A vigorous evening at East Devon District Council’s Full Monthly Meeting, but I left with real sadness at a tragic lost opportunity.
Oddly, that opportunity had actually come a few weeks earlier – on the 2nd July – when the Cabinet was meant to “consider” Ray Bloxham’s proposed changes to the running of the Development Management Committee (Planning).
But sadly, three weeks ago the Cabinet members had simply nodded them through – without refinement or question or any discussion – in under ten seconds.
Things could be very different now if any one of Paul Diviani, Andrew Moulding, Ray Bloxham, Iain Chubb, David Cox, Ian Thomas, Phil Twiss, Stephanie Jones or Tom Wright had piped up and started a discussion.
As it was, they did not, and so things were ready for the rubber stamp tonight, until Independent councillors managed to force a debate. Then, it slowly dawned on the room that while a number of Conservatives were in favour of some of Ray Bloxham’s ideas, they were wholly against the element which restricted public speaking.
Ironically, one of the best speakers on this was Cabinet member, Ian Thomas – Mike Allen, too – but their problem was that it was now too late. If they’d thought on their feet and proposed an amendment to Cllr Claire Wright’s motion to delay implementation, it is likely that we could have had the best of both worlds. Some changes to Planning meetings to help hard-pressed councillors could have been made, but with the continuing protection of council tax payers’ opportunity to speak if they wish. But there was no obvious way to make such an amendment. Despite a long debate, it turned out all along that the die was cast. Undue Haste 1, Democracy 0.
Yet there had been some splendid ideas. Go back to an East and West division of planning discussions on separate committees to cut the load, for example. Or maybe some councillors could limit their own contributions to the tight three minutes under which the public have to speak at the DMC. There was a lot that could have been discussed, and seemingly a cross-party will to do so.
All it needed was the Leadership to show a lead. Alas, there was nobody up to the task.
So where does that leave us? If you are going to have up to 9 houses put up in your road, only 2 council tax payers will be allowed to speak to object. To be one of those two you will have had to write in first, then pre-register your wish to speak. For 10 to Infinity houses, or a supermarket, or even a nuclear power plant, just 5 people have the right to speak, again self-selected. And much else besides. Not good enough, and also wide open to abuse of process. Who chooses the 2, or the 5? And how?
But this report is very much my personal take on the evening and not an agreed view from the East Devon Alliance (which I currently chair). So, speaking personally, I am very unclear how the Leader of the Council judges that repeatedly insulting someone as obviously thoughtful as Cllr Claire Wright from his little podium lends dignity to his office. Cllr Douglas Hull had some wise comments to make about these insults, and on the boisterous barracking from some of the ampler councillors who did not enjoy her contribution. Tonight’s debate was essential – and without Claire Wright it would not have happened.
And speaking personally again, it is hard to fathom why the permanent officers we pay for – Messrs Williams and Cohen, and Ms Lyon – feel it is appropriate for them to chuckle, chatter and smirk when councillors are speaking. I feel some sympathy for the chairman, Graham Godbeer, a well-mannered man who is worth more than sharing a platform with such unattractive and arrogant conduct.
What can finally be said? Some hard-bitten people say you get the council you deserve. I feel it’s more nuanced than that. What is clear is that between now and May 2015 there is an opportunity to see if a fresh batch of councillors may come forward.
East Devon Watch 
RIP democracy – though to be honest democracy died when EDDC adopted the cabinet system. Roll on the elections, until then the (moderated) continue to rule ok?
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And here are my reflections on how my questions about Electoral Registration were handled:
I asked various questions (of the Council not the Council’s Officers) about the performance of the Electoral Registration Officer, Mark Williams, and asked amongst other questions whether the council would be considering disciplinary proceedings for his mis-reporting of his performance on Doorstep Canvassing – he reported that his performance was satisfactory, with 0 (yes, zero) households not canvassed, but the Electoral Commission obviously thought different and decided that his performance on Doorstep Canvassing was “Below the Standard”. The Chairman referred my questions to Chief Executive, the same Mark Williams, for an answer, which (in my opinion) amply illustrates the lack of accountability of this Council, when the ERO has himself for a boss, when the Council defers to an Officer to answer questions of probity made to it, and when the Chairman refers the question to the CEO to answer a question about his own probity.
The Chief Executive’s answer was pretty dismissive. Firstly he called me a liar and claimed I had my facts wrong – but my facts were drawn from documents provided either from the Electoral Commission website, or from the ERO’s own documentation. Then he said (and I am trying to quote, but this may be a paraphrase) “that it was the end result and not the journey that was important” – well try telling that to the estimated 7,000 or 1 in 15 people who were dropped from the Register of Electors by the ERO and perhaps unable to vote in the European elections. What an arrogant disregard for the voters (or ex-voters) in East Devon. And what sort of example does it set for the staff of EDDC when he says that it doesn’t matter how many people lose their vote temporarily so long as they get registered eventually.
Once again I call for the ERO, Mark Williams, to resign his post as Chief Executive Officer on the grounds that he has again both demonstrated his disregard for the democratic process and set a poor example to his staff.
