The next meeting of the Neighbourhood Plan group takes place on Monday (February 16).
For more information on how to get involved with the plan, or if you wish to attend Monday’s meeting, contact David Zirker, who will confirm the venue of the talks, on 01395 567430 or email nph-nplan@outlook.com.
http://www.devon24.co.uk/news/have_your_say_on_parish_plan_1_3955849
Because David Cameron didn’t want us to know who went to his £15,000 per place fund-raising dinner, there was no guest list and no seating plan for the room. Do, how did guests know where to sit? They were given a secret code to a secret website from which they had to follow instructions (wonder who sat next to Peter Stringfellow?).
Now we know where EDDC gets its taste for secrecy – straight from the top!
We do know that our (current) MP, Hugo Swire, was not only a guest but also the auctioneer for the evening, when he made a tasteless joke about Greece:
Pretty poor judgment from a senior man from the Foreign Office, what.
Includes loss of civic amenities …
Cllr Gottlieb leads the Winchester Deserves Better campaign that opposes the scheme, arguing that the scheme is poorly designed and over-sized for the setting. He is also concerned that under the terms of the variation, affordable housing and civic amenities have been removed from the scheme.
http://www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/
Sometimes Goliath does lose.
“However, because of the forthcoming local and national elections this would not appear to be a viable route to follow, as there is concern that the process could be seen as politically motivated, which would overshadow the soundness of the plan. While mindful of the need to progress quickly, the significance to the process of members’ consideration and consultation should not be overlooked, and consequently it is unlikely that we will take the report to our members until shortly after the May election.”
Quite. Perhaps, also, the news will be too much for us to bear and might affect our voting choices …..
What is widely considered the secretive saga of EDDC’s bungled relocation plans, is reaching a costly crescendo…and not just in monetary terms. If the District Council’s plans go-ahead, this unique landmark parkland will have restricted access, and the Public Open Space will be much reduced.
To have your say, see http://saveoursidmouth.com/2015/02/12/where-how-to-send-comments-on-appropriation-disposal-of-land-at-knowle/
“…The problem now is that many of the Tesco developments on which town hall leaders had staked regeneration plans have been cancelled. These include schemes to redevelop the town centre in Kirkby, Merseyside (where previously Tesco’s plans to build a complex alongside a new stadium for Everton FC were rejected by the government in 2009) and the former Royal Hospital in Wolverhampton, West Midlands …”
General principles:
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• be cost effective
• be objective
• be even-handed
• be appropriate
• have regard to equality and diversity
• be issued with care during periods of heightened sensitivity
Publicity during periods of heightened sensitivity
33. Local authorities should pay particular regard to the legislation governing publicity during the period of heightened sensitivity before elections and referendums – see paragraphs 7 to 9 of this code. It may be necessary to suspend the hosting of material produced by third parties, or to close public forums during this period to avoid breaching any legal restrictions.
34. During the period between the notice of an election and the election itself, local authorities should not publish any publicity on controversial issues or report views or proposals in such a way that identifies them with any individual members or groups of members. Publicity relating to individuals involved directly in the election should not be published by local authorities during this period unless expressly authorised by or under statute. It is permissible for local authorities to publish factual information which identifies the names, wards and parties of candidates at elections.
35. In general, local authorities should not issue any publicity which seeks to influence voters. However this general principle is subject to any statutory provision which authorises expenditure being incurred on the publication of material designed to influence the public as to whether to support or oppose a question put at a referendum. It is acceptable to publish material relating to the subject matter of a referendum, for example to correct any factual inaccuracies which have appeared in publicity produced by third parties, so long as this is even-handed and objective and does not support or oppose any of the options which are the subject of the vote.
THE SILENT HUGO SWIRE MP VOTES IN FAVOUR OF CUTS IN DEVON’S BUDGETS:
SAYS NOTHING IN WESTMINSTER DEBATE
“Claire Wright, the Devon County Councillor and Independent candidate running against the current MP, Hugo Swire at the General Election, challenged her opponent last week. She reminded him that his website claimed that he would “speak up and vote for the people of East Devon”.
She invited him to speak up when the House of Commons decided on Council Budget cuts for the next financial year. The leader of the Conservative-led Devon County Council, which has secured savings of £128 million since 2009, had warned that further cuts of £50 million will have to be made in the next financial year and another £34 million in the following year.
“But during the debate on Tuesday 10th February, Mr Swire was apparently unable to find his voice to defend the thousands of residents who will be severely affected by the latest sets of budget cuts.
“He voted in favour of the crippling cuts to Devon County Council and was silent during the debate.
The council funding debate came just hours after Mr Swire and his colleagues attended a Conservative party election fundraiser where tables could be booked for £15,000 each and which raised over £2 million. “When you failed to utter a word for your constituents in a crucial debate, is it any wonder that thousands are asking “how are we all in this together?”
“Mr Swire, you have voted for council cuts without even making an argument on behalf of your constituents. You cannot be accused of inconsistency: another year, more massive cuts and once again, you have totally ignored the wishes of your hard-pressed constituents. You remained a mute minister. Do you care? It is understandable why so many local voters will vote for change and for someone who does really stand up for the local people, in practice, not just via PR type slogans on a website. Action, not meaningless words, is required and you have let down all the voters in East Devon by failing to speak on their behalf as you said you would do. Presumably, you will remove that empty promise from your website?
“Even in election year, it appears that you are not brave enough to utter a word on behalf of your constituents many of whom have long since given up on you because you have consistently ignored them and the problems in East Devon, many of which have been created by the Conservative-led East Devon District Council.
“Mr Swire, your actions are regarded here in East Devon, that’s your constituency, as cowardly and callously indifferent to local people’s needs.”
Devon County Council will vote on its newest and most crippling budget yet on Thursday 19th February.”
As you will have noticed, the East Devon Alliance has grabbed the headlines, and been prominently featured in the local press and radio over the past week or so.
Now this invitation has come from EDA, for any EDWatchers who might like to follow EDA news for themselves:
There are 4 options:
a. Subscribe to emails on the site – http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk
b. Subscribe to RSS on the site – http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk
c. Like EDA on Facebook – EastDevonAlliance
d. Follow on Twitter – EDevonAlliance
And if anything specially grabs EDWatchers’ attention, it can be shared with neighbours and local friends by:
a. Forwarding the email
b. Clicking the share buttons on the EDA website
c. Sharing EDA posts with friends on facebook.
d. Re-tweeting.
……There seems to be lots going on!!
Congratulations to Gaeron Kayley of the Save Clyst St Mary campaign, who tells us, “I have been advised that the development at the Cat and Fiddle has been refused! This shows that a collaborative, fair and open approach does give us a true voice. Lets hope events continue to go this way and our village’s character preserved.” Full story, with reasons for refusal, here: http://saveclyststmary.org.uk/2015/02/12/cat-and-fiddle-planning-application-refused/
East Devon Watch 