Welcome to Budleigh Salterton
Budleigh Salterton - in East Devon is the entry to both the Triassic and Jurassic coasts
The Pepplebeds are a landmark feature of the World Heritage site
Unrivalled views of the coast and cliffs
News from Budleigh Salterton
We now have until 26 September 2008 to respond to the Boundary Commission' proposals for the reorganisation of local government in Devon.
There have been two documents issued by the local authories that particularly affect us in East Devon.
In their document welcoming the Boundary Commission proposals Devon County Council make two telling points: there is no option to return to the status quo within the terms of reference and the proposals must result in a saving of cost to the public (which we take to mean the ratepayer).
In a highly critical paper the East Devon District Council completely rejects the proposals and the Devon County Council's comments and suggestions. The EDDC document is 'knocking copy' in the full sense of that description. Lacking balance and depth it howls with rage at what it sees as Devon CC's incompetence in financial matters, claims that the wealthy East Devon will be milked to help the poorer areas and wishes all to know what a fine body of administrators they (the EDDC) are.
Pity, then, that their Ward Councillors and champions did not seek to join the Town Council when they had the chance.
Both the papers are flawed and have the feel of being rushed out without proper attention to key areas such as education (schools) and housing stock. Clearly much the worst of them is that produced by the self-congratulatory EDDC.
What we have asked EDDC (and received no reponse) is: who paid for the negative printed leaflet and letter sent to all households signed by Sarah Randall Johnson? It had all the signs of panic filled screams about loss of councillors' paid and comfy employment prospects. if this is true the Boundary Commission may be on the right track!
Meanwhile, back in good old Budleigh Salterton, we have yet to make a contribution to the debate. It will not be long delayed, though, because the Town Council is about to issue a paper with ideas and more sensible proposals. They will be published here over the next 3 weeks.
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The Boundary Commission has published its proposals (7 July 2008) for changes to local government and both Devon County Council and the East Devon District Council have rushed to add their comments
Read a summary of this 47 page document by clicking below
Devon Unitary Review
The Boundary Committee's website where the full text is to be found is:
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/boundary-reviews
A Quality Council for the town?
This question is now much more important following the Boundary Commission proposals.
Consider the following arguments (DEFRA source)
The Quality Parish and Town Council scheme was launched in June 2003, following the publication of the Government's Rural White Paper, 2000
Quality status and the Community
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Parish councils already have a wide range of powers. A Quality Parish Council, in proportion to their size and skills, will be able to do more on behalf of their principal local authorities, thereby making services more responsive to local needs.
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Quality Parish Councils will play an enhanced role in the community:
- as an integral part of all consultation and co-ordination arrangements set up by principal local authorities and other service providers on how services are delivered in its area;
- in the discussion, management and delivery of services which parish councils may carry out and deliver, on behalf of the principal local authority, or by using their own existing powers; and
- in the provision of access points to information on services of principal local authorities and other service providers.
- This enhanced role will be achieved through the negotiation of charters with principal local authorities. Principal local authorities are encouraged to enter into such agreements with all parish councils and to consider negotiating additional roles and responsibilities for Quality Parish Councils. Indeed, the benefits envisaged for the community will not materialise without the support of the relevant principal local authorities for the area and a willingness to work with the parish council to provide the best deal for the local community.
Quality status and the parish council
- The main beneficiary of Quality status will be the local community. However, we hope that parish councils themselves will benefit from the enhanced role that Quality status provide.
- Since 1997, the Government has introduced a number of changes which have been designed to make all tiers of local authority more responsive and more accountable to local people and to ensure that the local community sees their council as relevant to their needs and aspirations and a force for good.
- By meeting the requirements of this scheme and receiving Quality status, a parish council is sending out a message that it is a truly competent and worthy representative of its community.
- It should mean additional roles and responsibilities for parish councils with proof to the local community that the parish council can make a difference. It will provide an assurance that principal local authorities will consult and involve the parish council in all matters that affect the local community. And with the increased responsibilities should come the money from principal local authorities to fund the parish council for new roles delegated to it.
- Parish councils are, quite rightly, increasingly consulted by Government and its agencies on matters that relate to the activities of public bodies. The Government recognises that parish councils are subject to an increasing amount of paperwork, and that Quality status may increase that amount. However, one of the benefits of being wired up through ICT (which Quality Parish Councils increasingly will be) is that it will allow easy access to the Information for Local Government web site at www.info4local.gov.uk .
