‘The East Devon Alliance of Independents (IEDA) has held its first-ever conference, combining with delegates from across the southwest. The event marks a turning point in the history of this new and important political grouping of Independents. ‘We thought we were all alone in our struggle,” said Kevin Bennetts from Cornish campaign group Yourkidsfuture*. But he and the 80 or so other attendees, from Somerset, Cornwall, Devon, including no less than 15 different locations in East Devon, showed that a strong sense of political cohesion is now gelling into a serious fighting force.
“Who cares what you think?” was the theme of the conference on Saturday 23 April, held symbolically in EDDC’s soon-to-be-demolished Council Chamber at Knowle, Sidmouth, and barely one year after 15 Independents won seats in the May 2015 District elections. “NOT a Party-dominated District Council”, was the answer which emerged, in pithy and polished presentations from Independent EDA councillors.
Councillors Megan Armstrong, Marianne Rixson, Geoff Jung, and Val Ranger exposed a catalogue of poor consultation, inappropriate development and sub-standard planning procedures, they have challenged respectively in Exmouth, Seaton, Feniton, Sidford, Woodbury Salterton and Newton Poppleford. One case study revealed a fabricated press story which threatened local vital facilities.
Graham Long, of ‘Broadband for Rural Devon & Somerset’ (www.b4rds.org/), added another powerful presentation on the serious mishandling by EDDC of the rural broadband rollout, despite his repeated warnings.
The afternoon session opened with guest speaker Bob Spencer – on his bid as a self-funded Independent to become the region’s new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) with no party political ties, and on his belief that “The primary job of a PCC is to listen to the people”.
The conference finished with a penetrating look at the biggest issue on the South West horizon: the government’s plans to transfer big-budget decision-making, including NHS, to a partnership of local authorities and unelected businesses.. the so-called Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).
Cllr Mike Eathorn-Gibbons Cornwall described how this has been conducted in his area in a reasonably democratic and transparent way.
In contrast, three East Devon speakers built a powerful critique of the proposed Heart of the South West LEP project for their own region.
David Daniel gave a concise overview of EDA’s report on Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), just sent, on the advice of the National Audit Office, to the Public Accounts Committee; Cllr Matt Booth explained the wider South West context; and mindful of Shakespeare’s birthday, IEDA Leader, Cllr Ben Ingham, summed up with, ‘Devolution… to be or not to be? ‘ .
Following this first success, dubbed “inspirational” by those attending, more IEDA conferences are in the pipeline,in various venues across the District. Publicity coming soon.’
*Footnote. Link to Cornish campaign here http://yourkidsfuturecorn.wix.com/yourkidsfuture
East Devon Watch 