Every fortnight Kevin writes a "Kev's Column" for the Herald Express and you can read the latest edition (Published on Wednesday 20th January 2021) below:
Kev’s Column:
Vaccination
Over the last fortnight it has been great to hear from many residents who have received their vaccination against Covid-19.
The vaccination teams at the Riviera Centre have been busy and the progress has been significant. A special thanks must go to the team of volunteers who have stepped forward to help with this effort.
By the time this column is published the first invites to the next two groups to be vaccinated, those aged over 70 and the clinically extremely vulnerable, should have started to be issued.
Each jab is another step towards getting this virus beaten and re-opening our bay.
Insurance Victory
When the pandemic first hit our bay last year many businesses were suddenly forced to close, yet their business interruption insurance did not pay out, despite the outbreak meaning they could not trade.
The insurers concerned decided the disruption caused by the pandemic did not count as being covered by their policy, despite some businesses having never made a claim in decades of paying premiums. Dozens of businesses got in touch with me and it was clear something was deeply wrong, not least how the companies concerned had not even offered partial payments and had sought to interpret clauses in the most restrictive way possible.
The Financial Conduct Authority and a group of businesses took a test case to Court seeking a definitive ruling on some common terms in business interruption insurance contracts. The aim being to get the judiciary to pass judgement on them and to save individual customers having to pursue legal action.
Last week the Supreme Court passed judgement and found largely in favour of the policyholders. This is great news and should see some much-needed financial support go to many small businesses here in the bay.
Unauthorised Encampments
One item which annoys many residents is the way some groups set up unauthorised encampments in our bay every year, effectively treating places like Paignton Green as a free holiday park.
Such trespassing is currently a civil matter, forcing landowners (including Torbay Council) to take legal action to remove unauthorised encampments. Those engaging in such behaviour exploit welfare provisions to delay being evicted until the end of their planned holiday. In many cases leaving a mess behind which local taxpayers must pay to have removed.
The Republic of Ireland has a simpler legal position of defining such behaviour as a criminal offence, allowing rapid and effective action to be taken. This approach is now set to be made law here, with clear definitions to avoid criminalising walkers who enter private land or restricting the right to roam.
This change will help bring an end to the annual “holidays” some seek to enjoy on our greenspaces at taxpayers’ expense.
Surgery Times
Due to the current restrictions I have had to cancel my regular face to face advice surgeries.
I hope to restart them as soon as possible, but in the meantime a telephone call appointment can be arranged. Please note these telephone surgeries are for urgent personal matters, such as welfare, immigration, housing, problems accessing support and benefits, rather than to discuss policy or the wider situation.
You can either email me at [email protected] or leave a message on 01803 214989 and we will get back to you as quickly as possible
