The Difference with Exeter Labour...

Lord Mayor Cllr Rob Newby unveils the custom-made
signs for the new community space at Arena Park

This morning I attended the official opening of the new youth facilities at Arena Park, in Exeter. The local residents' association, together with Devon & Cornwall Housing, Exeter Parkswatch and the local community have raised £100,000 - no mean feat in these hard times - to provide a youth shelter, a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA), play equipment and a huge community picnic table. (Actually, "picnic table" does not do the thing justice. Think medieval banqueting table!)

With me were the current Labour County Councillor for the area, Saxon Spence, my fellow Labour City Councillor, Moira MacDonald, the new Leader of the Labour Group on the County Council, Richard Westlake; and our Devon County Council election candidate Emma Morse. A whole team of Labour councillors and activists who have worked together with the community, local organisations and the City and County Councils to bring investment and partnership to a local area, and to deliver results.

Cllr Saxon Spence & Emma Morse
in the Arena Park youth shelter

Partnership is the key. Also there were the Devon & Somerset Fire Service, Parkswatch, Devon Youth Service, Devon & Cornwall Police, Exeter City Football Club's Football in the Community Project, and the amazing James Bond (yes, really!) of Carving Community - the organisation that recruited and led local young people in shaping their vision for a new youth shelter. The results are astounding - new community facilities that are loved and valued by the whole community, and form a new focus point for young and old, that bring the community together and enable residents to enjoy the open space together.

As we milled around the church hall enjoying our coffees I spoke to one local resident - a stalwart of the local residents' association. I was there to celebrate and support the local project, not to be "political", but that didn't stop this local resident becoming vocal. "The Conservatives have done nothing up here. Nothing." he said. "Even when we had Tory Councillors [for Pinhoe] they wouldn't do anything here. They just don't want to know."

Last year the Tory campaign in Pinhoe was highly visible. Teams of Conservative Future students from the University - together with activists bused in from other parts of Devon - supported local candidates to pound the streets and knock on doors. There were flurries of Twitter activity, declaring that Exeter Tories' activity was "#allyearround" - implying they were not simply out for your votes but were working 24/7 for the communities. 

Campaigning with Emma in "White City", Pinhoe

What a contrast this year! Our local team, supporting Emma Morse, has been actively campaigning for some months now, and has recently stepped-up activity to be canvassing daily now that the lighter evenings are here. We have not heard a peep from Emma's rival. Even asking residents as we campaign whether they have heard from the Tories has drawn a blank. I am surprised, but pleased. 

By contrast, Exeter Labour is a party rooted in local communities. The reason we have been able to bring so much to fruition across the city is because we have networks of City Councillors, County Councillors and grassroots community activists making things happen. For us, "all year round" is not a slogan for election times - it's the reality. Getting elected is just the start - after that comes the hard (but hugely rewarding) work of listening, planning and doing. Working with and through local communities to recognise their priorities and to plan for how - together - we achieve it. No wonder Exeter has become the "fourth happiest place to live" in the UK, in the top 2% of UK towns & cities for job creation and has the University, College and Museum of the Year! The city is run by a local Party that is itself rooted in the very communities it serves, and its activists are as much community activists as they are Party activists.

Vote Red - go Green! A whole row of older peoples'
bungalows in Pinhoe - all now fitted with solar panels

Emma is a local mum of two small children, and the daughter of a former City Council leader. Her husband is a local teacher, and Emma herself is a governor at a local school. She helps to run a local playgroup, and is a trustee of the local Community Centre. She hasn't been elected yet - this is what she does anyway. 

I once heard a great expression on leadership:

"You don't appoint leaders, you recognise them."

Leadership is not a "job" that you give to someone and then they "do" it. If you watch any group of people you will begin to recognise that some naturally begin to lead and serve others - to inspire and to motivate individuals for the collective good. Emma is in that category, and I will be proud to have her representing me as my local County Councillor on May 3rd. Please join us in supporting Emma on May 2nd, and if you would like to help with Emma's campaign, get in touch here.

