Greens hit out over council’s consultation plans

A POLITICAL row has broken out in Teignbridge over the authority’s financial plans for 2011.

The South Devon Green Party has launched an astonishing attack on Teignbridge Council, saying it is treating its residents with ‘disdain’ by not consulting with them over proposals for its 2011 financial plan.

The party’s chairman Keith Johnson wrote an open letter to council leader Cllr Alan Connett (

Cllr Connett hit back, saying he was only made aware of the letter’s existence through a Google Alert on the internet.

He said: “We talk to and listen to our residents every day of the year.”

The row centres on Teignbridge Council’s financial plan proposals for the coming year and 2013 to 2014.

The proposals, which include freezing council tax at current levels, will be discussed at the council’s executive meeting on Monday.

One recommendation is to take the plans out to consultation with the business community and town and parish councils.

The plan will then take all the feedback into account so the council can formally set its council tax levels and implement its financial plan.

In his letter Mr Johnson asks Cllr Connett how residents can have an input into Teignbridge Council’s financial plan consultation.

In his letter Mr Johnson said: “We note that you and Teignbridge Council intend to take the council’s financial plans out for consultation with the business community and town and parish councillors, yet there appears to be no provision for those residents who will clearly be affected by the reduction in service provision to actively communicate their views.

“Although we recognise the importance of the business community of Teignbridge and the need to open discussions with it, South Devon Green Party believes that the decision by you and your fellow councillors to discuss the budget with this very narrow section of the community is indicative of the disdain with which your party appears to hold the ordinary people of Teignbridge.

“South Devon Green Party strongly urges that the council consults a wider section of the people of Teignbridge on its proposed budget.

“We hold that failure to do so will expose the lack of trust and respect that Teignbridge councillors hold towards the ordinary people of Teignbridge.”

Cllr Connett said: “There are 46 councillors who sit on this authority. They are in touch daily with the residents of their wards. They would know what residents are thinking about, concerned about and what their views are on a range of matters including the budget.

“For example, they may know what someone thinks from bumping into them in a shop or meeting with them at one of the open meetings we hold at the council’s Forde House offices.

“I believe we are one of the best authorities in Devon at remaining in tune with what the public are saying they want their council to do.

“We have been mindful of the impact of the recession and have proposed to freeze council tax and freeze car parking and land charges. We are also delaying the VAT increase.”

He said the consultation with the business community will feed into how the economic prosperity of the region can weather the financial storm.

“This isn’t just a one-off consultation with businesses — we are in constant dialogue with them throughout the year about how we can bring forward schemes that will benefit the district,” he said. “For example, the acquisition of land on Bradley Lane Industrial Estate in Newton Abbot and securing the regeneration of Broadmeadow in Teignmouth which will bring new jobs, create a new supermarket and bring sports fields back online.”