Our MP doesn’t seem to understand that our council was amongst only 17 failing to fulfil its obligations. Something more than “Well, it doesn’t seem that bad” may be called for.
After all, those missing voters just might make the difference between him being elected and not elected next time.
And where is the quote from the person responsible for all the decisions that led to EDDC being in this situation, its CEO and Returning Officer, Mark Williams?
Question: the number of electors was stable in 2011, 2012 and 2013 at around 104,000 then it plummeted this year by 6,000. EDDC was supposed to arrange to physically visit properties which had not registered but someone made the decision not to do so. Who? Why? Where is this decision documented?
EDDC makes light of the fact that it is named by the Electoral Commission as in the bottom 6% of councils for registration. Were councillors aware of this before the May 2015 European elections? If not, why not? If so, why was there no call for this to be remedied before that election?
EA/2014/0072 East Devon District Council v IC & Jeremy Woodward
The oral hearing in the above case has been rearranged for 28 August 2014 at Court 3, Exeter Magistrates Court, Heavitree Road, Exeter EX1 2LS.
The hearing has been listed for half a day and will begin at 10am.
The details of the hearing will be uploaded to the Tribunal’s website over the next couple of weeks (it’s hard to say when exactly as the website is managed by a separate office), in the meantime you are welcome to share the details of the hearing with anyone who is interested to know.
Observers of the heating are also welcomed – all GRC hearings are open to the public (and press) as a matter of course. The judge may direct a ‘closed session’ (in which the disputed information is discussed) but would simply ask any observers etc. to leave the court room for the duration of this.
For background information on this important First Tier Tribunal case which pits EDDC’s intention to keep all documemts regarding Knowle development secret against our right to know what is being done with our money see our earlier post:
Congratulations to Mike Temple of the Sidmouth branch of East Devon Alliance, who has recently become one of the first Trustees of the Community Voice on Planning (CoVoP), who are vigorously working for changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
The following update on progress at the national level has just been received by CoVoP secretary, Julie Mabberley:
We are trying to keep up the pressure on the policital parties prior to the election next year. To that end
we are attending a meeting with Greg Mulholland and his colleagues this week to work on a manifesto
put together by a range of campaigners who share a similar vision for the future of the planning system.
The attendees include: Greg Mulholland MP (LD, Leeds North West); Philip Davies MP (C, Shipley); Fiona
Bruce MP (L, Congleton), Sir Nick Harvey MP (LD, North Devon); Alok Sharma MP (C, Reading West);
David Ingham (Wharfdale & Airedale Review Development); Ian Harvey & Freddie Gick (Civic Voice); Paul
Minor (CPRE); Duncan McCallum (English Heritage); Adam Royle (NT); Paul Adams and Julie Mabberley
(CoVoP).
In common with many of the affiliated groups we have been invited to to attend a discussion forum with
Committee MPs at 3.30pm on Monday 1 September at Portcullis House, Westminster for the NPPF inquiry.
This may be an opportunity to get a number of our members together face to face anyway. There may
even be sufficient a number of groups on the same day to hold a rally but I guess that only one person
from each group will be invited.
We are also in communication with the MPs Interest Group on the Green Belt led by Chris
Skidmore MP.
Our next get-together and Trustees meeting will take place at the Navigation Inn, Barrow Upon Soar,
Loughborough, LE12 8LQ on Sunday 10 August. Please let me know if you want to send a
representative. We will be discussing the outcomes from the meeting this week and the preparation for
the NPPF Inquiry discussion forum as well as other actions to put pressure on the main political parties.
On the subject of Trustees – we have now set up The Community Voice on Planning on the Small Charity
Constitution basis managed by Trustees. The first Trustees are
– Paul Adams (DefeND [Defend North Devon])
– Geoff Rice (Wantage and Grove Campaign Group)
– Jenny Unsworth (Protect Congleton)
– Ron Morton (Save our Green Spaces)
– Julie Mabberley (Wantage and Grove Campaign Group).
– Mike Temple (Save our Sidmouth).
