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.