Amazing what you can do with devolved power:
“Ask Pickles” – videos of questions and answers from a parallel universe!
Polished spin by Mr Pickles on a number of important topics in videos produced from “Question Time” events held last year.
Topics given the Pickles treatment include:
What help is there for villages under threat of over-development? Yes, he REALLY thinks there are things we can do!
Fracking (live with it)
Are councils doing enough to engage voters? (Well, he thinks so – our missing 6,000 voters might not have agreed and the Parliamentary Committee pointed the finger at EDDC for not doing enough)
Why have new unitary councils bedn blocked? (Because we can, and some of them might be too powerful and the wrong party)
What are the solutions to unaffordable affordable housing? Yes, Pickles thinks we can solve this problem!
New Draft Code of Audit for local authorities
The National Audit Office has produced its new Audit Code for Local Authorities. The draft now lies before Parliament for 40 days and will be implemented if not challenged during that time.
The draft code is here:
Tourism on the cheap in Devon
Visit Devon budget £45,000
Visit Cornwall £350,000 (ends March 2015)
Visit Yorkshire budget £3,000,000
EDDC Chief Exec Mark Williams will teach you to be a councillor
Oxymoron?
“BUDDING local politicians can find out more about what it takes to be a councillor in a series of roadshows being hosted by East Devon District Council.
The mini tour events will be hosted by the local authority’s returning officer Mark Williams, who is also its chief executive who will explain the procedure.
The events take place at Exmouth Town Hall on Tuesday, January 20, 6.30pm – 7.30pm; the Younghayes Centre, Cranbrook, Thursday, January 29, 5.30pm – 7pm; The Beehive, Honiton, Monday, February 2, 6.30pm – 7.30pm; Senior Citizens’ Centre Old Courthouse, Axminster Thursday, February 12, 6.30pm – 7.30pm.”
Beggars belief! The man who “lost” 6,000 potential voters, was instrumental in quashing investigation into the East Devon Business Forum and emasculated the Overview and Scrutiny Committee!
Syon House, Budleigh
Planning application 14/2959 on behalf of Clinton Devon Estate was validated on 16 December but was first spotted on the new EDDC planning web site yesterday. It is an outline application for the construction of 21 dwellings (including 40 % affordable housing) with all matters reserved other than access, on Frogmore Road (aka the Syon House site). This site is on agricultural grade I land within the AONB and to the east of the main road which by-passes the village.
Readers of this blog may recall that earlier in 2014, at the public hearing into the local plan, the EDDC Planning Officer read out paragraph 1 of the NPPF to the Planning Inspector. This is all about encouraging communities to get involved in the planning process. The Planning Officer then went on to say that communities were the best judge of where developments should go.
The people of East Budleigh did have their say in a consultation process during January to March 2014. In considering three potential sites, the people overwhelmingly preferred a brown field site at the village entry to the South by a majority of 68.5%. This is very much in line with NPPF paragraph 111 which says “planning policies and decisions should encourage the effective use of land by reusing land that has been previously developed (brownfield land).”
This is not the site now being put forward. The reason given in the planning statement (5.9) is that compared to other sites originally put forward [this site] is less visually sensitive and better connected to the village centre. Residents may disagree, especially with regard to pedestrian access across the main road to all the village amenities. In other words questioning the site’s sustainability.
NPPF para 116 states that planning permission should be refused for major developments in designated areas [eg AONBs] except in exceptional circumstances. A paragraph that was upheld by the Planning Inspector when he rejected an appeal for development at Badger Close, Newton Poppleford in a decision dated 11 June 2014.
So the planning statement tries to get around this by arguing (5.2) that there is an acute housing land supply problem in East Devon. (Some readers might find this hard to believe). This argument is then used to plead (5.13) that there are clear exceptional circumstances as to why the proposed development is needed, would be in the public interest and should therefore be supported.
Blackdown Hills broadband failure: public meeting
Friday, February 6, 2015, 6pm to 8pm In Upottery Manor Rooms EX14 9PL
(Organised by Upottery Parish Council)
Last February, Neil Parish MP said he would come back to Upottery one year later to see how broadband provision has improved. Since then Connecting Devon & Somerset (CDS) has designated 90% of the parish and large areas of the Blackdown Hills as “Out of Programme”. Without fast broadband rural economies will fall behind those of nearby towns which are growing by £20 for every £1 invested in broadband.
In April, CDS will sign contracts with suppliers for a Phase 2, Superfast Extension Programme, but this will leave over 100,000 people in 45,000 properties without improvement in broadband for the rest of this decade.
Come along and let your views be known.
See http://www.upottery.com for more information.
Tourism: MP says “East Devon does nothing”
“Cutting VAT for tourism and investing in transport infrastructure were among the demands MPs heard from businesses in Devon when they came to Exeter to hear views on how to boost the sector.
The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee held a panel discussion at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum on Monday, January 12, to hear views on tourism in the South West.
[Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw said] … “Exeter City Council does what it can, but East Devon does nothing. There’s nobody coordinating it.”
Planning Enforcement: East Devon Watch happy to assist EDDC
Councils given access to £1m Planning Enforcement Fund to secure injunctions
Wainhomes cocks a snook at Feniton – again
Overview and Scrutiny Committee, 14 January 2015 at 10 am Knowle
Snippets:
“If high priority schemes wish to be advanced by members, such as Exmouth Town Hall refurbishment, then consideration could be given to the financial position of not utilising NHB monies to reduce loan repayments for the Exmouth Regeneration schemes and to use this funding on such projects but this will have revenue implications in borrowing costs.”
