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12 May 2016

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Accountability, Police (local), Transparency, Voting

Nine police forces investigating Conservative election expenses

West Mercia is to investigate the Devon and Cornwall PCC case to keep a “cordon sanitaire” around Ms Hernandez’s conflict of interest with her own chief Constable.

“Lincolnshire becomes latest force to launch inquiry into allegations that Conservatives incorrectly categorised 2015 election costs

Nine police forces have launched inquiries into whether the Conservative party breached spending rules during the 2015 general election campaign.

Lincolnshire police became the latest force to confirm on Thursday that they were investigating the claims as the Tories handed over evidence regarding the controversy to the Electoral Commission.

The allegations regarding breaches of spending rules centre on claims that the party listed the costs of bussing activists into key marginal seats under national spending accounts, rather than as local spending.

Lincolnshire appears to be the ninth police force examining the allegations, which were first broadcast by Channel 4 News. The others are Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and West Mercia, and Devon and Cornwall.

Any candidate found guilty of an election offence could face up to one year in prison and being barred from office for three years.

A statement from Lincolnshire police said: “We are aware of recent media reporting regarding allegations of irregularities in the election expenses of the Conservative party and some of their candidates in the general election 2015, and three byelections in 2014.

“We can confirm that we are carrying out general enquiries, but we will not be commenting further until they are complete.”

The Electoral Commission went to the high court on Thursday for an information disclosure order to seek the documents.

Within hours, the commission said it had received the documents from the Conservatives and was reviewing them.

Senior Tories insisted that the legal action was not necessary as they had always intended to hand the details over.

“We advised the Electoral Commission on 29 April that we would comply with their notices by 1pm today, and have done so. There was no need for them to make this application to the high court,” a spokeswoman said.

The party acknowledged that due to an “administrative error”, some accommodation costs for the activists were not properly registered, but insisted that the bus tour was part of the national campaign organised by Conservative campaign headquarters and as such, it did not have to fall within individual constituency spending limits.”

http://nr.news-republic.com/Web/ArticleWeb.aspx?regionid=4&articleid=64278297

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East Devon Watch

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12 May 2016

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Accountability, Andrew Moulding, Axminster, DCC, EDDC

Moulding new Chairman of Devon County Council

How ever will he find the time to regenerate Axminster?

And remember Stuart Hughes was sacked from an EDDC committee because he was deemed “too busy” with his EDDC and DCC jobs!

Still, he has got Cloakham Lawn sorted to his satisfaction.

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Devon-County-Council-appoints-new-chairman/story-29265721-detail/story.html

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12 May 2016

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Accountability, Police (local)

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Hernandez interview on Spotlight tonight as Police and Crime Committee gets special meetin

Hernandez interview announced this afternoon for this evening on the 6.30 pm edition on BBC 1. In the meantime, in spite of its Chair (Councillor Croad, Con) saying on television that he sees no reason for it, there WILL be an emergency meeting of the Police and Crime Panel, the local watchdog to which Hernandez is responsible (and which, presumably could suspend her?) within the next couple of weeks.

Members of the panel according to its website is below:

Yvonne Atkinson (Co-Optee (voting)
Councillor Stuart Barker (Committee Member)
Councillor Chris Batters (Vice-Chair)
Councillor Betty Boundy (Committee Member)
Councillor Geoff Brown (Committee Member)
Councillor Roger Croad (Chair)
Councillor Philippa Davey
Councillor Robert Excell (Committee Member)
Phil Martin (Committee Member)
Councillor John Mathews (Committee Member)
Councillor E W Moulson (Committee Member)
Councillor Vivien Pengelly
Councillor Mike Saltern (Committee Member)
Councillor Philip Sanders (Committee Member)
Mrs Margaret Squires (Committee Member)
Councillor Rachel Sutton (Committee Member)
Councillor A Toms (Committee Member)
Sarah Wafker (Co-Optee (voting))
Derris Watson (Committee Member)
Councillor Tom Wright (Committee Member)

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/dcpcpmembership

Time to lobby?

Here is its remit:

The Police and Crime Panel supports and challenges the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). The panel has the power to request reports and call the PCC to attend its meetings.

Panels will not replace police authorities and will not have a role in scrutinising the performance of the police force (that is the role of the PCC).