Our Constitution is available at http://covop.org/constitution/ and we would like to formally invite all groups
to nominate individuals for membership now and to nominate Trustees at the AGM which will be held
early next year.
Thanks for reading.
Julie
Community Voice on Planning
A National Alliance to provide communities with an effective voice on planning.
Oh, and Hugo Swire was told about this at the time and it may have affected the European election results – all confirmed below:
June 2014:
… The Commission’s detailed analysis of the registration data has identified that in addition to the 5 EROs (for Mid Devon, Taunton Deane, Torridge, West Devon and West Somerset) who reported that they did not meet performance standard 3 – the house-to-house enquiry standard – in 2013, there are a further 17 EROs who did not ensure that during 2013 all non-responding properties were canvassed in person.
These are the EROs for: Broxbourne Borough Council; Castle Point Borough Council; Ceredigion County Council; Durham County Council; East Devon District Council; Gwynedd County Council; Kingston-upon-Hull City Council; Maldon District Council; Mid Sussex District Council; Northumberland County Council; North Devon District Council; North Dorset District Council; North East Lincolnshire Council; North Warwickshire Borough Council; Scarborough Borough Council; Sedgemoor District Council and South Staffordshire Council
Click to access 6.SPEAKERS-Committee-Electroal-Commission.pdf
AND
the same link confirms that European elections could have been affected:
1.16 An added risk is that the period between March and June 2014 coincides with elections to the European Parliament and to the majority of local authorities in England (including London and metropolitan boroughs), which will mean that there is next to no capacity in local elections teams to deal with any remedial activity that may be recommended.
The March 31 2014 report referred to above is here:
Click to access Readiness-for-the-transition-to-IER-Progress-Report-March-2014.pdf
and its later update here:
Click to access Analysis-of-electoral-registration-data-for-Great-Britain-2013.pdf
with this golden nugget:
East Devon District Council
“East Devon originally planned for house-to-house enquiries to be carried out as a part of the canvass, but none were conducted in practice. Their plans were later adapted to use telephone canvassing as a first step for non- responding properties, and the details of 39% of such properties were confirmed through this mechanism. The overall canvass response rate for East Devon was 95%.
East Devon’s IER implementation plan indicates that they intend to recruit canvassers to undertake the necessary house-to-house enquiries as part of the 2014 write-out and canvass. We will continue to monitor their progress through the transition to ensure this is delivered in practice.”
And here is a briefing sent to all MPs about what they should be do ing:
Click to access IER-Parliamentary-Brief-July-2014-PDF.pdf
Isn’t it odd, too, that many of the worst- performing councils are near to us!
It doesn’t seem to matter that Budleigh has an increasing profile for the arts:
http://www.devon24.co.uk/news/still_no_clear_ideas_to_save_library_1_3673057
A library is apparently a luxury we must all do without it seems
See today’s post on the Save our Sidmouth website http://saveoursidmouth.com/2014/07/07/knowle-town-and-village-green-application-inspectors-report/
Is this what EDDC thinks? And do officer recommendations hold more sway than reasoned arguments from Councillors and the public?
Councillor Roger Giles raises these and other crucial matters regarding the Development Management (DMC) and Overview and Scrutiny ( O&S) Committees, here: OTTERY ST MARY TOWN COUNCIL REPORT 7 JULY 2014
Is there about to be a sea-change in political transparency now that the child abuse cover-up is coming out into the sunlight?
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jul/06/child-abuse-inquiries-widespread-cover-up
One must hope so for the sake of the children and any others who have suffered from cover-ups designed to “protect the system” .
This is the picture and headline that EDDC has used on its latest e-magazine to the general public:
As most will recognise, this is a picture of the Knowle with the title “East Devon – an Outstanding Place”
Well, they couldn’t use a picture of Skypark for that we suppose!
Thanks to the EDA investigation, EDDC now has a “Register to Vote” link at the top of its home page on the internet!
Quick work … now let’s see it find those missing thousands!
