Just in time!
Daily Archives: 13 Jul 2014
Hello, hello …
From the blog of Councillor Claire Wright:
“Doubt has been cast over whether a police investigation is still ongoing into a former East Devon councillor, who made the front page of the Daily Telegraph in March 2013 in an undercover sting operation last March (2013).
At the EDDC audit and governance meeting of 26 June, a councillor can be heard on its audio recording, enquiring about the status of the investigation as he understands that Mr Brown went to see the police with his solicitor and was informed that the investigation had concluded.
He adds that several other councillors were also reporting this.
A senior EDDC officer replies that the council believes that the investigation was still live.
But the councillor is insistent that he has heard differently and asks the officer for clarification, appearing to refer to next year’s council elections.
The officer agrees to double check the status of the police investigation.
Here’s the recording – the question comes at about 1:01 – http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/webasp/recordings/auditgovernance/ag260614recording.mp3
Mr Brown resigned as an EDDC conservative councillor last March, following the publication of the Telegraph undercover sting operation, which has him on camera boasting to journalists posing as developers that if he couldn’t get planning consent nobody could. He added that he wouldn’t do it for peanuts.”
So, who do we believe – and why? And why do some councillors and officers seem to know far more than others about what may or not be happening?
Have all witnesses been interviewed? …
Watch this space …..
Curtailment of public right to speak at EDDC meetings – your chance to stop this
23 July 2014 (agenda not yet published so time not yet available – hmmm)
Oh, look, just after we’ve mentioned it the agenda appeared here:
Click to access 230714_council_agenda.pdf
Knowle, 6.30 p.m.
EDDC full Council to vote on curtailment of public right to speak at EDDC meetings –
EDDC’s Executive Board has already voted for the curtailment of the rights of the public to speak at its meeting but it needs the rubber stamp of the full Council which will meet on 23 July 2014.
It is not too late to get this decision reversed. Write to your local councillor asking how he or she is planning to vote and why, and turn up on the day to show your support in preventing the erosion of democracy in East Devon.
(Contact details for your local Councillor can be found here, Wards and Councillors. Simply scroll down the list to find the Councillor for your ward and click on the orange highlighted name to bring up the details.)
A motion challenging what the Independent Councillors see as a clampdown on free speech, is proposed by Cllr Claire Wright and seconded by Cllr Ben Ingham. Cllrs Roger Giles, Trevor Cope and Susie Bond have also signed up to it. Below is an extract from Cllr Wright’s blog on the issue:
“The motion will be debated at the full council meeting of Wednesday 23 July, which starts at 6.30 pm. It reads: “This council believes wholeheartedly in democracy and the fundamental right of its citizens to be fully represented by their elected members. This council also believes in the democratic process and commits to do everything within its power to enhance the role of the elected member.””
EDDC has recently sought to place a number of restrictions on the freedom of speech including: – 1) Recommendations to dramatically reduce public speaking at planning committee meetings. (Also to be decided on the 23rd). 2) Restrictions on public speaking at all committees. 3) An agreement that, “any motion not immediately relevant to the business of the council will be referred to a council committee first.”
Whilst everyone agrees the meetings can be long, especially when issues of public local concern are being discussed, if these restrictions are passed they will betray the key principles of Localism, designed to improve and encourage local authority engagement with the community. If EDDC wants to make meetings more time efficient, they could instead refrain from so much self-congratulation, nor raise issues of national policy over which they have no control; e.g. the recent half hour presentation and subsequent debate on the evils of illegal highs.
We very much hope you will take the time to contact your EDDC Councillor and urge them to vote against this reduction in the level of transparency, accountability and democracy at East Devon District Council. We also hope you will be able to show your support for those objecting by attending the meeting at the Knowle in Sidmouth on Wednesday, 23rd July.
Please feel free to pass this invitation onto your family, friends and neighbours, since this vote directly affects the rights of everyone living in the East Devon area.
Look forward to seeing you there!
Warmest regards,
Nicky King – (Hon) Secretary – East Devon Alliance.
East Devon Watch 