Posted by

Posted on

8 Jul 2016

Posted under

Accountability, Democracy, East Devon Alliance, East Devon Tories, EDDC, UKIP (local), Voting

Honiton hustings for district council includes East Devon Alliance candidate

“Honiton residents will have the chance to quiz candidates for a district council seat in Honiton’s St Michael’s ward.

The opportunity comes off the back of Cllr David Foster’s sudden resignation.

Three candidates – all currently serving on Honiton Town Council – are set to attend a hustings at Honiton Methodist Hall, on Friday, July 15, from 2pm.

They are

Ashley Alder (UKIP),
Henry Brown (Labour) and
John Taylor (Independent East Devon Alliance)

June Brown, chair of Honiton Senior Voice, said: “We have been approached to hold a hustings because we have a proven track record over many years and because people want more information about candidates who present themselves.

“The district council controls many services and it is only right electors get the chance to meet and question those who wish to serve them as councillors. We are very pleased that with one exception the candidates have agreed to come along.”

For more information about Senior Voice and what the organisation does, visit http://www.devonseniorvoice

http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/hustings_to_quiz_next_district_councillor_for_honiton_1_4607829

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

7 Jul 2016

Posted under

Accountability, Democracy, East Devon Tories, Post-Brexit Adjustments

Swire for May, Parish for Leadsom – strict nanny v naughty nanny

Remainer Swire votes for Remainer May but says she is “monochrome” and is he supports her because she is not privileged.

Remainer Parish, the animal rights supporter, votes for Brexiter Leadsom who wants to bring back fox hunting.

source: http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/tory-devon-mps-split-as-swire-backs-may-and-parish-backs-leadsom/story-29488578-detail/story.html

So, Swire backs strict nanny,the vicar’s daughter who has published her tax returns when he says MPs tax returns(ie his) are no-one else’s business, whereas Parish backs naughty nanny (who refuses to publish her tax returns, was bankrolled by her hedge fund brother-in-law and had the rather elaborate cv that was later amended).

And East Devon Tories have to choose one or the other.

It just gets stranger and stranger.

All we need now is Corbyn to defect to the Tories.

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

2 Jul 2016

Posted under

Accountability, Affordable and Social Housing, Austerity cuts, Democracy, East Devon Tories, NHS (local)

Top Conservative says: “look after NHS nurses not BHS bosses”

“The Conservative Party is “in danger of dying” unless it convinces people it stands for NHS nurses not BHS bosses, the party’s Deputy Chairman warned today.

Speaking to the HuffPost UK, Tory MP Robert Halfon spelt out his fears for the future of the Conservatives and warned that whoever takes over as leader will be inheriting a “collapsing” party.

Halfon, who served in the Treasury under George Osborne for 10 months before becoming Deputy Chairman last May, revealed some local associations were facing a “disaster” due to a lack of new members. He called on the party to stand up against “so-called crony capitalism” and pledge to redistribute money gained from tax cuts to poorer communities.

Halfon also said the public don’t trust the Tories on the NHS and any of David Cameron’s achievements are seen through the prism of austerity. Speaking in his parliamentary office, where a framed photo of Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson hangs on the wall next to a picture of Margaret Thatcher, Halfon explained the potentially dire situation his party is in.

He said: “The party is in danger of dying in my view – the infrastructure is collapsing around the country, the membership is ever aging. “Of course we have an incredible party and the members are unbelievable, and I would not be here if it wasn’t for volunteers, but everywhere you go, particularly in marginal seats, it’s a disaster in many cases.

Halfon, who campaigned for the UK to remain in the EU, went on: “Labour are getting thousands of new members, Ukip are getting thousands of new members and if anything, if I can praise Vote Leave, what did they do in one year with very little money – they created a grassroots organisation, in every constituency in the country with badges, stickers and signs, brilliantly organised from nothing.

“That is the way politics is nowadays. The Conservative Party has to create a grassroots movement like Vote Leave and campaign on issues one by one which are appealing to people. “You have to rally people around an issue but do it in modern ways – whether it’s through social media and also doing the ground war. “You can have the existing stuff going on but you need to create a new kind of grassroots movement.”

Halfon has represented the Essex seat of Harlow since 2010, winning it from Labour in that year’s General Election. He admits that since working in the town, which has below average earnings compared to both the region and the country, his political views have changed from being a “free market Thatcherite” to someone who recognises the need for a “social ambulance” alongside a meritocratic ladder.

Halfon said: “We are in danger of being deserted by the millions of working people who have deserted Labour because they don’t feel we are on their side. They feel they are the party of BHS and not the NHS – by BHS I mean the corporate, awful revolting people like that Phillip Green and the dodgy guy he sold it to.” Halfon claimed workers in his constituency’s branch of BHS were “thrown on the scrap heap because of the greed, the mismanagement of corporate capitalism.”

