Category Archives: Voting
List of candidates for local elections on 2 May 2019
28 days until local elections – today’s picture
This is EDDC CEO and Electoral Officer (extra pay for that) piano playing with Streetscene workers on one of those “look at me I’m just like you” PR stunts.
You know, the bloke who “lost” 6,000 voters and hasn’t got the mechanism for online checking of where you should go to vote working. The one who was hauled before a parliamentary committee to explain himself:
Time for all sorts of changes to the status quo.
[Apologies for Owl’s poor maths -28 days to voting today – it needs to have a refresher course at Hogwarts]
Want to know where you vote on 2 May? Tough, EDDC won’t tell you
The website where you put in your postcode and it tells you which ward you are in and which polling station you go to isn’t working.
Strange that …..
Not registered to vote in local election on 2 May? Do it NOW – never was your vote needed more
If you don’t want “more of the same” fusty, mostly male, mostly old Tory councillors and you haven’t registered to vote, please do – it takes less than 5 minutes. And you could change East Devon by voting for Independents!
“The deadline is looming for people to register to vote in upcoming town, parish and district council elections.
Residents who are not already registered at their current address have until midnight on Friday, April 12, to be able to vote in the elections taking place in May.
On Thursday, May 2, registered voters will go to the polls to have their say on who will represent them on their town, parish and district councils.
Mark Williams, electoral registration officer for East Devon said: “These elections are an opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who represents you on issues that directly affect your day-to-day life.
“If you recently turned 18 or moved home, it is particularly important that you act to ensure that you are registered to vote.
“It takes just five minutes online and means that you can take part in this important election.”
The deadline for applications to vote by post is also approaching at 5pm on Monday, April 15. To request a postal vote ring 01395 571529.
https://www.exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/east-devon-elections-vote-registration-deadline-1-5959793
Days to local elections – 37: picture and quote of the day
Mark Williams (EDDC CEO), Paul Diviani (then Leader) and Hugo Swire (current MP) illustrate their cosy relationship.
Diviani quote after success in previous election:
“EDDC Leader Paul Diviani’s pledge when he took office in May 2011:
Turning to his own vision for the future and his style of leadership, Councillor Diviani said: “Some call it safe, clean and green – to which I would add seen.
“Safe comes through good design at the planning stage, through working with the police, fire and rescue and all the other services that deal with our society’s well-being, with particular emphasis on the vulnerable of whatever age.
“Clean is the public realm – paths and pavements on which we travel, the quality of our parks and pleasure grounds, efficient and convenient services, such as waste recycling and collection.
“Green will come as no surprise! Two-thirds of our district is nationally designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which makes East Devon such a fabulous place to live, work and play.
“Seen is about perception and reality and is all about effective communication. All too often we read that EDDC doesn’t listen, doesn’t care, sits in an ivory tower – the list goes on. The cynical view of the last government – decide, consult, do it all anyway – is not my approach.”
https://eastdevonwatch.org/2014/07/18/clean-green-seen-or-pale-male-stale-you-decide/
Local Tories panic at last minute – and ask what you think (too little, too late!)
The Local Tories are asking the electorate at the 11th Hour! (A BIT TOO LATE!).
Why?
Because they know they have let us down, while Independent councillors have been fighting our battles, not them!
Whilst our Independent District Councillors have been listening and dealing with local people’s issues and concerns for years the “East Devon Conservative Association” may be waking up to the fact that rather than follow their Central Offices National Policies, they maybe should listen occasionally to what is happening in their local area!
A questionnaire is being distributed by the East Devon Branch of the Conservative Party, just 5 weeks before Local Parish Town and District Elections asking for local people’s thoughts!
There is however a “health warning” on the leaflet in very small print!
“The types of information we may collect about you, will probably include your name, address, and contact information and information about your ethnic origin, political opinions, and religious, philosophical and other beliefs. The data you provide will be retained by the Conservative Party, its Candidates and its MPs”.
Nice to know the Tories want to collate a database on us!
The questionnaire first asks several questions about the ward and then asks
“Are there any local issues or concerns you would like to raise?
Then they ask which of 14 issues are the 3 issues that should be prioritised. Looking at the list most local people would hope that their Councillors were concentrating on ALL of them, but at least the local Conservatives MIGHT spend some time on 3 local issues which is a start!
