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2 May 2019

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Independent Councillors, Voting

“How Morecambe’s independents set a trend for local elections”

Today Morcambe Bay, tomorrow East Devon – just vote Independent today!

“… The MBI (Morcambe Bay Independents) was formed in 1987 after a group of local residents were ignored by the town’s mainly Tory councillors when they asked to discuss a way forward for the resort following its steady decline since the 1970s.

After a few teething problems, the group went on to take control of Lancaster city council in 1995. They ran the council with a cabinet made up of MBIs, Conservatives, Greens and Liberal Democrats. Labour refused to take their cabinet seats.

New sea defences were built, the books were balanced and art installations were approved, including the Eric Morecambe statue. However, the party took a big hit in 2015 and lost control of the council.

The MBI leader, Geoff Knight, said: “Unfortunately our fortunes depend heavily on whether national or regional elections are taking place on the same day – as local elections are often overshadowed, severely affecting the independent vote. As a consequence we were reduced to two councillors in 2015.”

This time it has fielded 29 candidates in the Lancaster council election and another 25 for Morecambe town council. Its aim is to loosen the grip of the current Labour administration. Labour leads with 31 seats against an opposition of 29 councillors, made up of 17 Conservatives, eight Greens, two MBIs and two non-aligned independents.

A similar story is unfolding across the country, from Lincolnshire to Cheshire East, where unprecedented numbers of independent candidates are standing.

“Nationally, Morecambe Bay Independents are viewed as a model of how you can get into the council and make things happen. You get a lot more influence on the council,” Knight said.

“People have always belonged to a party – it’s very tribal. But a lot of time is taken up talking about issues which have nothing to do with Morecambe – it’s party politics. We have already shown what can be achieved when minority parties rule. During the four-year period we had control of the council, an awful lot was done. Politics was kept off the agenda.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/02/sea-change-how-morecambes-independents-set-a-trend-for-local-elections?

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2 May 2019

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Misc

Change REALLY could come down to a few deciding votes – please vote

Today is a BIG day for East Devon.  A handful if votes could mean the difference between “same old” and a new way of doing things – making local decisions with and for local people with NO party political interference!

It’s the day that WE get to decide just how our district will be run for the next four years.

If you want “same old” then vote Tory.  But, remember, something must be drastically wrong if the Conservative Leader at EDDC has resigned from the party!

Tory – pretty much pale, male, stale, no interest in protecting our community hospitals or our local NHS, presiding (even as governors) over local schools begging parents for financial help to survive , concreting over vast swathes of beautiful countryside to provide outrageously expensive houses (often for more retired people), or presiding over developers building expensive ticky-tacky boxes that our young people cannot afford, denying or avoiding tackling the climate change emergency.  If that’s what you feel comfortable with, vote for them.

BUT

If that ISN’T what you want – vote Independent.  Livlier people, MUCH more active in their communities, fighting for us 24/7,  living here 24/7 (because they aren’t trying to be in two places at once), refusing to accept “same old” when it so obviously isn’t working, not being anti-development, but only for development at the right price in the right place and with developers being expected to provide truly affordable housing from their vast profits, acknowledging that climate change is already affecting our coastal and rural communities and needs urgent action.

Independents have been already been representing some local communities for the last 4 years or more, but never as a majority.  They have seen at first hand the dubious decisions, the secret meetings,  the blind adherence to national Tory policies (what few there are these days) that just do not fit with local needs that permeates the ruling party.  They know what needs to be done to correct this and they are prepared to do it, along with new independent colleagues who share the same aims.

To bring in a new way of doing things needs a new way of voting. 

Out with the parties, in with the people whose ONLY driver is doing what’s best for their communities. 

Vote Independent – people before parties.

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1 May 2019

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Accountability, East Devon Tories, Independent Councillors, Lib Dem (local), Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury, UKIP (local), Voting

Report on Sidmouth hustings

[Mr Venner – Conservative candidate – appears to say in a comment on a previous post that he was not invited. He might want to take this up with his agent or constituency office as there may be some crossed wires there somewhere]

“The hustings in Sidmouth went well last night:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Town and District council elections > HUSTINGS event > political speed dating

To quote a commentator:

“I thought it was a good convivial event which achieved its purpose for voters who attended. It was good to see the candidates being engaged and convivial with each other, and all in all I think the event was worthwhile, contributing to an awareness of the upcoming elections and the importance of voting.”

There is further lively comment happening on the East Devon Watch blog:
Tories no-show at Sidmouth hustings last night | East Devon Watch

The organisers of the event were at pains to contact all the candidates.