- This site provides the first one-stop shop for local authorities to access information they need on the web sites of central government departments, agencies and public bodies.
Quality status and Principal Local Authorities
- While the Quality Parish Council Scheme is intended to bring material benefits to the community at large, the scheme also benefits principal local authorities.
- Some principal local authorities have already recognised the benefits of working with parish councils and are proactive in working together to deliver local services, but others have concerns about entering into such partnerships. The Government recognises that a principal local authority will want to know that the parish council is able to deliver before entering into agreements for partnership working.
- This is the benefit of the scheme for principal local authorities. It provides an independent assessment of the parish council and those with Quality status can be seen to be representative, competent, well managed, and able to take on an enhanced role. Further reassurance is provided through the requirement that each Quality Parish Council will undergo this assessment every 4 years.
- Principal local authorities can therefore be confident that the Quality Parish Councils within their areas are worthy partners, which in turn should instil faith in these councils' capacity to undertake an enhanced role for the benefit of their communities.
The Napoli Wreck - more information
Have you seen those barges (one actually) that are towed by a tug sheltering off Babbacombe bay in the teeth of the many gales we have endured recently?
It looked like many, but we are assured that there is only one barge being filled with the engine components of the Napoli as they are cut free from the hulk lying off Branscombe beach.
The barge and tug seek shelter when the storms arrive. Hopefully we shall not see another ecological disaster, in Torbay this time, when a barge full of scrap metal breaks free from its tow.
Still no news from Devon County Council about progress from the Inquiry, it seems. We can find no entry later than 2 May 2008. Perhaps we are not looking in the right place. Like so many websites hosted by public authorities it is very difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff. We have complained before about pretty websites that contain huge volumes about how well the public is served but low volumes about facts and figures.
More news in due course...........more
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Winton's Children .........more
KEY QUESTIONS FOR LOCAL DEBATE
Who decides who uses the Green and the Jubliee Field?
The East Devon District Council, of course. Living in Sidmouth, they are uniquely well-qualified to decide on this - why?
Because they are the owners, stupid.Why is the Budleigh Salterton Design Statement the most often (mis)quoted document cited by the Town Council?
The Design Statement in full... click
What about our old folk?
We have not yet spoken about the problems faced by older people. We need some radically different ideas relating to the problems of old age, care and the postcode lotteries. More about this shortly.
Has the Town Council the opportunity to achieve Quality Status?
Find out what this means and if it is worth obtaining more...click
Why can Exmouth be awarded a new Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool ?
Before Budleigh gets anything!
Have you thought about becoming a Friend of the Budleigh Salterton Festival?
This year's festival was a great success
Why is there no proper Beach and Sea plan for the town?
Keeping the town and beach the way it is requires thought and preparation - it also requires the will to manage our own affairs
A Warm Welcome to Budleigh Salterton
The delightful town of Budleigh Salterton is situated in the country beside the sea and is a wonderful place to visit and in which to live. These pages deal with local issues in the town as well as with the delights of living here. I have been in East Devon for the last 40 years and in the town for 14 years. This is not to say that we cannot improve on what we have - the bathing areas of the beach, for example, are not easy to access unless you are quite nimble - and not everyone who lives here or visits is as sprightly as they once were!
I do hope you enjoy reading about all this in these pages. Below you will find navigation areas but do drop a line or as an email or ring me on 01395 442360 if you think there are other issues to be addressed.
› Budleigh Salterton topics
Quick links:
› Bandstand on Green
› Contacts
› Sports clubs
› Compare us with Sidmouth and Exmouth
› Traffic and parking, travel by bus
› Farmers' market
› Youth site
› Festival
› Swimming pool
› Beach access
› Local organisations
› Tourist information
› Bus service & communications
Fairlynch Museum Corporate Plan - the Millais "Boyhood of Raleigh" to return -but not yet
Culture in the town: music and drama; very successful Festival again in August 2008!
Sporting clubs in the town. Cricket,
golf, football, croquet, bowls, tennis
and more....
Access to the beach for swimming and a summer heated swimming pool with public tennis courts
The town needs an evening
youth centre that perhaps
doubles as a meeting place
during the day
Encouraging the retail trade. No more empty shops in the town, please.
Don't forget the old folk. Age Concern doesn't but they have inadequate resources in which to operate.
We now need a campaign to highlight the plight of older people in our community with ideas to improve lifestyle, health & care.