Stolen from the wonderful John Loudon’s blog and added to…what cabinet have been doing (I am not in cabinet but support it in my Assistant Portfolio Holder role.
Cranbrook – is the new town east of Exeter which had been poorly conceived as a developer-led consortium, rather than a proper civic-led project. Cabinet instructed officers to conclude long awaited deals to enable a new town centre and set up the finance for this with a mixture of ring-fenced business rates from the Enterprise Zone and the Public Works Loan Board. There is no doubt that a Conservative administration would not have done this, and we have set up an historic £40 million revolving infrastructure fund to secure future work for the town.
Exmouth – the Cabinet inherited hugely troubled seafront development projects. Therefore, Cabinet set up a new committee for the development of both the town and the seafront and made new officer appointments to deliver this. This is long-term work, but the people of Exmouth can now see or attend all public meetings either personally or watch virtually. We have even recently seen the opening of a new sensory garden.
Seaton – sadly, the Seaton Jurassic centre became a commercial failure, and so cabinet has had to look hard for the best new partners and has now chosen to go in with the highly successful Seaton Tramway operation, although this is proving more difficult to conclude a mutually acceptable contract than we would have liked.
Seaton and Axminster – we applied for Levelling Up Funding for these towns linked by the Axe Valley, which were not successful in attracting government funding.
Sidmouth, Seaton, Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth – Cabinet has worked tirelessly in wanting to deliver various sea defence projects for all these communities and we have been successful in securing additional funding which has been achieved in the face of ever more challenging climactic events and ever-increasing costs.
Sidmouth – Cabinet has spent £200k on Jacob’s Ladder and the Millennium Walkway. We have also finally, after a covid interlude signed a lease with Rockfish to upgrade the Drill Hall on the seafront. This is due to open next year as a restaurant and will significantly make the Ham area look much better.
Honiton – Cabinet has been working on new social housing in the town as a springboard to rolling out a greater provision should the Administration be elected to serve a second term. This restarts EDDC’s work in providing social housing after twenty years.
Feniton – Cabinet has finally managed to bring to fruition and funded a key flood alleviation scheme.
Cabinet has also been instrumental in pursuing nature projects across the district include the Seaton Wetlands, the new Clyst Valley Park, and the Lower Otter Restoration Project.
This is all but a flavour of the further activities that the current Independent, Liberal Democrat and Greens coalition has achieved over its three-year Administration. If we are re-elected then we are committed to building on all of this.