The panel will:

review the police and crime plan and annual report
scrutinize (and potentially veto) the PCC’s proposed council tax precept* for policing
hold confirmation hearings for the PCC’s proposed appointment of a Chief Constable and senior support staff (the panel may veto the Chief Constable appointment)
scrutinise the actions and decisions of the Commissioner (but not the performance of the police force)
consider complaints against the PCC of a non-criminal nature
*the money collected from council tax for policing

Meetings are held in the Council House, Plymouth City Council, Armada Way, Plymouth.

DEFINITELY time to lobby!

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East Devon Watch

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12 May 2016

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Austerity cuts, Devolution, Local Enterprise Partnership

“EDF says Hinkley Point cost could rise £3 billion, timing slips”

“French utility EDF (EDF.PA) warned on Thursday that the cost of building two nuclear reactors in Britain could reach nearly 21 billion pounds, about three billion more than it said in October.

The equity commitment on the Hinkley Point project includes a contingency margin which could reach 13.8 billion pounds for EDF and 6.9 billion for Chinese partner CGN, for a total of 20.7 billion pounds, EDF said in a statement ahead of its annual shareholders’ meeting.

In October, EDF put the equity financing at 12 billion and 6 billion, respectively, or 18 billion pounds.

EDF also said it would commit to provide “limited” financial guarantees to CGN, particularly in the case of cost overruns related to delays, or in the event that European authorities challenge EDF’s “Contract for Difference” negotiated with the UK government.

It did not specify the size of these guarantees.

Chief Executive Jean-Bernard Levy said that without Hinkley Point, EDF would have no credibility in trying to win other nuclear export markets.

“This project is essential for the credibility of the entire French nuclear industry,” he told shareholders.

EDF said in its statement that since signing its agreement with CGN in October, talks with CGN had continued and that it had now finalised stable contract documents.

EDF, which is 85 percent state-owned, confirmed that the projected rate of return (IRR) on Hinkley Point is estimated at around 9 percent over the life of the project.

It said every six months of delay would reduce the IRR by about 20 basis points.

“We will do everything we can to make sure there is no delay,” Levy told shareholders.

EDF also said it expects it to take 115 months (9.5 years) between a final investment decision until commissioning of the first reactor.

The final investment decision has been delayed several times. Last month, French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron said he expected a decision by September.

This means that if the decision is taken in September, Hinkley Point would start up at the earliest in spring 2026.

In October, EDF said the first operation of Hinkley Point C was scheduled for 2025, which was already a two-year delay from its 2013 estimate for a 2023 start.

Levy also said that a planned 4 billion euro capital increase would be launched by year-end or at the start of 2017 if market conditions are favourable.”

http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/UKDomesticNews/~3/edQriui1NII/uk-edf-nuclear-britain-idUKKCN0Y30Q6

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East Devon Watch

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12 May 2016

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Accountability, Democracy, East Devon Alliance, Independent Councillors

The solution for devisive politics: more independents, says EDA

“Last week, elections for Police and Crime Commissioners (P&CC) were held across the country, including ours in Devon and Cornwall.

We would be grateful if you would allow us to propose that two key lessons must be learned.

The first, sadly, is negative. After the 2012 P&CC when the turnout here was 15 per cent, the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) said: “From the start, the P&CC elections were marred by controversy, with the government shirking its responsibility to provide voters with even the most basic information that the elections were taking place.” One of the ERS’s three key recommendations was: “Never leave voters in the dark about who or what they are voting for – ensure information on candidates is provided in mailings to voters.”

Cut forward to last week, and in Devon and Cornwall the 2016 turnout was still a lowly 22.8 per cent, artificially boosted by elections held on the same day in the major settlements of Exeter and Plymouth. We consider it has greatly damaged the reputation of the Cabinet Office (that little understood organ of control at Downing Street’s right hand) that they simply refused in the four years since 2012 to implement the ERA’s urgent suggestion for even a single mailshot, and hundreds of thousands of West Country voters remained in the dark in May 2016. Why?

However, on a more hopeful theme, there is in our view an immense positive to be found.

The Conservatives polled roughly 69,000 and Labour roughly 66,000.

But the aggregate vote of the two Independent candidates (Devon’s Bob Spencer taking about 41,000 and Cornwall’s William Morris about 22,000) shows us that even at an election when the party machines were cranking hard, a similar share could be gained by two Independent individuals working entirely from their own initiative, with slim resources, and having to operate across an immense area.

The country knows that we are stuck now with an increasingly divisive party political context until the general election fixed for May 2020. However, the more extreme parts of the Conservative agenda – from academies to planning, junior doctors to refugees – are being repeatedly confronted now by collective independent voices uniting outside the parliamentary system.

