Cllr Roger Giles has recorded an interview with BBC Politics Show, expected to be broadcast this Sunday (16th Feb). It is about a housing development approved in Ottery St Mary some years ago, despite a strong objection from the Environment Agency. The site has flooded in recent years.
Daily Archives: 12 Feb 2014
EDDC’s Skypark choice for office move, causes furore… Radio Devon reports
East Devon District Council is loudly being called to account, and to justify the need for its heady plans for office relocation. Spiralling costs of the project, before even one brick is laid, combined with the unpopular choice of a new location, have opened the debate for a pause and re-think.
Don’t miss the interviews on Radio Devon, with Independent Cllr Claire Wright from 7am, and with Council Leader Paul Diviani on just after 8am…..Should be broadcast tomorrow (Thursday, 13 Feb) ..or possibly Fri 14th.
“Is there an Audit trail for this?” Inspector asks EDDC
Planning Policy Manager, Matt Dickens, and IT support officer, Martin Lee, were alone to answer questions at today’s examination of the crucial topic of Housing in the new Local Plan. “We could have been crudely arithmetic”, stuttered Mr Dickens, as he struggled to explain why an extra 4,000 houses had been added to the 11,000 provision recommended in the Roger Tym report. Seeking clarity, the Planning Inspector suggested, “You have no evidential basis for 4,000, you just made it up.”
A pity that not a single Councillor from the ruling party, was interested enough in this fundamental topic, to attend the hearing. Matt Dickens’ senior colleagues were similarly conspicuous by their absence….presumably earning their keep elsewhere? Click here for a reminder of their responsibilities: http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/smt_structure_chart_2012_internet-_amended_nov_2012.pdf
Skypark choice for office relocation….the media take up the story
More and more angry councillors (of all parties), and local campaign groups, are objecting to East Devon District Council’s questionable plan to move their Head Office to a huge new business park next to Exeter airport. The Council’s own Scrutiny Committee have asked EDDC bosses to delay until estimated costs and options for refurbishing existing office buildings have been examined. But it seems that the Chief Executive has intervened to block this motion. A Radio Devon report is expected this week, including an interview with Independent Councillor Claire Wright, on Thursday or Friday’s breakfast show.
The issues have been widely reported in the local press, some as front page news. Examples at these links to the SIN blog:
http://sidmouthindependentnews.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/skypark-its-a-sell-out-says-honiton-councillor/
http://sidmouthindependentnews.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/the-move-to-skypark/
http://sidmouthindependentnews.wordpress.com/2014/02/07/sos-eda-and-skypark-not-an-ideal-menage-a-trois/
“Everything will be on the website, out in the open” , says Local Plan Examiner
The Inspector emphasised this, at yesterday’s first day of the Examination in Public at Knowle, Sidmouth.
Today’s hearing is on HOUSING. Starts 9.30 a.m.
The EDDC website link is: http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/localplan
“I don’t see that Strategy 3 does the job”, says Inspector, as he begins Examination of EDDC’s Local Plan
A flavour of the first day is reported here:
Anthony Thickett, the Government Inspector is now in Sidmouth, for the Examination in Public (EiP) of East Devon District Council’s new Local Plan. The first hearings took place on Tuesday (11th Feb), with the opening session on Procedure and Duty to Co-operate. Although the Deputy Chief Executive had prepared a presentation on Procedure, the Inspector swiftly said, “I don’t see the need”, and moved on to what he described as the “thorny issue” of “Duty to Co-operate”. “You have not been co-operating with Exeter, is one issue that has been raised”, he told Matt Dickens and Richard Cohen. And when EDDC’s spokesperson told him, “We have had meetings with West Dorset”, the Inspector reminded her that there had been “Only one”. To her following comment, “We don’t think this is a Duty to Co-operate matter”, he said, “You don’t. I might!”
More to follow on this website tomorrow….
East Devon Watch 