Science Park right by M5 junction and the planned new shopping centre and getting high status tenants (Met Office new computer cenntre, Blur Group) with high-tech, high-value jobs. Skypark near the incomplete and (some say) problematic Cranbrook, adjacent to Exeter airport runway and, well let’s say, less high-value job and less high status tenants (energy plant, call centre, parcel depot – and EDDC new HQ)!.
Where would I rather be? Hmmm – hard question!
We notice from the What do they Know website
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/conduct_of_the_may_22_2014_local#outgoing-397991
that EDDC has refused to answer a question about Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) Mark Williams’ evidence to the Commons Constitutional Reform Committee on October 13th about several thousand names apparently missing from EDDC’s latest electoral register. He told the Committee that he had not “knocked anyone off the electoral register” because, he said:
“…… at the European election if an elector presented themselves to vote and they were not on the developmental register as I call it, the presiding officer would phone up and say, ‘That’s okay, they are on my old register. We will do a clerical error and they can go back on.’”
The implication seemed to be: “Don’t worry about thousands of missing names, they just needed to turn up and they were allowed to vote! “.
On 15th October Sidmouth resident Tony Green put a Freedom of Information request to EDDC asking how many such cases there actually were at the European and local elections last May.
On 4th November EDDC refused to answer because they said EROs are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act, and anyway Mr Williams and his team are too busy working on the next election to be bothered with pesky questions concerning precise numbers.
In fact, in the meantime, EDA has learned from a reliable source, that the total number of electors able to vote in May using the procedure above was precisely…..THREE!
‘LITERATURE and LANDSCAPE in EAST DEVON’
A correspondent writes, “I think this book would make a good Christmas present, better still keep it as it has lots of literary walks and a map included.”
For an entertaining preview of this unique publication, written in support of EDA, you are warmly invited to the book launch evening on
FRIDAY 12th DECEMBER 2014, 6-8pm at ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH HALL, ALL SAINTS’ ROAD, SIDMOUTH, EX10 8ES
As a first, full literary companion to the East Devon area, A4 in size and full colour, this beautiful book combines large photographs with serious research, quotations, observations on literature and landscape. Included also is a map, information on the writers, an index and bibliography, plus directions as to where the authors walked in the area so readers can follow in their footsteps. The aim is both to celebrate and draw attention to this unique and threatened part of rural England. Birthplace of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Sir Walter Raleigh, a setting for stories and poems by Jane Austen, H.G Wells, John Fowles, C. Day Lewis, John Betjeman, Beatrix Potter, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and others, East Devon remains as attractive to writers today as ever. The publication of this book aims to help keep it this way.
RSVP to Mike Temple, stating number attending: michael.temple@btinternet.com or Tel: 01395 577461
The dramatisation of the book starts promptly at 6.30. Free entry. Book signing. Raffle. Light refreshments available after the performance.
Interesting debate this evening (available on BBC Iplayer) on devolution of power in the south west and how it might evolve.
If power is devolved in England how far should that power go down? To the south-west (if so, where would it start and which city would be its administrative centre), to a Devon/Cornwall/Somerset/Dorset combination (if so, which ones), to Devon (including or excluding Pkymouth and/or Torbay?), to Northern Devon and Southern Devon, to East Devon(!) to a conurbation centred on Exeter and/or Plymouth, to a collection of towns and parishes (if which towns or parishes?).
Who do you trust to hold power?
What a conundrum!
The Electoral Commission has recently ruled that the Conservative Party forfeit a £28,000 donation from a company that, in their opinion, was not suitable as a donor:
“The Electoral Commission has agreed the forfeiture of a £28,000 donation from the Conservative Party. This is the full value of a donation that the party accepted from a company called Henley Concierge Limited on 3 July 2013 and that the Commission is satisfied was impermissible.
Under the law political parties and their accounting units must not accept a donation unless it comes from a permissible donor. A company is deemed a permissible donor if it is registered at Companies House and carries on business in the UK.
The Commission considered there was sufficient doubt as to the permissibility of the donor to open a case review to establish whether in fact the donor was permissible. During the course of the case review and following its own checks, the Commission raised concerns with the Conservative Party about the permissibility of the donor. Following these discussions, the party has forfeited the full amount of the donation.”
No less than the Morning Star has this information on the company involved:
“Austrian-born Mario Hinterdorfer owns Henley Concierge Ltd.
Hinterdorfer is also the personal assistant to exiled Russian oligarch Andrey Borodin, the president of the Bank of Moscow until 2011.”
