Author Archives: East Devon Watch

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2 Jun 2017

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Accountability, EDDC, Grenadier, Regeneration

Exmouth seafront: EDDC ready to get into bed with Grenadier – more protests

” … The council have now said that they hope to sign an agreement with the watersports centre developer Grenadier, who will reveal their building designs soon, ahead of submitting a formal planning application later this year. …

Now [protesters] are planning to link arms and form a ‘conga cordon’ around the area threatened with the redevelopment to highlight the scale of change that will engulf the seafront on

Saturday 17 June at mid-day

Nick Hookway, the spokesman for Save Exmouth Seafront, said: “The time has come to raise the profile again of the campaign again because the two remaining businesses on Queen’s Drive – the Harbour View Café and the Fun Park – will have to close at the end of the summer period on August 31 at their leases expire. What happens next after that we just don’t know.

“We are concerned that the area will be left empty and there will be an air of dereliction about the whole site. Why should Exmouth residents have to put up with a derelict seafront as a result of this?

“We are still concerned about the overall development and the protests will continue and we want to raise the profile again.”

http://www.devonlive.com/exmouth-seafront-redevelopment-latest/story-30367985-detail/story.html

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2 Jun 2017

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Accountability, General Election, Voting

Tory Thanet candidate charged with election offences

“The Conservative candidate for South Thanet has been charged for alleged overspending in the 2015 general election campaign.

Craig Mackinlay, who is running again on 8 June, stands accused under the Representation of the People Act 1983, alongside his election agent Nathan Gray and party activist Marion Little.

The Conservative Party said the allegations were unfounded.
Other Tory candidates were investigated but no charges were brought.”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/02/craig-mackinlay-charged-over-tory-election-expenses

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2 Jun 2017

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General Election, Voting

One in five people will vote tactically in General Election

“Darren Hughes, deputy chief executive of the society which promotes electoral reform, said: ‘It is frankly astonishing that a fifth of Brits feel unable to vote for their first choice party this election.
‘That’s a huge proportion of people having to hold their nose and opt for a ‘lesser evil’ rather than who they actually support – and a significant and worrying rise on the last election.”

http://metro.co.uk/2017/06/02/one-in-five-people-will-be-voting-tactically-in-general-election-6679032/

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1 Jun 2017

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Accountability, Claire Wright, General Election, Neil Parish

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Where was Neil Parish on Tuesday? Helping his “neighbour” MP on Exmoor

Owl thought that Neil Parish might live in his Tiverton and Honiton constituency. It appears not from this tweet from Tory MP Peter Heaton-Jones which implies that he lives near South Molton in north Devon on the edge of Exmoor National Park.

If so, we have BOTH MPs for East Devon NOT living in the district and several of the candidates from other parties who don’t live here either:

East Devon

Lib Dem candidate Alison Eden lives in Teignbridge
Jan Ross, Labour candidate MIGHT live in Exmouth but in election papers she gives an address in Central Devon

Tiverton and Honiton
Lib Dem candidate Matthew Wilson and Green candidate Gill Westcott appear to emanate from Paignton and Exeter

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH CANDIDATES FROM OTHER AREAS STANDING – BUT WHO UNDERSTANDS AN AREA BEST? Someone who has always lived here (Claire Wright in East Devon) or someone who has never lived here?

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1 Jun 2017

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Accountability, Claire Wright, General Election, Lobbying

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“Conservatives’ donors give 10 times as much as Labour’s in one week”

Tories: £3.77 million from donors this week
Labour: £331,499 this week
Liberal Democrats: £310,500 this week
Women’s Equality Party: £71,552 this week
UKIP: £16,500 this week

Claire Wright: £12,000 since her campaign started – all from small, local donors as Claire does not accept corporate donations

“The Conservatives raised more than 10 times as much as Labour last week, partly thanks to a donation of over £1m from the theatre producer behind The Book of Mormon and The Phantom of the Opera.

John Gore, whose company has produced a string of hit musicals, gave £1.05m as part of the £3.77m received by the Conservatives in the third week of the election campaign.

In the same time, Labour received only £331,499.

The Electoral Commission only publishes details of donations over £7,500, so the smaller donors who make up most of Labour’s fundraising are not identified. Almost all Labour’s larger donations came from unions, including £159,500 from Unite.