Last week, in our part of the country, the South West showed that even on a low turnout, the Independent cause is more than about just protest – we too can score in substantial numbers at the ballot box.

The question we now ask the region is this: how, for the sake of the next generation do we harness all this Independent goodwill and spirit to convert sentiment into candidates and candidates up to office at county elections in 2017 and for Parliament in 2020?

It seems to us that without an organised coming together of all independent-minded reformers as soon as possible, the Conservatives will ‘get the vote out’ in 2017 and 2020 too. Surely if ever there was a time for the Independent-minded to take up the challenge, it is now.

Paul Arnott, Chairman
Ben Ingham, Leader
East Devon Alliance”

http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk/in-the-press/20160512/midweek-herald-independents-need-to-take-up-challenge/

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12 May 2016

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Accountability, East Devon Tories, Electoral Commission, Transparency, Voting

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Electoral Commission takes Conservative Party to court over election expenses

“It’s awkward timing for David Cameron, who launches his anti-corruption summit today in London:

he Electoral Commission is taking the Conservative Party to the High Court over the election spending scandal.

The Mirror [ but at the instigation of Channel 4 News] revealed two months ago that at least 24 Tory MPs had help from notorious battle buses ferrying hundreds of volunteers to marginal constituencies during the 2015 general election but didn’t declare any of the spending as required by law.

Breaching spending limits is a criminal offence and could lead to calls for by-elections.

It comes at an awkward time for David Cameron, who today kicks off an anti-corruption summit in London.

The slowly-unfolding scandal has led to several MPs and one Police and Crime Commissioner coming under criminal investigation by police.

The Electoral Commission are taking the Tories to the High Court to force them to reveal documents detailing the spending on Battle Buses ahead of the 2015 general election.

The Commission have already asked the Tories twice for the documents, but they have only provided “limited” disclosure.

Political parties have a legal obligation to provide full spending disclosures to the Commission on request.

Bob Posner, Director of Party and Election Finance and Legal Counsel at the Electoral Commission said: “If parties under investigation do not comply with our requirements for the disclosure of relevant material in reasonable time and after sufficient opportunity to do so, the Commission can seek recourse through the courts.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/electoral-commission-takes-tories-high-7952712

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12 May 2016

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Corruption, Hugo Swire

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Hugo Swire pictured in Cameron’s anti-corruption squad – may have to start with his own family firms

Four of the Swire family holding companies feature in the Panama Papers and Swire is in record as saying that he thinks full tax disclosures for MPs should not be required.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/12/david-camerons-anti-corruption-summit-risks-ridicule-after-it-em/

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12 May 2016

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Devolution, Local Enterprise Partnership

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Our LEP need an “Interim Head of Strategy” – just three days to apply!

“Interim Head of Strategy and Operations
Competitive remuneration [nowhere does it mention what the actual salary is]

The Heart of the South West LEP is a strong and dynamic partnership between the private sector, local authorities, universities and further education across Somerset, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay.

We have established an impressive track record leading and influencing economic growth, job creation and prosperity across the Heart of the South West.

This is an exciting time to be joining a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) – work is underway with our partners developing a devolution deal with Government and at the same time rolling out our pipeline of £500m of investments. Reporting to the Chief Executive, this role leads a small core team in the LEP and working collaboratively with a wide range of other staff in our partners.

As a key member of the LEP’s senior management team, the role also directs LEP strategy (and development of our LEP wide devolution productivity plan), investment programme management and ramping up our engagement and communications with stakeholders to ensure we maximise our impact whilst developing the partnerships needed to build the global distinctiveness of our economy.

The ideal candidate will have senior level experience of working collaboratively with public and private sector partners on economic development or strategic economic plans / programmes in a fast paced, high profile environment. Experience of facilitating cluster development in a similar organisation would also be an advantage.

Also sought is the ability to commence work quickly to support development work on our devolution deal; an initial contract (or secondment opportunity) for a year is on offer.

Please provide your CV and details of remuneration or daily rate sought, by email to janet.powell@heartofswlep.co.uk.

Closing date: 15 May 2016
The LEP follows Somerset County Council Equalities Policies”

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East Devon Watch

Posted on

11 May 2016

Posted under

Hinkley C

Germany had so much renewable energy recently it had to pay customers to use it!

“Power prices [in Germany] went negative for a few hours, paying industrial consumers. Renewable energy generation hit a high in Germany Sunday, with commercial power consumers being paid to use electricity for a few hours.

Around midday the country’s wind, solar, hydro and biomass plants were supplying 87% of the power being consumed in Germany, according to a report by Quartz.

