Sidmouth councillors Stuart Hughes and Graham Troman will ask fellow members of EDDC to vote for a halt to Knowle relocation plans because of uncertainty over the future of the council.
As reported in yesterday’s Sidmouth Herald, at the full council meeting on 5th December, they will argue that it would be sensible to wait and see before committing to new offices at Honiton, which risk becoming an instant white elephant.
Why? Because a report by influential Tory grandee, Lord Heseltine, recommends that county and district councils should be merged.The present system is too wasteful. So if the Government takes his advice, it could soon be goodbye to EDDC. The district HQ would then become redundant.
The Sidmouth councillors’ suggestion is likely to attract flak from the small cabal at EDDC committed to the move, not least, the Leader.You may recall the recent clash between him and Stuart Hughes about improving access to the Alexandria Road Industrial Estate (See SIN archive for Oct. 25th Cllr Diviani ‘speaks frankly’, and Oct 31st Misleading Leader)
And Graham Troman will chair a council committee of enquiry, which starts on 11th December, into the controversial East Devon Business Forum of which Cllr D is a founder-member. Public can attend . Details on www.saveoursidmouth.com Our Campaign, Key dates and events
The local electorate will appreciate the councillors who are standing up for them. And they noticed those who came to support the Mass March. But what has happened to our other representatives, who seem to have gone to ground?
Sidmouth Independent News 
Ask your “representatives” who they are representing and for evidence thereof. It could prove illuminating.
… and how much money has been spent on ‘consultants’ so far.
You must remember that first and foremost councillors are representing their party. Progress in their political careers depends on being in the right group or sub-group of that party and following the party line. If you do not follow the party or the leader’s line (usually but not always the same thing) then you can be ostracised, denied chairmanships, denied think-tank roles or simply kept in the dark generally. Officers will be told that you are not trustworthy and to give you only basic information.
This is POLITICS, which should have no place in how decisions are made in the district. Localism is a con (see post below on promises made before the last district election). Some of our councillors want power to manipulate the system to the benefit of themselves first, their party second and their electorate a very poor third.
The only way out of this is to elect TRUE independents or minority parties and not sham Independents like we saw at the Police Commissioner elections, who were only Independent for the duration of the election. Elect enough of them so that they change the balance of power.
Question your councillors, ask to see evidence of the work they say they have done for you. Go to council meetings and ask awkward questions and holler when they don’t give answers. Use the Freedom of Information Act to prise out answers. If you are not satisfied with those answers, go higher and higher.
It isn’t just councillors who can change the current disgraceful situation – it is us.
And there are some councillors who put their electorate first…..party politics should only come into local government at budget time…..
And may the Sidmouth electorate now know where Cllrs Newth, Sullivan, Drew, Wade (and others so far silent) stand on this matter?
Hear hear! We have all being guilty of not paying enough attention. Let’s go to the up-coming Council meetings!