The new figures show the Conservatives have received £15.2m since the start of 2017, while Labour has received £8.1m. The large donations came as the poll lead held by the Conservatives and Theresa May appeared to fall following controversies around her social care policy.

In the week starting 17 May, the Liberal Democrats received £310,500, of which £230,000 came from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust and £25,000 came from the former BBC director general Greg Dyke.

The Women’s Equality party received £71,552, with Edwina Snow, the Duke of Westminster’s sister who is married to the historian Dan Snow, giving £50,000. Ukip’s donations fell dramatically to £16,300 from £35,000 the previous week.

Political parties can spend £30,000 for every seat they contest during the regulated period. There are 650 seats around the country, meaning that parties can spend up to £19.5m during the regulated period in the run-up to the election.

Other large donations to the Tories in the third week of the campaign included £500,000 from JCB Service, which is run by the manufacturing billionaire Anthony Bamford. Lord Bamford, who strongly supported the leave campaign, received a peerage from David Cameron in 2013.

John Armitage, founder of the Egerton Capital hedge fund, also gave £500,000, bringing his donations this year to £1.125m. Mark Coombs, chief executive of the investment manager group Ashmore, gave £300,000.

Jersey House (Developments) Ltd, which is owned by the telecommunications entrepreneur Charles Wigoder, gave £250,000.

The haulage millionaire Steve Parkin gave £125,000. Parkin, who reportedly paid Robbie Williams £1m to perform at one of his parties, founded the delivery business Clipper Logistics.

The large sum from Gore is believed to be his first political donation. He is a seven-time Tony winning and Emmy-nominated producer and owns the John Gore Organization, which is headquartered in New York. The company presents shows, including Wicked and Jersey Boys, across the US, Japan and in London’s West End. Gore’s early investments included the original London production of Cats.

Last week, it emerged that the Conservatives had raised £1.6m in the second week of the general election campaign while Labour raised £383,000.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/01/conservatives-donors-give-10-times-as-much-as-labours-in-one-week

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1 Jun 2017

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Accountability, Affordable and Social Housing

New homes: 7500; council houses 170

“The housing charity Shelter says just over 7,500 new private homes were built in the South West between 2015 and 2016.

In stark contrast just 170 new council houses were built in the same period.”

Source: BBC Devon Live website today

Pitiful.

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1 Jun 2017

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Developers/ Development, EDDC, Flooding, Planning System

“Nine tenths of England’s floodplains not fit for purpose, study finds”

With EDDC allowing building on flood plains all over the district – a timely warning:

“Only a tenth of England’s extensive floodplains are now fit for purpose – 90% no longer function properly – with the shortfall putting an increasing number of homes and businesses at risk of flooding, according to a new report.

Floods are more likely due to climate change and will claim higher economic costs unless action is taken to halt the damage to floodplains and restore some of their functions, warned the authors of the 12-month study – the first to paint a comprehensive view of England’s floodplains and their capabilities.

“We have ignored our floodplains,” said George Heritage of Salford University, co-author of the study the Changing Face of Floodplains, published by Co-Op Insurance on Thursday. “The changes to them mean water [from heavy rainfall] can flow much faster downstream, and can flow at the same speed as the water in the rivers.”

This accelerated flow has led to sudden and unstoppable deluges in recent years. For instance, Storm Desmond in 2015 affected more than 6,000 homes as rivers and streams burst their banks and spread water over floodplains. As these natural floodplains had been altered by man-made features, they no longer had the ability to store water, leading to rapid flows into urban areas which led to the devastation.

Storm Desmond caused more than £500m in damages, and misery for families excluded from their homes sometimes for months. The UK’s flooding bills are on the rise, with scientists warning of rocketing numbers of cloudbursts and periods of sudden and intense rainfall as climate change takes effect.

Floodplains act as natural “sponges”, soaking up excess water in their vegetation, forming natural buffers that hold back or divert rushing water after rain, and providing areas where rivers can breach their banks and wetlands can be replenished.

Intensive agriculture, increasing urbanisation, poor management of rivers and the draining of wetlands have left the vast majority of these natural features – many previously preserved for centuries by communities who understood their value – unable to fulfil these valuable functions, with some close to collapse.

