Daily Archives: 26 Dec 2015

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26 Dec 2015

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Austerity cuts, East Devon economy, EDDC, Tourism

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East Devon economy booming? Not according to Cabinet agenda data

And just one more from the Cabinet agenda papers for 6 January 2016:

“Local Economic Challenges are identified in the District Profile for East Devon (Grant Thornton, Feb 2015). They include:

The average gross weekly earnings in East Devon are low at £409 compared with £503 nationally

The knowledge economy in East Devon accounted for just 13.5% of total employment in 2013, compared with 18.13% for the SW and 21.75% nationally

The self employment rate in East Devon is high and stable by national standards but new business formation rate is very low, ranking in the bottom 20%.

A key role for the Economic Development team is to create the conditions for more businesses to develop across East Devon and to retain the workforce in the District (Draft Council Plan, 2015). The benefit will be more jobs, money in circulation and business rates income to the Council. The towns to the east of the District have seen less growth than the west end and this presents an opportunity to the Council to assist in delivering this growth.

A key driver behind our regeneration interventions is the improvement of the visitor economy in visibility and mix of facilities and infrastructure. East Devon has much to offer tourists with its world heritage status coastline, beaches, AONBs, attractive towns and villages and numerous attractions that bring people to the district. However, tourism numbers have been in decline in recent years as evidenced in the South West Regional Tourist Board data (2011). This indicated a fall in visitors to East Devon from 800,000 visitor trips per annum in 2005 to 472,000 visitor trips in 2011. The income from overnight stays also fell from 3.7m to 1.8m in the same period.

Click to access combined-final-cabinet-agenda-060116.pdf

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26 Dec 2015

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Cranbrook, EDDC, Local Enterprise Partnership

Cranbrook “Enterprise Zone”: Local Enterprise Partnership to get business rates for next 25 years?

Another highlight from the Cabinet Agenda for 6 January 2016:

“Further details will need to be presented and debated by Council and although the benefits of an Enterprise Zone meet our Economic growth agenda, the implications of committing business rate income from the Zone for the next 25 years to LEP needs to be understood. Particularly as business rates is now seen by Government as the core funding mechanism for councils.”

Click to access combined-final-cabinet-agenda-060116.pdf

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26 Dec 2015

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EDDC

What councillors don’t like, what councillors want

From Cabinet agenda fot 6 January 2016:

… “Feedback from Councillors standing down in May 2015
When Councillors retire, they are invited to complete a survey on their councillor experience and asked to advise what improvements could have been helpful. The summary of the seven responses was included with the agenda. Amongst the standard reasons for retirement, including moving out of the ward, ill health and age, councillors noted reference made to Government-imposed budget cuts and the growing reliance on modern technology. The survey had asked for aspects of the councillor role most enjoyed and those that had not been enjoyed. Negative comments included the political aspects of council life, limited opportunity for backbench involvement and being held back due to lack of IT skills. Members noted that it was important that modern technology was used as a valued tool and not allowed to become a barrier to councillors carrying out their council work. The importance of good IT training and support was essential.

General feedback comments included:

Councillors who are not members of the majority group should be allowed to represent the Council on outside bodies/organisations. Allocation of places should be based on the Councillor’s knowledge and experience and not on their political party. “

Click to access combined-final-cabinet-agenda-060116.pdf

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26 Dec 2015

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EDDC, Exmouth, Moirai Exmouth project

What is going on at Queen’s Drive Exmouth?

From Cabinet Agenda papers for meeting on 6 January 2016:

“Queen’s Drive update

“AH [Alison Hayward, EDDC] gave an update on the Queens Drive development. She reported that she had been involved with a litigation process in Court in Exeter and Bristol which had lasted 10 days. This was regarding obtaining vacant possession for two sites at Queens Drive that were essential for the delivery of the scheme. This litigation had slowed the delivery process for the development. There was also an issue of using car parking spaces for compounds for the work as these would be needed in the summer months for car parking spaces for visitors.

The Board noted that the decision from the court case would not be available until January 2016. However, Grenadier Estates were moving their reserved matters planning application forward for the road, car parks and compound

The Board wished to thank AH for the work she had carried out at Queens Drive on behalf of the Council and also the amount of time she had spent in the witness box. ”
…..
AH would pick up all the relevant items for a press release. It was acknowledged that the Communications Department needed to be strengthened to avoid problems of misinformation and improve the Council’s marketing of the Regeneration agenda. “

Click to access combined-final-cabinet-agenda-060116.pdf

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26 Dec 2015

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DCC, Developers/ Development, EDDC, Environment (local)

10 years to register footpaths and rights of way from 01/01/2016

Get walking and registering – especially as EDDC will allow developers to build on ANYTHING where there might be a loophole to exploit!

“Thousands of footpaths, alleys and bridleways across the UK face being lost forever within a decade under a clause in right-to-roam legislation, campaigners have warned.

From 1 January, walkers, horseriders – and even those taking regular shortcuts to the shops in towns – will have 10 years to apply to save any rights of way that existed before 1949 but do not appear on official maps.

Experts on land access rights say the clock is ticking to save routes that many people take for granted as public highways but that do not appear on official records.

… urban alleyways were of greatest concern, with shortcuts behind houses under threat from homeowners extending their gardens, or fencing off paths that have existed for decades.

… Time was of the essence, he said, as cash-strapped local authorities faced huge backlogs in processing applications. “We have a rights of way network which is really historic and has been around for hundreds and hundreds of years,” he said. “We do take an awful lot for granted.”

Ferwins said it was essential to legally protect that network of routes to preserve “history, culture, heritage, convenience, and a way of making your life happier and healthier”.

… Anyone wishing to register a right of way can seek advice from their local authority, the Open Spaces Society, the British Horse Society, and The Ramblers, who all have volunteers with expert knowledge.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/25/countdown-begins-to-prevent-loss-of-thousands-of-footpaths-and-alleyways