This is from the minutes of last December's full council meeting:
"Councillor Stuart Hughes referred to a motion he raised in December 2012. This was to put on hold relocation plans until the Government had ruled on the recommendations of the Michael Heseltine report ‘No Stone Unturned’."
Minutes of the meeting of the Council - 17 December 2014
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: the promise of 'hubs' and putting the cart before the horse
Questioning the spending of millions in relocating a council HQ when the future of that council is in doubt has been going on for some time:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: and the longer-term demise of district councils...
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: and the longer-term demise of district councils... revisted >>> the impact of devolution on the South-West
As has been pointed out, devolution could mean a refashioning of the pre-1973 system of local government:
Futures Forum: "If EDDC were abolished and Sidmouth Town Council became equivalent to what used to be Sidmouth UDC (with other responsibilities going to Devon CC) then we would get much better maintenance of Sidmouth's treasures and a better civic responsibility."
There are fears, however, that the latest proposals for 'devolution' will mean less democracy, not more:
Futures Forum: Devolution for Devon and Somerset? >>> "but it is certainly not democracy"
Futures Forum: Devolution for Devon and Somerset? >>> "instead, it must be a real process of deliberative democracy, with the ability for the public to change aspects of the deal which they want to be improved."
Within this context, the Herald reports on the Leader of the District Council's determination to press ahead with a form of devolution:
Breaking news & sport in Sidmouth | Sidmouth Herald
See:
Agenda for Scrutiny Committee and Overview Committee Joint Meeting - Wednesday, 2 December 2015
Meanwhile, there has been comment on the Streetlife blog:
Sidmouth Herald page 24
Pining Lass in Sidmouth
Amongst other things of interest in the Herald this week I was intrigued to see that the EDDC is intending to go for devolution.
How would this work? Will they become independent of DCC as well as government? Is it an attempt to avoid being lost due to local government reorganisation? How can they give Mr Diviani authority to sign on their behalf when the terms have not been finalised?
Surely giving him such power is undemocratic?
How would this work? Will they become independent of DCC as well as government? Is it an attempt to avoid being lost due to local government reorganisation? How can they give Mr Diviani authority to sign on their behalf when the terms have not been finalised?
Surely giving him such power is undemocratic?
Streetlife | Sidmouth Herald page 24
In his previous incarnation as 'maverick', the current Chair of the District Council was very pointed in his criticism of the political leadership in sacking him as Chair of the Scrutiny Cttee over plans to look into the controversial East Devon Business Forum:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: "spineless and arrogant"
Angry Hughes brands own Tory leaders ‘spineless and arrogant’ - News - Sidmouth Herald
Until recently, he was opposed to the relocation from Knowle:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: and the District Council elections
SIDMOUTH: Council move to blame for Conservative defeats at district election, says Hughes - View from Sidmouth.
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As for the authority for the leader, this is only to look at proposals, not authorise decisions, this is done by each council leader, remember that all the other councils will be in the same position, and the decisions will be made by every council at their full council meetings, by all sitting councillors.
I do not see anything wrong with looking at different ideas on how our local councils are run, whose to say that in the future we are looking after more of our own affairs instead of centrally.
The way it was written gave the impression that all EDDC councillors were being asked to give Diviani power to speak for the council in this, even though there was no agreement as to what this is or would be. Which I find worrying.
If you look at Cornwall, they still have their local Councils, some with more responsibility, but as this is at a embryonic stage, I would suggest there is a long way and time to go.
PL
As we all know with the press, sometimes they put articles together to get a reaction.
As the Leader it is his role, to speak for the council, even if the individual is not liked, and if this did happen who's to say it will be the same individual in that role.
Until we know more, I personally will keep an open mind.
This is fine in principle, but frankly there is not much to choose between someone in Plymouth deciding what happens to Sidmouth and someone in Whitehall - neither will know the circumstances of our town.
In fact the politician in Plymouth is probably more likely to try and snatch 'our' money and spend it in his patch.
The only way forward in my view is to let Sidmouth people decide what happens in Sidmouth, which means a greatly empowered Town Council. Eliminating the District tier of local government would save a lot of money, but it will only work if powers are devolved to town and parish councils.
Don't know where Plymouth came into this, no one has mentioned any particular location, or what the full idea is behind this, we can speculate as much as we like, but I would like to know more specifics, before we set the hares running.