Owl congratulates the members of the Green, Independent East Devon Alliance and Liberal Democrat parties and an Independent for coming together to form a new group in EDDC to reform the council. Finding common cause whilst retaining their individual identities.

This exciting news offers the opportunity of real change. It was what Owl thought had happened last May when the voters removed the Conservatives from overall control. Unfortunately that was a false dawn. Ben Ingham grabbed power under the pretence of being the leading “Independent”, turned his back on  the Greens, LibDems and East Devon Alliance indies and promptly jumped into bed with the Conservatives. 

Having led the electorate up the garden path, Ben Ingham has meekly continued with Conservative policies, with Conservatives in key cabinet posts. There has been no change. Business as usual. We also have the bizarre situation of the Conservatives not only sharing power with Ben, but also forming the official opposition. Something straight out of Gilbert and Sullivan.

With the defection of Cllr. Joe Whibley  in January , following Cllr Paul Millars defection earlier, Ben Ingham can no longer muster more support than the Conservatives and his power base has evaporated. He’s yesterday’s man, having lost power after only eight months.

It is now certain that the “Independent Group”, as Ben calls his followers, will disintegrate. For them it will be decision time. Some will  show their colours and become “true blue”, some may sit on their hands, others will undoubtedly “cross the floor” to sign up for the change agenda of the Democratic Alliance,

Those that do will be seeking to reform the running of the council, to properly examine planning policy and practice, and to accelerate the delivery of appropriate housing fit for charitable, private and public sectors. For them the Climate Emergency will be a top priority in guiding policy. The group they join also wishes to call in the council’s borrowing, investment and acquisition policy at a time when the last administration’s long freeze on council tax rises has left the legacy of a looming deficit in the next financial year. Primarily, they will be focusing on the needs of residents, in particular, tackling the issues of poverty and employment.

As Cllr  Whibley said in January: “When elected I stood on a platform of change – an alternative to the status quo. I have seen little evidence that this desire is shared by the Independent Group and, to be true to myself and those who put their trust in me, have decided that I can no longer associate myself with them.”

To Owl it’s a no brainer – do what the voters voted you to do.

A new Democratic Alliance has been formed in East Devon and they have become the largest political group on the council.

Daniel Clark  www.devonlive.com 

Councillors from the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats, the Independent East Devon Alliance, and an Independent have come together for form a new political group.

So far, 22 of the 23 councillors from those parties have combined to join one political group. The 23 has been away and has not had the opportunity to officially sign the papers confirming they will join the political group. All councillors will retain their respective party or independent identities.

It means the Democratic Alliance is now the largest group on the council and Cllr Paul Arnott, who has been elected as their group leader, said that they will now seek to become the official opposition on the council and may seek to form an administration at the Annual Council meeting.

The council is currently run by 18 Independents, with the largest group on the council being the Conservatives with 19.

Cllr Paul Millar and Cllr Joe Whibley were initially members of the Independent Group, but during the course of 2019/20, had quit and currently sit as part of the EDA and an Independent respectively.

Cllr Arnott, who was the EDA group leader, added: “Members of the Green, Independent East Devon Alliance and Liberal Democrat parties and an Independent at East Devon District Council have combined to form a new group with the title the Democratic Alliance.

“The members will retain their respective party or independent identities but have combined to form the largest group at EDDC of 22 councillors. If other members wish to join in due course, they will be carefully considered.

“We have finalised a five page document of our ambitions and it will be shared with all the Independent Group members. If some of them wish to consider coming on board then the Democratic Alliance will be pleased to consider them.”

He added: “After recent meetings, the Democratic Alliance has found common cause in seeking to reform the running of the council, to properly examine planning policy and practice, and to accelerate the delivery of appropriate housing fit for charitable, private and public sectors.

“The Climate Emergency is a top priority in guiding policy. The group also wishes to call in the council’s borrowing, investment and acquisition policy at a time when the last administration’s long freeze on council tax rises has left the legacy of a looming deficit in the next financial year. Primarily, we will focus on the needs of residents, in particular, tackling the issues of poverty and employment.”

Liberal Democrat Leader, Eileen Wragg has been elected Deputy Leader, and iEDA Leader Paul Arnott elected Group Leader of the Democratic Alliance, both unanimously.

Cllr Arnott added: “The group has also resolved that it is committed to discussing the future of the council with other members who share its vision. In the next few weeks it expects to become the official Opposition at the council, and subject to national events may seek to form an administration at Annual Council on May 12.

