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Devoncast – Elections, parking charges and police funding

Saturday, 8 February 2025 11:51

By Bradley Gerrard, local democracy reporter

Plus a Devon MP's crusade against property management companies

An attempt to delay Devon’s local elections in May has failed, and that could have big ramifications for the county, the latest episode of Devoncast discovers.

Councillor Julian Brazil, the Liberal Democrat member for Kingsbridge on Devon County Council and the leader of South Hams District Council, gives us his reaction to the government’s refusal to let Devon postone its elections.

And Cllr Brazil explains why the South Hams has agreed a two-tier structure for car parking fees in his district, with locals able to pay less than visitors if they apply for a permit.

We also hear from Devon County Council leader James McInnes about his views on the elections and what Devon has to do now if it is to create a credible plan for how local government in the county needs to be reorganised.

There’s also an update on police funding from police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez, and we hear from Devon MP David Reed who is pushing for more stringent rules upon property management companies.

Finally, we hear about an important building on Tiverton’s Grand Western Canal that has been saved from the chop.

It’s all in the latest edition of Devoncast, from Radio Exe and the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The programme is available for LDRS partners to use in full or in part.
 

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