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-cc7d-You-rang,-MLord#.VFqNoucgGf0
It has also fined Nigel Farage £200 for not appropriately declaring his office rent expenses in the UK:
“Nigel Farage MEP has been fined £200 for failing to annually report to the Commission as required by electoral law a regular non-cash donation of the free use of office premises from a donor, Mr John Longhurst. The failure to report had been ongoing since 2001 and has been independently valued as rising from £3,500 to £3,800 per year over this time.
Mr Farage has paid the fine.”
Should anyone wish to see a list of donations that have been breached, a full list can be found here:
Click to access Cases-publication.pdf
and here is a helpful table of offences that can be committed and sanctions that can be applied:
North Devon has refused permission for a development if 80 houses until after a Section 106 agreement roundabout has been constructed as agreed when the planning application was passed:
http://www.devon24.co.uk/news/planners_refuse_to_reverse_on_barnstaple_hospital_roundabout_1_3834962
Unlike our own council which allows developers not only to start construction but also cancels S106 requirements that developers don’t like.
“The idea you can allow these volume estates – almost all identical – to go ahead as they wish on the grounds that they are pro-growth is illiterate planning.”
Sir Simon Jenkins, Outgoing Chair of The National Trust (quoted from his article in today’s Daily Telegraph, p.4)
Carmarthenshire County Council has suffered many problems similar to those in East Devon: lack of transparency, a perception that is is officer-led and unaccountable. Its Chief Executive was awarded a dubious pension deal at a meeting at which he was present and he is currently attempting to negotiate a severance deal (designed by him and other officers) of £250,000 plus.
Unlike here, a combination of opposition councillors, local bloggers and the press forced a review of the situation and a hard-hitting report was commissioned and is now published. It makes fascinating yet anxiety-provoking reading – particularly on the issue of public speaking and overview and scrutiny.
The executive summary states:
· Despite pride in the Council’s services and high regard for the workforce, there were widespread concerns about the way the Council conducted business from many internal and external stakeholders;
· Internal systems of governance and constitutional processes were either not consistently followed or were perceived to be designed to constrain democratic debate and public engagement;
· Internal tensions affected the way that the Council worked and was viewed externally;
· There was generally an inconsistency in the understanding of the respective of roles of elected members and officers, and the perception has been that the Chief Executive and senior officers have dominated some of the decisions of the Executive Board to the extent that the balance of governance has become disjointed and the Council is widely perceived to be officer-led;
· the Council’s member and officer leadership was viewed by some as defensive and did not encourage or respond constructively to challenge, but there was a clear consensus, particularly from members, that there was a need and a willingness to strengthen internal and external accountability arrangements;
· There was a consensus, particularly from members, about the need to redefine and strengthen the member role and provide leadership of the openness and transparency agenda
You can read it here:
Developers know where the miney is:
Letters on pages 14 & 15 of this week’s Pullman’s View from Sidmouth, (Tuesday 14th November) pour scorn on senior EDDC officials. http://www.viewfromonline.co.uk
Tellingly, the letters have been sent in from different parts of the District. In the first one, under the heading Someone needs to stand up to ‘injustice’, Mrs N. Chance explains her outrage, saying of EDDC,”I have come to feel it is more than just an “Old Boys Network”, it is far more worrying than that.”
Her letter is followed by one from Sean Little of Axminster, who expresses his disgust with his local representative, Cllr Andrew Moulding, EDDC’s Deputy Leader.
Cllr Moulding’s recent attack on Independent Councillor Paul Hayward, is described as “childish and out of touch”.
On the next page (p.15), a resident from Ottery St Mary lists “More questions for Mr Williams to answer” about East Devon’s electoral registration procedure.
This letter referred to the Chief Executive’s recent appearance before a Parliamentary Select Committee (See http://eastdevonalliance.org/2014/10/07/stop-press-the-missing-6000-voters-eddc-chief-executive-mark-williams-called-before-parliamentary-committee-to-explain-himself-next-week/ )
Meeting on Thursday 13 November 2014 at 6.30 pm http://new.eastdevon.gov.uk/media/476265/131114-os-agenda-combined.pdf
Titbits from the current Overview and Scrutiny agenda
Council promises 2014-16
One area of concern flagged red:
Area: Continue development at Cranbrook and elsewhere to ensure best quality of build and design of homes, high street and public spaces.
Concern: While development continues apace there are concerns about the future of Cranbrook and the need for a masterplan to guide development moving forward to ensure that the best quality of build and design is achieved.