He went on: “The modern Conservative party needs to launch an assault on the so-called crony capitalism and protect workers and stand up for them.” Branching into policy ideas, Halfon called for the Conservatives to become the “party of redistribution”, arguing that extra money generated for the Treasury by tax cuts for the wealthy should be used to cut taxes for the poor or help impoverished communities. “That’s a Conservative idea of redistribution, rather than a socialist one which says you increase taxes on people and redistribute the wealth,” Halfon said.

He also called for a massive increase in house building, and argued that while schemes such as Help to Buy are a step in the right direction, it was not enough to solve the crisis. “If I think of my own constituents and I think of millions working people across the country they can barely afford a few thousand quid. “The idea of getting £5,000 is impossible. Even if the Government says ‘We’ll match it’ they can’t do it.

“We need to build millions of social housing. I prefer it to be done by housing associations but I’m not against council housing. “But social housing should be as much of a priority of as building millions of affordable houses or by-to-let schemes.”

There is one area where Halfon does not want to see fundamental reform, and that is the NHS. The Tory MP is very open about how the voters view his party when it comes to the health service. a“The public don’t trust us on the NHS. There is an umbilical chord between the public and NHS, they do not want us to privatise it. They do not want us to mess around with it. They just want a good service.”

Halfon has yet to decide who he will back in the Conservative leadership election, but the support of the man who so successfully battled for a freeze on fuel duty will be a bonus for any candidate’s “white van” credentials.

When asked by the HuffPost UK why he didn’t put himself forward, Halfon shook his head said he didn’t think it was a role to which he was suited. “Whoever is the leader, this is a huge chance,” he said, before reeling off the achievements of David Cameron’s Governments: equal marriage, the National Living Wage, the pupil premium, free school meals.

“Everything was seen in the frame of austerity by the public,” said Halfon.
“We will never get support again unless, in my view, we radically change our narrative, radically change our policies in terms of how we reach out to the public and radically change the way our political party operates.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/robert-halfon-conservative-dying_uk_5776b79be4b0c9460800c912

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

1 Jul 2016

Posted under

Democracy, East Devon Tories, EU Referendum, Neil Parish

Protest in Tiverton as Boris Johnson arrives at invitation of Neil Parish

Believed to be arriving at Tiverton Parkway rail station at 1.10 pm. Lunching at the Tiverton Hotel.

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/boris-johnson-in-tiverton-live-updates/story-29465367-detail/story.html

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

15 May 2016

Posted under

East Devon Tories, General Election, Voting

Comments

1 Comment

A long but fascinating (and chilling) article about how the Conservative Party set about winning the general election:

http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2015/06/the-computers-that-crashed-and-the-campaign-that-didnt-the-story-of-the-tory-stealth-operation-that-outwitted-labour.html

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

12 May 2016

Posted under

Accountability, East Devon Tories, Electoral Commission, Transparency, Voting

Comments

1 Comment

Electoral Commission takes Conservative Party to court over election expenses

“It’s awkward timing for David Cameron, who launches his anti-corruption summit today in London:

he Electoral Commission is taking the Conservative Party to the High Court over the election spending scandal.

The Mirror [ but at the instigation of Channel 4 News] revealed two months ago that at least 24 Tory MPs had help from notorious battle buses ferrying hundreds of volunteers to marginal constituencies during the 2015 general election but didn’t declare any of the spending as required by law.

Breaching spending limits is a criminal offence and could lead to calls for by-elections.

It comes at an awkward time for David Cameron, who today kicks off an anti-corruption summit in London.

The slowly-unfolding scandal has led to several MPs and one Police and Crime Commissioner coming under criminal investigation by police.

The Electoral Commission are taking the Tories to the High Court to force them to reveal documents detailing the spending on Battle Buses ahead of the 2015 general election.

The Commission have already asked the Tories twice for the documents, but they have only provided “limited” disclosure.

Political parties have a legal obligation to provide full spending disclosures to the Commission on request.

Bob Posner, Director of Party and Election Finance and Legal Counsel at the Electoral Commission said: “If parties under investigation do not comply with our requirements for the disclosure of relevant material in reasonable time and after sufficient opportunity to do so, the Commission can seek recourse through the courts.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/electoral-commission-takes-tories-high-7952712

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

27 Apr 2016

Posted under

Accountability, Consultation, Devolution, East Devon Tories, Local Enterprise Partnership, Transparency

Devolution: Conservatives reject idea of mayors for rural parts of England

Scared they might get an Independent or worse (for them)? Scared a Mayor coming from Somerset might neglect Devon or vice-versa? Or a Mayor who doesn’t like Hinkley C? Or just plain scared of all these things happening over which they have no control whatsoever?

And this “bottom up” devolution – where exactly IS its bottom?

