Very rushed so there must be a great number of controversial changes!
Report to follow.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/revised-national-planning-policy-framework
Daily Archives: 24 Jul 2018
The (political) times are a-changing in East Devon!
Once upon a time, the saying was that a donkey could get elected to East Devon District Council if it wore a Tory blue rosette. But times are changing … And what do we have here – a plea from the local Conservative Party for candidates for next year’s local elections – anyone, anywhere – please, please, with a whiff of desperation!
as discussed on EDA DCC Councillor Martin Shaw’s blog post here:
Desperate Conservatives advertise for candidates on Facebook, as they try to cling to control of East Devon in 2019
It seems to Owl that some of the old (very, very old) guard Tories are throwing in the towel – but no-one wants to pick it up!
But when you think of councillors who are REALLY changing things, who do you think of?
Well, of course, Independent Claire Wright – but also EDA Councillor Martin Shaw (fighting long and hard for the NHS), EDA Councillor Cathy Gardner, constantly holding EDDC to account and fighting her Sidmouth corner, EDA Councillor Marianne Rixson and Dawn Manley – never-ceasing their crusade about the awful plan for a massive business park in Sidford, EDA councillor Val Ranger taking in developers, including Clinton Devon Estates in Newton Poppleford, EDA Councillor Geoff Jung – with some spectacular successes taming the Greendale tiger – which has now lost quite a few teeth! All EDA councillors, all making a big difference.
Voters – if you want to effect REAL change in East Devon, the Tories are a lost cause. Their MP in East Devon is an absentee, more interested in exotic foreign travel than his constituency. And even when down here he prefers to live in mid-Devon! Their Tiverton and Honiton MP puts all his energy into fighting for farmers after Brexit (well, not surprising as he is one in Somerset). Ah, and probably best not to go into the health service cuts and privatisations, Brexit fiasco, the austerity cuts, the drop in education standards, rising crime, inappropriate developments …
No, if you want to make a difference it has to be East Devon Alliance (note: this blog DOES support EDA but is not a part of EDA as everyone must surely realise).
Why become an EDA councillor? Because all EDA councillors ARE independent but do agree on the major issues facing the district and, while being free to vote as they wish – without the whipping by a Whip-who-says-he-doesn’t-whip that has seen some disgraceful behaviour of this majority party. And EDA councillors help and support each other in elections.
There MUST be a new approach to East Devon’ mounting problems and it must come from an effective and united independent opposition – that could hopefully become the ruling group.
So, if you are thinking of being an East Devon councillor, think carefully whether you want to continue to drag East Devon along the bottom and answer the plaintive Tory howl of anguish, or raise it up and contact East Devon Alliance!!!
They can be contacted at:
http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk/admin/contact-us/
or via their Facebook page
Devon primary classes – more than 8,000 pupils being taught in 30+ classes
“The number of primary school children in Devon being taught in class sizes of more than 30 pupils has now exceeded more than 8,000.
According to latest figures from the Department for Education, 1,308 more primary pupils were being taught in large classes in January 2018 than at the same time the previous year.
It means 8,072 children are now being taught in classes of more than 30, which is the equivalent of one in seven pupils in Devon. … “
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/school-class-sizes-just-keep-1821453
“Tory-led Northamptonshire county council imposes emergency spending controls for second time in six months”
“A Conservative-led council has taken the unprecedented action of imposing emergency spending controls for the second time in six months after projecting a budget shortfall of up to £70m.
Despite being the first council in nearly two decades to issue a section 114 notice – immediately banning new expenditure – in February, Northamptonshire county council issued its second notice on Tuesday.
As a result of the extraordinary action earlier this year, two government-appointed commissioners were sent to oversee the finances of the council and produce a balanced budget.
But in a letter to councillors, the leader of Northamptonshire county council Mark McLaughlin said the situation was of an “extremely serious nature” and projected a significant budget shortfall in the current financial year of £60m-70m.
After meeting the government commissioners, the council chief decided to issue a second section 114 notice which means no new expenditure is permitted.
The only exception is for the safeguarding of vulnerable people and statutory services. …”
Public service pay increases? Yes, but ….. no but …..
Owl says: Yes, you get a little more money … but there will be fewer of you to do the same amount of work (or more work).
Owl suggests those affected think of becoming MPs. It doesn’t have to be a full-time job (see our own MP Swire’s impressive list of other jobs), your pay rises are frequent and well above inflation, brilliant pension, no questions (or few questions) expenses … what’s stopping you?
“More than a million public sector workers, including teachers, doctors and police officers, can expect wage increases of up to 3.5% a year as Theresa May moved to drop the government’s pay cap. …..”
“The planned new wage increases have come from departmental savings, rather than the Treasury releasing new funds, according to the Sun newspaper. This could result in frontline services coming under threat in order to fund the rises. …..”
Broadband: third world UK
“… Only 4% of homes in the UK have a full-fibre broadband connection, compared with 89% in Portugal and 71% in Spain. …”
East Devon Watch 