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 clear message, which is carefully promoted by its well oiled, extraordinarily well funded PR machine, but in my opinion is rotten to the core. No prizes for guessing I am talking about Mr [...]
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 of Devon County Council and 25 years as a member of East Devon District Council, from which he has just stood down…. Despite Cllr Giles, being repeatedly returned with a huge majority by the [...]
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 decision to not cut highways verges (except on junctions and bends) due to government budget cuts. It has been a legal challenge to put together this guidance, due to highways and health and safety [...]
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 in Devon, in February. This council notes also that officers launched the policy on wildflower verges earlier this month. Huge congratulations to the officers who helped bring this about. The [...]
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 Pang - 605 ELECTED Dean Stewart - 710 ELECTED Richard Grainger - 98 - ELECTED (North Ward) Vicky Johns - 177 ELECTED (North Ward) Lyn Harding - 154 ELECTED (Tipton St John Ward) Geoff Pratt - 283 [...]
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 45 year Tory rule was over in East Devon and the Independents were set to be the biggest group on the council. The Liberal Democrats gained two seats and for the first time in many years there is now [...]
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 Conservative remain and leave voters, people look set to desert the party in their droves tomorrow. I have heard reports from candidates canvassing all over the district and the feedback at the door is [...]