Our translation: Cranbrook is not living up to expectations and because we didn’t plan properly in the first place we are going to have to throw money at this problem.
Also interesting variations:
Area: Make sure that new developments are supported with the right level of investment in infrastructure to benefit the community.
Variation: There remains a concern that viability issues with developments is making it difficult to secure the full level of invesment in infrastruture that is necessary to meet the needs of the development, however it is hoped that as the economy continues to grow that viability will improve.
Our translation: No local plan = no Community Infrastructure Levy = no community infrastructure.
Area: Develop the business case and governance arrangements for setting up a trust for the Thelma Hulbert Gallery.
Variation: This is no longer being pursued – LED had been asked to look at the possibility of running the THG but had decided against taking the gallery under their operations.
Our translation: THG is bleeding money and we can’t find a way to stop it but most of the Executive Board are Honiton councillors and won’t countenance any radical costcutting or closure that might cost them votes.
Oh, and the EDBF Task and Finish Forum stays in the long, long grass!
Source: http://new.eastdevon.gov.uk/media/476265/131114-os-agenda-combined.pdf
Visiting the envisaged Jurassic Coast Visitor Centre in Seaton will not be able to stay in the planned adjacent hotel as Tesco has agreed to sell that part of the site to McCarthy and Stone (who have put in an application for 42 retirement flats), if their planning application is successful.
The site was originally supposed to have a hotel, leisure facilities and 300 plus general and affordable houses. The affordable percentage was originally set at 40% but was later reduced to 25% and then to zero percent.
Along with the Tesco store the site will now have only general and retirement housing, no affordable housing, no leisure facilities and no hotel.
EDDC website says deadline was 28 October, 2014, for decision on CERTIFICATE OF LAWFULNESS 14/2032/CPE.
No news so far as to whether this case, with its unusual circumstances, has been or will be decided in or out of the public eye.
The following links give some background
http://eastdevonalliance.org/2014/09/22/ex-councillor-browns-facts-disputed-2/
http://eastdevonalliance.org/2014/09/23/farmer-brown-or-mr-brown-the-saga-continues/
http://eastdevonalliance.org/2014/09/12/daisy-the-cow/
Hugo Swire has just – after seven years – commented on the local plan! And what he says shows that he is – yet again – behind the times in his own constituency. Here is what he says – with annotations:
‘Unlike some, I have never taken the rather irresponsible position of being anti-development.
This is absolutely true as Hugo has never, in fact, taken any position at all on the local plan during its long history.
The fact is that for decades there has been a chronic shortage of homes, not least due to a growing and aging population. It is absolutely vital that we build more affordable houses, especially for young people in East Devon trying to get on the housing ladder.
We totally agree – but, unfortunately for Hugo, East Devon District Council does NOT agree. Large, cash-rich developers have been allowed to strike out ALL affordable housing in their developments, citing their poverty!
‘However, we must ensure that a balance is struck. We live and work in a wonderful part of the world and it is absolutely crucial that East Devon retains its beautiful landscape and unique character.
Well, here is one thing we can agree on. But it comes a little too late in Hugo’s case. Whilst we – and many others – have been banging this drum for years and years Hugo has been noticeable by his silence.
‘A completed Local Plan is essential as it would be drawn up in consultation with local people so that they could determine where development should and should not go. However, many of my constituents feel that EDDC’s lack of a Local Plan is allowing developers free rein which is leading to overdevelopment in areas such as Woodbury Salterton.
Now, is it just a coincidence that his constituency office is in Woodbury Salterton? He makes no mention of of Newton Poppleford or Budleigh Salterton and all the other towns and villages in his constituency beset by inappriopriate planning applications due to our lack of a local plan. And his biggest blooper – saying that the local plan “should be drawn up in consultation with local people so that they could determine where development should and should not go” – which reveals his total ignorance of the fact that local people commented in their THOUSANDS before the last iteration of the draft Local Plan and made it TOTALLY clear where they thought development was appropriate and how much there should be. EDDC rode roughshod over these views. Local people – East Devon Alliance in particular – pointed out the weaknesses of the draft local plan – no up-to-date figures, no strong evidence for development sites, the stupidity of relying on a group of local landowners to decide where employment land should be sited – and all was ignored. All these points were picked up by the Planning Inspector who threw the plan out.
‘Today I call on EDDC to make the completion of its Local Plan an absolute priority and, in the meantime, ensure that the green light is not automatically given to developers. Inappropriate planning applications must always be rejected’.
Oh, Hugo, so little, so late! But we guess we should feel privileged that, this close to an election, you are slowly, very slowly coming round to the point of view that most of us have had all along!