Building on floodplains has been singled out for years as a key problem, but perhaps surprisingly was found to contribute only about a tenth of the damage in the study. Far greater is intensive farming, which has created artificially “smooth” and uniform landscapes, with hedgerows removed, large areas given over to single crops, wetlands drained and woods and grassland diminished. Farming accounts for nearly two-thirds of the loss of functioning floodplains, according to the study.

Natural floodplains cover about 5% of England, from upland areas and tablelands to low-lying marshes, such as the Somerset levels and the East Anglian fens. Once they were used for grazing for parts of the year, or left uncultivated. However, the exploitation of such areas accelerated in the middle of the last century, when wetlands were drained, hedgerows grubbed up and small farms gave way to bigger farming enterprises.

Today, the report found, 90% of England’s floodplains no longer function properly, with 65% modified by agriculture “meaning they’re now man-made, smoother surfaces”; 9% lost to urban and suburban building developments; 4% are now occupied by open water and 6% by semi-natural woodland and rough grassland; and only 0.5% is now natural or semi-natural wetland.

“It would be almost impossible to return the altered areas to their original state,” noted Heritage. “But it is possible to work with farmers to introduce features that would allow them to function better. …”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/01/englands-90-floodplains-not-fit-for-purpose-study-finds?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

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1 Jun 2017

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Accountability, General Election, Hugo Swire

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Swire’s voting record in Parliament

An extract:

Almost always voted against restricting the provision of services to private patients by the NHS
Show votes
0 votes for, 5 votes against, 2 absences, between 2011–2012

Generally voted for reforming the NHS so GPs buy services on behalf of their patients
Show votes
4 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2011–2012

Almost always voted against introducing foundation hospitals
Show votes
0 votes for, 4 votes against, 1 absence, in 2003

Voted a mixture of for and against smoking bans
Show votes
2 votes for, 4 votes against, 5 absences, between 2002–2015

Has never voted on allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life

Generally voted for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the “bedroom tax”)
Show votes
8 votes for, 0 votes against, 9 absences, between 2012–2014

Consistently voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices
Show votes
0 votes for, 5 votes against, in 2013

Almost always voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability
Show votes
0 votes for, 11 votes against, 4 absences, between 2011–2016

Generally voted for making local councils responsible for helping those in financial need afford their council tax and reducing the amount spent on such support
Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, in 2012

Almost always voted for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits
Show votes
39 votes for, 0 votes against, 15 absences, between 2012–2016

Almost always voted against spending public money to create guaranteed jobs for young people who have spent a long time unemployed
Show votes
0 votes for, 7 votes against, 2 absences, between 2011–2014

Generally voted for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the “bedroom tax”)
Show votes
8 votes for, 0 votes against, 9 absences, between 2012–2014

Consistently voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices
Show votes
0 votes for, 5 votes against, in 2013

Almost always voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability
Show votes
0 votes for, 11 votes against, 4 absences, between 2011–2016

Generally voted for making local councils responsible for helping those in financial need afford their council tax and reducing the amount spent on such support
Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, in 2012

Almost always voted for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits
Show votes
39 votes for, 0 votes against, 15 absences, between 2012–2016

Almost always voted against spending public money to create guaranteed jobs for young people who have spent a long time unemployed
Show votes
0 votes for, 7 votes against, 2 absences, between 2011–2014

Source: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/11265/hugo_swire/east_devon/votes

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31 May 2017

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General Election, Hugo Swire

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Swire’s other jobs – which includes advice to a company that owns “Jolly Roger (Amusement Rides) Ltd”!

Job 1 – Deputy Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC)

For this job Swire has declared a salary of £2,000 per month which is said to be for 2 days work a month as cited below:

“You asked for the Committee’s advice [Office of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments] OFFICE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS APPOINTMENTS] about accepting a new role as Deputy Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC).

CWEIC is an international organisation representing governments and business from across the Commonwealth. It promotes trade between Commonwealth countries and their work includes bringing together Commonwealth Trade Ministers and leaders to discuss trade and investment cooperation.

The Committee noted that as Deputy Chairman, the role would be part­time, paid, and involve around two days’ work per month. This would include attending four Board meetings a year, conferences and other meetings related to CWEIC in order to promote their activities.”