On the second page it becomes even more amusing!
Q: What Conservative commitments are the most important to you?
“Make a success of Brexit”
(guessing the leaflet was planned some time ago!)
First one on the list is Not really a local issue, but the you would not think that the turmoil in Parliament and Brussels was anything like a “success”!
Q: “Cut the Deficit and deal with our country’s debts.”
This could be translated as: Do you approve of austerity and the selling off of public assets.
Again, not much of a local concern, except for the closing of local hospital beds, reduction in funding for all local services, no spending on our local infrastructure but the Government spending billions on HS2 to connect London and Birmingham and Cross Rail connecting one part of London to the other!
Q:“Continue to increase housebuilding and support home ownership”.
East Devon is already building more than 950 new houses per year, but the Tories want more and more! What local people want is “the right houses, built to the right quality, in the right place, at the right time”. Not what we are getting which are large, expensive housing estates that look like “everywhere land!”.
Q: Cut income tax by raising personal allowances.
If you earn enough to pay tax that’s fine, but the less well off become even further left in crisis with the cutting of social services! And what about all those billionaire donors – some paying no tax in this country at all!
Q: Ensure that pensions continue to rise annually.
Anything to keep pensions in line with inflation is good but reducing public services for the elderly affects their quality of life! And “rising annually” is no good if increases are below the cost of living and savings earn nothing and then go to fund home or nursing home care.
Q: Ensure the welfare and benefit system is fair and rewards work.
Just one comment here “Universal Credit! It’s NOT working!
Q: Continue to increase NHS spending.
Local NHS spending has been and is being cut and all our services at breaking point! Nine hours for an ambulance to turn up for a pensioner with a broken hip in Exmouth! And a CCG that has said it will cut HALF A BILLION pounds more in the next few years.
Q: Control and reduce immigration.
They cannot control migration if they cannot sort out a Brexit deal! And SOME immigration (such as health care workers) is urgently needed. And they have already confessed that immigration will now come from India and the Phillipines rather than the EU!
Q: Protect spending on schools.
Only this week our largest secondary school in the district asked parents to contribute to the funding! And academy schools pay their heads and directors hundreds of thousands of pounds – and then often go bust!
Q: Invest our National Security and defence.
It is a known fact that we are spending less on our armed forces and the police. These cuts can be seen with less police on our streets, crime seemingly increasing and less arrests and weaker sentences for those that are apprehended!
This is Our governing Political Party and our governing East Devon councillors asking these ridiculous questions!
You are asked to tick which 2 are important to you! Again, most people would say they are all important!!
You are then asked what party you voted for last time and which party you may consider voting for this time around, and finally asking you if you want to help or even join the Conservative Party! Remember, all this data on you is kept for later use (or sale).
What’s the alternative?
This questionnaire graphically demonstrates how out of touch this national and local political party is!!
Don’t reply to add to their already large database on you but elect a local INDEPENDENT candidate, already in touch with the electorate and already fighting on your behalf!
“Tories cling on to tax exiles’ right to vote for life despite bill delay”
“The government has said it remains committed to passing a law that could allow tax exiles the right to vote and donate to political parties for life, after it failed to pass through the House of Commons.
MPs, including the serial filibusterer Philip Davies, tabled dozens of amendments to the overseas electors bill for debate on Friday, resulting in it being dropped after parliamentary time to discuss it ran out.
Under current law, British expatriates can remain on the electoral roll, allowing them to vote and make donations, for 15 years after they leave the UK. The overseas electors bill proposed removing the time limit, giving all expats the right to vote and donate for life.
Speaking on behalf of the government, the cabinet office minister Chloe Smith told the House: “The government remains committed to scrapping the cap.” The Conservative party pledged to bring in the law in its 2017 manifesto.
Anti-corruption campaigners and Labour MPs had expressed alarm at the bill. Margaret Hodge, the former chair of parliament’s public accounts committee, described the bill as “shocking” and warned it would “increase tax haven billionaires’ influence and allow dirty money donations to political parties”.”
