East Devon District Council is developing a ten year Culture Strategy.

docs.google.com 

Your thoughts and experiences are extremely important and will help ensure this will set out an ambitious, clear and deliverable vision unique to East Devon that is relevant to you.

What do we mean by ‘Culture’?

Music, theatre, museums, dance, crafting, libraries and every kind of visual and digital arts. It includes culture that you watch, or participate in, and culture made by professionals and amateurs as well as ‘everyday creativity’ that you might enjoy home.

Why is this important?

Culture brings joy, fun and wonder to our lives, whatever our age. Imagine a world without music, dancing, books or art! It brings communities together, contributes to jobs and prosperity, attracts visitors, and supports health and wellbeing. Culture and Heritage are the beating heart of our towns and cities.

What is the purpose of this Strategy?

The Strategy will set out a shared road map by and for East Devon to develop its cultural provision, capacity and ambition. East Devon District Council will be working closely with the creative and cultural sectors, tourism, economic development and other stakeholders to forge a stronger, sustainable future offer for East Devon.

There are just 12 questions, most of which are tick boxes – your time is appreciated.

You are not required to provide any personal information, except to leave, if you wish, your email at the end – in order to only receive future information about this project.

If you need a copy of this consultation on paper or in any other format, please call 01395 517569 or email jbuckley@eastdevon.gov.uk

The leader of Plymouth City Council will face a vote of no confidence in just over a week after Labour claimed he has “lost all authority.”

planetradio.co.uk

Cllr Nick Kelly (Conservative, Compton) has been leader of the council since the Conservative group won the largest number of seats in the May 2021 elections.

However, following several suspensions and resignations, Tories now have the same number of councillors as the Labour group.

Cllr Kelly failed to get his annual budget – which included a 1.74 per cent council tax increase – approved at the end of February after Labour brought an amendment to freeze council tax for the next financial year – except for the one per cent ring-fenced for adult social care.

The amendment was passed and Labour are now calling for a vote of no confidence which will take place at the final full council meeting of the financial year on Monday 21 March.

Plymouth Labour leader Cllr Tudor Evans OBE (Ham) said: “This was a complete failure on Cllr Kelly’s part.

“Not to get your own budget through is unprecedented and if Cllr Kelly had anything about him at all he would have resigned as leader there and then.

“As it is, he has lost all authority and we cannot allow the city to continue to be led by someone who does not have the confidence of the majority of the council.”

Tudor Evans (Labour Leader, Plymouth)

The latest development follows controversy surrounding several members of the Conservative group.

In March last year Cllr Mark Deacon (Conservative, Southway) was temporarily suspended by the party after claims he had mocked women’s safety concerns in the wake of the death of Sarah Everard.

Cllr Kelly was also suspended after being accused of “victim-blaming” in comments he made following the death of Plymouth teenager Bobbi-Anne McLeod.

The Labour groups says it has not had a reply to a letter they sent to Cllr Kelly about the comments he made.

Plymouth Conservatives also faced questions after it emerged emerged that two councillors, elected as Tories last year, are now living in Gloucestershire.

Plymouth City Council was eventually left with no party holding overall control when Cllr Dave Downie (Independent, Budshead) was suspended from the Conservative Party.

However, Cllr Downie remains cabinet member for education, skills and children and young people, enabling him to continue to receive a special responsibility allowance of £22,000 a year.

“It really is time for Cllr Kelly to go,” said Cllr Evans.

“There have been repeated suspensions, resignations and expulsions under Cllr Kelly’s tenure and infighting on a colossal scale.

“It certainly does not serve the residents of Plymouth to have a weak leader who is manifestly incapable of holding his own group together, let alone lead the city.”

As both Labour and the Conservatives have the same number of seats, the result of the no confidence vote is likely to depend on how the 11 independents on the council vote.

A commercial property developer has announced a partnership to develop a new industrial site in East Devon, creating job opportunities.

Becca Gliddon3 eastdevonnews.co.uk

Developer Stoford has revealed a new site-wide agreement with the Church Commissioners for England that it says ‘will unlock future phases of development at a job-creating industrial scheme in East Devon’.

The development partners said the new build will result ‘in significant job creation locally’.

Stoford said the agreement will create an additional c.500,000 sq ft of industrial/logistics development at Exeter Logistics Park, in Clyst Honiton, with new units available on freehold or leasehold terms.

Joanna Loxton, head of strategic land for the Church Commissioners for England, said: “The latest agreement builds on our already strong partnership with Stoford and will see hundreds of thousands of square feet of high-quality employment space being delivered, resulting in significant job creation locally and supporting the area’s continued growth.

“We are particularly proud of Exeter Logistics Park’s sustainability credentials, which are a demonstration of our ESG commitments in action and will help support a ‘green recovery’ post-covid.”

Exeter Logistics Park is part of the second phase of a significant industrial scheme which was opened in 2017, following the grant of outline planning, secured by the Church Commissioners.

Part of the Exeter and East Devon Growth Point economic development zone east of the M5, near Exeter Airport, the scheme will total more than 650,000 sq ft upon completion and includes improvements to the local transport infrastructure.

A new access road and junction have been created off the B3174 London Road, in a bid to make the site ‘immediately available for further development’.

Stoford has already completed construction of a new 90,000 sq ft distribution unit and a 415-space electric vehicle charging park at Exeter Logistics Park, on behalf of an international retailer.

And works are also underway to build two additional buildings, including DHL’s 54,732 sq ft parcel distribution service centre and a 28,464 sq ft warehouse being developed speculatively.

The new developments have green roof spaces, a sustainable urban drainage system, provision of solar panels and an external trim trail with outdoor gym and fitness area.

They are expected to be completed later this month (March 2022) and ‘have the potential’ to create more than 100 new jobs, said Stoford.

Dan Gallagher, Stoford joint managing director, said: “Exeter Logistics Park is an extremely well-connected site with enormous potential.

“We are on track to deliver the two new buildings in Q1 this year and the new agreement will enable us to further develop the scheme to meet continued demand.

“This is a sustainable scheme that has already attracted high calibre, international occupiers. It has all of the attributes to become the South West’s leading distribution hub, south of Bristol.”

It is estimated that Exeter Logistics Park could contribute between £90 million – £105 million to the regional economy when fully complete.