Shameless: Tory Porkies in the Council Chamber

So, last night saw the meeting of the Full Council to approve Exeter City Council's budget for 2013-14. Perhaps foolishly, Exeter Tories had already given us a "heads up" on their likely forms of attack in their recent tweets of their election material. If their new leaflet was anything to go by, the Tories were going to argue against an increase in Council Tax by £5 per year, and - unbelievably - against the decision by Exeter Council to pass on the imposed cuts to Council Tax Support forced on us by central government.

Yesterday, I addressed these two issues in my blog post, pointing out that Conservative local authorities, and the Conservative Police & Crime Commissioner for Devon & Cornwall Police were also being forced to raise Council Tax, and that Sir Merrick Cockell - Tory Chair of the Local Government Association - had attacked the government's cuts to Council Tax benefit. I went along to Full Council convinced that local Tories surely wouldn't be daft enough to try these arguments in public - in a Council debate. 

Exeter Council's Leader, Labour Councillor Pete Edwards, set out the scale of the challenge facing local authorities, accurately set out Exeter's position as a resilient city in the face of significant national economic hardship, and Exeter Labour's clear plan for jobs and growth in the city. Cllr Edwards set out the need for an increase in Council Tax, and also set out the reasons why Exeter Council under Labour refuses to use the New Homes Bonus to "plug the shortfall" in government funding to local authorities.

Exeter Labour is using revenue from development and
growth to fund capital infrastructure and community
projects

Deputy Leader, Cllr Rachel Sutton reiterated this latter point. If Exeter were to "build in" income from a new scheme like the New Homes Bonus, and then that funding were to cease, Exeter would suddenly be left facing a stark "fiscal cliff" - and deep, hard cuts would follow. Exeter Labour chooses to have a balanced revenue budget, and use the New Homes Bonus income to invest in infrastructure projects and much-needed community facilities.

Cllr Greg Sheldon argued the case for the increase in Council Tax. The additional revenue raised matches the interest payments needed on our capital borrowing to invest in Exeter's proposed upgraded flood defences. £5 per household per year - less than 2p per day - so that Exeter can have the protection it needs in the future from the flood risks that we are starting to see far too frequently now. The Tories, it seems, oppose this common-sense move.

Tory Leader Cllr Henson

Sure enough, Exeter Tories' leader, Polsloe councillor Yolonda Henson  rose to her feet and while forced to recognise the excellent year Exeter has had under Labour, she attacked first the cut to Council Tax benefit, and then the rise in Council Tax itself. "I don't think it is fair to cut the Council Tax benefit," she said, "it's placing an extra burden on those already struggling."

Cllr Pete Edwards agreed. The issue is not whether Council Tax Benefit cuts affect the poorest - it does. The issue is who is responsible. "This is your cut - it's from your government," he rightly pointed out. "Why should I hide what this government is doing? Why should Exeter Council see more local cuts to hide national government cuts?" he asked.

I set out the arguments why Exeter Tories' apparent sudden "compassion" on the issue of Council Tax Benefit was desperate, cynical electioneering in yesterday's blog post, but Cllr Henson took this hypocrisy to a whole new level last night. You see, on the 20th November 2012, the Executive Committee of Exeter City Council met, and debated changes to Council Tax Benefit for 2013/14. The papers set out the facts - a 10% cut from national government. Pensioners must be protected - so the cut must be shared among working age households. If Councils choose not to pass the cut on, the shortfall would obviously have to be found elsewhere in the Council's budget.

The recommendation was that Exeter would reluctantly impose a 20% cut in local Council Tax Support. Minute 110 reads:

"Executive unanimously supported the proposed new scheme."

That's "unanimously." No one voted against it. No one abstained. Cllr Henson - now so vocally against the cut - voted in favour of it! Even as Exeter Tories tweet that local cuts to Council Tax Benefit - forced by cuts from this coalition government - were made "out of spite" and were "disgraceful", they knew that their own Leader had voted for them.