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I think the comment from Mark Williams, along the lines of “that it was the end result and not the journey that was important” is a pretty accurate recollection. But hang on, is not that view expressed more commonly as ‘the end justifies the means’ ?
Might such a philosophy explain the controversial and undemocratic ways much has been done in the district? The Elizabeth Hall saga in Exmouth- what a journey that has been! The Exmouth Splash, the Knowle relocation- strenous efforts to keep those on track and reach the right destination – and so on and so on. Also the way in which Cllr Bloxham’s proposals to restrict public speaking were handled as recognised by some of his own party.
Indeed it is the very way things are done in this district, the journey as Mr Williams might have it, that has brought the name of East Devon District Council into such ill-repute.
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For the sake of accuracy, and as I have now had a chance to listen to the EDDC recording of the meeting, the words used were “Its not where you start from that counts but where you end up”.
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I would also underline Cllr Hull’s comments about the lack of courtesy shown to Cllr Wright – though those words do not do justice to the disrespect for her right to hold a contrary view shown by many of the Tory’s.
Democracy is NOT just about citizens voting in elections – it is about the freedom to hold an opposite view and to have the opportunity to persuade other people around to their point of view – in other words the ability to debate. When the majority barrack and insult other councillors in this way, they show that they are not interested in listening or thinking about someone else’s views – what arrogance to think that you are always right and that other people’s opinions have no weight.
Perhaps most disappointing was the snide remark by the Council Leader, Paul Diviani, who considered that Claire Wright’s attempt to preserve the existing rights on public speaking were simply the start of electioneering “games”. He obviously just doesn’t see the outrage that the Tory’s create by their disregard for the electorate and democracy, and by their increasing secrecy and disregard for openness and transparency.
Personally I am not party aligned, and until recently have not been any more political than to think about the issues of the day before deciding to vote (usually, I should add, voting Conservative). However, I am incensed by the Tory’s secrecy and both the lack of regard for voters and (rightly or wrongly) the appearance of ongoing corruption that this secrecy engenders.
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Firstly, Would any of those councillors who voted against having their vote, (on Cllr Claire Wright’s motion), recorded care to offer an explanation of why they did so? I would really like to know of any sound reasons for depriving the electorate of knowledge of how a councillor carries out his or her duties in terms of voting. Does council transparency not stretch as far as knowing how a councillor voted on any particular issue?
Secondly may I endorse Paul’s comments about Messrs Williams, Cohen and Ms Lyon’s behaviour during the meeting. Perhaps meetings should be video recorded so they can see, if they need the evidence, how their behaviour comes across as utterly disrespectful. We shall not miss the undisguised and frequent yawnings from the departing officer.
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The bad manners of the top table are a regular feature. After the April meeting I sent this to the Monitoring Officer “I wish to complain about the behaviour of the Chief Executive at last night’s Council meeting.. The way he stomped across the hollow dais to collect papers and books while councillors were speaking is bad manners (especially when the sound system is not working) and his shows of irritation when he thinks things are not going well are not what an unelected officer should be doing. I remember his dismissal at a previous meeting of Claire Wright’s amendment to a motion about closure of youth clubs as “a rubbish amendment”. It is not his place to ridicule an elected member.
If he does need to collect papers etc from the side table during a meeting he should either tread quietly or change places with the Leader and so be near the table when needed.”
Her eventual response was “I have spoken with the Chief Executive about your email and he has noted your suggestions.” !
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Obviously the Monitoring Officer’s remit vis-a-vis conduct is defined by law as focussing on the behaviour of councillors rather than officers. I would presume that a complaint to the MO about a junior officer would be passed to their manager for HR-type consideration, though of course such complaints are unlikely to be about behaviour in a public meeting like Full Council.
“Unfortunately”, the CEO doesn’t have a “manager” as such and equally “unfortunate” that the Monitoring Officer does not treat complaints about the CEO (or Deputy CEOs) in the same way as a complaint about a councillor (where the Code of Conduct applies).
Personally I expect a much higher standard of conduct from the CEO / DCEOs / Chairman / Leader than from rank-and-file councillors. Whilst I do not want to see lies or swear-words from any councillor, I don’t want to see robust debate by councillors stifled by excessive avoidance of the slightest deviation from ultra-politeness. But that does not extend to the members of the top-table who should be ultra-polite and (with the exception of the leader) non-partisan.
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It was a sad day that things should come to this, there should not be this antagonism between the council and the public. The loss of the right to for all to speak at meetings is nothing to do with the time taken for the public to state their views, it is simply to shut us up, they do not want our voices to be heard. So much for democracy and localism, they do not exist for EDDC. The behaviour of some of the councillors was very bad, extreme rudeness to Claire Wright; also the manners of some of those at the ‘top table’ leaves a lot to be desired. As for criticising the EDA, what do they expect? EDDC is simply driving people into the arms of EDA! EDDC Councillors have made it clear what they think of the residents of East Devon, never mind, we shall have the opportunity at the elections next year to make it clear how we feel about them.
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