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Sunday 29 December 2013

Independent Councillors - independent voices

There are several 'independent' sources of information, as cited in previous entries:
Sidmouth Independent News | aims to lift the lid on the plans to develop the Sid Valley, and publish the views of the good folk of Sidmouth and beyond
Save Our Sidmouth
exmouthindependentnews.blogspot
East Devon Alliance

And the local press gives voice to 'independent' opinion:
Home - Sidmouth Herald
View From Online - News from West Dorset, East Devon & South Somerset
Exeter Express and Echo news, views & business listings from Exeter Express and Echo's Community | Exeter Express and Echo

Several District Councillors have very useful, informative blogs which endeavour to 'connect' with the wider electorate. 

There are two Independent Councillors with blogs -  which also provide a lot of regular comment from readers:

Another blog comes from Cllr Stuart Hughes, who is from the majority party but presents a distinctive and often independent voice:
www.devonconservative.org.uk

The question remains as to how 'independent' voices can make themselves heard. 

Whilst councillors will not seek to 'bring their office or the council into disrepute'
www.eastdevon.gov.uk/standards_committee_mins_091013_with_appended_social_medial_use_policy.pdf
it is perhaps a matter of interpretation as to how this might occur:
Councillor suspended over planning influence allegations - News - Sidmouth Herald
EDDC brings itself into disrepute, yet again
Couincillors who have been refered to the Standards committee - a Freedom of Information request to East Devon District Council - WhatDoTheyKnow
What brings a council into disrepute? | Sidmouth Independent News
personal_campaigns_no_longer_vetoed_in_policy/claire-wright

Ideally, councillors will endeavour to be 'collegiate' and to provide 'counsel':
www.eastdevon.gov.uk/final_combined_agenda_cabinet_300113.pdf
Councillor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And yet it can be refreshing if a councillor 'steps out of line'...
Courageous councillors call for Knowle move to be shelved. | Sidmouth Independent News
“Conservative councillors are free to express their own views..”, says East Devon Party Whip | Sidmouth Independent News
although the consequences can be unpleasant:
Angry Hughes brands own Tory leaders ‘spineless and arrogant’ - News - Sidmouth Herald
“Spineless and arrogant” - East Devon councillor slams party leaders | Exeter Express and Echo

It is interesting to see how councillors 'took a different line' on the proposed solar farm at East Hill, for example. 
Whilst the Town Council opposed the application:
Futures Forum: Solar Plan for Sidmouth: Town Council decision
the chair of the Planning Committee had an 'independent' take on things:

‘Although the application for the solar farm on Sidbury Strips was rejected today, one strong supporter was John Dyson, who stated at the EDDC meeting that he was chairman of the Sidmouth Town Council (STC) Planning Committee and although they ,the STC, voted against it he thought that they had made the wrong decision.  At the Development Management Committee (DMC) meeting today he supported the solar farm very strongly.
Sidbury Solar Farm plans rejected | Sidmouth Independent News

And whilst most submissions to the application were against the solar farm, Cllr Chris Wale provided an 'independent' voice:
Futures Forum: Solar Plan for Sidmouth: supporting comments

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