Seaton Lib Dem Councillor ‘censors’ councillor publicising bus consultation
Astounding that something as neutral (and important) as a consultation on changes to major bus routes to and from Seaton should be censored. And even a pitiful and low-bar excuse of a ‘political post’ (assuming that is the reason) doesn’t hold water as Councillor Shaw is not up for re-election until 2022!
Councillor Burrows, in the other hand, IS up for re-election on 2 May 2019 – even though he had to resign as Mayor, admitted that he had brought the town council into disrepute AND was censured by EDDC – if the Lib Dems can’t find a better candidate! If they can’t, it really doesn’t say much for the quality of their current membership in Seaton!
From the blog of Seaton and Colyton East Devon Alliance DCC Councillor Martin Shaw:
“Seaton EDDC and town councillor Peter Burrows (pictured in his Facebook logo with the late Liberal Democrat leader, Paddy Ashdown) resigned as mayor in January after self-confessedly ‘bringing the town council into disrepute’ after abusing a ‘Tourist Information Centre’ Twitter account to pursue a personal grudge.
Now, in the very week in which East Devon’s Monitoring Officer has formally censured him on four counts, Burrows and his co-administrator, Tony Antoniou, have abused their positions as admins on a community Facebook group to remove me from the group, as I found when I tried to post details of the Stagecoach bus consultation to the group, to which I’ve belonged for years. No warning was given and neither has responded to requests for an explanation.
This example of arbitrary censorship raises two fingers to Town Council recommendations – in response to Burrows’ January actions and expected to be adopted in two weeks’ time – that councillors should ‘behave responsibly, considerately and professionally’ on social media and should NOT be Facebook admins.
It is laughable for Burrows to call himself a Liberal Democrat. This self-appointed Town Censor has no respect for the idea that a community Facebook group – the group in question is called Positive Development for Everyone in Seaton and was set up after a community meeting – should be open to a County Councillor to post important local information, and indeed for members to express views different from the admins’.
There is a long history of Burrows arbitrarily removing people and posts from different Facebook groups. I have considerable respect for the Liberal Democrats – their members on the County Council are fine councillors and I work with them closely – but Burrows is bringing his party into disrepute. I am reporting him to their regional organisation for his latest antics.”
Corruption ad poor police investigatillon of it in local elections
“The 2014 election victory by Lutfur Rahman in the contest for Mayor of Tower of Hamlets was eventually over-turned for electoral corruption, but police investigations did not result in criminal convictions. The resulting controversy over the police’s actions resulted in Operation Lynemouth: an investigation into what the police did and why.
The final report from Operation Lynemouth is now out, and it is pretty damning:
“The policing of the election and the subsequent investigation were deficient in too many areas. There was a lack of corporate responsibility, a lack of training and insufficient resources for the MPS’s special enquiry team’s investigation. We were also concerned that, when another MPS department investigated allegations other than electoral fraud, potential lines of enquiry were disregarded. Furthermore, there was an otherwise uncoordinated approach to all the investigations, with little oversight at a senior officer level for the first year, which meant that opportunities might have been missed.”
Scope has also been identified for a new police investigation:
“Operation Lynemouth’s investigators have identified avenues of enquiry that can still be explored, and City of London Police has agreed to undertake an independent criminal investigation.”
Operation Lynemouth: final report
Here is the full report”
https://www.markpack.org.uk/157907/operation-lynemouth-tower-hamlets/
Local elections: Many independents throw their hats into ring in Sid Valley
“Sid Valley Democracy is calling for residents to stand as councillors in May for the 19 seats available.
The initiative says it wishes to ensure enough candidates for the seats to be contested after previous elections where there were not enough people, resulting in automatic appointment.
The informal group says 17 people have expressed an interest so far and have hosted meetings for prospective candidates to meet and find out more about the role.
On its Facebook page, the group said: “In most recent elections, so few candidates came forward, they were all automatically appointed – this has been the same for many town councils.
“The people behind this initiative believe that this is wrong.
“So without passing any judgement on the effectiveness of Sidmouth’s current town council, or indeed how democratically it operates, we have started the initiative to see if more people are interested in standing for election, giving Sid Valley residents a real choice come May 2.
“As well as candidates we’re also keen to get more people to vote, turnout at local elections is usually very low.”
The page has announced Charissa Evans, Peter Blackmore, Deidre Hounsom, John Loudoun, Denise Bickley, Cathy Gardner and Marianne Rixson plan to stand for seats.
