The East Devon Alliance has today sent out this press release:

‘ANOTHER COSTLY HEAD OFFICE ERROR BY EDDC ?
Local residents, EDDC’s own watchdog committee, and own staff defied

The Cabinet of the East Devon District Council has selected Skypark as its preferred site for its headquarters. If the decision is approved by the full Council on 26th February, officers would carry out further research into the viability of the move. Marketing of the Knowle would begin “promptly”. A final decision would be taken in the summer. No financial details of the proposed move were announced to justify the decision to leave the Knowle in favour of a site which, currently, has poor transport links and certainly does not fit the Council’s claims that its District headquarters should be somewhere more central than Sidmouth.

The East Devon Alliance deplores this choice, and EDDC’s undemocratic insistence on a project which has no clear financial justification. As Head of the Relocation Team, Richard Cohen , admitted to the Council’s own Scrutiny Committee recently, he has not asked the Head of Finance for “a full breakdown of the costs”. And yet, in addition to the substantial expenses already incurred (well over £350,000), the Council plans to set aside a further £400,000 of tax payers’ money over the next two years, just for preparations.

EDA Chairman Ian McKintosh says, “Economically, this is not the time to rush ahead with a massive spending of public funds, on a move that is widely regarded as imprudent.” Coherent arguments in favour of retaining the Knowle have been ridiculed by the Leadership, without serious debate. Sidmouth resident Robin Fuller’s detailed suggestions for refurbishment of the existing purpose-built buildings, and possible sale or conversion of the historic former hotel, were patronisingly dismissed by Councillor Diviani in just two words, as “Fuller’s Folly?”.

Astonishingly, local voters are not the only people who have been ignored. EDDC’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) agreed last week that Councillors had not been properly informed of the cost calculations, resulting in serious reservations about the financial viability and even the necessity for office relocation. The OSC therefore voted that the Cabinet be asked to provide more precise details in order that Councillors could “make an informed decision” . The same committee also recommended that an independent survey of the Knowle buildings, particularly of the 1970’s offices, should be undertaken. No mention of this was made in EDDC’s announcement.

EDDC’s determination to move, whatever the evidence and the wishes of those who fund the Council, is confirmed in that they have also ignored their own staff. EDDC Chief Executive Mark Williams recently issued the results of a survey of EDDC employees, who were asked for their preferred location, other than the Knowle. Of the four sites named, Skypark was least favoured. Not for the first time, EDDC’s, mathematical abilities were challenged. The total of all the percentages for each location came to 149 per cent! ‘