and heavy. Then, replaced by showers in

the afternoon. In the middle of the day, a line of heavy rain across

most of North Devon into Somerset, and there might be some snow on that

as it crosses the tops of Exmoor and Dartmoor. Then we have showers

following on behind. Some of those will be wintry, and it will be

windy, those wins north`westerly, touching gale force along the north

Cornwall and North Devon coast. With the wind chill, it will feel colder.

For the Isles of Scilly, very windy with morning rain replaced by

sunshine and showers in the afternoon. And the times of high

water. The best and cleanest surf will be

along the south coast. There is the coastal waters

forecast. Have a good evening. I am just

wondering if you are going to have an official switch on of the

heating, with mulled wine and Christmas carols. I can make myself

available! That's all for now. Goodbye.