Category Archives: Voting

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1 May 2015

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Axminster, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Honiton/ Gittisham, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Voting

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That most dangerous of things: “a group of Sidmouth residents”! Are you sure?

Leaving aside whether “a group of Sidmouth residents” is the most dangerous thing on the planet (actually, the perpetrator of that remark may well be right!) it is how members of East Devon Alliance have been (oh-so-very-wrongly) described by Councillor Andrew Moulding, we have but one comment to make on his remark.

Why is Seaton resident and Conservative (and formerly a Lib Dem) councillor Stephanie Jones standing with Andrew Moulding in Axminster so that a Honiton resident Jenni Brown (whose address is the Monkton Court Hotel, Honiton) with no obvious connection to Seaton can stand in Seaton?

Click to access seaton.pdf

And where another candidate who is standing against former Tory Bob Buxton in Dunkeswell also lives (Colin Brown):

Click to access dunkeswell.pdf

You may be able to ask them both as the Monkton Court Hotel:

http://www.monktoncourthotel.co.uk/

Colin, Jenny and Joe are serving morning coffee, bar snacks, comfort food and afternoon tea. Come and relax in front of the fires or chill out in the sunny orchard -umbrellas can be supplied if necessary!

will be a polling station on election day:

Click to access 1505Nominations%20for%20MP.pdf

And it has been the venue for a number of EDDC and local Tory events such as the Tiverton and Honiton Conservative Association Pie and Pudding Club:

http://www.tivertonhonitonconservatives.co.uk/events/t-hca-honiton-branch-%E2%80%93-%E2%80%9Cpie-and-pudding-supper-club%E2%80%9D-3

Of course, anyone who fulfils the criteria in East Devon can stand anywhere in the district but it does seem a bit like musical-chair Tories – or perhaps pass the parcel would be a better description!

For the original article on the most dangerous people on the planet see our old friend:

http://realzorro1.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/axminster-tory-district-council.html

Anyone wanting to find out EXACTLY where independent East Devon Alliance candidates emanate from can find out here:

http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk/
(follow candidates tab)

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1 May 2015

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Blackdown Hills, Budleigh Salterton, Democracy, East Devon Alliance, EDDC, Exmouth, Independent Councillors, Latest news, Ottery St Mary, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury, Voting, Woodbury

Meet the candidates, in the comfort of your own home!

Before you vote on 7th May, want to know who’d like to replace the current EDDC, and why?  On the http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk website, EDW sees that 14 candidates have already taken the brave step of presenting themselves on video.
On each candidates’ page, click on video intro, and scroll down to video just below candidate’s pic. Videos currently available for Paul Arnott (Chair..standing in Coly Valley Ward) ) Ben Ingham (Leader..standing in Woodbury & Lympstone) ), Cathy Gardner (Communications Director..standing in Sidmouth Town) ), Steve Horner (standing against P. Diviani in Yarty), Martin Shaw (Seaton), Megan Armstrong (Exmouth Halsdon), Rob Longhurst (Woodbury & Lympstone),Val Ranger Newton Poppleford), Mark Daugherty (Exmouth Brixington), Marianne Rixson (Sidmouth, Sidford), Les Cotton (Budleigh Salterton) , Dawn Manley (Sidford, Sidford), Matt Coppell (Ottery St Mary Rural), Robert Crick (Exmouth Littleham)….more coming soon (if they can be caught for a few minutes’ filming between leafleting, we’re told!)

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1 May 2015

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Democracy, EDDC, Voting

Did the Returning Officer actually use the word “Sorry” for the postal vote cock-up?

It just doesn’t seem his style!

This is how EDDC puts it:

“East Devon Returning Officer Mark Williams has apologised for an error identified on the Postal Voting Statement sent to some electors on Friday 24 April.

This concerns guidance for voters on the number of candidates to vote for. In some local council wards with two or even three seats, an elector can place up to three votes. The error in the Postal Voting Statement incorrectly suggests the elector should vote for just one candidate.

For the Local Government election (green ballot paper), the guidance states: ‘Where an election is required vote for only one candidate by putting a cross (X) in the box next to your choice’.

It should state: ‘Where an election is required vote for no more than the number of candidates as stated on the top of the ballot paper by putting a cross (X) in the box next to each of your choices’.

The Returning Officer has written to every elector affected by the error to inform them that the mistake has been found and to advise what they should do next. Those who still have their ballot papers can simply follow the newly corrected advice.

Electors who have already returned their green ballot papers after following the incorrect guidance can telephone the elections team and request a new ballot paper. Their first ballot paper will then be destroyed. The number to ring is 01395 517402.

If in any doubt follow the guidance on the face of the ballot paper.”

Which begs the question: why have an instruction paper if you can follow the guidance on the ballot paper! Re-inventing the wheel?