  • All current Councillors who are standing in contested wards were contacted.
  • However some of the other candidates did not have email addresses readily available.
  • The following agents, political parties and representative groups were contacted with the request that the invitation to the hustings be passed on:
    • Devon UKIP: local agent
    • East Devon Conservative Party: office@eastdevonconservatives.org
    • East Devon Labour Party: local agent
    • East Devon Liberal Democrats: info@eastdevonlibdems.org.uk
    • Independent East Devon Alliance: info@eastdevonalliance.com
    • Sid Valley Democracy: sidvalleydem@gmail.com
  • Otherwise, letters of invitation were sent to those with no such contact address or party/group affiliation.
  • The following candidates sent in their apologies:
    • Stuart Hughes (District Conservative; Town Independent)
    • Ian McKenzie Edwards (Town)
    • Louise Thompson (Town Independent)
    • Jenny Ware (District Conservative; Town Independent)
  • Otherwise, several candidates did not attend or send in apologies, despite their agents, political parties and representative groups being contacted.

Here is more information about the candidates:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Town and District council elections > HUSTINGS event > Tuesday 30th April > candidates’ manifestos

Finally, it was noted that several members of the public popped into the Hall to ‘have a look’ but did not want to venture in – feeling either that ‘there was no point in voting’ or that ‘all politicians are corrupt/useless/a waste of time’…

Let’s hope that voters do nevertheless turn up tomorrow on voting day.”

https://futuresforumvgs.blogspot.com/2019/05/sidmouth-town-and-district-council.html

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1 May 2019

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Accountability, East Devon Tories, Feniton/ Talaton, Independent Councillors

Independent Councillor Susie Bond (Feniton) on her canvassing experiences

“FURY against Conservatives and Labour … and I mean FURY! One man said today that he would never ever vote Tory again! One bloke said we were all corrupt on EDDC given the huge cars we drive. Asked him if he lived in the village and he said No, so bid him farewell! Otherwise, lots of support from very many kind people.

Kathy McLauchlan (www.facebook.com/kathyindie) is working really hard in Whimple & Rockbeare and getting lots of positive comments on the doorstep.

Jess Bailey is a force to be reckoned with in West Hill & Aylesbeare … it’s a joy to watch her in action! She is a West Hill parish councillor and I worked with her when she was the independent representative for the town council on EDDC’s Standards Committee a couple of years ago. Utterly brilliant. She performed fantastically at the Hustings. There are so many great Independents waiting to start working hard for East Devon, but sadly not Cllr Roger Giles …”

Source: Claire Wright Facebook page comment

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1 May 2019

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Accountability, Claire Wright, Democracy, East Devon Tories, EDDC

Claire Wright explains why she believes people should not vote Conservative in tomorrow’s local election

” … As a former East Devon District Councillor who stood down in 2015, I left because I could not bear the continued nastiness of the ruling group anymore. It was a hard, challenging and ultimately game-changing time, where I exposed underhand practices, culminating in a police investigation, worked tirelessly on planning issues and did my best to make the council more transparent.

Things changed massively on EDDC as a result of my time there and I’m glad I did it, but I view it as a period of my life where I was battling the forces of darkness. That may sound melodramatic but I can tell you that is how it felt. Fortunately, I had massive support from members of the public during that time, who came to meetings, spoke at them and generally provided me with amazing support.

To think that this group might now be on the verge of falling and allowing a new progressive, representative group to take its place makes me very happy indeed. …

Polling day tomorrow. Please go out there and vote!”

http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/conservatives_poised_to_lose_control_of_east_devon_district_council_tomorro?

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1 May 2019

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Accountability, Clinton Devon Estates, Developers/ Development, EDDC, Environment (local)

Bats in East Budleigh: “licence to kill” say ecological campaigners

“A “licence to kill” has been granted, it was claimed, after plans to knock down a barn known to be home to rare and protected bats were approved.

Councillors voted by eight votes to five on Tuesday morning to give the go-ahead to demolish a barn in East Budleigh, known as The Pound, and for it to be replaced with a house.

A new bat barn will be built in the garden as mitigation and Clinton Devon Estates have said the new building will provide conditions “more suitable” for bats, including a dedicated loft area and ground floor with free flight access for the animals.

But concerns have been raised by ecological campaigners about the risk it would pose to the rare bats, saying the demolition of the barn could see them lose their homes and die.”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-devon-48036376

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1 May 2019

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Misc

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Tories no-show at Sidmouth hustings last night

Last night’s hustings organised by Vision Group for Sidmouth ( VgS) gave the traditional chance for voters to quiz those standing for the Town and for District Council seats…. provided the candidates turn up, of course.

