Tomorrow please vote. But please think very carefully if you’re tempted to vote for the Brexit Party
As an Independent councillor and parliamentary candidate it is not my place to advise you how to vote tomorrow. I know how I am going to vote and as usual I will keep that information to myself. My main message is in line with most political commentators. Please do get out and vote! However, I am deeply concerned about one party in particular. A party that has no manifesto, but that has one [...]
Long-standing stalwart councillor, Roger Giles, has finally been elected as Mayor of Ottery St Mary, after 28 years service on the town council. It was the first meeting of the new council on Monday evening and Cllr Geoff Pratt proposed Roger for the position, which was seconded by Cllr Vicky Johns. Cllr Pratt pointed to Roger’s long service on the town council, plus 20 years as a member [...]
Devon County Council’s environment team has launched its long-awaited wildflower verge policy, following my work with three pilot verges in my ward of Otter Valley. I started the pilot in late 2013 working with highways officers and Devon Wildlife Trust, to boost the numbers of insects after it became clear that populations were falling away dramatically. It was also to offset the recent [...]
I have just submitted the following motion for the next Devon County Council full meeting, which takes place on Thursday 23 May. At this stage it’s not clear whether the motion will be heard on the day itself or be referred to cabinet and return to the next full council in July…. I will post updates when I know more! This council notes its resolution on declaring a climate emergency [...]
Ottery St Mary Town Council has a a number of brand new councillors, in a move which saw several long-standing councillors lose their seats in the first Ottery Town Council election that anyone can remember…. The new council is as follows: Richard Copus - 552 ELECTED Glyn Dobson - 662 ELECTED Peter Faithfull - 712 ELECTED Roger Giles - 1,175 ELECTED Stewart Lucas - 578 ELECTED Elli [...]
The Conservatives lost control of East Devon District Council yesterday, in an unprecedented rout, which saw them lose a whopping 22 seats, reducing their numbers to just 18. The Independents stormed to success with gains of 18 seats. During the count yesterday, which was held in two separate places - Exmouth and Honiton - it was tense and exciting. By early afternoon it was clear that the [...]
History could be made in East Devon tomorrow, as the Conservatives could lose control of the district council for the first time ever. East Devon District Council was formed under the Local Government Act of 1974 and has been Conservative run for all of that time. But with a strong team of Independents working in the council for the past few years and unprecedented fury at Brexit from [...]