Daily Archives: 24 Dec 2015

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24 Dec 2015

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Devolution, Local Enterprise Partnership

Group which may eventually run Devon and Somerset is not representative

Lack of women on enterprise board – Letter to Sidmouth Journal 10 Dec 2015

“Many of you may not be aware that there is a move for Devon and Somerset county councils, Torbay and Plymouth to work together to bid for devolved powers.

The bid is being run by something called the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, which has set itself the task of determining the future of the two counties for the next generation.

So who is on the board of this partnership and how representative of the people are the members? Of the 21 board members, three, yes, only three, are women. Even the boards in the City of London aspire to 33 per cent female membership, double that.

However, the following are well represented: the defence industry; consultants; further education and, of course, property consultants. There is no representation from agriculture, the countryside or from our diverse heritage, which is the very essence of Devon and Somerset.

One also wonders how many of the board were born in the two counties and also at the lack of any representation from ethnic minorities.

DR NICOLA DANIEL
Via email.”

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24 Dec 2015

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Devolution, EDDC

East Devon Alliance criticises secret devolution talks

DEVOLUTION TALKS CRITICISED Journal 24 Dec 2015
By Harvey Gavin : harveygavin@archant.co.uk

“A district council decision to discuss a `multi-billion-pound’ transfer of cash and powers to the South West in private has been branded ‘disgraceful’ by the independent East Devon Alliance (EDA).

The Heart of the South West (HOTSW) devolution deal could eventually see East Devon District Council (EDDC) and 16 other local authorities in Devon and Somerset gain more independence from Whitehall.

Supporters say that power over spending on things like growth, infrastructure and health and social care would boost the region’s economy and help create 163,000 new jobs by 2030.n

But critics have raised concerns over a lack of public consultation and that the project could end up ‘devolving powers to big businesses’.

EDDC convened last week to consider the latest draft of the bid.

The item was heard after the press and public had been excluded from the meeting.

The council says that, although the exact details of the bid are confidential at the moment, it is committed to keeping members fully informed through the process.

But the EDA has condemned the way EDDC handled the discussions.

Its chairman, Paul Arnott, said: “It is unacceptable that councillors of any party are only being provided with information on this multi-billion-pound devolution proposal after insistently demanding it from the council clique.
“Then, when it does arrive, its platitudes and unevidenced waffle are marked `confidential’, which misnomer is then used later to close down public debate on grounds of ‘confidentiality’.

“[Last week’s] handling of this matter was disgraceful – an insult to the free press and the council tax payers alike.”

An EDDC spokeswoman said: “Despite the confidential nature of discussions surrounding the devolution deal, we are committed to ensuring that councillors are kept fully informed as the bid goes through further development.

“In January 2016, another draft of the proposal document will be produced and then agreed among the 20 organisations (including 17 local authorities) who are working in partnership in response to the Government’s offer to devolve power and budgets from Westminster to local authorities.”

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24 Dec 2015

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Affordable and Social Housing, Austerity cuts

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Housing benefit cuts penalise vulnerable people

” … some providers of supported housing say they rely on higher levels of housing benefit to cover the additional costs of care and support needed to cater for vulnerable adults.

The analysis – carried out by the Placeshapers group of housing associations – warned that the cut represented “a major threat to the financial viability of such schemes”.
“Placeshapers is calling for all supported housing schemes to be exempt from the government’s changes to social housing rent levels,” it added.

The research suggested specific schemes such as one in Middlesbrough which helps vulnerable women, and another one in Norfolk for children with learning difficulties, would be in the firing line if the cap came into force.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35173650

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24 Dec 2015

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Democracy, West Dorset

Only the district has been changed ….

Letter in Independent 24 December 2015

POWER TO THE VOTERS

Some of us here in Dorset have laboured for a year raising a petition to put an end to the “cabinet rule of law”‘ that reigns supreme in West Dorset District Council (WDDC). We now have enough signatures to force a referendum giving the electorate an opportunity to vote for a change to “committee” governance.

In 2011, from 43 per cent of votes cast, Conservatives were elected to 67 per cent seats of seats available in WDDC. Seven of these councillors occupied all of the executive seats. The national figures at the last general election were worse; the Tories were elected on about 25 per cent of eligible votes. In essence, West Dorset’s main towns are unrepresented politically; not one of their elected representatives sits on WDDC’s executive committee.
What sort of democracy do we live in when it has become necessary for citizens to demand that their representatives have a voice in decision-making?

Politicians talk only in ideological “tongues” but invariably display an insatiable hunger for power. Unless we pull together for proportional representation and make politicians listen not only to us, but more importantly to each other, party politics will continue to divide and betray us.

Mike Joslin
Dorchester, Dorset