All the Independents, and a UKIP-er did. Very noticeably, not one local Conservative candidate for the District was there. Only Stuart Hughes bothered to send apologies, but was therefore not available to answer the obvious question of why he declares himself variously as Conservative, and as Independent, depending on which council he’s representing. (Is he simply more flexible than for example his Exmouth colleagues?)

Members of the public waited patiently at the empty tables set out for Tories Chris Wale, Sheila Kerridge and Tim Venner, but left disappointed. Wonder who’ll get their vote?

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1 May 2019

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Accountability, Hugo Swire, Lobbying, Sleaze

Conservative Party funded by loads of Russian money

And Hugo Swire stays silent about his business partnership with the British Russian “big cheese” Lord Barker …..

“Given Theresa May’s strong stance on Russia (not least on the Salisbury poisoning), it’s baffling that she has allowed any whiff of links between Putin and Tory donations to occur. But thanks to Liz Truss’s energetic Instagram account, hacks have been able to pounce on a grainy photo of the PM and six female Cabinet ministers at a lavish fundraising dinner with the wife of one of Putin’s former ministers. Lubov Chernukhin’s latest £135,000 charity bid (for the event on Monday) takes her donations to the Tories over the past seven years past the £1million mark.

The Daily Mail has led the sleuthing, pointing out that at last year’s Black and White Ball Mrs Chernukhin won two more auctions – £20,000 to dine with Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson and £30,000 to dine with Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson. Earlier this year, she donated £9,500 to the war chest of Tory chairman Brandon Lewis. Five years ago, David Cameron faced questions after Chernukhin successfully bid £160,000 at a party fundraising dinner to play tennis against him and Boris Johnson.

As the Mail reports, it was not known whether the match involving Cameron and Johnson ever went ahead, but last March – following the spy poisoning – Johnson finally admitted it had. He said: ‘It’s very important that we do not allow a miasma of suspicion about all Russians in London – and indeed all rich Russians in London – to be created.’ Hmmm.”

Source: The Waugh Zone, Huffington Post

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1 May 2019

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Accountability, Hugo Swire, Post-Brexit Adjustments

“Government ferry contracts for no-deal Brexit to be cancelled costing £50 million”

The party of efficiency and business?

And Swire thinks they are the best party to sort out a climate emergency by leaving it to “the market”!

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-government-ferry-contracts-no-14978107

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1 May 2019

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Accountability, Developers/ Development, Persimmon

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Persimmon and Bellway – many homes not fire safe

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48113301

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/persimmon-homes-admits-dangerous-missing-2816833

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1 May 2019

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Accountability, Audit (EDDC), Local Government Finance

Auditor KPMG [EDDC’s Auditors] fined £6m for a botched audit

“Tainted beancounter KPMG has been fined £6million for a botched audit of a car and motorbike insurer.

It failed to spot serious problems at Equity Red Star and should not have given it a clean bill of health, regulators said.

Equity Red Star, part of a conglomerate which insures one in four British motorcycles, lost £194million in 2010 after failing to set aside enough cash to cover payouts for claims.

KPMG should have spotted the problems and raised the alarm, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said.

The auditor’s partner Mark Taylor and former partner Anthony Hulse have been fined £100,000 each for their involvement.

And Douglas Morgan, a former director of Equity Red Star, has been banned from the accounting industry for two years.

Although the fines sound large they are dwarfed by KPMG’s UK revenues, which stood at £2.3billion in the last financial year.

Partners earned an average of £601,000 each.

It has been claimed that the penalties for bad behaviour are not big enough to make a difference to how the companies behave.

The FRC is being scrapped and replaced with a new authority following a damning review which found that it was failing to hold auditors to account properly.”

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-6977471/Auditor-KPMG-fined-6m-botched-audit-car-motorbike-insurer-Equity-Red-Star.html?ito=rss-flipboard

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30 Apr 2019

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, High Street decline, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury, Voting

Be sceptical about pre-election rumours!

Ask yourself – who would start such “good news” rumours just before local elections!

“A pair of retail giants has quashed rumours of setting up shop in Sidmouth.

Both Marks and Spencers and Superdrug have ruled out any plans to set up a food hall or beauty store at this time.

With a number of buildings available for new businesses in the town, there has been talk that both companies may have had their eyes on coming to Sidmouth. …”

https://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/m-s-and-superdrug-not-coming-to-sidmouth-1-6024390

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30 Apr 2019

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Accountability, East Devon Tories, Ian Thomas, Voting

Former EDDC Tory leader writes to explain his defection – well, sort of … not quite!