Our translation: We have spent the relocation money. If you want more then you will have to think about taking it from elsewhere, such as the New Homes Bonus, but if you do, there will be less money for the Exmouth regeneration scheme currently taking that money. (Elsewhere in the document it warns not to get too reliant on doing this as the Government might move the goalposts). Cost neutral, eh?
And it appears that “Implement provisions of Transparency Code legislation” responsibility goes to EDDC employee Terry Wilson to whom we offer our sincere condolences.
http://new.eastdevon.gov.uk/media/668309/140115-os-agenda-budget-combined.pdf
EDDC admits we deserve an outstanding council and need the very best people …
JoB Advertisement – EDDC: Information and Analysis Officer
“East Devon is an outstanding place which deserves an outstanding council. To achieve that we need the very best people.”
True, true and such a shame we don’t have them YET – roll on May 2015!
Adam Boulton of Sunday Times challenges the myth of politicians meeting “real” people
Boulton says in his Sunday Times column todof his experience of these events today:
“When he’s not travelling in a private aircraft or limo, a typical leader’s tour involved high speed travel by public transport, with an entourage of aides, flunkeys and protection officers and a handful of invited media people added to the cordon, tamed and embedded for a few hours. It is usually difficult to drum up a representative audience in the middle of a work day, so “real people” consist of unoccupied activists picked by the party or employee.s dragooned into attending a talk by their bosses … Mass-meeting town-hall democracy it is not”.
Fortunately, East Devon having two “safe” seats we may be spared this indignity.
Safe, did we say safe? Well, of course, it depends on who you talk to and who you (choose to) listen to.
Devon and Cornwall set for bumper tourist seasons
Unfortunately, “economic growth” in East Devon means more industrial sheds and executive housing on our countryside, not investing in our tourism base. Tourism barely gets a mention our local plans.
EDDC will no doubt point to the “Exmouth Seafront” project as their contribution. But what has Exmouth and Seaton regeneration brought us so far: a massive Tesco in Seaton (maybe now under the Tesco CEO’s beady eye?) and executive and retirement housing and a very small visitor centre sandwiched between Tesco and the main road, pushing the tramway into the background; Exmouth: a Premier Inn that promised 50 jobs and delivered (maybe) max 25 (the top 2 of which were filled by Premier Inns in advance)and a seafront “attraction” that will be a highly-expensive to use clone of many other seaside areas, destroying the unique charm of the current seafront.
Budleigh residents: rise to the town and district council challenge
And the more independent you are the better in our book:
http://www.devon24.co.uk/news/appeal_for_new_town_council_candidates_1_3910898
Job description for Development Manager
Only one passing reference to the Local Plan!
Achievements of the Cranbrook Forum …
… which is likely to be disbanded shortly due to lack of support and “imminent” arrival of a parish council. Though reading this report we wonder if EDDC will constitute a new council before the May 2015 given the yown’s outstanding problems and the impact they may have on how Cranbrook residents decide who might best represent them.
Highlights:
St Martins playpark:
Established lack of appropriate drainage included in initial planning, and via EDDC cause to be installed.
Cranbook Education/ Leisure
Identified that sports hall failed to meet Sport England standard by 3ft, and with LED Leisure successfully lobbied for increased dimension.
Cranbrook Planning Issues
Following community experiences with short comings to 1st Phase of Cranbrook made successful representations to EDDC re subsequent Stage 2/3 which have contributed to planning decision for developers to provide improved road layouts, more on and off road parking for residents and visitors, and more local green space including an additional small play area. House build in this new phase has yet to be occupied by residents who will benefit from the Forum’s representations on their behalf.
Builders challenged on house build quality and after care
The Forum conducted a survey of 150 of approx. 500 houses. Data suggested repetitive issues re quality of build amongst some but not all house builders at Cranbrook. Also issues with poor aftercare service. This information shared with the Developers and EDDC. The challenge:- A slightly slower build out will lead to ‘getting it right – 1st time’.
Utilities issues: E.on
The Forum led by Mark Krzywinski identified technical defects to 500 + heat exchange units installed in Cranbrook homes, and established that the remote data capture system for billing was not fit for purpose, with 70% failure rate. A programme for remedial work was agreed, and has been completed, but regular dialogue continues re the efficiency of billing data capture system.
http://www.cranbrookcommunityforum.org.uk/
Highlights:
South West Audit Partnership: recent FOI requests
Including how councillors can serve on its board and remain neutral and minutes of Board Meetings, though SWAP seem unable to understand quite how whatdotheyknow works:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/body/swap
SWAP are the internal auditors to EDDC and South Somerset councils and (see below) their EDDC auditor has said that he has not examined EDDC relocation figures “in depth”.
Those Exmouth beach huts not fit for purpose
Radio Devon news today announced EDDC’s huge project for Exmouth seafront, to include an open-air sports facility. Shame Councillor Moulding and his team haven’t noticed there already is a superb one, that families don’t have to pay to use, requires no energy consumption, and doesn’t pollute. The wide open spaces and sandy beach have long been the resort’s main attraction. (The little-used new ‘super’ bowling alley complex has been struggling to make a profit, we’re told.)
Now Exmouth’s signature seafront beach huts are to be removed, to make way for the District Council’s ambitious Splash project (just a part of the massive site pictured above). Same glass-and-concrete vision as that which bulldozed the much-loved, constantly used and unique Elizabeth Hall,so the land could be sold to the ubiquitous Premier Inn…
So Exmouth loses more of its special character and much-loved landmarks. What exactly will it gain?
House of Commons debate on flooding
Yesterday there was a debate on recent flooding events in the House of Commons:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2015-01-08a.153.0
Niether of our MPs were in attendance.