Plans for new elected mayors announced in the Budget by the government should be abandoned, Conservatives have said.

Local councillors and some MPs say mayors for three rural parts of England will add an expensive and unwanted extra tier of government. Councils could reject the idea and opt out of new authorities in Lincolnshire, the west of England and East Anglia, North Somerset MP Liam Fox said.

The government says it wants to help the local economy and devolve power.
Some Conservative councillors in the rural areas intend to try to block the policy, which will not be imposed on unwilling areas.

In his Budget in March, Chancellor George Osborne announced plans for elected mayors in the three areas.

Local authorities will vote on whether or not to accept detailed proposals by the end of June.

MPs dilemma

North West Norfolk MP Sir Henry Bellingham, said people would feel no affinity to a new authority and elections for a new mayor would attract a “pathetic” turnout.

He told the Today programme on Radio 4: “Now I don’t want a regional leader coming along and saying ‘look Henry you’ve been a bad boy, I gather you don’t want this incinerator, you don’t want these houses, well actually the region do want it and I’d like you to have it’.

“That is going to put MPs in a very difficult position and change their constitutional position.” While he supported the idea of devolution, he said plans for a new mayor should be put on hold.

‘Unstoppable momentum’

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said it was making “huge progress” in making local areas more powerful by devolving power from Whitehall.

A source close to the chancellor said: “The devolution revolution taking place across the country has unstoppable momentum behind it.” Six new authorities, which will have elected mayors, have been established in mainly urban areas, with another expected this summer.

Conservative sceptics argue the plans will not work in rural areas. Passing extra powers to large authorities with accountable, high-profile mayors is one of the Mr Osborne’s central aims.

‘Bottom-up process’

Privately, some Conservatives have compared it to the government’s attempt to turn all English schools into academies, accusing it of forcing the plan on reluctant councils. One said councils had been “bribed and bullied” in a bid to make them accept the idea.

But a DCLG spokesman said: “The government is making huge progress towards rebalancing the economy and empowering local areas through the devolution of powers and resources away from Whitehall to local people.

“Ministers have been repeatedly clear that devolution is a genuinely bottom-up process – all proposals are agreed by local leaders, and the government will not impose an arrangement on any area.”

Chris Skidmore, the Conservative MP for Kingswood near Bristol, said he supported the idea, and a new West of England mayor would create a “powerhouse in the south”.

Directly-elected mayors would be put in place, he said, even if some authorities chose not to take part. He said: “If one council decides they don’t want to do a deal, the other three will go ahead with the same pot of money given to those three councils.”

Huge cost

Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson, who has secured a House of Commons debate on the topic, said politicians would not give the government a “blank cheque” to sign up for more local government with a weak mayor.

He said: “It’s not something when you’re talking of spending hundreds of millions of pounds over the next 30 years that any responsible elected politician accountable to their electorate can sign up to.”

North East Somerset Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg is also opposed.

The leader of the Conservative group on Norfolk County Council, Cliff Jordan said he thought the council would reject the policy.

The Labour leader of the Council George Nobbs supports the idea of devolution but also opposes the policy in its current form.

Cambridgeshire County Council, which has a Conservative leader, has already voted to oppose the plan as it stands.

The Local Government Association wants local areas to be able to accept new powers and extra funding offered by the Treasury without having elected mayors.

A spokesman said: “People should be free to choose the appropriate model of robust governance for their community.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36147593

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

5 Apr 2016

Posted under

Accountability, Andrew Moulding, Chardstock, Developers/ Development, Development Management Committee, Dunkeswell, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Local Plan, Scrutiny

Comments

1 Comment

EDDC councillors slammed for voting like sheep

“A district watchdog has called for evidence-based decision-making after the conduct of some council members was called into question.

Councillors admitted being swayed by ‘powerful speakers’ when they agreed on last-minute changes to the draft East Devon Local Plan against the advice of officers and on the basis of claims that later proved unfounded.

Votes taken in the final stages of developing the document – which sets out a planning blueprint for the region – saw Dunkeswell and Chardstock added to a list of villages classed as ‘sustainable’ and thus suitable for further development.

Both decisions have now been overruled by the Planning Inspectorate, but members of East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) scrutiny committee have criticised the process that allowed the controversial votes to be taken without any evidence being checked.

Speaking before the committee on Thursday, March 17, Chardstock parish councillor David Everett said: “Chardstock is now – as far as the East Devon Local Plan is concerned  – unsustainable.

“But the damage has been done because we now have five houses we should never have had.”

The meeting heard how Councillor Andrew Moulding had spoken out in support of a developer and proposed Chardstock be classed as ‘sustainable’.

An extraordinary meeting of the full council days later saw Dunkeswell added to the list with voters swayed by claims that a school was due to be built in the village – information that was later found to be erroneous.

