"So why did EDDC fail to have its Local Plan in place?"

With the Inspector's consideration of the Local Plan coming to a close
Futures Forum: Public Examination of the New East Devon Local Plan: opening hearing: Tuesday 11th February
Councillor Susie Bond asks why the District Council has been left without a Local Plan and therefore vulnerable to unplanned development:

The Local Development Framework Panel, chaired among others by former Councillor Graham Brown, was charged with ensuring that the Local Plan was delivered on time and that it would serve the people of East Devon up to 2026. So the question of EDDC’s failure will have to be asked (and must be answered) another day once the police investigation has concluded.

Had the Local Plan been adopted, there would be clarity about the Council’s policies for housing to be placed at the Growth Point around Exeter, for Cranbrook to flourish as a New Town, for the major towns to take strategic allocations … and for rural villages (including Feniton) to take minimal growth of 5% to maintain the sense of a rural community.

Instead of that, East Devon is left in a state of complete limbo while being targeted by rapacious developers, none of whom were democratically elected to decide on the future of the District.

“So, what’s happening?” … the Graham Brown investigation | Susie Bond

... with further comment:
http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/cllr_susie_bond_expresses_frustration_over_brown_investigation

This is all within the context of the police investigation into former Councillor Graham Brown:
Police confirm they are still investigating East Devon councillor Graham Brown | Exeter Express and Echo

... with further comment:
http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/police_confirm_they_are_still_investigating_east_devon_councillor_graham_brown

Indeed, District Council committees are still concerned with the issue:
Audit and Governance view on Brown scandal and Thelma Hulbert Gallery update | Sidmouth Independent News

There are reports going back twelve months:
UPDATE: Police are looking into whether former East Devon councillor Graham Brown acted illegally | Exeter Express and Echo
East Devon Business Forum | Save Our Sidmouth

See also:
Futures Forum: Payments and patronage in East Devon
Futures Forum: Transparency and process in East Devon... a summary
Futures Forum: Lobbying: East Devon Business Forum
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