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30 Apr 2015

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Democracy, East Devon Alliance, Electoral Commission, Independent Councillors, Latest news, Mark Williams CEO EDDC, National Planning Policy Framework, Neighbourhood Plans, Voting

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Election hot topics on IEDA blogs.. and on the video intros

Confused about who to vote for, how many votes you have, or why all the talk about neighbourhood plans? This blog has brief, clear summaries: http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk/candidates/sidmouth/cathy-gardner/

EDW also recommends Cathy’s video intro; and the one by the iEDA candidate standing against Paul Diviani (in Yarty), Steve Horner.
Many of you will already have watched this straight-talking one, which we highlighted yesterday : http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk/candidates/coly-valley/paul-arnott/

Then there’s one by Megan Armstrong (Exmouth); and by Martin Shaw (Seaton)…… the list goes on, and is steadily increasing.

Election only one week away!

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29 Apr 2015

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Democracy, East Devon Alliance, EDDC, Independent Councillors, Latest news, Voting

Meet the candidates on video!

Here’s a taster, from iEDA Chair Paul Arnott, on the theme of ‘EDDC and Tower Hamlets compared’: see Paul’s ‘video intro’ at http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk/candidates/coly-valley/paul-arnott/

P.S. Lots more video introductions now available for other candidates, on the same website. And more in the pipeline…

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28 Apr 2015

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EDDC, Mark Williams CEO EDDC, Voting

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Real Zorro puts EDDC CEO and Returning Officer under the spotlight

and is not impressed. Fortunately, he isn’t the Returning Officer for South Somerset where things seem to be runnung more smoothly – so far!

http://realzorro1.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/east-devon-one-man-three-jobs-what-can.html

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28 Apr 2015

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EDDC, General Election, Voting

Power corrupts ….. and postal voting helped in Tower Hamlets

For those of you (like us) who enjoy this sort of thing, here is the 200 page judgment on the corruption and abuse of power that took place in Tower Hamlets recently.  In parts it reads like a fiction thriller – if only it were.

Click to access judgment.pdf

This has led to the Electoral Commission promising to have a good hard look at the processes of dealing with corruption in local authorities, and not before time:

http://www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22747%3Aelectoral-commission-to-see-what-lessons-can-be-learned-from-tower-hamlets&catid=59&Itemid=27

In particular, it shows that the whole process of postal voting is very open to abuse and needs to be strengthened.

 

 

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27 Apr 2015

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EDDC, Electoral Commission, Voting

Some bedtime reading for the Electoral Returning Officer (Mark Williams)

Though, presumably, he has already committed this to memory:

“Planning and organisation: Local government elections in England and Wales: Guidance for Returning Officers”

Postal vote issue and opening staff

2.34 You should identify staffing requirements for your postal vote issuing and opening sessions. The following staff may be required:

 specially trained supervisory staff

 clerical staff

 IT staff

2.35 Your decision on whether to do a combined or separate issue of postal votes may have an impact on the number of staff required for the issuing (if this is to be done in-house) and opening of postal votes, and you will need to plan for this accordingly.

2.38 Even if you decide to outsource all or part of the postal vote issuing process you should designate a member of the project team to monitor outsourced work and the work of the contractor, and specifically to attend those parts of the issuing process that have been contracted out. This person should monitor the work of the contractor, which should include carrying out tasks such as spot checks to ensure that the postal ballot packs are being correctly collated and that those postal votes that need to go overseas are being prioritised. Further guidance on managing contractors and suppliers can be found in Section 4, below.

Postal vote issue and opening staff

3.14 You should make arrangements for the briefing of all postal vote issue and opening staff. Briefings on the particular procedures to be followed may be provided to postal vote issue and opening staff immediately prior to commencement of the issuing or opening processes. All staff should, however, be provided with guidance notes in advance.

3.15 Also, you should consider training supervisory staff a day or two in advance of the issuing or opening session so that they are fully aware of their duties and what will be expected of them.

3.16 Whether you are issuing in-house or have contracted out the issuing of postal votes, you should ensure that supervisory staff are appropriately trained to carry out the required quality assurance checks.

3.17 Supervisory staff at postal vote openings should be trained to ensure that the opening procedures and the verification process are correctly followed and an audit trail is maintained.

Click to access LGEW-MAY-RO-Part-B-Planning-and-Organisation.pdf

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27 Apr 2015

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EDDC, Voting

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Anyone know where/how to find a list of East Devon Polling Stations?

We can find lists for Mid-Devon

Click to access polling-station-list.pdf

and Exeter
http://www.exeter.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=15946&p=0

but none for East Devon

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27 Apr 2015

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East Devon Alliance, EDDC, Independent Councillors, Latest news, Voting

Who exactly are the EDA Independents?