I later gave my speech, citing the same arguments as I made in yesterday's blog post. Cllr Henson approached me after the meeting to ask why I was quoting Sir Merrick Cockell. "He's in London," she said. "They don't get New Homes Bonus."

I didn't quite understand what she was trying to get at, so pointed out that I quoted Sir Merrick Cockell in the context of Council Tax Benefit cuts, not Council Tax or income; and that he was speaking as Chair of the LGA - a national body - not as Leader of his home Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. "It doesn't matter," she said again, "they don't get New Homes Bonus." Okay, but while this argument is of no consequence, it is still factually wrong. Not only does Kensington & Chelsea receive New Homes Bonus, it receives a higher value of bonus than most other areas!

Still, I took the opportunity to ask her the question I had been waiting to ask: 

Me: "If you are against the Council Tax Benefit scheme in Exeter, why did you vote for it at November's Executive Committee?" 

Cllr Henson: "Was I there?" (Not sure why she was asking me! But I had checked the minutes.)

Yes, Cllr Henson, you were there!

Me: "You were. And the scheme was supported unanimously. That means you must have voted for it."

Cllr Henson: "Oh. Well I probably misread the papers, then."

So there you have it. The Leader of Exeter Tories "misread" the papers on one of the very issues they are now campaigning on. That's a seven-page covering report, with illustrative tables to demonstrate the impact of the new scheme on different bands.

Oh, and the report on the consultation with local people about the scheme.

And the Equality Impact Assessment report about how the scheme would impact the most vulnerable sections of Exeter's community.

And the paper that set out the necessary amendments needed to the Council's constitution to apply the proposed scheme.

And four other papers related to the scheme. "Misread" all of them, apparently.

Either ExeterTories need to admit that they are now electioneering on an issue that their government is responsible for and that their Leader knowingly voted for, or they need to find a Leader who is capable of following critical Council business in meetings.

Exeter Labour is contesting the Devon County Council elections this May. You can read about our candidates here. We will be campaigning positively and honestly - focusing on our track record of delivery locally. Join us here. 

Tory Porkies - They're at it Again!

In addiction services, the definition of insanity, it is said, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Last year, as I campaigned to be your councillor for the Pinhoe ward on Exeter City Council, Exeter Tories' campaign was always negative, often personal and - ultimately - a complete failure. You may recall last year's Tory campaign leaflets. No vision, no sense of leadership, and - as the Tory government's unpopularity grew - often no Conservative branding!

Well, they're at it again. 

This year there are no City Council elections, but the Devon County Council elections will be taking place in May, and the Tories are clearly moving on to their usual election footing, as out comes this:

Let's deal with these Tory Porkies.

"End Council Tax Benefit". No. The fact is that the coalition government has given local authorities 10% less to fund Council Tax Support schemes (previously Council Tax Benefit.) However, they told local authorities that pensioners must be protected from any cuts - therefore a higher proportion of cut would be felt by other recipients, or - if authorities wanted to keep their same level of support - they would have to cut council services, or raise revenue in other ways. 

I pointed this out on Twitter to Exeter Tories, and got the following response: 

"Acted in spite" and "disgraceful", says Exeter Tories. Well, says their election agent Councillor Neil Wilson from - er - Newton Abbot. 

Exeter City Council has been forced to cut this support by 20%. Well, I would say that, right? I'm a Labour Councillor after all. The problem for Exeter Tories and their "local" agent Neil is that Exeter Labour's view is shared by the Conservative Chair of the Local Government Association, and Leader of Kensington & Chelsea Council (hardly a hotbed of socialism!) Sir Merrick Cockell:

Tory Chair of the LGA,
Sir Merrick Cockell

"The 10 per cent cut in funding has left many councils with little choice but to reduce the council tax discount offered to people on low incomes. The only other option is to take money away from other services or types of council tax payer to maintain the current levels of financial support.