PLUS

Job 2: Advisor to KIS (France)

For his other job of advising Photo Me he has declared an income of £3,000 per month for approximately 8 hours work per month = £375 per hour:

“Sir Hugo sought the Committee’s advice about taking up a paid, part-time appointment as an advisor to KIS (France), a manufacturer of photo booths and mini labs.

When considering this application the Committee noted that KIS (France) is a subsidiary of Photo-Me plc, which Sir Hugo was previously associated with when the Conservative Party was in opposition, as non-executive Chairman.

The Committee took into account that Sir Hugo’s role with KIS is not likely to include any contact with Government and his former department raised no concerns about it.”

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/swire-hugo-minister-of-state-fco-acoba-recommendation/summary-of-business-appointments-applications-sir-hugo-swire

KIS is run by Serge Crasnianski and the company has diversified into the laundry business, with a division called ‘Revolution’. Revolution is a 24/7 outdoor self-service launderette:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serge_Crasnianski

‘Mr Crasnianski, also an alumni of the Sunday Times’ 1,000 Richest People in Britain, now owns 22.5 per cent of the company’s shares.”

https://www.ft.com/content/2352b460-d341-11e6-b06b-680c49b4b4c0

It’s doing well:

“Investors piled into photo booths operator Photo-Me after its chief executive bought another big chunk of shares.

Serge Crasnianski spent £4.6 million on shares, taking his stake to above 22%, just four days after he splashed out £3 million on the AIM-listed company’s shares.”

http://www.standard.co.uk/business/market-report-pittards-is-handbagged-by-ethiopian-troubles-a3425961.html

“During the year, the Group paid dividends totalling £18.2m in respect of the interim and final dividend for the year ended 30 April 2015.
The interim dividend for the year ended 30 April 2016 (2.575p per share) declared in December 2015 was paid in May 2016 and amounted
to £9.7m.”

Click to access Photo-Me%202016_AR_Spreads.pdf

And one rather surprising subsidiary company owned by this company!

“Children’s rides manufactured by Jolly Roger (Amusement Rides) Limited, a subsidiary company in the UK, are produced in accordance with the industry guidance issued by BACTA (British Amusement and Catering Trades Association). “

Click to access Photo-Me%202016_AR_Spreads.pdf

and
http://www.jolly-roger.co.uk/

Well, he won’t starve if he loses his other part-time job!

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31 May 2017

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Accountability, Democracy, East Devon Electoral/Returning Officer, EDDC, General Election, Mark Williams CEO EDDC

Those “missing” 6,000 voters – electors jump from 96,000 to 113,000-plus!

Owl broke the original story in July 2014 that EDDC was in the worst 6% of councils for voter registration and had “lost” 6,000 voters from the previous years – 102,000 down to 96,000. Owl was shocked and so a was Parliamentary Committee which summoned Electoral Officer Mark Williams to (not very satisfactorily) explain himself;

The missing 6,000 voters – EDDC is in the worst 6% of councils in the country for voter registration!

and

Highlights of Mr Williams audio transcript of evidence to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Voter Engagement

As of March 2017, the number of electors in East Devon stood at 113,079 – an increase of more than 20,000. And this doesn’t include a recent surge for the upcoming general election who registered after that date. An increase of more than 22%! In THREE years! That’s only registered voters – imagine the total population increase!

http://eastdevon.gov.uk/grants-and-funding/parishes-together-fund/numbers-of-electors-in-your-parish/

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31 May 2017

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Accountability, General Election

Food (bank) for thought

Copied from Facebook:

Here’s a thought experiment:

Say Jeremy Corbyn had been the Home Secretary for six years, during which time he slashed some 20,000 police jobs taking us back to 1970s levels of per capita policing.

Let’s say he also slashed the UK Border Agency budget so that over a million people per month were coming and going through UK airports without being properly checked.

Let’s say by virtue of an extremely self-serving EU referendum non-campaign he managed to get into 10 Downing Street, where he kept up his agenda of cutting the UK security services and border agency.

Then there’s a home-grown terrorist attack by a known Islamist fanatic in a city where Corbyn had cut the police budget by £157 million.