Scrutiny chairman Councillor Roger Giles asked if members should have been debating and making major changes to the Local Plan at such a late stage without any evidence and against the recommendations of the chief executive.

Committee members argued that this should not have been allowed, but officers at the meeting said it is down to elected councillors to make decisions and, if there is not enough evidence, they should have declined to vote.

It was recommended that all councillors in future should beware of taking claims at face value and make decisions on the basis of factual evidence.”

http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/make_decisions_on_basis_of_factual_evidence_1_4483591

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

29 Mar 2016

Posted under

East Devon Tories, EDDC

Leadership

“John Redwood, the senior Tory MP and former leadership contender, delivered a warning shot to Cameron to tone down his campaigning.

He wrote on his blog:

“As he wishes to remain prime minister, he has to remember that the prime minister has to speak as best he can for the whole nation. As party leader he has to speak for the majority of his party.”

http://gu.com/p/4hpce

Now, reimagine this quote as EDDC:

“.. he [Diviani] has to remember that as Leader he has to speak as best he can for the whole of East Devon. As party leader he has to speak for the majority of his party.”

If only!

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

21 Mar 2016

Posted under

East Devon Tories

Comments

1 Comment

Tory Central Office eyes £34m of constituency assets .. but offers access to ministers for new higher membership classes

More interesting information from the “culling” article referred to below, in which it reports that branches with less than 100 party members will be expected to merge with other, bigger branches and that branches are sitting on property and assets worth at least £34m. Membership of the Conservative Party have plummeted from 263,00 in 2005 to around 134,000 today.

“… The internal review found that Conservative associations were sitting on assets of property, buildings and cash worth £34million which were “likely to be much higher” as properties had not been revalued in a long time. …

… “It also calls for the creation of more expensive “gold” and “silver” memberships – offering perks such as invitations to “meet the minister” events.” …

…”The administration of membership would be transferred to the central party and the £50-a-year silver and £100-a-year gold membership deals introduced “to enhance the membership experience”.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/12200581/Half-of-Tory-party-associations-could-be-culled-despite-grassroots-rebellion-under-Lord-Feldman-reforms.html

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

1 Mar 2016

Posted under

Democracy, East Devon Tories, EU Referendum

Top Tories turn on their own supporters!

“David Cameron is planning to cull hundreds of Tory associations and strip local chairmen of their powers under controversial plans to rein in the Conservative grassroots.

The Daily Telegraph can disclose that up to 90 per cent of the country’s 650 Conservative associations could be axed under the biggest reforms to the party’s structure in 18 years.

Critics believe that it is a bid to reduce the influence of Tory members – which are typically eurosceptic – on the party’s next leadership contest.
It comes just weeks after Mr Cameron faced a furious response from Conservative members after telling MPs to ignore the views of eurosceptic associations in the build-up to the referendum.

Senior Tories are growing increasingly concerned that George Osborne’s chances of being the next party leader could be reduced because of his support for Mr Cameron’s bid to keep Britain in the EU.

Conservative members will determine the eventual outcome of the next leadership election and this newspaper last week disclosed that growing numbers of local groups have now swung behind Boris Johnson after he announced that he was campaigning to leave the EU.

The disclosure came as Mr Cameron was last night branded “totally irresponsible” by members of his own Cabinet for refusing to allow contingency planning for a “Brexit” despite publishing a taxpayer-funded dossier warning of a decade of chaos if Britain leaves the EU.

Sir Jeremy Heywood, Britain’s most senior civil servant, was also attacked by Cabinet members who said he had committed an “unconstitutional act” by instructing officials to ban eurosceptic ministers from accessing documents related to the EU referendum.

The relationship between the Conservative Party hierarchy and the grassroots has been strained since 2013, when a close ally of the Prime Minister described Tory activists as “mad, swivel-eyed loons” who were forcing MPs to take hardline positions on Europe.

That was compounded earlier this month when Mr Cameron told his MPs that they should not decide how to vote in the referendum “because of what your constituency association might say” but to “do what’s in your heart” rather than what “might be advantageous”.

Under the new plans, Tory associations could be merged into between 60 and 70 “multi-constituency associations” based loosely on county areas. These new “super-associations” will employ permanent party staff, downgrading the role of association chairmen – the traditional lifeblood of the party.

The party’s membership lists will be run centrally from Conservative Central Office, further cutting out the traditional role of the chairmen and allowing the leadership to communicate directly with members.

Candidates will still be selected by association members but the absence of a local party structure will make it easier for central office to impose its favoured election candidates.

Senior Tories hope that the changes will make the party far more professional and better-able to mount campaigns to take on Labour and the unions.

However, critics warn that it will have a significant effect on the next Tory leadership race, which most insiders predict will be contested between Mr Johnson and Mr Osborne.

Under the current rules, Tory backbenchers reduce a longlist of leadership candidates to just two after a series of ballots.

