Report from a Feniton correspondent: (Bold by SIN)
Peter Halse spoke to Feniton Parish Council last night at the parish council monthly meeting held unusually in St Andrew’s Church, Feniton ( to provide enough seating for the large numbers expected to attend). Peter explained his position as Chairman of the EDDC Standards Committee. A nice chap who had been doing the parish council meeting talks for two years. With his farming connections, he also said he has had no involvement in planning issues.
However, he did volunteer that he and his fellow councillors had somewhat distanced themselves from Graham Brown. He said it has always been in the public domain that Graham Brown has his own planning consultancy. I do not remember Graham Brown mentioning that fact to me when he turned up some years ago asking for my vote, but then again I did not ask the question. ( note to self)
Peter explained that he was shocked by the Telegraph revelations. Graham Brown has been suspended from the East Devon Conservative Party. Extraordinarily there is no immediate suspension of Graham Brown as an East Devon councillor. Accordingly, Feniton Parish Council voted to demand the resignation of Graham Brown as councillor. Feniton Parish Council has also formally asked for a suspension of all related planning applications at this time, pending the investigation next explained.
Peter went on to explain the process that would now take place which is an internal investigation by EDDC Deputy Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer Denise Lyon.
Only if wrongdoing is discovered in this process, will Graham Brown face further investigation.
How can it be reasonable for this investigation to happen from within? The Chairman of the Standards Committee was aware of Graham Brown’s questionable status as a councillor and now the Monitoring Officer is asked to conduct the investigation.
There needs to be an independent inquiry or this will simply disappear up another Conservative gutter from which it cannot be retrieved.
P.S.BBC Spotlight ignored the Graham Brown story today, despite it being the lead story in The Telegraph – not sure what to make of this?
Sidmouth Independent News 
It is interesting to see that although Graham Brown is shown as an Independent on the EDDC web site list of councillors, he is still listed as being a member if the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and a Member of the Economy Portfolio Holder’s Think Tank as well as being still on the Community Fund Panel. This site was updated today. Maybe he is going to scrutinize himself!