“Meanwhile as the people of East Devon come to terms with the far-reaching implications of the Coronavirus the Democratic Alliance councillors will continue to work hard with other members and officers. The health of local people is much more important than politics at this time.”

At present, East Devon District Council has not cancelled any of its upcoming meetings, with a meeting of the Car Parking Task and Finish Forum still set to take place on Thursday evening.

An extraordinary council meeting may be called to take place on Tuesday, March 31, ahead of the currently scheduled cabinet meeting, in which the Democratic Alliance would wish to become the official opposition and where the re-allocation of committee places would take place.

If the Democratic Alliance do become the official opposition, then they would be granted the chairman of the scrutiny committee position.

This is an official statement on behalf of the Democratic Alliance 

“Members of the Green, Independent East Devon Alliance and Liberal Democrat parties and an Independent at East Devon District Council have combined to form a new group with the title the Democratic Alliance. The members will retain their respective party or independent identities but have combined to form the largest group at EDDC of 22 councillors. If other members wish to join in due course, they will be carefully considered.

“After recent meetings, the Democratic Alliance has found common cause in seeking to reform the running of the council, to properly examine planning policy and practice, and to accelerate the delivery of appropriate housing fit for charitable, private and public sectors. The Climate Emergency is a top priority in guiding policy. The group also wishes to call in the council’s borrowing, investment and acquisition policy at a time when the last administration’s long freeze on council tax rises has left the legacy of a looming deficit in the next financial year. Primarily, we will focus on the needs of residents, in particular, tackling the issues of poverty and employment.

“Liberal Democrat Leader, Eileen Wragg has been elected Deputy Leader, and iEDA Leader Paul Arnott elected Group Leader of the Democratic Alliance, both unanimously, in a meeting chaired by Joe Whibley. The group has also resolved that it is committed to discussing the future of the council with other members who share its vision.  In the next few weeks it expects to become the official Opposition at the council, and subject to national events may seek to form an administration at Annual Council on 12th May. 

“Meanwhile as the people of East Devon come to terms with the far-reaching implications of the Coronavirus the Democratic Alliance councillors will continue to work hard with other members and officers. The health of local people is much more important than politics at this time.

The town’s foodbank has closed its collection service with immediate effect in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Callum Lawton  www.sidmouthherald.co.uk 

Sid Valley Food Bank, which helps people and families suffering from food poverty, said safety and wellbeing of its volunteers and clients are its ‘primary concern’.

Now, a series of steps have been agreed to manage the situation as the country continues to battle against the illness, which as of yet has no vaccine.

The food bank has withdrawn its hospitality and closing collection service, and will now offer delivery only.

Members will conduct an in-depth stock-take of current food in order to plan ahead and streamline donation requests to essential items only on a weekly basis.

This action has been taken because of the likelihood of a reduction in food donations and shops’ stock levels and restrictions

Andie Milne, coordinator of the Sid Valley Food Bank, said: “If you would like to volunteer to help with either packing or distributing via deliveries please contact me and I will send you a volunteer application form – we are in the process of updating the website to enable on line applications.

“We also are aware that many supermarkets are restricting the purchasing of essential tinned items from the store but as yet not online shopping.

“At the present there is no dispensation for foodbank to purchase the large amount of items that we will undoubtedly need in the coming weeks.”

Ms Milne said extra volunteers to deliver food is ‘paramount’ to the bank.

She and members will develop a spreadsheet of volunteers who can be contacted for delivery or packing and a quick method for checking references by telephone.

She added: “A huge thank you to you all for the offers of support we are already receiving.”

Sidmouth Town Council has launched an online directory for residents who need help accessing food delivery services and other assistance while in isolation.

The council is also supporting a postcard scheme to help self-isolating neighbours.

The latest guidance from Public Health England and the NHS is also displayed on its website.

More information can be found at http://www.sidmouth.gov.uk

All support services at cancer charity FORCE’s weekly outreach centre in Honiton will stop with immediate effect.

Callum Lawton  www.midweekherald.co.uk

The announcement comes as the UK continues to fight against the coronavirus, which is sweeping across the country with unprecedented speed.

The charity’s support and information centre in Exeter has also closed.

The charity will offer telephone and video call support to local people affected by cancer.

The decision to close its Support Centre in the grounds of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital was taken after consultation with clinical staff at the RD&E.

It follows the first reported cases of Coronavirus/Covid19 at the hospital.