Nomination packs are now available from the district council for those wishing to stand in district, town and parish elections.
Candidates must complete the forms and send them to the returning officer of East Devon District Council by 4pm on Wednesday, April 3.
The electorate will head to the polls to vote in district and town and parish elections on May 2.
The counting of the votes will take place in two locations at EDDC’s headquarters at Blackdown House, Honiton, and at Exmouth Town Hall.
District council votes will be counted and the results declared on Friday May 3, with contested town and parish elections, counted and announced on Saturday May 4.
If you would like a nomination pack, please contact the electoral services team on 01395 517402.”
“Pork Barrel politics”: why ‘good news’ always comes just before elections
Portishead Independents tell it as it is!
“Pork Barrel Politics
There’s a lot of good news in Portishead at the moment. In our local papers you may have seen headlines like
“£180,000 to be spent on precinct regeneration”
“New investment brings rail line closer”
“New playground opens “
And without a doubt these are all great news stories,but have you ever stopped to wonder why we as a town are suddenly so lucky. Well it’s down to something that the Americans call Pork Barrel Politics.
It works like this a Cllr or two worried about their seats asks their party boss if there is any spare cash available to fund some projects that concern their voters say a new railway line that’s been delayed for years or a shopping precinct that’s in urgent need of repair.
They put out a press release with a quote from the Councillor so that the voters know whose “working hard” for them and just like that they expect the voters to forgot how awful they’ve been the last 4 years and re-elect them.
And if anyone mentions this and complains then the councillors supporters say “look at these people, you see they are never happy”.
Expect the papers in the next few weeks to be full of good news stories.
Why ?
Because they are scared of you, they are scared that you know there’s a better way. They are scared that change is coming to our town.
Portishead independents, your team, your town.”
Responsibility for registering for council tax is on councils, not residents
Let’s hope our CEO and Electoral Officer manages to do a good job …. as he did manage to “lose” more than 6,000 voters a little while back …..
Quick! Get your letters in to Swire – you have a short window in which he might reply!
Many berate Swire for not answering their letters or giving “automated” replies.
Well, local elections and a possible general election seems to be concentrating his mind and rumours reach Owl that – VERY unusually – he (or his wife who draws a £35,000+ salary for “helping” him) is answering letters!
Get them in NOW! Once elections have passed and/or Brexit is sorted one way or the other, normal service will no doubt be resumed!
Owl would love to know if this also applies to Neil Parish in the east of our constituency. Time to nobble him about Persimmon in Axminster, perhaps!
Why all the good news? Because on 26 March “purdah” starts before local elections!
Expect a lot of good news from the majority party at EDDC for the rest of this month. Why? Because all political new from EDDC (not its individual councillors) has to STOP on 26 March 2019.
Why?
As local elections take place on 2 May 2019, a period of weeks before the election is called “purdah” and councils must stop pushing politicised events and publications to avoid charges of unduly influencing electors to vote for them.
A good explanation of purdah (and what to look out for if officers or councillors break these rules) can be found here:
“How to register to vote (spoiler: it’s very easy)”
“DON’T MISS OUT ON YOUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS
Deadline to register
for the May 2019 local elections across large parts of England:
Friday 12 April
To be able to vote, you have to be on the electoral register and to do that, you have to fill in a simple online form. Completing other official paperwork, such as getting a passport, paying Council Tax or getting a driving license doesn’t result in you being automatically added to the register. It is a separate process.
You only need to register once; you don’t need to register separately for every election. However, you do need to register again if you change your address, name or nationality.
You have to be 18 on polling day to vote (or 16 for Scottish Parliament and local elections, along with some but not all referendums). For that reason, you can register in advance of your 18th birthday so that if an election is called whilst you are under-age but you will be 18 on polling day, you can therefore still get your vote.
EU citizens are able to vote in the UK by the way – for council elections although not for the Westminster Parliamentary elections. Commonwealth and Irish citizens can also register to vote and they’re allowed to vote in all types of elections.
