PPS - dirty tricks - planning permission -Story that disappeared

This story has vanished from the daily mail website and also This is Money. But is still in Gulf Times!!

Revealed: dirty tricks used to win planning permission for controversial development The lobbying company PPS is accused of using forgery, impersonation and even bugging to manipulate the planning process for some of London's most controversial developments. It is employed by most of Britain's leading housebuilders, including a division of Berkeley Homes, and many big retailers such as Sainsbury's. PPS has compiled secret dossiers on councillors which contain highly personal information and information obtained under false pretences. It has allegedly obtained clandestine tape-recordings and verbatim transcripts of councillors' discussions in private meetings. PPS is suspected of infiltrating local residents' groups which fight developers.

Damning internal company documents leaked to the Mail's sister newspaper The Evening Standard and Channel 4's Dispatches programme show PPS discussing whether it could "bribe" or "bully" a London borough council. The documents boast that PPS has "created a large number" of "positive letters" to councillors, purportedly from residents, to give the impression that there is widespread local support for a variety of unpopular projects including "power stations, quarries and supermarkets".

PPS’s clients include Barratt, Wimpey, Taylor Woodrow, Hanson Quarries, B&Q and Ikea

What PPS say about themselves -

"One of the most geographically diverse consultancies with five UK offices (London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol), the PPS Group have over a hundred clients between them. The company is particularly strong in the house-building industry, as well as servicing a number of smaller, local organisations."

"Vocal minorities can be very effective in influencing politicians, but do not represent the wider community. Mobilising the ‘silent’ majority can be extremely difficult. Since 1990, PPS has been securing demonstrable support for planning applications from those that might not normally bother to express their views."

Now then.. PPS rang a bell from research I was doing recently. Yes -Cathy Owens a former lobbyist was described as Rhodri Morgan's answer to Alastair Campbell. Cathy Owens, who left to join Amnesty International after a tempestuous three years during which relations between the Assembly Government and some elements of the media reached an all-time low. At one point the Assembly Government apologised to the civil service union Prospect over Ms Owens's allegedly hectoring manner towards some of its members. Previously she worked as a public affairs consultant in Wales, yes? PPS. Some quotes from Cathy -"It's for elected politicians to agree the way forward for public policy in Wales. We are talking about a situation where English speakers have rights too. Turkeys don't vote for Christmas but no one voted for the Language Board either." "All journalists are bastards" ...in a mistaken call to Martin Shipton's voice mail. Yes, that's right, only the chief reporter of the Western Mail!

2003 Ms Owens worked for Rhondda Labour AM Leighton Andrews as a research assistant. She also worked for a public affairs company run by Mr Andrews, as did the Assembly's economic development and transport minister Andrew Davies – The smart company? Subsequently Ms Owens worked for the lobbying company PPS Cymru, as the Associate Director.

- Leighton Andrews. Is this true ? Extracts taken from http://liberalengland.blogspot.com/2004/12/latent-andrews-am.html
..was a prominent Liberal activist for many years. In the late 70's early 80's he was a Liberal member of the NUS Executive. In 1987 he was a Liberal Alliance candidate in Gillingham. After many years in the wilderness, Leighton eventually resurfaced in New Labour Party, winning Rhondda back from Plaid Cymru in 2003. Michael Meadowcroft, a former Liberal MP, described him as moving "from Liberal thinker to cheerleader for Blair's authoritarians".

Finally I recall a comment by Dizzy thinks (asbo)"Hazel Blears' on the 24th July this year registered a personal donation from Lorian Properties Ltd, Lancashire. What a stroke of luck it was for Lorian that Hazel Blears was reshuffled to be Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and effectively put in charge of the Government's new house building plans"

Ones faith in the planning process is sorely challenged.

This is an interesting article from Coporate Watch - PR and lobbying company PPS Group Ltd

Political Planning Services Ltd. may not be big, but it carries disproportionate weight, consisting of individuals who have worked closely with politicians in the past. Again, a great conflict of interest is present in the Countryside Alliance’s support for this company, since it specializes in trying to get through controversial planning applications. Its newly-revamped web page boasts: "PPS is proud to have worked with the biggest names in the property sector. Whether it's a residential development on a Green Belt site or a mixed use scheme in a city centre, PPS works with the planning consultant and the rest of the team to get approval."[51]

Past clients include McDonalds, Morrisons, Tesco and Sainsbury’s, not noted for their ecological thinking, nor for their equitable treatment of farmers, nor for their contribution to healthy local economies[52]. Through its support of PPS, the Countryside Alliance supports abuse of the planning system, whereby those who have money pay for lobbyists to get them round the planning laws, and cover the countryside with community-killing sprawl, whilst those who do not have difficulty getting permission to build themselves a single home and also bear the brunt of increased traffic, community decay and increasingly mind-numbing jobs. Likewise, being a specialist in controversial planning applications, PPS has over 20 home-building, construction and quarrying companies on its client list[53], and the Countryside Alliance supports this through it at the same time as expressing concern about the destruction of the countryside. Lastly, concerning PPS, it is worth noting that Mark Pendlington, former managing director at PPS Group, is now Chief Executive of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), bringing out yet more cosy links between landowners, big business and manipulation of government[54].
References[48] "Fury Over Rural Lobby’s Shares" The Observer, 29th April 2001 [49] Ibid. [50] Ibid. [51] www.ppsgroup.co.uk [52] The bulk of the client list has been removed from the new website but a printed copy of the old site, also at www.ppsgroup.co.uk, is held by Corporate Watch [53] Ibid. [54] "New Chief Executive Announced For CLA", CLA Press Release, 23rd January 2001 http://194.200.85.11/sources/27/171/4015965/01009HQ.htm

Where are the women Harriet Harmen??