In previous elections, local associations and activists have had a significant role in lobbying their constituency MPs over who to choose. Critics fear this influence would be severely diluted if the number of associations is dramatically cut.

After the longlist is reduced to two candidates, all Conservative members get a vote to determine who is elected leader.

Insiders believe that the existence of as few as 60 “super-associations” would make members significantly easier to control.

It could also reduce the influence of rural Tories because they would subsumed into larger associations which could include members from large towns and cities.

The plans will be presented to the party’s ruling board today by Lord Feldman, the party’s chairman. If approved, they could be in place within 12 months.

Party sources insist the changes are voluntary and subject to vote of members before they are rolled out through on a region by region basis.
However, it would be possible for individual associations which reject the changes to be overruled if a majority in a county area supports the changes.
Ed Costelloe, chairman of Grassroots Conservatives, said: “It means that MPs are more beholden to CCHQ and I think that is a diabolical thing.”

John Strafford, chairman of the Campaign for Conservative Democracy and a party member for 50 years, added: “The way they are going, they are signing the death warrant of the Conservative party as a membership organisation.”

A Conservative spokesman said: “The plan is to offer constituency Associations the option to form multi-constituency associations so they can benefit from shared offices and access to professional staff.

“Multi-constituency associations can only be formed by a vote of Party Members in those constituencies – nothing is being ‘axed’.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/12178192/Secret-plan-to-axe-90-per-cent-of-Tory-associations-which-would-smooth-George-Osbornes-coronation-as-leader.html

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

19 Jan 2016

Posted under

East Devon Tories, EDDC, Local Plan, Mark Williams CEO EDDC, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

Sidford Fields employment land: who knew what and when?

Leading up to the district council elections Councillor Stuart Hughes and (now ex) Councillor Troman made much of what they considered a successful effort to remove the Sidford Fields employment site from the Local Plan.

It was covered initially on this blog and here:

25 March 2015:

“The Development Management Committee (DMC) rejected the amendment, but agreed to send a note to the Inspector advising him of the of the unprecedented number of representations that had been received about the Sidford Fields site, and pointing out the lack of need and environmental concerns, particularly flooding and traffic issues.”

DMC refuses to amend Local Plan proposal for Sidford.

One day later, we read this:

“By a narrow margin of, we are told, 18 votes to 13, District Councillors at today’s Extra Ordinary meeting at Knowle, have decided to drop the controversial proposal for a 12 acre employment site at Sidford Fields.
Congratulations and thanks to Sidmouth Councillors Stuart Hughes and Graham Troman for proposing the amendment. As a recent commentator on this blog noted recently, Cllr Troman had already argued strongly at the Development Management Committee, that the Sidford site was not justified by the council’s own formulae.”

Proposed Sidford Business Park removed from Local Plan

However, CEO Mark Williams made his position clear here:

“The inspector has already heard everything we have said and is yet to tell us what his view is on that part of the application. He may recommend that this site is not suitable and should be removed. It’s his decision now, not yours.

“It’s your funeral if you want to take it out.”

https://eastdevonwatch.org/2015/04/11/sidford-business-park/

Hughes made this comment in his Devon Conservatives blog for 16 April 2015:

“There appears to be some excellent news for Sidmouth and Sidford in that the Sidford Business/Retail Park that Graham Troman and I were successful in getting removed from the draft plan on the 26th March isn’t included …”

http://www.devonconservative.org.uk/hughesreport.htm

On this basis – choosing to ignore the warning of Williams – people might have been prepared to vote for them on these comments alone.

QUESTIONS:

Did EDDC officers send (on behalf of the Development Management Committee) the extra information about the Sidford Fields site, pointing out the lack of need and environmental concerns, and flooding and traffic issue at the relevant time or at all?

As this is cited as a “main modification” can it still be challenged by EDDC before adoption of the Local Plan?

What would have been the outcome of elections if electors had realised that it was extremely unlikely that the site would actually be withdrawn, with or without additional information, in spite of the strong assurances put out by councillors Hughes and Troman?

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

17 Dec 2015

Posted under

Democracy, Devolution, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Exmouth, Moirai Exmouth project, Phil Twiss, Richard Cohen, Rural communications, Spin, Transparency

Comments

3 Comments

“As a young person of Exmouth, I feel misled and horrified …”

So said the Exmouth College student who questioned EDDC leaders last night (16 Dec,2015), about the process behind the seafront development proposals in her town. But Deputy CEO Richard Cohen’s answer skirted around her main point (“I feel misled”), in a Full Council meeting that showed EDDC manipulative management at its very worst.

Blind block-voting without debate; and a Chair who allowed 5 serious questions from Exmouth residents to be rolled into one by the responding officer, thus enabling central points made by the speakers to be glossed over or, (as with the offer by Louise McAllister, specialist in surveys, to meet EDDC), simply ignored.

