The latest Sidmouth Herald’s report (10th October, p.4) on East Devon District Council’s New rules to trim ‘unwieldy ‘talks , includes strong criticism by the East Devon Alliance Chair, Paul Arnott. In summary, Mr Arnott warns, “Our beautiful district is under pressure from speculative planning applications as never before, and while EDDC fails to have its Local Plan in place this will only increase. In this context, public speaking at the DMC has repeatedly prevented the council from rubber-stamping a hard-pressed officer’s recommendation to approve. To curtail the right for such sincere people to contribute at this very moment is self-defeating, reactionary and arrogant. For the leaders to claim that EDDC’s new speaking restrictions make them somehow better than other councils in the south west ignores the elephant in the room – the severe crisis in public confidence in planning and democratic practice specific to East Devon.”

Following its recent front page report on the widespread local unrest, the Western Morning News today highlights a letter from EDA member Tim Todd.

(Bigger version will be posted here shortly).
For those who missed it, here’s the WMN story: http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Grassroots-rebellion-arrogant-leadership-Devon/story-23044099-detail/story.html

“We have had enough. Since he came to power [he has] has undermined local democracy, contravened the local plan, and gone against the wishes of local people – enough is enough.”

Relax Mr Diviani – this is a petition circulating about the Mayor of Torbay who has sacked the majority of his Cabinet because they do not agree with him.

But today Torbay, tomorrow … who knows.

Read more: http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Hundreds-sign-online-campaign-oust-Mayor-Gordon/story-23119861-detail/story.html

Anyone tried the “new” EDDC website yet – the responsibility for which can be laid at the door of the redoubtable Councillor Ray Bloxham – you know, the one who cut down public speaking so much at EDDC that it is now virtually non-existent and you can’t say anything until you have told EDDC in triplicate a year before what you intend to say …..

Well, he’s at it again – trumpeting the newly-designed EDDC website. Except that we hear it is generating lots of complaints. Unwieldy, not-fit-for-purpose, a step backwards rather than a step forwards, etc etc.

Trying to find out what is going on at meetings to come or meetings past is an absolute nightmare – minutes linked individually so that you have to go back and forwards many times to read them all, links that don’t lead anywhere, you name it, all in the name of “progress” so that EDDC can offer “more services” online.

Except that it is almost impossible to find the services!

However, see what Councillor Bloxham has to say here (if you can find it):

http://new.eastdevon.gov.uk/news/2014/07/open-for-business/

Well, yes, we do know that EDDC is open for business for SOME people who get unlimited access to REAL people – mostly developers. But for the rest of us are we to be subjected to “New-EDDC website lite beta” rather like “New Labour” or “New Fairy Liquid” … not always a step in the right direction!