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Monday 15 September 2014

Knowle relocation project: and the longer-term demise of district councils... part two

Following on from comment about the possible redrawing of the county's maps
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: and the longer-term demise of district councils...

... here is further comment from the EDA blog:


FROM ONE OF OUR CORRESPONDENTS: 

“GREATER EXETER”?

September 15th, 2014

Interesting response from Peter Whitfield to the piece on local government reorganisation.

Take a look at the current ‘dispute’ between Hull City Council and East Riding District Council, which is getting quite nasty.

Head of Hull boundary commission: 'This is about much more than a border' | Hull Daily Mail

Hull want to take a chunk of East Riding, and the parallels with Exeter and East Devon are obvious.

The case for Exeter taking control of the growth point area is strong, and we know that Exeter is ambitious for expansion both economically and politically. They wanted to become a unitary council, and also had aspirations to absorb Exmouth. EDDC, in political turmoil, having made a colossal mess of the Local Plan, and now proposing a very unpopular relocation, look like sitting ducks. 


EDDC is the largest District Council in Devon, and one of the largest by population in the country. Exeter City Council are well regarded, and have the highly rated Karime Hassan ex EDDC in charge as Chief Executive: the call for devolution following the Scottish referendum will surely be an opportunity to trigger an attempted snatch of territory from EDDC.

The Growth Point is already a joint enterprise between various authorities and is widely perceived as an extension to the economic zone of Exeter. Its political and economic orientation is completely dominated by its proximity to and relationship with the City.

I have often wondered at the way in which East Devon’s boundaries are arranged, with Pinhoe, so obviously part of Exeter, being included, and areas to the north and east of Exeter bizarrely being administered by EDDC.

Of course, once the loss of the Growth Point is conceded, the next issue is where would the new boundaries of the City be set? Presumably, Cranbrook would be included in Greater Exeter.


From one of our correspondents: “Greater Exeter”? | East Devon Alliance

Indeed, there are lots of dynamic projects at work in 'greater Exeter':
A city centre vision for a green capital - exeter.gov.uk
Exeter Community Transport Association
ECOE Autumn Events - Community Energy & Low Carbon

The District Council has allowed for the large-scale expansion of Pinhoe:
“You have given permission for 1,200 homes” DMC Chair told | East Devon Alliance
EDA anger at how EDDC decision was taken for more mass housing on Grade 1 farmland. | East Devon Alliance
R.I.P Pinhoe Village – mostly thanks to EDDC – and even EDDC’s own councillors question the need to make the decision so quickly | East Devon Alliance
Shock as detailed plans revealed for new Pinhoe homes | Exeter Express and Echo

Although there are misgivings about how this amount of housing was 'planned':
What the Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw thinks of East Devon’s planning free-for-all | Sidmouth Independent News

Nevertheless, it does seem that East Devon and Exeter are 'slowly merging':
Coalescence between Exeter and East Devon continues apace | East Devon Alliance



“EAST DEVON IS NOT AN ISLAND” AND SO MUST LOOK AFTER EXETER’S NEEDS

April 3rd, 2014

So says EDDC Leader Paul Diviani.

Well, we are already looking after Exeter’s employment needs with the move to Skypark so we might as well look after their housing needs too. At least Karim Hassan (former regeneration chief at EDDC and now CEO of Exeter Ciry Council) will be happy!

But perhaps it is now time for South Somerset to take care of some of East Devon’s needs … or perhaps a new town in the Blackdown Hills? Or maybe an overspill estate in Lyme Regis.

How come we get to take care of everyone else yet no-one takes care of us?
LOCAL PLAN VERDICT: More work needed - News - Sidmouth Herald


“East Devon is not an island” and so must look after Exeter’s needs | East Devon Alliance
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