"Councils are working hard to protect the most vulnerable and needy members of society but, as we warned when the cut was first proposed by the Government, this means that other benefit recipients will have to carry a larger share of the cut.

"Local authorities, which currently collect more than 97 per cent of council tax in the year it is billed, are concerned about the possible impact on collection rates and the knock-on effect it will have on council finances."

Nor is Exeter alone. Tory-run Mid Devon and East Devon are also imposing forced 20% cuts, while Tory councils in Torridge, North Devon and Torbay are introducing 25% cuts! I wonder if Exeter Tories feel those authorities are "disgraceful" and "spiteful" too? Or was this (yet again) just negative, cheap politicking from the Nasty Party?

"Raise Council Tax" Yes. Exeter Council's precept as part of your Council Tax is going up by £5. That's per year. That's an extra 41.6p per month. 9.6p per week, or 1.4p per day. Yes, that equates to 4%, but that's because Exeter's Council Tax starts from a very low point. The lowest in Devon, and one of the lowest in the country. 

This extra revenue protects front line services that we all depend on. It means that we are able to invest in our city, including much-needed flood defences. Yet reading Exeter Tories' leaflets you would think any increase in Council Tax was against their principles. In another tweet they were at pains to point out that Tory-led Devon County Council were freezing Council Tax this year. (There just happens to be DCC elections this year, too!)

Tory PCC Tony Hogg
- increasing Council Tax

What they DON'T tell you is that the part of your Council Tax that funds Devon & Cornwall Police - the police precept - is going up by the maximum 2%, or £3.19, a decision by the directly-elected Conservative Police & Crime Commissioner, Tony Hogg. (Remember him?!)

Cllr John Tucker
- increasing Council Tax

They also neglect to mention that Tory-led South Hams Council is taking advantage of exactly the same dispensation given by government to LOW TAX authorities like Exeter to increase Council Tax by up to £5. South Hams Council Leader, Tory  Councillor John Tucker said:

"South Hams is one of the few councils being allowed to do this simply because of its past successes in keeping its council tax so low. Councils in the same position as us are being allowed to raise their council tax by up to a fiver a year. Tax payers do not want to see front line services cut. With this increase there will be no cuts to vital services."

If Exeter Council were take the 1% bribe from Eric Pickles to keep freezing Council Tax, with what is already one of the lowest bases in the country, we will - in real terms - keep falling behind financially, and will be unable to sustain services for local people. This bribe to freeze tax is - as a Cornish Councillor recently said - "A self-defeating equivalent of a pay-day loan for councils." 

"At a time when more money is being pumped into the city from Central Government than ever before..." Er, no.

Labour-led Exeter continues to attract inward investment

Exeter's adjusted core grant from government is DOWN this coming year by 5.4%. However, well-run local authorities can "earn" extra income by retaining a greater proportion of local business rates (50%), and by collecting New Homes Bonus revenue for growth and development.

Fortunately for Exeter, under Labour the city is doing well - despite a triple-dip recession looming courtesy of the coalition government. Exeter is one of the country's fastest-growing cities, with inward investment rising. Exeter's retail vacancy rate is less than half the national average, and the city is in the top 2% of UK towns and cities for job creation. We have the University of the Year, the College of the Year, and the Museum of the Year. So, thanks to Exeter Labour's effective and efficient management of the City and its resources, our "spending power" will be UP this coming year. But this is thanks to our thriving businesses and growth - NOT thanks to national government grants!

Under Labour, Exeter has remained resilient in the face of national economic turbulence, and despite Osborne's failed economic plan. No wonder Exeter Tories have so little to say, and are reduced - once again - to pumping out desperate and cynical electioneering materials.

It didn't work last time. It won't work this time.

Exeter is doing too well under Exeter Labour. Join us. 



Tuesday 26th February was the Exeter City Council's Full Council meeting to debate the proposed budget from Exeter Labour. Surely the Tories wouldn't try these same arguments in the Council chamber, would they...? Report to follow....