What influence has Harriet got with Gordon? Did Gordon consult with Harriet before deciding on his cabinet? Has he listened to the party? Obviously not, listening is not a verb in the new labour dictionary. Asbo Hazel Blears - least popular with labour party members gets to stay in the cabinet and as community ...excuse me, but this dictatorial hectoring pain should be sent back to well deserved oblivion. Lets have more women in the cabinet but 'real' women please. Balls for children - won't work...empathy required .. preferably experience of children ....obviously an equal opportunity appointment. Just get to know the right people and you will be OK. Men can be so god with childrens issues and womens issues as long as that involves a top job and pay and prestige. Not for them slaving over a hot stove or cleaning up vomit, school run and the dash to work and so on and on..

You, particularly if you are a bloke - could be dropped into a safe seat and given a prestigious job and even in some cases end up as Northern Ireland sec! Wow! Inflict anyone on the people of Northern Ireland and don't even ask want they think about it. Not only that Tony would have us give him all the credit for 'peace', do you get the same impression as me, that Mo Molan is being written out of the history of N Ireland?

Even Slugger O Toole has no comment on the appointment of Shaun Woodward as Northern Ireland Secretary. Obviously there to put Tories on the map slugger! What a dreadful expression for a name!

Formerly a Tory MP for David Cameron’s seat of Whitney, Mr Woodward defected to Labour in 1999 after opposing the party’s position on gay rights. In the 2001 general election after Labour 'found' him the working-class seat of St Helens South.

However, I am worried that the government seems to think Northern Ireland is a problem solved. If any other city in the UK was divided by walls and totally segregated, with more than their fair share of racists and womens rights and representation 50 years behind the rest of the uk, that would be a serious problem. At the same time, the government is set on expanding the numbers of faith schools in England in the mistaken belief that it is better for children, perhaps they should take some heed of what has happened and is happening in Northern Ireland after all and recognise the terrible consequences of the role of faith schools in propagating hate between communities.

A enlightened prime minister with courage could have appointed a woman to lead Northern Ireand into the future.

I feel that the women of Northern Ireland are due an apology if not compenstation for the shabby dicriminating treatment they received at the hands of the likes of Ian Paisley and other orange leaders and politicans which added considerabley to the bigotry and religious discrimination they already had to endure . I feel sick when I see Paisley lauded by Blair and the labour party.

Sorry that I am not surprised by the news that Sir Digby is to be given a peerage and will have to join the Labour Party in order to serve as a minister. Why join the labour party at all as it is only a brand name that you can apparently buy into. I have the view that government ministers should be elected so that they are at the very least accountable to their electorate. How foolish was I to think that the labour party represented a stand against patronage and class privilege.

Most Boring Blogs Election 2007

Now the Assembly Elections are approaching we have candidates making thier pitch so we shall look at some of the blogs around, mostly guys commenting on each others virility!

There are few women blogging. One is New Labour candidate Sophie who Howe whose big campaign idea is to take to the streets picking up litter? Perhaps she should stick to that or even contact her local councillor who is....eh.. Sophie who Howe herself.......
..........well if she can't sort out litter collection..why should we vote for her?

Inconsiderate parking is one of the biggest problems followed by speeding
followed by Garden Grabbing! Hasn't mentioned those.

Picture shows Asbo queens Sophie who Howe and Hazel Blears! Hope you picked up the gum!

Em...Didn't New Labour notice that The city of Cardiff has been awarded with Environmental Recognition in the Clean Britain Awards 2007.

With Birmingham claiming the crown of Cleanest City 2007, Cardiff recieved a special award that recognised our commitment to the environment.

See Keep Cardiff Tidy

We'll look at Emma Greenow next ..pity we can't read it ..great to be young but pity more of them didn't vote. She is worried about social housing so why did you join the Tories? Perhaps someone should set up a blog .. a beginners guide to politics!

Hazel Hoodies - Armed police for Stalinist Blears??

Sorry sister...have you seen Hazel Blears deputy leadership blog! Never saw anything so revolting and egoistic! Don't miss the shop where you can buy badges, hats, t-shirts and HOODIES with HAZEL on! Who would buy any of this rubbish or even a HAZEL HOODIE, don't get the logic in that? Perhaps Hazel is code for 'don't shoot' for the police but everybody else might be incited to murder YOU?

What where we saying about testing for the Stalinist New Labour tendancy, centralized autocratic rule and total suppression of dissent! Just in case you were in any doubt -Hazel tells us - she wants armed police on the streets, wearing Hazel Hoodies!

“There are immediate priorities: we need an efficient police operation which identifies and arrests the murderers, we need policing which makes people feel safe, and that includes armed police on the streets, and we need the statutory agencies, voluntary sector and faith groups ............ great! I can see it now.. Faith groups solve prison crisis.....confessionals used as cells, monks probably have loads of unused cells ready and waiting for prisoners on remote islands though maybe wouldn't go down well with the neighbours of Buckfast Abbey..armed bishops, compulsory church services..brave new world was better? Ask our local fan Sophie Who Howe candidate for Cardiff North, has she bought a hazel hoodie?

Asbo Sophie Howe brings Asbo Hazel Blears to Cardiff North

New Labour would be AM ASBO Sohie Howe brings ASBO Hazel Blears to Cardiff North - kept that quiet. Did yu ask her about pregnancy services?

I suggest you read Shattered Lives: Children Who Live with Courage and Dignity
Camila Batmanghelidjh. Buy it at Amazon