… Mr Pickles is also urging Town Halls to “turn idle assets into money” to protect front line services. The government is allowing councils to use money raised from the sale of assets, such as empty buildings and redundant brownfield land, to help pay for the costs of improving local services and to keep Council Tax down.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-fund-to-help-councils-fight-fraud
Does our council leadership see a new HQ on the edge if Exeter as an “improvement” that income from the car park could fund?
In advance of the controversial meeting of EDDC that will attempt to curtail public speaking, and bearing in mind the increasing secrecy in which decisions are being made at EDDC, it is perhaps timely to remind everyone of the requirements that councils must adhere to in these circumstances:
Click to access Your_councils_cabinet_-_going_to_its_meetings_seeing_how_it_works.pdf
and to note this comment from that document:
It is a criminal offence if, without a reasonable excuse, a person who has in his or her custody a document10, which the national rules require to be made available to the public, refuses to supply the whole or part of the document or intentionally obstructs any other person/s from disclosing such a document.
If a person is found guilty of such a criminal offence, he/she can be fined up to £200.
Electoral Commission give evidence on voter engagement
Is East Devon one of the 6% of local authorities failing to reach targets for registration? We must await the response to a Freedom of Information request (see below)
David Ross, 48, co-founder of Carphone Warehouse, is understood to be a leading candidate to take over the watchdog.
Perhaps also look a little closer to home, Mr Swire, and let us know your views on EDDC’s secret meetings, curtailment of public speaking and its refusal to allow the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to investigate the role of the East Devon Business Forum in the Local Plan.
THEN criticise others.
A seafront trader whose family-run attraction faces closure after 40 years has blasted council bosses for not considering his plans to develop his business.
East Devon District Council wants to transform part of the seafront into the Queens Drive Leisure Area – and say it will be the last season for the attractions. But Chris Wright, whose family run Exmouth Fun Park, the Arnold Palmer Putting Course, and Jungle Fun, says he has submitted detailed proposals to improve his business, writes David Beasley. For 10 years he has urged the district council to grant him a longer lease so he can invest.
Outline permission for a water sports centre, hotel, gardens, indoor leisure, restaurant, shops and car park has been granted. Mr Wright told the Journal: “They said that they would work with the existing tenants and opportunities would exist for those who submitted suitable proposals.
“We submitted our own detailed proposals. Indeed, elements of the outline design are based on our suggestions. “Regrettably, we have heard nothing substantive from the council, save that it will be delivered by developers, rather than local existing businesses.
“It is disappointing for me that my suggestions have been adopted but I am not being considered. It is also very disappointing for the town that local businesses are not being given the opportunity to participate in the new development.”
He said businesses had not been kept up to date and information had been ‘vague’, adding: “It is extremely distressing to the traders, staff and their families whose livelihoods are at stake.”
Mr Wright called for a meeting with the project manager, and said: “Our lease has not ended, and does not end this year. We will continue to operate and entertain visitors and residents alike.”
A council spokeswoman confirmed it had received proposals from Mr Wright and others. “All discussions are ongoing and, clearly, confidential due to commercial sensitivity. “We have always said that we would like to include some opportunities within the new development for local businesses such as shops, cafes and leisure activity provision. “Further details of these will evolve throughout the development process.”
She added that they had been in regular contact with their tenants: “Negotiations for developments of this size take time so we can ensure the best possible outcome for the residents of and visitors to Exmouth.”
There are two responses to the article:
Transition Town Exmouth, is keen that the development on Queen’s Drive is to the highest standards of sustainability and hope that the EDDC chiefs in their closed-door negotiations are making the same point to the potential developers and not assuring them that the cheapest options will suffice. Experience shows that investment for quality at the design stage is repaid over the long life of the facilities. Adrian Toole Interim Chair
And from”Cecil”:
I cannot beleive we are losing all those brilliant outside activitys down the sea front,we spend hours at the beach park,it’s ideal for my 3 year old and 6 year old,hours of fun Why we need another restaurant to sit empty 10 months of the year and more indoor attractions is beyond me We have indoor attractions,there’s going to be nothing for the under 5s down the sea front A splash water zone is great for half an hour but then kids get cold ,it’s also to busy for my 3 year old They built one of these further up the road and closed it due to many complications! The beach park is brilliant hours of fun,this town hardly listens to the peoples views,rolle college,Elizabeth hall,the strand,we are always being told it was wanted but I haven’t met any one who wants the beach park etc to go,but no doubt it will and the town will spend a fortune on something un used and parents and children will go else where for what the children really like!
