The above graph (click to enlarge)has been provided by Chris Wakefield, who left a detailed related comment (number 9) at http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/site/comments/40000_leaflets_ready_to_go_as_hugo_swire_says_game_on
Daily Archives: 6 Jan 2015
Subjects to quiz Party representatives on, in approach to election
You may have heard Eddie Mair on a recent PM programme (Radio 4), asking guests what they would like him to quiz the various party representatives about, in the run-up to the General Election.
A written suggestion has subsequently been sent by one of EDA’s fellow -members of the national network of campaign Groups, Community Voice on Planning (www.covop.org), as follows:
Dear Eddie Mair,
SUBJECTS TO QUIZ PARTY REPRESENTATIVES
I would like the respective parties to be quizzed on their understanding of how much the rural population feels aggrieved at the exploitation of the current Planning policy by developers and how powerless local councils are in the process of controlling their respective districts. Realistically affordable housing is required for first-time buyers, smaller single/couple only occupied properties are needed and in many areas the ever expanding older population requires bungalow properties. Yet current government policy is blatantly allowing developers unchallenged consumption of green spaces for house construction of the wrong type, in the wrong places and with insufficient infrastructure to support them. Instead, all over the country, open-market ‘executive’ style homes are the predominant design being applied for on agricultural and open greenspace land because its easier and cheaper to develop then brownfield sites. Yet, no constraints are then placed on the developers to proceed with actual construction so the land and its benefit to the community in its original form is lost nevertheless and cannot be challenged.
Paul Adams
DefeND North Devon
Barnstaple
800 people will work at new Ipswich £11m HQ
And we get around 300 for the same price!
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/politics_2_480/ipswich_first_staff_move_into_new_11m_council_hq_1_1495978
Councillor who fraudulently claimed childcare allowances jailed
“A spokesperson for Wigan Council said: “Councillors are elected by the people of the borough who expect them to be honest, respectful and live up to the trust placed in them by the electorate. Thankfully these are qualities most of our councillors possess, but this is not true of former councillor Emma McGurrin – sadly she chose to abuse her position of power and responsibility.
“The council hopes this sentence helps to restore people’s faith in local democracy and underlines Wigan Council’s determination to stamp out this bad behaviour no matter what political party a councillor is a member of. Unfortunately, Wigan Council does not have the power to remove badly behaved councillors – only voters can do that through the ballot box.”</em>
What £10 million buys you these days
If it costs £10 m to improve the entrance of Exeter St David’s railway station, how can it cost EDDC the same amount to build a new HQ in Honiton and refurbish Exmouth Town Hall?
Man the defences!
One needs a sense of irony when reading this Express and Echo reader’s letter. One suspects it may pass over the heads of many in our majority party!
Extraordinary Parish Council Meeting called tonight at Clyst St Mary (7.30pm in the School Hall)
Yet another East Devon Village could be swallowed up by massive development, which would more than double Clyst St Mary’s size in just a few years. The Express and Echo have taken up the story.
Understandably, local residents want to have their say in the matter. Hence the extraordinary meeting organised for this evening. All welcome. Details on the campaign group’s excellent website http://saveclyststmary.org.uk/2015/01/05/save-clyst-st-mary-story-now-on-express-echo-webiste/
EDDC Leader sees positive things ahead
05 January 2015
Paul Diviani sends New Year message to East Devon residents
In the darkest, nay, dampest, days of winter, I always feel driven to think
positively of the future. It seems so long since 2008 when the financial
world changed and with it the world of local Government.
Over the years, we have always been a cautious Council and that has largely
paid off when the going got rough. We have protected our frontline services
and cut and trimmed our back office requirements. Our satisfaction ratings
are the highest they have ever been with the exception of planning – but the
latter is replicated right across the country as we all try to come to terms
with the new planning guidelines and the need for growth.
As a country, we are still living beyond our means but the Chancellor is
tackling the deficit and the Coalition’s predictions are coming true. Whilst
the belt tightening continues the economy continues to improve and the
future is looking very bright. We are fortunate to live in a beautiful
place, which others want to share. Not only do we need more housing but the
massive unmet demand puts enormous upward pressure on house prices and, at
over 11 times average earnings, distorts the supply of local houses for
local people.
I welcome the Government’s stance on localism as outlined by Secretary of
State Eric Pickles’ in a message shortly before Christmas when he asserted
that: “Patterns of local government should reflect England’s local
identities and traditions. We will champion England’s long-standing towns,
boroughs, cities and counties, and will continue to oppose the imposition of
artificial regional structures”.
As a rural designated area – even though we include Exmouth, Devon’s largest
town – we are part of the District Councils’ Network and have been fighting
hard for fairer funding. Whilst the Government appears to acknowledge our
entitlement, they have still a long way to go to redress the imbalance with
our big urban colleagues. We have nevertheless got the funding we predicted
when we started our budget-setting process, so yet again we will be able to
balance our books for the coming fiscal year. Members and Officers have
worked diligently on your behalf and will continue so to do.
May I take this opportunity to wish everyone Good Health, Happiness, Peace
and Prosperity for 2015.
Councillor Paul Diviani, Leader, East Devon District Council
East Devon Watch 