The British Legion is not there to help you through financial difficulties and people would be horrified that you were effectively putting your hand in the till. You were stealing from a charity and that makes this the more despicable,” she said.  “It is extremely disappointing that you succumbed to temptation not once but repeatedly over a significant period of time.

Read more: http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Yeovil-councillor-Peter-Brock-stole-1-000-Royal/story-20846048-detail/story.html#ixzz2wuHaaJPY

It makes you wonder what the judge might say about a town or district councillor who makes an even more serious error.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2587981/Parts-Britain-risk-bland-homogenous-metropolises-like-China-2029-claims-leading-planning-expert.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

The Chief Executive, Mark Williams, reported to Cabinet earlier this month, that the Ombudsman’s ‘recent finding of fault’ has been addressed by East Devon District Council. See page 109 at this link http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/cabinet_mins_050314.pdf

‘Exciting times for East Devon’ is the caption to a photo on p 19 of today’s Mid Week Herald. The photo in question shows Cllrs Diviani and Moulding at a ‘Pie and Pud’ presentation on Cranbrook and the East Devon Growth Point. Despite Cllr Diviani’s optimistic comment about Skypark, 4 years into the marketing of the project, there’s not much evident sign of Spring on site (nor at Cranbrook!) : https://eastdevonwatch.org/2014/03/16/skypark-knowle/

See http://sidmouthindependentnews.wordpress.com/2014/03/18/communication-in-politics/
and our own report on the same meeting: https://eastdevonwatch.org/2014/03/14/why-stand-for-election-ask-the-younger-generation/

See Daily Telegraph report referenced here: http://sidmouthindependentnews.wordpress.com/2014/03/18/no-prime-minister-planning-in-his-own-back-yard/

Photos above supplied for those who are not familiar with the two sites. EDDC plans to relocate its HQ from the tranquillity and parkland of Knowle, Sidmouth,just a short walk away from town centre shops. The present buildings will be demolished to pay for newbuild offices, possibly at the vast new fledgling business park (recently declared as the Cabinet’s preferred site), located next to Exeter airport.

A special event at Knowle yesterday evening, involving the Parliamentary Outreach Service , was excellently organised by EDDC officers. Around 80 people attended the event, which had been advertised as an advice evening for prospective councillors. The session began well with a lively talk by Elizabeth Price of the Parliamentary Outreach service, who gave a quick overview of Parliament. The audience, including EDDC Leader Paul Diviani,listened attentively as she explained how its essential role is to hold government to account, represent the public, and to raise key issues. They also heard about parliamentary processes and, usefully, how to raise an issue in Parliament. The informal cross-party groups (All Party Parliamentary Groups, APPGs), may be of particular help to EDA as a member of Community Voice on Planning (www.covop.org). Ms Price also made a reference that seemed especially apt to the Knowle venue: she quoted Winston Churchill’s words, “We shape our buildings, and our buildings shape us”.

Julien Bassham of the Cabinet Office then described the Individual Electoral Registration (IER) reform which will be introduced in June 2014. It will concern only those people newly applying to register to vote, who will be required to give their Department of Work and Pension number along with their name. The aim is to prevent electoral fraud,largely in postal voting, where registration has sometimes been made by household. Questions from the audience showed some concern that this huge IT exercise could go awry (as with the NHS). We’ll soon see!

The high standard of presentations was impressively continued by George Downs and Alfie Weaver, speaking about the work of the Youth Parliament, the British Youth Council, and Devon Youth Service. George described various community action projects in detail, including the ‘Make Your Mark’ initiative to encourage young people to get involved, with the message that “Issues that matter, are politics in disguise”. Alfie stressed that the Devon Youth Service has no Party affiliation, but is “issue-affiliated”.

What a contrast this was, to the political mindset of the following speaker, EDDC Deputy Leader, Andrew Moulding. His closing talk was mostly based on trivialities (dogs harrassing political canvassers) and the implication that opponents’ leaflets (in this case, Councillor Douglas Hull’s) are only fit for the dustbin. No attempt was made to inform the listeners about what councillors do. This abysmal anti-climax to the evening provoked a sharp reaction from the audience. Further details reported here:http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/sparks_fly_at_eddc_elections_event_this_evening

A new bus service via Skypark could cost £100,000 a year, confirm senior officers at Devon County Council.

Officers also confirm that the existing 4 service timetable would not permit it to be diverted into Skypark, due to time constraints.

At last month’s EDDC full council meeting, the conservative group voted in favour of starting detailed negotiations to buy land at Skypark for almost £1m and build new offices there.

Cllr Roger Giles (Independent – Ottery Town), who sought information from Dave Black (Head of Planning and Transportation at DCC) said: “The message shows that the claims made by EDDC cabinet member, Cllr Ray Bloxham – that an existing service will be diverted into Skypark – are wrong.

Cllr Ray Bloxham, EDDC Corporate Business Portfolioholder recently said that “a bus service currently passing Skypark will be diverted to serve stops within Skypark when it is completed”.