Let’s say Jeremy Corbyn “lost” files on an internal pedophile ring.
Let’s say he wanted to take the homes from the elderly.
Let’s say he cut 30% of your disabled benefit.
Let’s say he signed an arms deal with the (ISIS-funding) Saudis worth millions.
Let’s say he wanted to take away your child’s free school meal.
Let’s say he forced NHS staff to use food banks.
Let’s say he made so many cuts to the NHS that people are suffering waiting for ambulances and A&E doctors.
Let’s say he went against doctors, nurses, teachers, fire fighters, the armed forces…
Let’s say he took away funding for University for upcoming doctors and nurses.
Let’s say after all these cuts there’s still a deficit and he’d missed every target he’d set himself for reducing it.

What would you have to say about Jeremy Corbyn under these circumstances?
And why are they not saying those things about Theresa May and the Tories right now?

Please copy, paste, and share if you found this interesting!

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31 May 2017

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Accountability, Economy, Health and Social Care (local), NHS (local)

How do we fund the NHS? Well, maybe we could start here

“The High Speed 2 rail link is running billions over budget and likely to be delayed, MPs have warned. They say ministers must set out a realistic timetable for delivering the project, currently expected to cost more than £55bn.

Members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said they were “not convinced” by the current schedule, describing it as “overly ambitious”.

The first phase of HS2, between London and the West Midlands, is due to open in December 2026. But minister and bosses at HS2 Ltd, the company behind the project, are now looking at extending this by a year, MPs said.”

http://news.sky.com/story/hs2-1637bn-over-budget-and-facing-delay-say-mps-10577474

iF HS2 were economically viable private companies would be falling over themselves to fund it and make money from it.

And now with Brexit we really won’t need that cross-Channel connection to those durned foreigners and potential immigrants will we!

Perhaps we could prioritise – first fix the NHS and then, when that’s sorted and working properly for all of us, we can possibly think of funding a 20 minute time-saving on the time between London and Birmingham – more than offset by the 20 minute-plus extra time taken to get to the stations by road due to increasing traffic congestion!

Not to mention that, in the south-west, we will see no benefit whatsover from HS2 – quite the opposite.

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31 May 2017

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Misc

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Claire Wright’s betting odds strengthen

From 9/2 to 4/1
Swire 1/7
All other candidates 200/1

Go Wright!

http://sports.williamhill.com/bet/en-gb/betting/e/10971478/East+Devon+Constituency+-+Party+Winner.html

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31 May 2017

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Midweek Herald

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Midweek Herald TOTALLY ignores General Election!

Not one word on next week’s General Election in this week’s Midweek Herald! No profiles of candidates, no letters, nothing.

It’s almost like they don’t know it’s taking place.

Good job the (non) newspaper is free.

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31 May 2017

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Accountability, Democracy, East Devon Electoral/Returning Officer, EDDC, Electoral Commission, Freedom of Information Act, General Election, Mark Williams CEO EDDC, Scrutiny, Transparency, Voting

Our Election omnishambles – and the Returning Officer’s pay

In addition to the omnishambles about postal vote mistakes (twice) we should not forget this, too:

“East Devon’s returning officer has defended the delays at the count for the General Election in Sidmouth.

In a statement given to the press Mark Williams said: “This the first time since 1979 that we have had three elections in one night. The reasons why the government stopped this was that in rural areas like East Devon means the sheer volume of ballot papers that are prepared for counting causes a huge volume of work.”

Earlier Mr Williams said his team was ready and said the count would conclude at 2.30am. …

http://www.devonlive.com/election-2015-east-devon-returning-officer/story-26463810-detail/story.html

Question: How come other rural areas didn’t have this problem?

AND remember Mr Williams is paid EXTRA for his election duties. Wonder how much extra and whether cock-ups mean a pay cut? We will never know, because the job is not covered by the Freedom off Information Act and EDDC refuses to tell us. AND the Returning Officer has a big budget but because of that Freedom of Information block, we are not allowed to know what it is and, crucially, what happens to any underspend.

However, we do know that the Sheffield returning officer refused his fee of £20,000 in 2015 and here is a list of what other election staff are paid:

“Fees

Election officials’ fees vary widely from constituency to constituency but might typically be:
Presiding officer: £250-£300;
Poll clerk: £115-£190;
Postal vote issuer: £8 per hour;
Postal vote opener: £9 per hour;
Count supervisor: £150 night shift;
Counting assistant: £12.50 per hour (plus £10 training fee).”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/general-election-2015-explained-who-registers-the-parties-who-counts-your-vote-and-how-much-do-they-10171387.html

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30 May 2017

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Accountability, Claire Wright, East Devon Electoral/Returning Officer, General Election, Hugo Swire, Mark Williams CEO EDDC, Voting

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Oh no! East Devon’s General Election postal voting screwed up AGAIN

It happened in the 2015 election when the wrong voting instructions were sent out with postal votes:

http://www.devonlive.com/apology-issued-east-devon-postal-voters-affected/story-26395839-detail/story.html

and now it’s happening again this year – but worse and affecting many more people.