Germany’s renewable energy mix was 33% last year and is expected to climb this year due to new wind power generation, as the country looks to convert to 100% renewable energy by 2050.

The power surplus may have been good for consumers, but power suppliers suffered, according to Quartz. While some gas power plants were taken offline, other plants—such as nuclear and coal—couldn’t shut down as quickly, so industrial customers were earning money as they used electricity.”

Germany Had So Much Renewable Energy It Had to Pay Customers to Use It

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East Devon Watch

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11 May 2016

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Hinkley C

EDF sales and output fall as AGM looms

“French energy giant EDF says sales fell 7% in the first three months of the year in the face of stiff competition, a mild winter and lower energy prices.

The figures come ahead of Wednesday’s AGM where investors will quiz management over their plans for the Hinkley Point nuclear plant in the UK.
EDF, 85% controlled by the French state, has struggled to find the cash for its 66.5% stake in the project.

In April it pushed a final decision on the £18bn plant back to September.
Chief financial officer Thomas Piquemal resigned in April following an internal disagreement over whether to press on with the controversial project.

However, EDF has outlined plans to raise €4bn, with up to €3bn provided by the French government.

Tough markets

Credit rating agencies are due to assess the group in the coming days and their verdict on its finances will determine how easy it will be for the group to raise cash.

Meanwhile, tough market conditions mean EDF is cutting costs and planning to sell €10bn in assets by 2020, including a stake in French power-grid operator RTE.

On Tuesday the new chief financial officer Xavier Girre, said the management was not considering spinning off any part of the group to raise money.
Its latest earnings report shows it has reduced its target for 2016 nuclear output to 408-412 terawatt-hour from 410-415.

The scaling down of its output reflects continuing problems at its Paluel nuclear facility in France where a steam generator collapsed during maintenance.

Sales fell 7% to €21.4bn in the first three months of the year, with sales in the UK down 9.8%.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36262029

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East Devon Watch

Posted on

11 May 2016

Posted under

Democracy, Independent Councillors

A new trend: city parish councils

” … With city residents being increasingly affected by public sector cuts, this may encourage more city-based councils to hold referendums to create new parishes. The appeal of a grassroots local government making decisions – even in urban areas – is that decisions are made for the community, by the very people who live within it. “Having local governors also enforces the view that the council really cares,” says Ball. …”

http://gu.com/p/4jv2n?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

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East Devon Watch

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11 May 2016

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Accountability, Democracy, Spin

And here isn’t the news

Tiny, tiny piece of “In Brief” news on page 2 of Midweek Herald covering the news about the bad behaviour exhibited by some long-serving councillors at Axminster during the recent council meeting where a new mayor (Paul Hayward) was chosen. Alongside big spreads for future opportunities to paddle canoes down the River Axe and dog mess on a playing field. ….

And a slightly larger piece welcoming our new Police and Crime Commissioner with not a mention of the controversy surrounding her appointment.

Oh, and a letter from the EDA Chairman Paul Arnott about the PCC elections together with a very strangely placed photo, completely out of context of a 3 year old child meeting Star Wars Chewbacca.

Journalism?

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East Devon Watch

Posted on

11 May 2016

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Hugo Swire

MPs pay family members an average of £5,600 more than other staff

Our MP Hugo Swire, employs his wife.

“Family members employed by MPs are paid on average £5,600 more than other staff, a watchdog has revealed.

Pay of such “connected parties” has also risen at twice the rate of other staff, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) found.
The group called for a review of whether MPs should be allowed to employ relatives in the future, arguing jobs must not be “personal benefits”.
In total, 139 MPs employ family members at a public annual cost of about £4.5m.

The review will only apply to future staffing as the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) said it would be “unfair and legally challengeable” to investigate existing contractual arrangements.

The watchdog, which is responsible for determining MPs’ pay and expenses, said there was a lingering “perception of risk” about whether the taxpayer was getting value for money in terms of the number of family members and close business associates working for MPs.

After reviewing the matter in 2010, Ipsa decided against prohibiting the employment of family members, saying it did not believe the system was being abused and family members played a “valuable role” in assisting MPs – while limiting their numbers to one per MP.

‘Limited controls’

The watchdog said it was still happy with the majority of contractual arrangements but believed that controls preventing the misuse of funds were “limited”. Since relatives generally occupied more senior roles it found they were paid “significantly more” than other staff.

“Public concern about the employment of connected parties has remained,” it said.

