EDDC has 16 member Champions
According to the dedicated EDDC web page they:
Each Member Champion keeps a focus on their area of responsibility by:
- Raising the profile of the issue and showing the communities of East Devon the Council’s commitment to the issue.
- Fostering the engagement of a wider range of Members in the review and development of the issue.
- Promoting effective communication and positive working relationships both within the Council and amongst partners, stakeholders and community groups.
- Promoting the positive work that is being undertaken within the District, both at a regional and national level.
- Providing positive support, and on occasions constructive challenge, to officers in driving forward the Council’s agenda on the issue.
and
to fulfil their role effective a Member Champion also needs to be able to:
- foster cross-party co-operation and be able to engage community groups and officers
- understand and express the opinions and priorities of the community
- be sensitive to Council priorities; although they may be advocating the opinions of the older people, for example, they should not do so at the expense of Council Policy and Corporate Policies. Champions cannot allow themselves to “go native” and forget about their broader role as a Councillor.
- Lead and respond to the whole range of issues rather than focussing upon a pet interest.
So, let’s examine them individually:
Asset Management – Bob Buxton (Dunkeswell)
Now, we plebs actually don’t know what happens at Asset Management meetings because they are held in secret with no agendas or minutes. So how do we know what he is championing and why?
Business – Mike Allen (Honiton St Michaels)
The man who was in charge of the second round of Local Plan meetings and doesn’t know how Sidford Fields crept into it. Perhaps kinder to skip this one …..
Culture – John O’Leary (Honiton St Pauls)
This pretty much seems to mean publicising the Thelma Hulbert Gallery at every opportunity – the loss making “asset” that we all own and throw money at and the Beehive in Honiton to which we have ALL contributed so many hundreds of thousands of pounds via EDDC grants. Oh, and he lets us know what is on at EDDC owned facilities such as the Manor Pavilion – at least I think he does.
Customer Services – Vivien Duvall Steer (Exmouth Halsdon)
Ah, the lady who is presumably standing up for all those of us who won’t be able to get to Skypark. No? Why not?
Exmouth Town – John Humphries (Exmouth Littleham)
A lot of unhappy people in Littleham these days – which is not at all Little any more. Plus the demolition of Elizabeth Hall and the “regeneration” of the seafront into money-making businesses is not popular either.
Health and Wellbeing – Peter Sullivan (Sidmouth Town)
Er, anyone know what EDDC is doing for our health and wellbeing? OK, he does have a Twitter feed where in April he suggested that people take their dogs for a walk! But Googling him doesn’t uncover anything else.
Member Development and Engagement – Maddy Chapman (Exmouth Brixington)
Oh dear, given that our members keep being hauled before the Standards Committee because they are being naughty seems to show that she isn’t having much effect!
Planning, Design and Heritage – Alan Dent (Budleigh)
Anyone want to point out anything he has done to protect our heritage or improve design of buildings – he certainly won’t be able to point to anything about planning given the mess that EDDC is currently in.
Flood Alleviation – Peter Bowden (Broadclyst)
Well, at least he lives in a flood prone area! But the Chief Executive has taken charge of flood grants. Hope he gets a look in.
Procurement – Mark Williamson (Exmouth Littleham)
Ah, procurement – another of those things that no-one tells us about. We are not even sure what he oversees about the subject. Procuring Skypark? Paperclips? Who knows? We are certainly not allowed to see documents about procurement so quite why WE have a champion for it is a moot point.
Rural Broadband – Mike Howe (Clyst Valley)
Er, not progressing very well at all – some areas of the district barely have a snails pace service and dates for upgrade keep getting pushed back and back. BT appears to have the monopoly. Not sure what he can achieve.
Rural Communities (including Post Offices) – Newton Poppleford and Harpford
Oh dear – the rural community of Newton Poppleford is NOT a happy one – did he stick up for it recently? Er ….
Rural Communities (incorporating Post Offices) – Ken Potter
Anyone see him at the Feniton inquiry or the Colyford Green Wedge? No? When you read EDDC Minutes he does attend a lot of meetings and reads a lot of Post Office literature.
Seaton Town – Stephanie Jones (Seaton)
Seaton: the town that has more old people than just about anywhere else in the country and which is about to have even more on its “regeneration area” – the one where Tesco can’t afford affordable houses. Promised so much, delivered so little. I wouldn’t put that on my CV!
Tourism – Sheila Kerridge (Sidmouth Town)
Sheila who? Tourism – East Devon? Surely some mistake, we don’t do tourism we only do building lots of houses in inappropriate places and huge sheds for “employment”.
Youth – Christine Drew (Sidmouth Sidford)
Youth services which are being decimated across the district. I can only refer you to this interview that she had with a work experience person at EDDC. She does “loads” of things but can name only one though she does go to lots of youth clubs (well, that’s about to stop now DCC is closing them all) and, as she says, does have children.
So, there we have it – LOTS of Champions but it seems that really their job is not that of Champion of the People but (at least those whose heads appear above the parapet) instead they do PR for the majority party – but even this some of them do woefully or not at all.
Still, they probably go to a lot of local, regional and national events and have lots of canapés for us.
But what exactly have they achieved for US? Over to you.
East Devon Watch 