Not a single question was asked by any Majority Party councillor: only one of the 9 questions put, all from Independents, had a satisfactory answer (given thoroughly by Environment Portfolio holder, Cllr Iain Chubb).

Corporate Services portfolio holder, Cllr Phil Twiss, was unavailable to answer embarrassing questions about broadband, leaving Cllr Ian Thomas apologetically unable to provide informed replies.

The meeting reached a crescendo of ‘confidentiality’, when the critical information needed by councillors before deciding whether to give Leader Paul Diviani ‘delegated powers’ regarding the multi-million pound Heart of the South West (HotSW) devolution bid, was declared (without debate) too sensitive for press and public. So the devolution item was dealt with in private, at the end of the session.

Just a few minutes into this part of the agenda, the Chair, Cllr Stuart Hughes, closed the meeting, somewhat prematurely perhaps. There had been no discussion by councillors, and the whole point of this session had been missed: there was no vote on delegated powers for the Leader.

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

17 Dec 2015

Posted under

Devolution, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Transparency

Devolution: our fate decided in secret

Upgraded from comment to post:

What a pity that press and public were excluded from the Devolution debate at this evening’s Council meeting. This way of behaving by the majority Party really leads one to assume something nefarious is going on. Why oh why can’t the Tories have the courage to debate things openly? If they have to muzzle press comment and keep their electorate in ignorance of what they are deciding, is it any wonder that we doubt them?

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

2 Nov 2015

Posted under

East Devon Tories, Hugo Swire

“No 10 ridiculed after adding poppy to David Cameron Facebook picture”

First it’s Hugo Swire and Councillor Elson whose photos are changed by EDDC, now it’s David Cameron’s who has had his doctored to add a large poppy.

It seems that when Tory politicians don’t like their pictures – they just airbrush them!

http://gu.com/p/4dp3q

Though no-one appears to have doctored the picture in this article, which accompanies a story about Mr Cameron accepting free membership of an expensive private members club:

http://gu.com/p/4dpv8

where it also says:

“… But what kind of club has Cameron joined? It’s one where the dress code requires that men refrain from wearing such excrescences as collarless shirts and deck shoes, while women will be shown the door for sporting denim or exposing their undergarments. It’s one where the menu doesn’t have prices (according to Zagat: “Members sniff, ‘If you ask how much it costs, you can’t afford to eat here’”), but will reportedly offer Dover sole meunière at £40 and wine from £60 a bottle. It’s one where Vivienne Westwood launched her memoirs in 2014, and where Boris Johnson held his Christmas party. It’s one with which Dave and Sam Cam are familiar, since they had a lovely election victory dinner there in May.

Earlier this year, though, the owners of Mark’s decided that their club wasn’t quite exclusive enough. So they chose to cull about a third of its members. “Members will be asked if they want to join the club again,” Charles Price, the American entrepreneur who oversees the club, told Vanity Fair. “If they do, they can submit their applications.”

The idea was to make Mark’s the most exclusive club in London. “It’s going to be a global A-list, from a variety of backgrounds, old world and new world,” Price said. “You can’t just have a name or money to get in; the main qualification is you have to be interesting.” So, while Mark’s closed its doors in July and Paris-based designer Tino Zervudachi gave the club a multimillion-pound makeover, there was a kind of night of the posh knives in which membership was reduced from 2,500 to 1,500.” …

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

9 Oct 2015

Posted under

Affordable and Social Housing, East Devon Tories, Exmouth, Phil Twiss, Regeneration, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

Comments

7 Comments

Councillor Twiss gets his knickers in a twiss yet again – and it’s personal – yet again

The most extraordinary rant has appeared in the Sidmouth Herald under the authorship of (“I am not and never have been the Whip for the East Devon Conservative Party”) Councillor Phil Twiss, which is reproduced in its entirety below (with comments added). It puts us in mind of the early days of the sterling work of Councillor Claire Wright, when she was also attacked for attempting to change the much-derided status quo.

I have quoted the full press release provided by a local newspaper, not the shorter version in the Sidmouth Herald

WE WANT SIDMOUTH TO MOVE FORWARD, NOT BE HELD BACK’ (HELD BACK FROM WHAT?)

The Conservative Group on East Devon District Council (EDDC) have hit back at comments made by an East Devon Alliance councillor for her naïve and misleading rant in last week’s Sidmouth Herald. (So, here follows a naive and misleading rant from Councillor Twiss)

In the report, EDA Councillor Cathy Gardner, who represents Sidmouth Town Ward, claimed that a proposal to build social housing on the site of a car park in Mill Street was part of a wider plan for Eastern Town and spoke of the town being at risk of ‘fighting a battle but losing a war’.

