East Devon Alliance | Save Our Sidmouth

April 11, 2013
by sidmouthsid Leave a comment

No “trial by hearsay”

At last night’s Full Council meeting, EDDC Leader Paul Diviani promised to answer the public’s questions in writing. At Councillor Roger Giles’ request, he agreed, albeit ungraciously, to send all councillors a copy.

( The Leader had remarked that he would comply with Councillor Giles’ proposal, “in order to change your tune”. This prompted Councillor Trevor Cope to jump to his feet and ask Councillor Diviani to withdraw what he had just said, as he didn’t think it was a suitable tone in which to address a colleague. After some hesitation, the Leader replied with a smirk, “Only in the interests of good humour and well-being will I withdraw my comment, even though what I said is correct”. )

The questions, and eventually, the Leader’s answers, will be published on this website.

This was the question put by SOS supporter, Tony Green:

Question to the Council Leader concerning misleading public statements by the Council’s Communications Office

In the Sidmouth Herald on 22^nd March 2013, an EDDC spokesman commented on my call for the Chief Executive to resign. The spokesman’s comments were misleading and inaccurate.

1.He said my criticisms of the Chief Executive were “trial by hearsay”.

Untrue: they resulted from detailed research and I made very specific allegations against Mr Williams.

a)For example that, for years he had ignored concerns, about the influence of the East Devon Business Forum under Graham Brown. Instead he dismissed such concerns as politically-motivated.

b)He also interfered with the TAFF set up to look at the EDBF. This included giving dubious ‘legal’ advice that removed planning from its scope, and taking control of the agenda from chairman and committee.

2.He said my criticisms had been “conducted through the media”. Untrue.

I put them bluntly to the TAFF on 12^th March when Mr Williams was present.

3.He said my criticisms had been fully answered by Mr Williams. Untrue

Mr Williams chose not to answer them on March 12^th and failed to respond then to a media request for an interview. He has not addressed any of my specific allegations.

4.He said anyone with a complaint against Mr Williams could ultimately take it to the Local Government Ombudsman. Untrue. The LGO can only consider cases where the complainant can prove a “personal injustice” and cannot look at matters which affect “all or most of the people in a council’s area.”

Would the Council Leader let me know, in writing if necessary, who the spokesman was? And who briefed him?

Could he please instruct the Communications Officer to meet with me to agree a press release to set the record straight?

April 10, 2013
by sidmouthsid Leave a comment

Tonight’s Full Council Meeting adjourned briefly, until order restored

EDDC Chair, Peter Halse, ordered a five-minute adjournment, after Michael Temple of the Knowle Residents’ Association was not allowed to finish his question, but nevertheless continued. Mr Temple was in fact speaking on behalf of Sidmouth resident, Barry Sangster, who was unable to attend the meeting himself. The core of the question was, in Mr Sangster’s words,” The only way this Council is going to begin to restore the public’s confidence is to agree to an INDEPENDENT inquiry into the council’s workings, which I believe would be outside the remit of any current police investigations.”

Councillor Halse said this was a matter ‘sub judice’, but many in the room believed this was not the case because, as Councillor Ben Ingham quickly pointed out, no-one has yet been charged with a criminal offence. Deputy Monitoring officer, Rachel Pocock, confirmed this, but said “the definition of ‘sub judice’ is not the key point. EDDC does not want to prejudice what the police may be doing.”

For a fuller report, go to http://www.claire-wright.org. More to follow on this website shortly.