Well, quite a determined, well-qualified and varied team, judging from their VIDEO INTRODUCTIONS, (14 available now…and more in the pipeline) on the Candidates’ pages on http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk

Seems a dialogue with the East Devon public has started in earnest, at last!

That’s clearly the style of the  IEDA candidate for the Exe Valley, who’s set up a new twitter account: Erin Whitcroft@ExeValleyVoice

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27 Apr 2015

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EDDC, Voting

Is the urgent information for incorrect postal voting instructions on EDDC’s home page – NO

Wouldn’t you think with a situation as serious as this (postal voting information wrong and all postal voters in East Devon being contacted to re-cast their postal votes if necessary see below for stories) there would be press releases and high-profile information on the East Devon District Council website?

Not a bit of it – nothing so far in local, regional or national newspapers either by press release or news items.

gotpv

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27 Apr 2015

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Claire Wright, Cranbrook, General Election, Hugo Swire, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury, Voting

Final General Electionhustings this week: Sidmouth (Tuesday) Cranbrook (Wednesday)

Final chance to make up your mind or change your mind!

Remember, East Devon Conservatives say it is too close to call – your vote REALLY WILL COUNT this time round!

gotpv

Sidmouth:  Tues. 28 April 2015

VGS General Election Hustings 7.30 pm for 7.50 pm start.

Questions to be submitted in advance to info@visionforsidmouth.org

Cranbrook: Wednesday 29 April 2015

St Martin’s School – opposite Younghayes Centre

7.30 pm for 8.00 pm start 9.30 pm finish

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26 Apr 2015

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East Devon Electoral/Returning Officer, EDDC, Electoral Commission, Voting

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The voting instruction mega-cock- up – it IS only East Devon Constituency and Mark Williams!

The explanation:

“All the District Elections and Town/Parish Council elections are administered by the Returning Officer for the relevant Constituency up until after the Constituency votes have been separated from the District and Town/Parish votes and the number of votes cast and spoilt papers, etc. has been reconciled with the Polling Station or postal voting accounts. At that point, the District and Town/Council votes are re-sealed into ballot boxes and transported to the relevant District Council on Friday 8th May for counting by the Returning Officer (Mark Williams) for the East Devon District Council.

So the postal voting instructions for East Devon Constituency were prepared by Mark Williams. The postal voting instructions for Tiverton and Honiton were prepared by Mid Devon Returning Officer and the postal voting instructions for Central Devon Constituency were prepared by West Devon Returning Officer.

So, it seems only Mark Williams (who has been the Returning Officer for East Devon for at least 9 years and maybe longer)  made mistakes in the postal voting instructions. Therefore, the correction letter is only going to the multi-seat wards within the East Devon Constituency.

Mr Williams has presumably been the Returning Officer since he started at East Devon District Council – we are not sure how long he has been CEO and Returning Officer but we have traced it back to at least 2006!

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26 Apr 2015

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Democracy, East Devon Alliance, EDDC, Latest news, Mark Williams CEO EDDC, Voting

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The monumental cock-up: Urgent instructions for people who received the wrong postal voting information

From a correspondent:

“This is news hot from the East Devon election workers at the Knowle (today Sunday!).

They say they have had dozens of phone calls about the discrepancy between the “Instructions for voting by post” (i.e. vote ONCE only on Green ballot paper) and the Green ballot paper itself (where the instruction is to vote for the number of votes according to the number of seats).

The election worker at the Knowle is contacting all the people who left messages about the discrepancy in the instructions, to say the following action is being taken urgently:

1. A letter is being sent to all postal voters in the East Devon Constituency (NOT the Tiverton and Honiton or the Central Devon Constituencies).

2. The letter will explain that votes should be cast according to the instructions on the Green ballot paper, not according to the written “Instructions for voting by post”

3. If a person has already voted not in accordance with the instructions on the Green ballot paper, they should call Knowle and request a new ballot paper to be issued, which will be substituted for their vote already returned.”

Will the head of the instigator of this cock-up have to roll? It belongs to CEO of East Devon District Council (and Returning Officer) Mark Williams, so who knows? He got off scot-free after his appearance before the Parliamentary Commission on Voter Engagement last December where he was heavily criticised and singled out in their report for failing to do enough to register missing voters, so maybe the Teflon coating will remain – especially if the “same olds” remain in power at EDDC.

What will now happen if some people who had followed the instructions on the WHITE (wrong) paper do not cast new votes on the GREEN (correct) paper and the seat can only be decided by a handful of votes fewer than the number of incorrect postal votes for that ward?

NB: seeking clarification as to why workers state remediation letters are going out only to the “East Devon Constituency” as East Devon District Council covers THREE Parliamentary constituencies – East Devon (currently Swire), Tiverton and Honiton (currently Parish) and Mid-Devon (currently Stride). It seems unlikely that wrong instructions went out only to the “East Devon constituency” when the district elections are not governed by Parliamentary Constituency boundaries but by Local Authority boundaries which are very different.

