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28 Oct 2017

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Consultation, Democracy, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Health and Social Care (local), Inequality, Local Enterprise Partnership, NHS (local), Scrutiny, Transparency

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Is a new, powerful supra-regional authority being created without public consultation?

Owl says: yes!

On 1 January 2018, a new “Joint Committee” will come into being.

It is charged with delivery of a “productivity strategy” for the whole Devon and Somerset area.

For its (sinister?) aims and objectives, see section 1.3 here:

Click to access 011117bpcabinethotsw%20jcarrangementsappendixc.pdf

Truly, we live in disturbing times as NONE of this has had ANY public consultation, yet, at EDDC, it will be decided on the nod at its Cabinet meeting on 1 November 2017:

Click to access 011117combinedcabinetagenda.pdf

Some really worrying points:

In Section 2.2 it says that the joint committee can at any time extend its powers as it sees fit.

Section 9.2 says a simple majority of votes will decide actions [the membership will be overwhelmingly Tory]

Section 12.0 Chief Executives and Monitoring Officers will be able to add items to the agenda.

NO DOCUMENT PUT FORWARD HAS ANY MENTION OF SCRUTINY OR TRANSPARENCY

The new “joint authority” authority consists of:

[MEMBERS]

Dartmoor National Park Authority
Devon County Council
East Devon District Council
Exeter City Council
Exmoor National Park Authority
Mendip District Council
Mid Devon District Council
North Devon Council
Plymouth City Council
Sedgemoor District Council
Somerset County Council
South Hams District Council
South Somerset Council
Torbay Council
Taunton Deane Borough Council
Teignbridge District Council
Torridge District Council
West Devon Borough Council
West Somerset Council

PLUS CO-OPTED NON-VOTING MEMBERS:

Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership
NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group
NHS South Devon and Torbay Clinical Commissioning Group
NHS Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group

AND ANY OTHER CO-OPTED MEMBERS THAT THE JOINT COMMISSIONING GROUP DECIDES TO INVITE

One thought on “Is a new, powerful supra-regional authority being created without public consultation?”

  1. Honestly, Owl, me thinks you worry too much.

    Who needs Transparency and Scrutiny when you have honest, upright politicians like Paul Diviani representing us on this committee. After all Mr Diviani would never fail to take into account the views of the East Devon public or indeed his own EDDC colleagues when taking part in this committee, would he?

    And since there are no examples of e.g. EDDC or DCC committee’s being manipulated or having democracy abused, why should we have any reason at all to believe that this Joint Committee cannot be trusted?

    Honestly, from what you suggest, the public might think you were suggesting that the Conservative Party cannot be 100% absolutely trusted to act in OUR best interests.

    Or have I missed something?

    Like

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