For backstory see: Tory angry outburst mars attempt to reset Council

Paul Arnott Local Press 

A few weeks ago, I attended the Local Government Association (LGA) conference in Bournemouth. After the pandemic years, it’s good to mingle with other council leaders and officers, as well as the helpful folk from the LGA. It cemented my view that those challenging years maybe created a need for a refreshed way of doing some things.

So last week, the Democratic Alliance ruling group tabled a motion that would allow for wide external engagement with nationally-established bodies to have a look under the bonnet for us. They’d talk freely to councillors and officers to make sure we are in good shape, and if or where we are not optimal to suggest some good ways forward. It’s not a revolution, it happens everywhere and in fact the LGA Peer Review element is due this year anyway.

Sadly, the Conservatives seem to be on national election manoeuvres already and with a string of personal insults against me (very classy) voted against this process. With one very honourable exception it should be added.

So, what did they not like about our Deputy Leader’s motion? Cllr Paul Hayward’s deeply considered proposals had benefitted from independent external advice and looked at the ways that we could improve the quality of the decision-making within the Council. At the start of a four-year term, it seemed obvious to us that we should refresh the council and its priorities.

The Democratic Alliance (including Lib Dems, Independents and Greens) voted for, as did the Labour Group, and other Independents including the three fine members from Cranbrook. Plus, that not-to-be-whipped lone Tory – and good for him. The Tories just got into a familiar lather of impotent fury and in some chaos voted against.

East Devon is a big business with you as our shareholders. Like every business we are being buffeted by high inflation, the aftermath of Covid, the tail winds of Brexit and reduced income. Meanwhile, the demands on us grow, especially amongst those in most need.

Before everyone heads for the lifeboats, I’d better be clear East Devon is not in the least a bad council and we are not delivering bad services. It’s pretty flipping good. But being good is only part of what we want to be. We believe that it is our duty to try to become the best Council in the South West and have set in hand a series of activities to help us become that. Perhaps this is not an aspiration of the weary Tory Group.

We have not produced a scheme of improvement by chance. We are being advised on governance and organisational issues by the LGA. Our local body, South West Councils, is advising us on staffing and training issues. Our proposals will cost next to nothing because most of the costs will be met by the grants given to the LGA by central government. However, we always want to safeguard your cash and make sure it is properly used. So, we have asked the council’s Director of Finance to work with us to cost up the proposals and provide a time table for it. That report will come back for formal approval.

I am sorry that the East Devon Tories acted in the way they did. Getting things better should be a priority for all 60 councillors. Indeed, as part of our motion we have established a working group on which all the Party leaders will sit to move forward the transformation. I really hope that they will now change their mind and commit themselves to help.