And in an election where a handful of votes might decide a winner between Swire and Claire Wright.

If Claire Wright is within 9,000 votes of Swire could she demand a rerun?

Our Returning Officer was called to Parliament to explain why he “lost” 6,000 voters too – saying he preferred to telephone them rather than sending canvassers into deepest, darkest East Devon:

We have identified most of those 6,000 missing voters – just in time for the coming elections

In 2015 he blamed his postal vote fiasco on “inexperienced staff”:

Being in charge of elections at EDDC means never having to say sorry and blaming your staff

What will it be this year?

Is it perhaps time for Mr Williams (EDDC CEO and Election Officer) to consider his position(s)?

THIS YEAR’S FIASCO AFFECTS 9,000 POSTAL VOTES

“A total of 9,000 postal voters in East Devon have been reassured after a mistake meant their slips did not have the correct security mark.

A statement has been issued today by the Acting Returning Officer for the East Devon Constituency (Mark Williams) to reassure postal voters who have not yet returned their postal votes.

He said: “It has come to my attention that the postal vote packs we issued on 25th May contained voting slips that did not have an official security mark visible on the front of the ballot paper. This has affected a total of 9,000 postal voters.

“I want to reassure those postal voters affected that if they have not yet returned their postal votes they should still do so. We have taken all the necessary steps to ensure the postal votes are valid and will be counted. I apologise for the error but want to reassure postal voters that they should still complete their postal voting statements and return their postal voting envelopes back to me for validating as part of the normal postal voting process.

“To be valid, a postal vote has to be accompanied by a valid postal voting statement containing the voters date of birth and signature. After these are checked, the envelope containing the postal voting slip is opened and the slip is put into a sealed ballot box where it is kept safe until the formal count. My postal vote opening teams will ensure that all validly completed postal votes are double checked so that they will go forward to the count along with all the other votes that will be cast on polling day itself.”

There is a second issue of postal votes tomorrow (31st May) and all the postal voting slips will have the appropriate security mark. Similarly all ballot papers issued at the polling stations will have the necessary security mark.

The news comes after it was revealed East Devon was chosen as one of eight UK constituencies to be monitored as part of an international mission to ensure elections are fair.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) has announced that the constituency will be one of its target seats for the general election.

An Election Assessment Mission (EAM) will be conducted in the area from June 4 to 9 by Phillip Paulwell, an MP from Jamaica who will lead a team of Observers from the Commonwealth.

The Mission, which is being arranged by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK Branch (CPA UK) as it did in the 2015 and 2010 general elections, will also observe elections in seven other UK constituencies to oversee:

polling
counting
post-election complaints or appeals

The team will compromise of three parliamentarians and one election official from Tonga who will monitor Election Day procedures at polling stations, meet with candidates, returning officers, local officials, community groups and other relevant stakeholders in order to assess the conduct of the election.”

http://www.devonlive.com/thousands-of-east-devon-postal-voters-reassured-after-voting-slip-error/story-30362465-detail/story.html

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30 May 2017

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Accountability, Democracy, Scrutiny

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Essex council switches to ‘more democratic’ committee system

“Councillors at Basildon last week (25 May) voted to switch to a committee system to run the council in place of the Leader and Cabinet.

Following a vote at the council’s annual general meeting, councillors were appointed to various committees and other positions.

The committees include: policy and resources; housing and community; regeneration and environment; infrastructure, growth and development; planning; licensing; and audit and risk.

Cllr Gavin Callaghan, Policy and Resources Committee Chairman, said: “We have taken a very important step to change the way that decisions are made because we believe it will make the council more democratic and more effective. It is now down to us to prove it.

“All of us need to commit ourselves to listening to what our constituents and our communities are saying and to making sound decisions based on good evidence and careful consideration. We will need to work together and listen to each other too.”