Roger Giles said: “In fact Mr Black demonstrates that it will be difficult and expensive to achieve a service into Skypark at all.”

Roger Giles also said: “The other great concern I have is that if a direct bus service to Skypark is achieved, is it will only provide a service for Cranbrook and Exeter residents.

“There would be no direct bus service for people living in the rest of East Devon.”

“By relocating from Sidmouth to Skypark on the edge of Exeter, EDDC will damage the economy of Sidmouth, and it will damage the economy of East Devon as a whole.

East Devon`s loss, will be Exeter`s gain.”

Concerns were expressed at EDDC’s full council by residents and councillors, that Skypark would be inaccessible for East Devon residents and EDDC staff who would have to relocate because of its location close to Exeter, and its lack of a direct bus service.

At the EDDC meeting on 26 February Cllr Roger Giles tabled a written question about the practicality of diverting the 4 (Exeter Cranbrook – Ottery – Honiton – Axminster) bus service into Skypark, because the tight timetable would probably not permit it.

Cllr Ray Bloxham in his written answer, and his answer to Roger Giles` supplementary question, was dismissive. He accused Roger Giles of “grandstanding”.

Subsequently Roger Giles wrote to Dave Black, about the matter. DCC is the authority responsible for bus services.

Dave Black also says: “Negotiations have been on-going with Science Park and SkyPark concerning contributions towards bus services. It is expected that these contributions would enable the funding of a new service between Cranbrook and Exeter, routing through Skypark and Science Park which would supplement the existing 30 minute frequency bus service.”

It is now twelve months since the Daily Telegraph ‘Councillors-for-hire’ report, which included an undercover filmed interview with Graham Brown before his consequent resignation from East Devon District Council and from the powerful East Devon Business Forum, which he chaired.
There was an unfortunate delay of some months before the investigation started, and three changes of leadership of the case have since occurred. More on this disquieting matter has been published today, at this link: http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Police-confirm-investigating-Graham-Brown-year/story-20793167-detail/story.html

As recently reported on our website, East Devon Alliance is now part of Community Voice on Planning (CoVoP) , a nationwide network of campaign groups pushing for changes to the government’s National Planning Policy Framework, NPPF, (so-called ‘Developers’ Charter’).

We have had this news today from one particularly vigorous Northern group, in Formby.

Nick Boles visits Fragoff, in Formby Feb 2014 PRESS RELEASE

More at this website: http://www.covop.org

EDA hears that the Skypark destination still unsure. And EDDC’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee has said the justification for the move is uncertain, as Councillors have not been given sufficient evidence to make an informed decision. (How many have actually visited the Skypark site, or know that it has recently been downgraded ?)

The many questions expected tonight, from Councillors and public, include “Is the relocation move worth the harm to the economy of two major East Devon towns, Sidmouth and Honiton?”

So crunch time is this evening, (6.30pm at Knowle, Sidmouth) when Full Council will be asked to approve an extra £1,000,000 to buy land for offices at Skypark.

East Devon taxpayers’ money is being thrown at this project. If you think EDDC should attend to more urgent priorities …. See you at Knowle this evening!

EDDC’s advice evening for prospective councillors, on Thurs. 13th March, should be very popular this year! Please note the Friday 28th February deadline for registration to attend.
More information on http://sidmouthindependentnews.wordpress.com/2014/02/23/do-you-want-to-be-a-councillor-advice-evening-but-you-must-register-by-28-february-2014/

Next week, EDDC councillors will be asked to vote for a £1,000,000 spend on land at Skypark, for new Council headquarters which could cost a whopping £15,000,000 of taxpayers’ money.
But can councillors make an informed decision on the scant evidence so far provided? No they can’t, according to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC), which voted by a two-thirds majority for further details to be released before any decision should be taken. Despite this serious caution from its own watchdog, the Cabinet seems intent on forging ahead, with councillors blindly in tow.

This has prompted Save Our Sidmouth (SOS) to send an appeal to all councillors to read the details and implications of the relocation plan, (in a document SOS has provided), before the vote at Full Council on Wednesday, 26th February (6.30 p.m at Knowle).
The SOS letter and document are here: http://saveoursidmouth.com/2014/02/18/sos-to-eddc-councillors-re-skypark/

As reported widely in the media, EDDC’s reasons for moving their offices, particularly to Skypark, have been greeted with derision. The financial basis for the move has also been questioned by the Council’s own Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC). They recently voted (by 8 votes to 4 abstentions), for a review of the cost of Knowle refurbishment (1970’s buildings) with the possible sale for conversion of the historic building, compared to the spiralling, uncertain and unspecified relocation costs. “Creative accounting” has been alleged by one member of the ruling party; other councillors are uncomfortable about what seems to be an untimely leap in the dark.

Will the OSC have an “open and transparent” answer? Will taxpayers be reassured? And will the Cabinet finally reveal the real reason behind the planned move?

Come to the Full Council on 26th February (6.30 p.m at Knowle) to find out!