All support services at FORCE’s other outreach centres in Okehampton and Tiverton will also stop but chemotherapy will continue there too for now.

Cancer patients undergoing active chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment may be among those at particular risk from Coronavirus.

A spokesman for FORCE said: “It is with great regret that FORCE Cancer Charity has decided to temporarily close its support and information centre in Exeter with immediate effect. We will still be offering support and information on the phone and via video calling but there will be no face to face appointments or groups until further notice.

The decision was taken following the announcement of the first cases of coronavirus being treated at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and after consultation with clinical staff at the RD&E Trust.

“We recognise that this may cause significant upset to our users, but we feel it is the only responsible action at this time.

“The FORCE Support and Information Centre is a non-clinical environment and not a priority service in times of acute pressure.

“The risk of transmission of Coronavirus is too high for the group of people we support.

“Staff will continue to work from our Support and Information Centre unless they need to self-isolate because of symptoms.

“We will be offering counselling and information services on the telephone and please check our website over the coming weeks to see what we can do to help support people.

“Anyone with appointments or those booked on to courses are being contacted to explain the situation.

“All support services in Okehampton, Tiverton and Honiton will also stop with immediate effect but chemotherapy treatment will continue as normal in these locations at the moment.

“We will review arrangements on a [Report ends Owl]

In a huge act of solidarity by the community an emergency 24-hour helpline and hub are being set up across Torbay which will pair up people needing aid with those volunteering to help in the coronavirus crisis.

Colleen Smith  www.devonlive.com 

The general public and community groups are teaming up with the newly-formed Torbay Help Hub Facebook group, set up by local councillor Jack Dart.

Within days of setting up the group it quickly reached 6,000 members. Now it is teaming up with community groups who have launched the 24 hour helpline which will pair up people in need of help with members of the public offering aid.

The phone line, which will be staffed 24/7, covers Torquay and Paignton. The number is 01803 446022.

Brixham Does Care can be contacted directly on 01803 857727 (mon-fri 9am to 4.30pm).

In Torbay nearly half the population is over the age of 50 with one in four over the age of 65, making many local people across the Bay more vulnerable than the average across the UK.

Torbay Help Hub has joined forces with umbrella organisation Torbay Community Development Trust (TCDT), Ageing Well Torbay (AWT), Healthwatch Torbay, Torbay Citizens Advice Bureau, Age UK Torbay  and Brixham Does Care.

Jack, a Liberal Democrat councillor in Ellacombe, said: “The Facebook page is amazing and people are offering help – but to keep out any potential bad guys whose intentions are not proper, and give an extra level of security, it makes sense to team up with the Torbay Community Development Trust.

“They have got the staff and the know-how and the hub. They are already working with volunteers and they know what they are doing.

“We are going to share our information with the Community Development Trust.

“The page has taken off incredibly and it’s become a bit full-on with no time to even sleep.”

A spokesman for the Community Trust said: “With more cases being reported daily, community leaders are concerned about self- isolators who need support with day-to-day tasks such as shopping, prescription collections and dog walking.

“Staff are working with voluntary groups across the Bay and have set up an emergency phone line for people in need of help because of illness or isolation and also for those that are prepared to offer help.

“TCDT and Ageing Well are also on call to provide advice and guidance on the best ways to help and support people that are affected in partnership with the statutory services to help as demand increases.

“Callers to the helpline who are offering support will be asked in what way they can help and will then be asked to provide a reference so that some necessary checks can be carried out.

“It is then hoped to be able to help put helpers in touch with those needing help for the duration.”

Tracey Cabache, community development manager, said: “These are extraordinary times and communities are going to have to look after their own wherever possible.

“We can at least provide a central point where neighbours can coordinate their efforts and between us, we can help the most vulnerable.”

Ageing Well says it is already aware through their community builders that some people are self-isolating for fear of contracting the virus, particularly those that already have an underlying condition that would be exacerbated.

The fear is that some may not have had the chance to tell friends and neighbours and may be in need of top-up supplies.

Ageing Well said: “Not everyone either has the will or the ability to stockpile – they might not be able to afford a big shop and even if they could, would never be able to carry the heavy bags home and may now have very limited supplies.”

Nationally a campaign with the hashtag #viralkindness is gaining ground with postcards that neighbours can fill out offering help,  with postcards listing names and phone numbers circulating widely.

But It could be open to fraudsters posing as good neighbours and people have to remain vigilant and watch for their own safety.

The TCDT/AWT scheme hopes to add a layer of checking to the system, but it is not foolproof, and Tracey stresses there has to be an element of trust.

