This section is for everything involving Sidmouth Town Council and East Devon District Council, their Councillors, Officers and undertakings.
LOCAL INVESTIGATIVE MEDIA:
A good place to start are some local media with serious interest in local democracy and transparency.
There is Daniel Clark, “the Local Democracy Reporter Service reporter, funded by the BBC and working for Trinity Mirror, based in Exeter. He covers Devon County Council and the district councils within the county.”
Daniel Clark – Devon Live Online
Daniel Clark (@HEDanielClark) / Twitter
Then there is the Exeter Observer, which “aims to deliver in-depth articles and investigative journalism with real relevance and impact… Exeter Observer serves the governed, not the governors. We seek to inform, educate and empower the former while holding the latter to account by challenging their decisions in the public sphere.”
Exeter Observer – Independent public interest community journalism
Exeter Observer – About Exeter Observer
There is the more overtly ‘political’ Byeline Times based in the South West, which covers local political issues and asks a few pertinent questions: “We seek to demonstrate democracy in action by giving a voice to local people and holding our elected representatives to account.W
Issue number 19 – 10 May 2021 | new articles added daily – West Country Bylines
Is local democracy dead? – West Country Bylines
And even the Bureau of Investigative Journalism reaches these parts:
Local Stories — The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
What follows is from the archive of the VGS news pages covering local government from 2019.
SIDMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL:
ELECTIONS AND CANDIDATE/COUNCILLOR PROFILES:
Here’s a view from the VGS chair from 2019 on why it’s good to get involved in local elections:
East Devon Elections – Why go to the Hustings? – Vision Group for Sidmouth
May 2019:
District and Town Council elections > Thursday 2nd May – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Results of Town Council elections – Vision Group for Sidmouth
May 2021:
Town Council elections – candidates – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Sidmouth Town Council elections – results – Vision Group for Sidmouth
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN:
Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan: polling 19th September – Vision Group for Sidmouth
EAST DEVON DISTRICT COUNCIL:
ELECTIONS AND CANDIDATE/COUNCILLOR PROFILES:
May 2019:
District and Town Council elections > Thursday 2nd May – Vision Group for Sidmouth
BREAKING: EDDC leader quits party days before elections – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Results of District Council elections – Vision Group for Sidmouth
All change at the District Council? – Vision Group for Sidmouth
May 2021:
District Council leadership elections – Vision Group for Sidmouth
ISSUES AT THE DISTRICT COUNCIL LEVEL:
DEMOCRACY AND TRANSPARENCY:
The new administration (2019) has declared its determination in the areas of ‘democracy and transparency’:
Democracy and Transparency at East Devon – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Democracy and Transparency at East Devon: further steps – Vision Group for Sidmouth
District Council determined to improve probity in planning – Vision Group for Sidmouth
VIRTUAL MEETINGS:
Should councils be allowed to continue doing virtual meetings? – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Should councils be allowed to continue doing virtual meetings? part two – Vision Group for Sidmouth
PARTICIPATORY POLITICS:
Participatory budgeting and participatory democracy – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Participatory democracy – Vision Group for Sidmouth
KNOWLE RELOCATION PROJECT:
Knowle relocation project: ‘questions hang in the air’ – Vision Group for Sidmouth
DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL:
ELECTIONS AND CANDIDATE/COUNCILLOR PROFILES:
May 2021:
County Council elections – Sidmouth candidates – Vision Group for Sidmouth
County Council elections – Sidmouth results – Vision Group for Sidmouth
EXETER CITY COUNCIL:
DEMOCRACY AND TRANSPARENCY:
Democracy and Transparency at Exeter – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Democracy and Transparency at Exeter: part two – Vision Group for Sidmouth
GREATER EXETER STRATEGIC PLAN:
THE BROAD ISSUES:
There are issues around ‘local democracy and transparency which impact all levels of local government:
Flatpack democracy: a new kind of ultra-local government – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Flatpack Democracy 2.0 – Frome makes politics relevant & fun – Vision Group for Sidmouth