The council has resolved that no one should use the title of Leader of the Council but that the chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee shall assume the responsibilities of a Leader of the Council in a committee system.

Basildon councillors had resolved on 15 December 2016 to cease operating the Leader and Cabinet form of governance and start operating a committee system from the earliest permitted time, which was the AGM in 2017.

The authority cannot resolve to make another change to its governance arrangements, including a return to the Leader and Cabinet form of governance, for five years, except if approved in a referendum.”

http://localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31324%3Aessex-council-confirms-switch-to-committees-in-bid-to-be-more-democratic&catid=59&Itemid=27

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30 May 2017

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Accountability, Clinton Devon Estates, Developers/ Development

Time running out to tell Clinton Devon Estates what you think about them

The survey is here:
https://www.research.net/r/CDECommunity

And, for information, here are the questions the survey asks – perhaps you have questions you would like them to answer that don’t appear on this rather arbitrary list:

“Clinton Devon Estates Survey, time is running out to take this survey. They’d love your views.

“We look to listen carefully to our staff, customers and those in our community. How we engage with you and what you think about our approach to sustainability is important to us and we want to get it right. Your feedback to this survey will play an important part in helping us develop our future communications.”

“Please click on the button below to start the survey. It will take around 3 minutes to complete.”

https://www.research.net/r/CDECommunity

“Everyone who takes part in the survey will be entered into a prize draw with a chance of winning one of three £100 high street gift vouchers. The prize draw will take place on the 7th of June and the winners will be notified on the 9th of June 2017.”

1. Which of the following do you associate with Clinton Devon Estates?
Residential properties;
Venison;
Forestry and timber;
Equestrian events;
Wildlife conservation and management projects;
Commercial properties;
Farms and land;
Other (please specify)

2. To what extent do you agree with the following?
Clinton Devon Estates puts responsible stewardship and sustainable development at the heart of everything they do?
Disagree strongly; Disagree slightly; Neither agree/nor disagree; Agree slightly; Agree strongly

3. Clinton Devon Estates understands and conserves the wildlife it manages
Disagree strongly; Disagree slightly; Neither agree/nor disagree; Agree slightly; Agree strongly

4. Clinton Devon Estates contributes to the local economy
Disagree strongly; Disagree slightly; Neither agree/nor disagree; Agree slightly; Agree strongly

5. Clinton Devon Estates supports the local community
Disagree strongly; Disagree slightly; Neither agree/nor disagree; Agree slightly; Agree strongly

6. If you disagree strongly or slightly with any of these statements, please tell us why………………………

7. To what extent do you agree with the following?
Clinton Devon Estates takes the views of its staff and the local community into account when making decisions.
Disagree strongly; Disagree slightly; Neither agree/nor disagree; Agree slightly; Agree strongly

8. Clinton Devon Estates communicates the reasons for its decisions and actions to its staff and the local community.
Disagree strongly; Disagree slightly; Neither agree/nor disagree; Agree slightly; Agree strongly

9. Clinton Devon Estates is transparent and open about the decisions it makes as a business
Disagree strongly; Disagree slightly; Neither agree/nor disagree; Agree slightly; Agree strongly

10. If you disagree slightly or strongly with any of these statements, please explain why…………………

11. Clinton Devon Estates is considering using the sentence: “We pledge to do today what is right for tomorrow” to help communicate their commitment to sustainability and making decisions that will have a positive impact on future generations.
In this context – How would you describe the word “pledge”?
Traditional; Meaningful; Irrelevant; Old-fashioned; Powerful; Meaningless; Don’t know what it means
Other (please specify)

12. What does the word “pledge” mean to you?……………………………………………..

13. Again thinking about the meaning of the words : “We pledge to do today what is right for tomorrow” in relation to Clinton Devon Estates commitment to sustainability – Do you prefer the word “promise” to the word “pledge” ?
Yes; No; Don’t know

14. Why do you say that? ………………………………………………

15. How credible do you think “We pledge to do today what is right for tomorrow” is as a statement from Clinton Devon Estates?
Not at all credible; Not very credible; Neither; Quite credible; Very credible

16. Why do you say that?………………………………………………….

17. If you’d like to be entered into the prize draw to win one of three £100 high street gift vouchers, please complete your contact details below: Thank you and good luck with the prize draw.”