Why does the Cabinet at EDDC not trust its elected members? The Tories have a large majority, so even if it did not trust OTHER councillors it can, presumably, rely on its own members to agree with its policies.

It seems, from the element of surprise shown, that neither minority councillors nor majority councillors could be trusted by the Cabinet with the knowledge that EDDC was seeking a “Greater Exeter” solution to its current problems.

It also seems that those same majority and minority councillors could not be trusted to give useful input and feedback on a plan to move from Knowle to … well, where rather depends what month you are in!

If you are the Leader of a Cabinet that does not trust the majority of councillors, whatever their political persuasion, and keeps most of its business secret, why on earth would a councillor not in the Cabinet continue to accept such a situation?

Voters expect their councillors to represent them, yet how can they do this when the councillors themselves have no idea what is going on with two of the biggest issues facing the council.

To that we must add a third: the lack of a Local Plan and no 5 year land supply and all the problems that is causing. Yet we hear nothing from majority councillors on this dreadful state of affairs, and none of them seem to feel the need to question what is going on.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee should be investigating these matters, instead of which it is just another rubber stamp committee which asks no questions and uncovers nothing that needs critical examination.

The only hope is that the public can shine lights – but their speaking rights have now been severely constrained, again with almost no dissent from ordinary majority party councillors.

Something is surely badly amiss in the “sovereign state” of East Devon.