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Local democracy

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 | Facebook

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:

What is the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan? And how will the new District Council work with it? – Vision Group for Sidmouth

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