Minimally enlightening, unfortunately. Hard to explain why you defected when you agree with everything your former party did/is doing/will do!

Sorry, for Owl he’s still “Not-quite Independent LiteTory”! And Owl is STILL waiting for him to explain which NATIONAL policies caused him to resign.

Come on, Mr Thomas – no whip now – you could speak your mind if you wanted to.

Or is it too close to 2 May to speak freely …

Post 2 May actions will speak louder than these vague words.

 

 

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30 Apr 2019

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Accountability, Austerity cuts, Council tax, Developers/ Development, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Estate rentcharges, Housing (local), Public Open Space, Voting

A correspondent explains why he won’t be voting Conservative on Thursday

“Unless your readers live in a new house on an estate they will have little understanding of what happens today.

I moved onto a new estate which had a grassed open area. I was aware that there was some infrastructure to prevent flooding beneath it and knew that I would have to pay a share of the upkeep. I did not fully understand was that it was a public open space which was available for anyone’s use, not just the residents on the estate.

Maintenance charges have rocketed whilst quality of service has been poor. Any talk of with holding service charge payments is referred promptly to debt recovery. The whole system is unregulated and frankly, stinks.

I have dug deep to try to understand how a simple purchase of a freehold house is suddenly caught up in a land charge where I am compelled to pay for maintenance of land owned by someone else.

The root cause of the problem seems to have started with the council. In this case EDDC. As part of the planning condition for the estate the developer had to provide a public open space and a SUDS system to prevent flooding. In all probability it was an attempt by the council to stick their fingers up at the developers and force them to provide facilities for public benefit at no cost to the local authority.

The next stage was to make the developers responsible for the maintenance of the new open spaces. They could either do that themselves or pay a lump sum to the council to maintain it for the next 25years. Clearly the developers were unable to afford that so they passed the maintenance charges on to the residents within the title deeds for each house.

That was very unpopular and most developers, wanting to distance themselves from the problem, gave the piece of public land to a land management company. It seems that none of those companies are regulated and can charge what they like. If you don’t pay their bill they could apparently seize your house. All quite outrageous.

There has been lots of bad press about these land management companies and the matter discussed in Whitehall although the housing minister has taken little interest.

In East Devon our Conservative council has decided to stick their nose in the trough and has decided to offer to take over the public open spaces at Cranbrook and offer to carry out the maintenance of the public open spaces and charge F band houses £370 per annum and H band houses £512 per annum. Both of those figures are in addition to the normal council tax which is supposed to cover supply and maintenance of public open spaces !!

So lets look at this…. EDDC created the problem by insisting that the developer provide the public open spaces which the council had no intention of maintaining. When it all starts to go wrong EDDC offer to take the responsibility over but only by penalising the residents who live on those estates.

To make it clear those public open spaces are available for use by anyone. So maintenance of those public open spaces should be maintained at public expense. The costs must be paid out of council tax revenue.

This mess has been created by EDDC who enjoy a massive Conservative majority. Any proposals are just nodded through without opposition.

I have always voted Conservative in the past but things have got out of hand. Things must change. The public has a chance to voice their opinion in the local elections on 2nd May.

I know I won’t be for any Conservative Councillor and no, it’s got nothing to to with Brexit….”

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30 Apr 2019

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Accountability, Developers/ Development, Housing (local)

Wondering why new houses are so badly built? Here’s a clue

“Cornwall councillors are set to be asked to support a call on the government to give back responsibility for building control to local councils in a bid to improve the quality of homes being built by developers.

Under the current system, developers can choose their own approved regulator to undertake building control and checks.

But Threemilestone Liberal Democrat councillor Dulcie Tudor said she was leading a bid to have this returned to local councils amid fears the current system was open to abuse because “any company or person… can choose who regulates them”.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-devon-48036375

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30 Apr 2019

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Accountability, Claire Wright, Independent Councillors, Voting

“New Statesman” magazine tips Independents to give EDDC Tories a scare tomorrow …

Stephen Bush column in the current “New Statesman” political magazine talking about what to look out for in 2019 elections:

” … Ooh, there’s a lot going on here. The fun one is East Devon, where in the parliamentary seat Claire Wright, an independent, has a fighting chance of winning ahead of the Conservatives. The local battle is largely between Conservatives and independents, so keep an eye on that. …”

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/elections/2019/04/what-look-out-2019-local-elections?