Cllr Gardner is guilty of muddled thinking and of embarking on a naïve and misleading rant aimed at making political capital out of the vital issue of providing homes for Sidmouth’s young families. (You be the judge of who is out to make political capital here)

A consultation proposed by the EDA councillor would muddy the waters if and when the district council came to conduct its own public survey – which would take place as part of the normal democratic process. (So, what we always knew – early consultations muddy the waters and council surveys late in the day are the way forward)

ROUTINE

No firm plans had yet been drawn up for Mill Street and if and when such proposals were formed, a public consultation would follow as a matter of routine. (How much more firm could you be when you hike car park prices 300%, reduce ability to rent spaces and then put out a hasty press release saying you intend to turn it into social housing?)

It’s all very well for ward representatives to genuinely stand up for what they see as the rights of their constituents. It’s quite another to say things that will mislead people into forming the wrong conclusions, especially when this is based on a poor understanding of how the planning process works. (Still not sure what the “wrong conclusions” are here)

There is a lot of incorrect information in Councillor Gardner’s reported remarks and this displays either a naïve ignorance of the facts or a desire to stir up a political storm in a teacup – or both. (Not that he does not specifically say at any point what this incorrect information might be)

Councillor Gardner appears to be linking a possible plan for affordable homes in Mill Street with a wider redevelopment scheme for Eastern Town and even the project to create a Beach Management Plan for Sidmouth. Her suggestion that the Beach Management Plan lacked progress is mischievous and untrue. (But surely the proper thing to do in this situation IS to link plans for Mill Street to wider Port Royal and beach management? This is the joined-up thinking that Councillor Twiss and his colleagues say needs to be done)

Derogatory comments about EDDC’s ongoing and successful regeneration projects in Seaton and Exmouth take conspiracy theories to a whole new level of fantasy. (Oh wow – ask the residents of Exmouth and Seaton what they think of their so-called regeneration plans, Councillor Twiss. A big Tesco and non-affordable housing for Seaton. Exmouth – where a protest group is going from strength to strength as initial plans turn into luxury flats)

Building homes on the Mill Street site, if this did go ahead, would be part of the district council’s ongoing commitment to providing jobs and affordable housing for Sidmouth’s upcoming generation of school-leavers and young families and was entirely in line with the Government’s wish to see an end to a nationwide housing drought. (Er, no it isn’t – the Government just announced that it is dropping affordable housing from the requirements for developers – and as affordable rent is still considered 80% of the cost of non-affordable housing still well out of reach of Sidmouth’s young people).

MOVE FORWARD (er, not sure about that)

The Conservatives on EDDC want to see the district and its communities move forward, not stay stuck in the present or the past. They are following very carefully developed regeneration strategies in Seaton and Exmouth and these are based on years of careful study and prior consultation with the community. (See above – when consulted, both towns rejected EDDC’s plans – which went ahead anyway)

Ask fair-minded councillors in Seaton and Exmouth whether regeneration projects in their towns have been beneficial and you might get a different view from the jaundiced judgement of Ms Gardner. (Ah, fair-minded councillors – these seem to be anyone who agrees with Councillor Twiss!)

Sidmouth must not be left behind. We want to see a number of improvements to help the town move forward and we will resist any attempt by people like Ms Gardner to hold Sidmouth back. (Did you notice here that none of the so-called improvements are named? That’s because there aren’t any apparently!)

Any assumption by recently elected councillors that nothing happened before they arrived on the scene is both naïve and arrogant. A lot of good things are happening. These new councillors should make the effort to find out how hard members and officers have worked in the past and resist the temptation to be new brooms sweeping away good ideas just for the sake of scoring cheap political points. (Oh, Councillor Twiss – it is precisely because such a lot DID happen before they were elected that they got elected in the first place. Just why should new councillors be tied to the past and why should they not be new brooms – and just who is trying to score cheap political points here?)

Well done, Councillor Gardner – you must be doing something right if you have brought out the attack dogs so early in your councillorship! Keep up the good work for the citizens of Sidmouth! They needed someone like you and the district needs someone like you to hold power to account.

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

2 Aug 2015

Posted under

Affordable and Social Housing, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Knowle/Honiton/Exmouth relocation

EDDC faces £7 million “black hole” – and blames the Tory government!

“The council, along with other local authorities who have housing stock, has a 30-year business plan to ensure that it is able to maintain its properties.

According to the authority’s calculations, the one per cent rent cut could mean East Devon’s ring-fenced Housing Revenue Account would reduce by £77.2 million over the next three decades. The council said this loss of income makes the business plan unviable.

The proposal has also been described as “particularly unwelcome” because the Government required East Devon District Council to take on £84.5 million of debt in 2012 in return for freedoms and flexibilities to run its council housing free from government interference.

The debt was based on the Government’s assessment of income and expenditure over 30 years, and three years into that arrangement, the government has been accused of proposing to “move the goalposts”.