“Hospital staff and doctors are doing all they can. Emergency services will require support and understanding, and so we all need to do our bit” she said

“It is an unfortunate analogy, but we really must all invoke the wartime spirit. Large numbers of people are self-isolating either because they have been ill, or are trying to avoid becoming ill.

“Not everyone will have been able to stockpile enough food for the duration, and we will all have to rely on each other. Thankfully our communities are strong, and we can provide a focus for the great work that goes on within them.”

For more information go to the Torbay Community Help Hub

Dorset takes another step towards National Park status – Owl?

It is a rich, complex landscape, a mosaic of heaths, woods, mires, reed beds, salt marsh and dunes that are home to a myriad of flora and fauna from rare birds, butterflies and bats to carnivorous plants.

Seven landowners have now joined forces to created what is being billed as the UK’s first “super national nature reserve” (NNR) on Purbeck Heaths in Dorset.

Steven Morris  www.theguardian.com 

The idea is that by combining the disparate chunks of land, a more dynamic landscape easier to manage in a more natural way – and much simpler for wildlife to navigate through – will be created.

A stonechat, a bird the size of a robin with a call like two pebbles being hit together, provided the backing track as experts from the National Trust, RSPB and Natural England pointed out the features of the new super reserve from a vantage point high above the heathland on Tuesday.

“It really is a very special place,” said David Brown, a National Trust ecologist. He pointed out an area of bright gorse that is one of the few homes in this part of the world for the small pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly. “At the last count there were only 15 of them there. And they only stay in that one very small area.”

A major aim of the super reserve project is to help such creatures spread further so they do not rely on just one tiny area – and so face being wiped out if disaster strikes their home patch.

Ways in which this will be done include grazing the heathland with cattle and pigs and letting more human visitors tramp across. The concept is not about preserving the landscape as it is but to create the conditions in which it will change dynamically. It is as the changes are happening that some of the most interesting and rare species can flourish.

Some of the developments that will be made at Purbeck will be obvious such as removing non-native Scots pine. But other improvements will be much more subtle including simply encouraging bare patches that plants liked by the nationally scarce yellow centaury.

Brown is keen on the carnivorous plants that can do well here including the sundews. “You can sometimes see dragon fly wings floating on the surface of the boggy pools.The sundews digest their bodies and spit out the hard bits like the wings.”

Birds that do better here than in most places include the Dartford warbler, which dines on spiders that live in the gorse and the woodlark, another lover of tree-cleared ground.

The new Purbeck Heaths NNR knits together 11 types of priority habitat to enable wildlife to move more easily across the landscape. This will give wildlife, including the sand lizard and the Dartford warbler a better chance of adapting and thriving in light of the current climate crisis.

It combines three existing NNRs at Stoborough Heath, Hartland Moor, and Studland and Godlingston Heath. They will be linked with other nature reserves, conservation areas and a golf course, which manages its rough to encourage wildlife and plant life. The whole area will cover more than 8,000 acres and together they will create the largest lowland heathland NNR in the UK.

Partners also include the Forestry England, the private Rempstone Estate, Dorset Wildlife Trust and the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust.

The chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper said: “By creating bigger, better, and more joined-up wild places like this one, we will achieve big benefits for both people and wildlife.

“In facing the twin and deepening challenges of global heating and wildlife loss, we need to think and act on a larger scale. Today’s move marks a shift in gear and a new era for nature recovery in England.”

Purbeck Heaths is one of the most biodiverse places in the UK – home to thousands of species of wildlife, including 450 that are listed as rare, threatened or protected.

All six native reptiles are to be found here, including endangered smooth snakes and sand lizards. As well as the smaller birds such as the stonechat, raptors including hen harriers, marsh harriers, merlins, hobbies and ospreys hunt the heathland.

At least 12 species of bats on the heaths. It is also one of the last strongholds for many specialist insects and other invertebrates, such as southern damselflies and the Purbeck mason wasp.

Mark Harold, the National Trust’s director of land & nature, said: “All the rare and beautiful wildlife living in and beyond the reserve will benefit hugely from a landscape where habitats are bigger, in better condition and better connected – and where natural processes are restored. Here they will be able to spread and build more resilient populations.”

Environment minister Rebecca Pow said it was a landmark project. “Purbeck Heaths is a trailblazing example of how landscape-scale conservation can help wildlife thrive, improve people’s well-being, and build resilience to climate change,” she said.