http://www.exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/give_us_seafront_traders_a_look_in_1_3666233
According to the Journal EDDC has announced plans to turn the free car park by the Public Hall in Budleigh Salterton to one for permit holders only. If so, this is surely the worst of all outcomes. Not only is the car park no longer free but would only be available to permit holders i.e would exclude visitors and those attending events in the Hall! There is no nearby alternative of this capacity.
The plans were due to be decided on by EDDC’s cabinet on Wednesday — however, there was hope that a last-minute compromise could be found.
Councillor Tom Wright, a member of Budleigh Salterton Town Council and EDDC’s deputy cabinet member for environment, is reported as saying: “We hope that the cabinet will arrive at a compromise which will allow flexible, low cost parking, for residents of Budleigh and our visitors.”. But the Town’s fate may already be sealed.
The saga of the car park began in 2012, when the town council, which had rented the car park for £500 a year, was told EDDC wanted to increase this to £35,000. The town council made a counter offer of £6,500, which was rejected, and heard no more about the matter until now.
An EDDC spokesman said: “Our district-wide car parks review found that it was not reasonable for EDDC to subsidise ‘free’ town centre car parking for just one town in East Devon.
But as Cllr Wright pointed out: “EDDC is trying to say it’s a free car park. It’s not free. The people of Budleigh Salterton have been paying for it through their precept levied by the town council.” (Town ratepayers have been paying for maintenance and no costs fall on other East Devon ratepayers.)
In fact the land was “given” to the people of Budleigh in the shape of the then Urban District Council by Clinton Devon Estates on a peppercorn long lease. Ownership, unfortunately, had to be transferred out of local hands to EDDC when the district council was formed in 1976.
Both the Chamber of Commerce and Budleigh in Business, as well as the Town Council, are opposed to the introduction of charging because of the damage it will do to business and social events such as the series of local festivals.
Wasn’t one of the principles of localism to encourage local communities to make these sorts of decisions to suit local needs? Or are we witnessing another example of “one size fits all” policy making aimed at destroying local identity and creating a degree of conformity that one used to see in the USSR?
Seaside towns like Budleigh and Exmouth have large car parks with good access to the sea but far away from the town centres. They need all the help they can get to encourage visitors into the towns themselves.
Councillor Tim Wood asks “Why so negative?” in his letter of June 26. Perhaps I can enlighten him, since he is a member of a Tory group which stumbles around in the dark about how to “redevelop” our town.
Rolle is empty. The opportunities to develop it for public use are great, but this is not Tory policy – they want it sold and to reap the income for EDDC coffers.
They must be rubbing their hands with glee at the extra community charge EDDC now gets from all of the halls of residence which have been converted into flats.
Use of the old college library to relocate and expand the existing sounds logical, yet Pauline Stott thinks that Exebank would be a good location! Ridiculous! It is too far from the centre of population.
The Tory group think the rugby ground is perfect for a supermarket to rival Tesco. Ridiculous, it is too far from the centre of population.
Some £450,000 was wasted at the end of Queens Drive, and what for? A flat spiral of paving which leads nowhere. Exactly what has been gained by it?
There are many examples of towns which have bucked the trend of blandness by developing individuality and encouraging small, independent businesses to open. Why can Exmouth not be one of them?
Yes, Mr Wood, there is a lot of negativity about, and the reason lies with your blinkered approach to “development”.
Nick Crane did a series on BBC2 called Town and it showed how towns could evolve in the 21st century.
I emailed Councillor Diviani and the other movers and shakers in EDDC over a year ago, and not one of them was polite enough to respond. Too busy sitting around a table no doubt, blue sky thinking!
Take off your blinkers and look around, and encourage your fellow councillors to do the same. We do not want what a Tory EDDC is offering, or what it has already given us!
Mike Fairclough
East Devon Watch 