Councillor Elson is urging the Government to reconsider the policy. She said: “This is very short sighted and this policy has tough consequences on us as a council and on tenants too. We need to secure a more effective balance between the needs of present and future tenants in the long term”

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/East-Devon-Council-facing-7m-black-hole/story-27530755-detail/story.html

But, of course, it won’t stop them spending £8m plus on a new HQ – just cut down the amount of social housing they will finance.

And how interesting they had a 30 year maintenance plan for their housing stock, but not for their HQ!

Someone has also added a trenchant comment:

More blackmail from the Council. Their response to anything is “if you don’t do what we say, we’ll throw our toys out of the pram” but I notice they’re still spending £££s on moving offices, and more £££s on the seafront scheme which no one wants. Priorities! They’re always blackmailing the residents about something, anytime they have to toe the line. they threaten to make someone suffer for it.

Posted by

East Devon Watch

Posted on

31 Jul 2015

Posted under

Austerity cuts, Devolution, East Devon Tories, General Election, Hugo Swire, Lib Dem (local), Police (local), Rural communities

Comments

1 Comment

Is it time the West Country had its own party!

Is the West Country being best served by either Conservative or Labour or Liberal Democrat national parties? Should we be following the SNP by attempting to look after ourselves after being overlooked and penalised in just about every major area of life?

A correspondent writes:

NHS
The decision was taken by the NHS CCG last Thursday to axe beds from both Ottery and Axminster hospitals, together with the minor injuries units at Seaton and Sidmouth.

An article in The Times in June 2015[1] reports that ‘patients in the countryside are left at a “severe disadvantage” by an NHS funding system that is skewed towards cities.’ It further states, ‘There’s diminishing availability of district nurses not because there are fewer of them but because they can do less if they travel further.’

Perhaps a report[2] by The King’s Fund, April 2013, entitled “Improving the allocation of health resources in England” can throw some light on the matter.

1. Oxford and London are “relatively over-funded compared with the rest of England”.

2. ‘In the mid-1990s, a decision was taken not to apply an updated weighting for need across all services, in particular not applying it to community health services.’

3. ‘The materially more significant political motivation is that all political parties have abided by the unwritten rule that no area should receive a real-terms cut in NHS funding as a result of resource allocation decisions. The political fallout from this would be immense and no party has had the courage to take such decisions.’

Education

Another important area where Devon receives insufficient funding relates to education. An article in the Western Morning News (WMN) of 13th March 2014, was headed ‘Westcountry schools get £23m extra next year to tackle under-funding.[3]

‘Education Minister and Somerset MP David Laws announces the money, available for 2015/16 was the “biggest step towards fairer schools funding in a decade”.’ The article later states, ‘The hand-out will act as a “bridge” until a new formula is developed to be introduced after the election in 2016, Mr Laws said.’

‘The South West in particular has been a long-standing loser. Devon sits sixth from bottom in a national league table of 150 education authorities in terms of funding.’

Rail Transport

This year, the WMN reported[4] (6th January 2015) ‘Trains serving the Westcountry are the oldest of any inter-city fleet in the country, figures have revealed against claims of massive under-investment in the region’s railways.’

‘Since the collapse of the rail line at Dawlish, critics have pointed to the chronic lack of rail investment in the South West. There has been growing criticism the response has been too feeble, with the promise of a review into an additional Dartmoor line the only clear pledge to date.’

Police

Finally, an article this week in the WMN of 20th July 2015[5] entitled ‘Scandalous divide between police funding’ states ‘Police in Devon and Cornwall receive less than half the funding per person enjoyed by forces in the capital, new figures reveal, as politicians continue their campaign for fair funding of rural services.’

‘Mr Hogg said these numbers revealed “the in-built metropolitan bias” of the current funding system.’

“The information that my office researchers have uncovered is scandalous. It is no wonder that policing is so stretched in Devon and Cornwall when Government funding is so unfair,” he said.’

Anyone else spot a trend here? The Westcountry and Devon in particular have been systematically denied adequate funding.

Now the government has announced a further round of swingeing cuts. How are they to be meted out? As our region has suffered historically from unfair funding formulas, just how does the government intend to implement these cuts in Devon?

The questions to ask are:

1) Why has our region been denied adequate funding in so many areas for so long?

2) When will Devon receive its fair share?

For example, if only the NHS in Devon had received proper funding, would the CCG have decided to axe beds or MIUs in local hospitals?

References:

1 http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/news/article4478425.ece
2 http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/improving-allocation-health-resources-england
3 http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Westcountry-schools-23m-year-tackle-funding/story-20805848-detail/story.html
4 http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/West-s-inter-city-trains-oldest-country/story-25812028-detail/story.html
5 http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Devon-Cornwall-Police-receive-50-funding/story-26932344-detail/story.html

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: