Owl is not convinced several “Independent” councillors have their hearts in true independence …
The proof of the pudding will be seeing how they vote over the coming months … Owl is betting a small number will find themselves voting again and again with old Tory pals.
But not enough of them to break the new Independent majority …
Interesting times.
Tory turned “IndieLight” Ian Thomas remains Leader till then.
However, here is a list of your new councillors:
https://democracy.eastdevon.gov.uk//ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=151
How does Owl know this?
Because the 31 Independents elected on Thursday did not mention Brexit at all when appealing to voters to vote for them!
VERY easy to blame national politics for local losses … no – you lost because you put your party (and your party’s donors) before your district.
Never mind, you have 4 years to work out what to do next time!
A few stories that caught Owl’s eye over the weekend:
Theresa May won as prize by Russian woman:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/nelsons-column-red-faced-theresa-14995151
BT could be given licence to charge more for internet connections in the countryside under proposals by the regulator to encourage bolder investment in broadband.
(Sunday Times, paywall)
Bus fares massively more expensive outside London:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/05/bus-fares-reveal-massively-unfair-gulf-between-london-and-rest-of-england
Parents resist schools being turned into academies:
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/may/05/academisation-rebellion-parents-resist-school-takeovers
Schools grossly underfunded:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/pupils-less-five-years-ago-15002258
Owl says thank you to EVERYONE who voted, however you voted. Those who did not vote cannot now moan!
It may surprise some to know that Owl will continue to hold the new council to account in the same way as the old one! Rest assured!
In the meantime, an exhausted Owl is flying away to pastures different for the weekend – back on Monday refreshed and beady-eyed bright!
Owl has had a little nap and now reflects on the day.
Momentous, transformative, unprecedented – just a few words being bandied about this evening. And just a bit scary too.
It is going to be a real step-change – not just for independents, Greens and Lib Dems, but for senior and junior officers at EDDC too.
For many years senior officers and Cabinet have been in cosy (some might say too cosy) relationships with just a few favoured councillors – all-seeing the world pretty much the same way. Cabinet closed off to backbench councillors, senior officers closed off to junior officers and ‘other ranks’.
Well, that world has changed.
Will the ‘Sir Humphreys’ be able to change, or will they resist change and attempt to grind down the ‘Jim Hackers’?
Officers are supposed to be neutral – giving advice where wanted and needed, but allowing the ship to be steered by the captain of the day to destinations of their choice.
Owl hopes that officers and now new ruling-group councillors can work together to make EDDC the council people have voted for it to be – independent, transparent, accountable to the voters who expect nothing less.
Good luck councillors and officers – you will need it.
Sidmouth Sidford (three seats)
Stuart Hughes (Conservative) – 1,089 ELECTED
Dawn Manley (East Devon Alliance) – 1,303 ELECTED
Zachary Marsh (Conservative) – 721
Colin Mills (Labour) – 381
Marrianne Rixson (East Devon Alliance) – 1,326 ELECTED
Jenny Ware (Conservative) – 757
Ken Warren (UKIP) – 369
West Hill and Aylesbeare (one seat)
Jess Bailey (Independent) – 956 ELECTED
John Sheaves (Conservative) – 285
Newton Poppleford & Harpford – 1 seat
David Graham Atkins, Conservative 114
Val Ranger, Independent East Devon Alliance 710 ELECTED
Budleigh and Raleigh (three seats)
Alan Dent (Conservative) – 1,112 ELECTED
Pete Duke (Green Party) – 971
Brigitte Graham (UKIP) – 518
Patsy Hayman (Conservative) – 982
Paul Jarvis (Independent) – 1,187 ELECTED
Penny Lewis (Liberal Democrats) – 907
Thomas Wright (Conservative) – 999 ELECTED
Rebecca-Jayne Lipscombe (Liberal Democrats) – 397
Rob Longhurst (Conservative) – 345
Chris Pepper (Conservative) – 506 ELECTED
Eleanor Rylance (Liberal Democrats) – 555 ELECTED
Sarah Louise Chamberlain (Liberal Democrats) – 612 ELECTED
Paul Diviani (Conservative) – 319
Henry Frederick Gent (Green) – 426
Fabian King (Liberal Democrats) – 378 ELECTED
Kevin Wraight (Conservative) – 289
16 spoilt
Mark Lloyd Evans-Martin (Conservative) – 234
Kathy McLauchlan (Independent) – 702 ELECTED
5 spoilt
NOT a marriage made in heaven!
Vicky Johns (Independent) – 1501 ELECTED
Margaret Anne Piper (Conservative) – 245
Geoff Pratt (Independent) – 1044 ELECTED
Harv Sethi (Independent) – 422
Paul Richard Carter (Conservative) – 477
Anne Edwards (Conservative) – 428
Peter Hamilton Faithfull (Independent) – 878 ELECTED
Luke Gray (Labour) – 381
Early on, Devonlive was quickest with results but presentation is clunky, Archant came second – too many photographs to scroll through before reaching results, EDDC third – their official result often trailing the other two.
Not to mention EDDC publishing the wrong result in Seaton (but Owl just did!).
However, Archant cleaned up their page a bit (though called JOHN Loudon David at one point); Devonlive needs far too many clicks to get to badly presented results, EDDC … well, it’s EDDC isn’t it! Where else would a district council count still be going on at 5 pm in two locations…
Well done, Archant – not something Owl says a lot …
Susie Bond (Independent) – 638 ELECTED
Adam Michael Powell (Labour) – 37
John Tristam (Conservative) – 97
6 spoilt
Ah, one person’s results left off and all votes then transposed. Wishful thinking Tories?
First this:
followed by this:
East Devon Watch 