Stories about Democratic Deficit

Danny Barnes received full £15,000 Devon County Council allowance during 2024-25
Heavitree & Whipton Barton councillor failed to sign off £14,600 community grants after attending only two of fifteen public meetings and is alleged to have worked for Scottish Labour MP Imogen Walker since shortly after last year’s general elections.
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Heavitree & Whipton Barton community groups miss out on £14,600 after Danny Barnes fails to sign funding agreements
Voluntary sector grants now lost following 12% councillor attendance record highlighting need for by-elections in absentee cases.

Councillor misses 12 of 14 meetings to leave Heavitree & Whipton Barton without County Hall representation for over a year
Dates of two public rights of way committee meetings attended by Danny Barnes – neither conducting Exeter business – meant no by-election held despite Labour councillor missing all meetings of Devon County Council since December 2023.

South West peninsula devolution in disarray as Devon, Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay & Cornwall seek conflicting goals and seven Devon districts left out in cold
Contempt for local democracy laid bare by unlawful County Hall failure to publish plan to postpone local elections while Westminster looks set to back local Labour bids for disproportionate influence in regional governance reorganisation.
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