To register online right now, head over to the official registration site:
https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
If voting in person isn’t the right option for you, either for a temporary or permanent reason, then once who are on the register you can also apply for a postal vote:
https://www.yourvotematters.co.uk/how-do-i-vote/voting-by-post
or appoint someone to vote on your behalf (a proxy vote):
https://www.yourvotematters.co.uk/how-do-i-vote/voting-by-proxy
Got 5? Register to vote in the 2019 local elections!”
https://www.markpack.org.uk/8456/how-to-register-to-vote/?goal=0_8f22492d8e-73a05f74d3-312639877
Beware politicians bearing gifts – just in time for local elections!
Owl was taken by this BBC news headline:
“Struggling towns to get £1.6bn post-Brexit boost”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47435565
which reveals that mostly-Labour constituencies in the North are being offered (small) handouts post-Brexit.
Just remember people of East Devon that local elections take place on 2 May 2019 and promises are not always what they seem – and sometimes just nothing more than hot air blown at us by fake unicorns!
AND HERE WE ARE not 5 minutes later and the unicorn has made its appearance. The “Communities” Minister announces that the money will be spent over SEVEN years!
Trek to new EDDC HQ in the evening if you want to be a councillor …
Just one small point. If you don’t have a car and no buses are running in the early or late evening (as happens now) how do you get to Blackout House (sic) for this meeting (or any other meeting for that matter) from Exmouth, Axminster, Seaton, Colyton or any outlying villages? Only Cranbrook and Sidmouth are served by late (after 5 pm) direct buses, and a train journey would be horrendously expensive.
Why do the people have to go to the Election Officer in the evening? Why isn’t the Election Officer going to ALL the people daytime and evening(so far Owl has heard of only one other town meeting in Ottery St Mary)? And making all those meetings accessible to disabled people?
Anyone would think people other than those in the very well represented Tory Party were being discouraged from standing …
“Representatives from East Devon District Council (EDDC) will be available on Monday (March 4) to discuss what the role involves and how residents can put themselves forward for the election.
The East Devon district is divided into 32 electoral wards, represented by 59 councillors who are elected for four years.
The next election for parish, town and district council positions will take place on Thursday, May 2.
The drop in session on Monday will be held between 4pm and 7pm at East Devon District Council’s new headquarters at Blackdown House in Honiton.
In attendance will be the returning officer, deputy returning officer and electoral services manager. They will be able to discuss the process, as well as whether a prospective candidate is eligible to stand.
Nomination packs will be available on the evening.”
https://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/drop-in-session-for-prospective-election-candidates-1-5910780
Large part of Seaton now in Branscombe and Beer electoral district!
Beer and Branscombe
Previous Beer and Branscombe District wards combined with part of the previous Seaton District ward. New part is called Beer Road.
Properties moved from Seaton to the Beer Road register:
Alleyn Court
Beer Hill
Part of Beer Road (53 properties)
Part of Castle Hill (10 properties)
Durley Road
Part of Fremington Road (18 properties)
Highcliffe Close
Highcliffe Crescent
Part of Marlpit Lane (19 properties)
Previous Beer Road
Paddock Close
Wessiters
West Acres
Westcliffe Terrace
This means that western Seaton will actually be considered an adjunct to Beer and Branscombe and will NOT be represented by “Seaton” councillors and people on the same road will have different councillors depending on which part of the road they live on! And those councillors for western Seaton will have far more voters in Beer and Branscombe!
Madness …
EDDC CEO is an “expert” on elections (Owl begs to differ)
Owl begs to differ – but the Sidmouth Herald (headline to article: ‘Expert to offer advice to potential election candidates’ seems not to know about his election officer past where he “lost” 6000 voters and had to explain himself (not too well) to a parliamentary committee!
Hopefully, this “expert” will also visit other towns!
“Residents wishing to stand as a candidate for Ottery Town Council, but are unsure about the process and role can speak to an expert tomorrow (Saturday) at the community market.
Ottery Town Council has 11 seats to be contested during the election on May 2.
Mark William’s EDDC’s returning officer will be available to speak to between 9.30am and 12.30pm at The Institute to offer advice and assistance about the role.
An Ottery Town Council spokesman said: “As a local councillor you can become a voice for your community and make a real change. Councillors are community leaders and represent the interests of the communities they serve. If you’re still undecided and feel you require more information before making a final decision, then there is an expert available who should be able to provide you all the answers.”
East Devon Watch 