“In order to determine whether these constitute any grounds for concern, Ipsa would need to undertake intrusive and potentially disproportionate work to investigate the employment practices in MPs’ offices. “But, given that there remains a perception of risk to taxpayers’ money, we are obliged to address it. Therefore we are consulting again on the practice, but only in respect of the employment by MPs of any new staff.”

The issue will be considered as part of a wider review of business costs and expenses payable to MPs – with any change to the rules likely to take effect either next year or after the next election, scheduled for 2020.

Ipsa is also looking into the £4.4m cost of paying off staff who worked for the 182 MPs who retired at the last election or lost their seats.
While all the sums were within the rules, it expressed concern that £975,000 was paid to 125 staff who were taken on by newly elected MPs within the subsequent 10 weeks – “sometimes in the same constituency and in the same role”.

As MPs are all separately self-employed, it said the election represented a “legal break” in the staffers’ employment but it noted that in other areas of the public sector the rules had been changed to prevent staff from getting pay-offs if they are soon taken on in a similar field.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36260573

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East Devon Watch

Posted on

11 May 2016

Posted under

Hinkley C

“Rude Chinese”

If Chinese officials were rude to the Queen, imagine what it may be like for those who will have to deal with Chinese officials at Hinkley C, where they will own at least one-third of the nuclear energy plant.

Perhaps some of those LEP business cafe “experts” doing the rounds could deal with this so that relationships can run smoothly.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36263685

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East Devon Watch

Posted on

10 May 2016

Posted under

Accountability, Devolution, EDDC, Exeter City Council, Local Enterprise Partnership

Why is Exeter not represented at the LEP yet East Devon is?

As long ago as March 2011 Exeter City Council CEO Karime Hassan knew exactly how our LEP would be constituted and who would be on it and was making this complaint and prediction:

“The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, which is currently awaiting government approval, has come under fire at an Insider panel debate for failing to properly represent Exeter and its economy in its proposed form.

Speaking at an Insider breakfast debate held the University of Exeter’s Reed Hall, Exeter City Council’s economic development director Karim Hassan pointed out that his council does not have a seat at the table of the Heart of the South West LEP. “I don’t see how Exeter and its growth point can therefore get the messages out there to government that can make a difference,” said Hassan.

He went on: “LEPs need to work effectively, but the prospects aren’t necessarily good. The Heart of the South West LEP already looks like it holds tensions in it, because the needs of cities like Exeter are different from the needs of the rural market towns of Devon and Somerset. It is hard to tell one story to central government because there are so many different localised agendas built into an LEP like this.”

Hassan also said the South West had to work at getting better at arguing its case for a slice of the national cake. “We have lost out many times to others elsewhere, who have been better organised. But the region has not always worked well together, with too much internal competition and rivalry, so this new LEP structure is a real challenge. We have already seen the competitive element surface, with Cornwall’s decision to go it alone with its LEP.”

Others on the panel also saw gaps in the proposed LEP arrangements. Ben de Cruz, senior partner at accountancy firm Haines Watts, said: “It certainly looks like the Heart of the South West LEP proposal will be accepted by the government, but the biggest problem with LEPs is that the funding they will have is still unclear.”

And de Cruz said it would be harder to make strategic decisions in the basis of more local interests. “The South West RDA, for all its shortcomings, was able to look at the bigger picture when assessing projects or funding proposals. Once things are divided up – into Cornwall, Devon and Somerset combined, the West of England, and so on – the question is how wider issues will be tackled. It feels like co-operation will be required, but no-one knows quite how that will work.”

Hassan added that he wanted LEPs to work well but was unsure whether this would happen in practice. “Whitehall needs intelligence, and the LEPs could be that vehicle,” he said. “But equally I’m fearful that the LEP won’t deliver the information it needs to.

“A LEP should be able to prioritise investments, but it will need to work in a clear, transparent way. Potentially it could make a big difference. But first we need to grab the opportunity – partly by getting Exeter fully involved in the planning for the Heart of the South West LEP.”

https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/southwest/50007-

Now, it could be argued that Cranbrook (officially in East Devon and just getting off the ground) was the dealmaker – but, in fact, the town is much closer to Exeter than most other East Devon towns.

Why was there not a seat for Exeter as the county town?

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East Devon Watch

Posted on

10 May 2016

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Police (local)

Chief Constable’s statement on Hernandez investigation

Just one problem: there are only days left to decide whether to extend the time limit for this investigation: how long will it take to choose and brief a new force?

