In a long letter in today’s edition of Pullman’s View from Sidmouth , an Axminster resident, berates EDDC for the strange way in which it operates. In a phrase echoing one by Clive Aslet in his Daily Telegraph article ‘Sidmouth Mans the Barricades, the author of the letter, Michael Blagrove, says, “I am glad that I am not alone in detecting a nasty smell emanating from The Knowle… the unmistakable whiff of aloofness and unaccountability.” Mr Blagrove goes on to explain why in his experience, “the officers of the council seem to be under the impression that they are rather too grand to act as “public servants” in the accepted manner..” He is particularly scathing about the Chief Executive’s dual role in South Somerset and East Devon, commenting that ” He may well consider himself to be a jack of all trades, but clearly he is master of none.”
The letter can be viewed in full at http://www.viewfromonline, Tues Oct 28th 2014.
Clive Aslet, Editor-at-Large of Country Life, made some similar observations after a visit to Sidmouth two years ago. See final paragraph of his report at this link http://saveoursidmouth.com/2012/10/23/save-our-sidmouth-reaches-the-daily-telegraph/
Daily Archives: 28 Oct 2014
Clinton Devon Estates plans for River Otter flood relief
Exmouth seafront traders given one season notice
Exmouth seafront traders have now been given notice by landlord EDDC prior to redevelopment. Some are planning to close shortly.
Tesco selling Seaton hotel site to retirement developer McCarthy & Stone
As the article says, a double blow for Seaton as EDDC has already agreed to drop all the affordable housing – set originally at 40%.
Knowle relocation: secret uncosted cart preceding secret uncosted horse?
Some links that Wainhomes would probably prefer you not to click on!
A few stories gleaned from the last 12 months:
http://www.cornishguardian.co.uk/Developer-urged-talk-angry-locals/story-20099876-detail/story.html
http://www.broadlaneaction.co.uk/index.php/7-news/281-wainhomes-development-breaks-the-rules
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/local/will-lorry-talks-end-outcry-1-6627731
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/10931459.Bid_to_build_on_eco_area/?ref=rss
and a few entries on their Twitter account that probably were NOT posted by their PR department:
East Devon District Council invests in “reputation management” software
It has been noticed that recent press releases from EDDC have a new internet address:
devon.vuelio.uk.com
This is apparently specialist software used by (presumably) Devon County Council and other district councils in the area (Teignbridge seems to have the same address).
In its advertising blurb, the company which produces the software says:
Proactive stakeholder engagements, powerful media and parliamentary contacts, in-depth monitoring of coverage and outcomes, and other features makes Vuelio the most comprehensive solution for managing the media and other stakeholder relationships that are critical to your organisation.
Vuelio ensures your communications teams have easy access to all the intelligence – briefing papers, strategy documents, and lines to take – on all of the issues affecting their organisation. They are ready to react to queries from any stakeholder group and are armed with all the information they need to ensure that they address these stakeholder interactions in a personalised manner and deliver a consistent message to avoid dangerous discrepancies.
Source:http://www.aimediacomms.com/vuelio/
And it goes on to say:
Capture key details of all your stakeholders, the organisations to which they are affiliated, their power and influence and relationships between them. Includes the most comprehensive journalist and parliamentary database for finding the right contacts for your message.
Source: http://www.aimediacomms.com/vuelio/key-features/
It also appears that it can be used for computer-generated monitoring of Freedom of Information complaints:
Vuelio CM transforms the normally labour intensive management of FOI requests and complaints into an automated, efficient electronic process. It also allows users to easily capture, store, and process requests in line with legislative requirements.
With Vuelio CM, you will never miss a deadline; alerts and reminders keep you posted when action is required. Powerful searching helps with the identification of precedents and similar enquiries increasing response times and reducing duplication of effort. Easy access to management reports enables the monitoring of workloads, and prioritisation of resources.
Here are details of one of the reputation management seminars they have hostedd:
Setting aside the dreadful jargon – why exactly does a Press Office require such software and how much is it costing US to manage THEIR reputation. Or is our Press Office now a robot!
East Devon Watch 