EDDC: previous Tory chairman congratulates current Tory Chairman after Independents form majority of councillors
Daily Archives: 25 May 2019
Two big developers consider merge
“Two of the UK’s biggest housebuilders have kicked off secret talks about a tie-up just two years after a previous set of merger discussions broke down.
Sky News has learnt that Bovis Homes Group has approached Galliford Try in the last few weeks about a combination of a large chunk of their operations.
If consummated, a deal would represent a fresh catalyst for consolidation in Britain’s housebuilding sector.
Bovis has a market value of just over £1.3bn, while Galliford Try, which owns the Linden Homes housebuilding brand, is worth roughly £550m.
Both are among the ten largest housebuilders in the UK. …
A Bovis insider cautioned that it was unlikely to be interested in Galliford Try’s troubled construction division, which was responsible for a recent profit warning from the group.”
https://news.sky.com/story/bovis-approaches-rival-galliford-try-about-housebuilding-merger-11728118
Special needs child from London has to go to school in Scotland
Why is Owl anonymous?
Owl is currently receiving very frequent emails asking why it is anonymous:
1. To ensure that harrassing and/or threatening emails are not sent to a personal email address – there are already enough of them clogging up the Owl’s email box. Some have been a touch in the scary side.
2. Because, as said before, Owl is legion – contributions come from many sources and many contributors, quite a few of whom wish to remain anonymous (see 1 above).
3. Owl flies away sometimes, when other owls watch over the district.
4. It means people do not make value judgments of person but of content
5. It is not illegal to blog anonymously – although recently Owl has been accused of the illegal act of defamation. (Owl has asked the emailer to be more specific and has promised to publish the reply – as long as it isn’t defamatory).
If condition (1) above was respected, Owl would love to do without anonymity.
Remember, JK Rowling wanted to be anonymous with her Strike books … and the great tradition of lampoonery and Private Eye couldn’t exist without it.
Oh, and Owl will not respond to any more … are you? … you are … emails.
If anyone is averse to the blog being anonymous, please feel free not to read it.
Chairman of the Council – a blast from the past …
Where does EDDC now stand on climate emergency?
Owl is surprised there isn’t a lead councillor for climate emergency … Oh, wait, the CEO has already made the climate emergency policy himself:
Presumably, the job will be for new Councillor Sam Hawkins (Estates and Property Services) and Asset Management Group’s Geoff Pook to sort out between them.
Here is Devon County Council’s pathetic attempt to do something:
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/campaigners-question-speed-devons-response-2906352
taking the St Francis of Assisi approach – “make me a saint, but not yet”.
It’s going to get very warm EDDC’s new HQ in Honiton – especially in that long, narrow, dark Council Chamber; no opening the french doors in the Members Room next door, with the view out to the gardens and out to sea with a cooling breeze … just the noise from the slip road to the A35 or, if you are really lucky, a view of Aldi or Lidl – or possibly both!
But no worries – the climate cost and real cost of the air-conditioning in summer and heating in winter will not be as high as in the old HQ …..
Greater Exeter Strategic Plan – further thoughts from a resident
I am the East Devon resident who now has answers to my question of May 24th on growth and the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan, thanks to Owl. Philip Skinner (conservative) and Susie Bond (independent) will represent EDDC.
So, East Devon’s future housing growth will still remain in the hands of Philip Skinner, he of the “22 ft extending mahogany board room table” fame. He who “put forward the idea of developing a regionally or nationally significant sports arena and concert venue within the GESP area.” (where?? more grade 1 agricultural land?) He who has spent £285,305, and counting, of council tax money , as Chairman of Exmouth Regeneration Board , for the fun park in Queen’s Drive, Exmouth.
He, who is on the board of directors of the Exeter Science Park- a network of professionals experienced in a range of sectors, from finance to property, technology to business. His c.v. for that board boasts
“Councillor responsibilities include being portfolio holder to both the economy and development management and he also represents EDDC on the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan (GESP) steering group. He is Chairman of the Exmouth Regeneration Board and is very much at the forefront of place shaping for not only EDDC but for the region.”
Additionally, Mr Skinner’s other district duties stretch him in to other areas such as; A member of the Heart of the South West LEP Joint Committee, The Exeter and Heart Of Devon Growth Board, Joint Advisory Reference Group, and the Greater Exeter Strategic Sports Board” (unless he has been removed from any of these posts – they still remain on his Register of Interests).
Ms. Bond , EDDC councillor for Feniton, has fought tooth and nail for Feniton, its flooding issues and over- development problems over the years.
So whose view will be heard on the GESP?
I didn’t vote independent at the district election for the same old faces and with that the same old growth policies. And I am sure I am not the only one.
East Devon Watch 