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East Devon Watch

Posted on

10 May 2016

Posted under

Police (local)

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Hernandez is NOT here to support the police

Alison Hernandez said at her swearing in (reported on BBC Spotlight this evening) that she is “here to support the police”.

NO SHE IS NOT!

“The role of the PCCs is to be the voice of the people and hold the police to account. They are responsible for the totality of policing. PCCs aim to cut crime and deliver an effective and efficient police service within their force area.”

http://www.apccs.police.uk/role-of-the-pcc/

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East Devon Watch

Posted on

10 May 2016

Posted under

Accountability, Axminster, Transparency

A tale of two local newspapers …

Both reporting on the democratic election of Councillor Paul Hayward as Mayor of Axminster:

First, the Midweek Herald – a local newspaper owned by one of the small number of powerful regional chains:

“Axminster elected a new town mayor and deputy tonight (Monday May 09)

“Paul Hayward won a secret ballot to deny veteran councillor Douglas Hull the customary second term in office.

Cllr Lara Rowe was elected unopposed as his deputy – replacing Graham Godbeer who said he was not prepared to accept Cllr John Jeffery’s nomination to serve a second term.

Meanwhile two members of the council have resigned – Joy Raymond and Chris Tipping.”

http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/change_of_leaders_at_axminster_town_council_1_4528621

and here the totally local and very independent View from Axminster:

“A “NEW generation” took over the reins of Axminster Town Council tonight (Monday) as Councillor Paul Hayward was elected mayor of the town.

Councillor Hayward takes over the role from the council’s longest-serving member, Councillor Douglas Hull.

Councillor Hull was nominated to serve another year by his deputy, Councillor Graham Godbeer, seconded by Councillor Andrew Moulding who pointed out that it was tradition for mayors to serve two years and said Councillor Hull should be offered his second year.

However, Councillor Jeremy Walden nominated Councillor Hayward for the position, seconded by Councillor Carol Doherty.

Members then carried out an anonymous ballot and Councillor Hayward was announced as the new mayor.

He then received the mayoral chains from Councillor Hull, who commented: “Thank you to all those who supported me. I now have time to do lots of other things and will enjoy my future time on the town council.”

Councillor John Jeffery said that the town owed “a great deal of gratitude” to Councillor Hull and his wife, fellow councillor Joy Hull, for their long service.

“Time moves on and it’s sad to see Councillor Hull go from the top stop, but he’s still got lots of good work to do on the council,” he added.

“We now move to a new generation with younger people with lots of new ideas, but we owe Douglas and Joy a great deal of gratitude.”

Councillor Hayward thanked Councillor Jeffery for his comments, saying he “wholeheartedly agreed”.

Nominations were then taken for deputy mayor with Councillor Jeffery nominating existing deputy mayor, Councillor Godbeer. However, Councillor Godbeer said he was not prepared to accept his nomination.

Councillor Lara Rowe was then nominated by Councillor Walden, and with no other nominations was elected.

Councillor Hayward thanked Councillor Godbeer for his tenure as deputy mayor and said he hoped he could call on him and Councillor Hull for advice during his first term.

Open and transparent

Speaking later in the meeting during the town forum, the new mayor was questioned over the council and Guildhall’s finances and administration by a resident, and said it was his “heartfelt promise” to be as open and transparent as possible.

“I won’t say there will be changes, but there will be progress,” he added.

Councillor Mervyn Symes added: “We hope that it will be more transparent and that we will know what’s going on in that council office rather than not knowing.”

Councillor Hull asked Councillor Symes to give an example of what he was referring to, adding that he had made a “slanderous comment”.

Councillors Symes replied: “It was not a slanderous comment. We don’t all know what is going on in the office.”

Councillor Hayward said that all councillors were equal and no one councillor should have more power than others.

He added: “All councillors need to be fully aware of all decisions and discussions. Without that information we are acting blind which is not constitutionally correct.

“I will be working with our administrative staff to ensure all members have the information they need to do their job legally and to the satisfaction of the public.”

Resignation

It was also announced at the meeting that Councillor Joy Raymond had tendered her resignation.

Councillor Hayward said that Councillor Raymond had announced her resignation that morning, adding to the vacancy already caused by the recent resignation of Chris Tipping.

He said that due process would be followed to fill the two vacancies and urged people to step forward for by-election, asking: “What can you do for your town?”

Town clerk Hilary Kirkcaldie added that if no candidates came forward the vacancies would be filled by co-option.

‘New generation’ takes over as Paul Hayward elected Mayor of Axminster

Owl would say again, pays yer money takes yer choice, but they are both free newspapers!

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