Now, if incorrect voting instructions are confined only to the East Devon Parliamentary Constituency, that would need some explaining as separate instructions would have been produced for different areas of East Devon!

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26 Apr 2015

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Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), Development Management Committee, East Devon Alliance, East Devon Growth Point, EDDC, Environment (local), General Election, Greater Exeter, Land Supply, Local Plan, National Planning Policy Framework, Neighbourhood Plans, NPPF, Planning System, Voting

Who shapes our future?

Anyone who’s been to the new town of Cranbrook lately, will be interested in this link: http://futuresforumvgs.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/where-we-live-now-new-town-home-town.html

Was it Churchill who once said, we shape our buildings and our buildings shape us…

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24 Apr 2015

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DCC, East Devon Alliance, EDDC, General Election, Latest news, Voting

Increased charges to sheltered accommodation: EDDC’s response to FOI

Remember this recent article in the Express &Echo?

‘Disabled tenant fears she may be evicted from home.’
A DISABLED East Devon District Council tenant fears that she and her elderly husband could face “eviction” from their home under the authority’s plans to charge its sheltered accommodation residents for its services.
Because Devon County Council has pulled half-a-million pounds of funding, East Devon’s sheltered housing tenants were informed in the autumn that they will be eligible to pay for the Home Safeguard alarm service and home visits made by Mobile Support Officers – which comes to about £10 a week.
The council has stressed that the charge will be phased in over the next three years and tenants on benefits will receive discounts and a means-tested hardship fund will be available.
The council said it would do “everything it possibly can” to assist residents to meet the new service charge, but that non-payment would be pursued through the courts.
Because the alarm service and support scheme are integral to the sheltered housing, a council spokesperson said residents who do not want both elements will be supported in finding alternative options, including accommodation.
But 71-year-old Kathy Moyle, a tenant in East Budleigh, says she is fearful about the impact of the new charge, but also that the prospect of having to move out if she does not want to pay for both the alarm and support visit elements, is akin to “eviction”.
“We’re being asked to pay for both the alarm and the warden support, and if we don’t want to pay we’ll be classified as not needing the support and could be evicted,” said Kathy. “They’re refusing us the right to say no.
“It will be a case that we choose between heating and food or this – £10 a week is a lot of money. This is no more than an Old Age Pensioner bedroom tax.”

Now more details on the same topic have emerged, from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by a member of East Devon Alliance: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/increased_charges_to_sheltered_a 

Seems EDA is beavering away on all sorts of election matters right now.  We especially recommend the video introductions on the candidates’ pages. http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk  ….or try them on Youtube . Type eastdevonalliance, then candidate’s name.

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24 Apr 2015

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Democracy, East Devon Alliance, General Election, Misc, Voting

Without newspapers – who is keeping tabs?

“There’s a real democratic value in having a local newspaper,” said Martin Moore of the Media Standards Trust. “It’s not just that it allows the community to know what’s going on. It’s also that the presence of a journalist who turns up to council meetings makes local politicians more accountable and keeps tabs on their behaviour. 

“As these papers close – or as they’re hollowed out, closing local offices and running news gathering from a hub in a city miles from people’s lives – we’re gradually creating a serious democratic deficit. The number of professional journalists reporting on local news has plummeted in the last decade. There are now areas of the UK where there is virtually no professional news reporting at all.”

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/apr/23/unreported-britain-without-local-newspapers-who-is-keeping-tabs

Just as well we have Owls and Zorros!

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24 Apr 2015

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Claire Wright, General Election, Hugo Swire, Latest news, Voting

Real Zorro strikes again and he’s not happy!

Real Zorro obviously has very high standards.  As a public service he has been investigating the quality and availability of information that the two front- runners in East Devon’s elections are providing us with, including what is apparently now called  a “360 degree multi-media presence” which Real Zorro knows all about!

He finds Claire Wright’s presence (website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and probably lots of other things) up-to-date, easy to access and informative.  

But, oh, he is SO disappointed both with Hugo Swire and East Devon Conservatives, where information is sadly lacking,  web pages are SO old and so out-of-date it is embarrassing (or should be) and the lack of “news” and “events” is particularly worrying.  

Seems like they don’t have many people who are able to work this interweb malarky and they don’t have much of a social life either ….!

http://realzorro1.blogspot.co.uk/

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24 Apr 2015

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Democracy, General Election, Hugo Swire, Voting

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Hugo says people who rip down posters are sad and fear democracy

Hugo Swire says on his Twitter feed that people who rip down election posters are sad – indeed they are.  He also thinks they fear democracy, which is also true.  We should all have a fair crack of the whip (unless we are Independent candidates who don’t like Whips very much!).

But we must also add that ANYONE who puts them up on a highway will have them taken down by Devon County Council – and that’s democracy at work too!