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TOP STORIES
EXETER ELECTORAL TECTONIC PLATES RUMBLE AS POLITICAL LANDSCAPE SHIFTS
Labour takes second Conservative seat in Topsham but loses in St Thomas to Liberal Democrats as Green wins in Heavitree, St David’s and Newtown & St Leonards place party second in 2023 city council elections. Full story here.
HOW FAR DOES THE COUNCIL LEADER HAVE TO GO BEFORE HE SEES A PLANNING COMMITTEE CONFLICT OF INTEREST?
Phil Bialyk led charge against application to develop site 160 yards from his house despite conduct codes and LGA planning probity guidance. Full story here.
COUNCILLOR FALSELY LABELS COMMUNITY GRANTS CUTS STORY “MISINFORMATION”
Labour’s Martin Pearce brands Exeter Observer “opposition propaganda” at full city council meeting, earning rebuke from Lord Mayor and putting council at risk of code of practice breach during pre-election period. Full story here.
LOCAL NEWS THAT MATTERS
Exeter Observer is running a community share offer to raise investment publish the independent journalism Exeter needs in the community-owned newspaper it deserves.
You can invest in community shares to help finance a three year growth plan we have developed with support from Co-ops UK and the Reach Fund. Please purchase your shares on our website.
HMRC has given us advance assurance that our share offer is eligible for 50% tax relief under its Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme, minimising risk by enabling investors to claim half their investment back while keeping all their shares. Capital gains tax and loss relief is available too.
You can read more about our community share offer, download a PDF with full details or reply to this email with any questions you may have.
ON OUR RADAR
TUESDAY 2 TO SATURDAY 12 MAY // MAKETANK
Make Your Own Book festival: an exhibition exploring local independent book and art creators with a weekend of storytelling, illustration and book-making workshops. More info here.
WEDNESDAY 17 MAY // ST SIDWELL’S COMMUNITY CENTRE
How can Exeter Observer help our city to thrive? Come along to one of our informal events and share your ideas on how we might grow the independent journalism Exeter needs. More info here.
SATURDAY 27 MAY // POLTIMORE HOUSE
Romeo and Juliet: Troubadour Stageworks presents an accessible, family-friendly production of Shakespeare’s tragic romance. More info here.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
ALPHINGTON WORST REPRESENTED WARD AS COUNCILLOR ATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC MEETINGS VARIES WIDELY ACROSS CITY
Consistent commitment to participation in democratic decision-making by some councillors in contrast with poor attendance rates of others. Full story here.
DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL ADMITS “SERIOUS, MATERIAL, WELL-EVIDENCED” GOVERNANCE FAILURES
Deficient SEND and children’s services combine with threat of section 114 bankruptcy notice to prompt “root and branch” review aimed at restoring “external confidence in the council’s democratic legitimacy”. Full story here.
EXETER CLIMATE ACTIVISTS SUBVERTISE BUS SHELTERS WITH SATIRICAL NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGES
City centre posters promoting “The Big One”, a mass gathering in Parliament Square on 21 April that began four days of climate action in Westminster involving 100,000 people. View gallery here.