Which makes it all the more strange that the EDDC Economic Development Officer – who had formerly spent so much time administering the meetings of the East Devon Business Forum – was allowed to leave … still, that’s at least one salary that can be put to good use. Though, of course, we cannot have another Economic Development Manager for the next two years if he was made redundant.
What an odd situation. Just at the time when you need someone doing Economic Development, the post disappears.
And it seems as if they really do need all hands on deck if the following reader’s letter on the Express and Echo website is to be believed:
CRANBROOK should conjure up the urban dream nestled in the countryside; certainly the offices of the builders, with their impressive flower displays, manicured grass, trees, and shrubs, lure prospective buys on into a place where there is no infrastruture, no green spaces, and cramped housing conditions.
The reality of the place is like most things of today, all show and no heart. It is a place for the young and inexperienced, with lots of children and dogs for company. Most of them don’t live there, they go to work early and return late, lucky them. As more building continues, I think we can call it Cramped Cranbrook.
Name and address withheld
http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Reader-8217-s-Letter-Cranbrook-urban-dream/story-24101052-detail/story.html
In 2013 Electoral Registration Officers were issued with new instructions about how they should register voters – the annual canvass was postponed so that the new way of registering voters (individually and not by head of household) would be as accurate as possible.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/794/contents/made
and
The Electoral Registration (Disclosure of Electoral Registers) Regulations 2013
The latter included the following – and yet our Electoral Registration still managed to lose more than 6,000 voters from the electoral roll that year:
… “5. It is particularly important that a comprehensive canvass is conducted in 2013-14 in order to achieve as complete and accurate registers as possible ahead of the transition to IER. This will help to maximise the number of electors who can be ‘confirmed’ during the transition, which will in turn help to reduce the number of electors that EROs will need to follow up with and invite to register individually.
6. As always, EROs will need to ensure that they have robust plans in place for the annual canvass process and should also review their risk registers to ensure that any additional or different risks and related mitigating action have been identified and are reflected.”
…
9. Although the timing of the 2013 canvass has changed, the processes to be followed will be the same as in any other year. EROs are still legally required to take all steps that are necessary for the purposes of maintaining the electoral register, including:
• sending more than once to any address the form to be used for the canvass
• making on one or more occasions house-to-house enquiries
• making contact by such other means as the ERO thinks appropriate with persons who do not have an entry in the register
• inspecting any records held by any person which the ERO is permitted to inspect
• providing training to persons under their direction or control in connection with the carrying out of the duty
…15. Once decisions have been taken as to when and how the house-to-house enquiry part of their canvass will be carried out, EROs should establish how many canvassers will be needed and when, and put in place plans to ensure that sufficient staff can be recruited, trained and supervised to carry out house-to-house enquiries. EROs’ plans should also reflect how, when and on what basis canvassers will be paid.
16. EROs should bear in mind that existing or experienced canvassers may not be available for part or all of the revised canvass period or willing to work at the required times, and that they may therefore need to undertake additional recruitment exercises, targeting new or different groups. The timing of recruitment should be planned to take into account the likely increased demand for seasonal and temporary staff in other local businesses in the run-up to and during the festive period.
17. Any additional or different risks arising from carrying out house-to-house enquiries at a different time should be identified in the ERO’s risk register and appropriate mitigating action put in place. This might include, for example, risks associated with canvassing in bad weather or when there are limiteddaylight hours, and how these can be addressed through canvasser training and supervision.
…27. EROs should take steps to make local political parties and elected representatives aware of the changed register publication date at an early stage.
On-going registration work following publication of the register
28. The duty to maintain the register and undertake the steps set out in Section 9A of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (as amended) appliesthroughout the year and is not altered by the postponement of the 2013 canvass. Continuing registration work following the publication of the revised registers in early 2014 will enable EROs to ensure that they have carried out all of the necessary steps by the time of the scheduled 2014 polls, which means that the register used for the 2014 polls will be as up to date as possible, and will also help to maximise the number of electors who are successfully confirmed during the transition to IER, thus reducing the amount of follow-up work that EROs will be required to do to contact those who have not been confirmed and invite them to register.
Simply inputting into Google the search terms “council developer secret meetings uk” and reducing searches tonthe last month only brings up, amongst many other examples, these interesting results:
http://www.wigantoday.net/news/local/counciller-secretly-met-with-developers-1-6882202
http://www.westsussextoday.co.uk/news/letters/letter-secret-meetings-over-development-1-6376761
East Devon Watch 