Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: and whatever happened to the Beach Management Plan...
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: moving on, but still with so many unanswered questions
At the recent full District Council meeting, the issue was brought up by the chair of the Futures Forum of the Vision Group:
EAST DEVON DISTRICT COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held at Knowle, Sidmouth, on Wednesday, 28 February 2018
Public speaking
Robert Crick wanted to raise issues relating to the Sidmouth Beach Management Plan. He referred to cliff erosion and that initiatives to tackle the causes required accurate analysis. As a member of the Beach Management Group, he was unaware of any such analysis but was aware that a Council spokesperson had stated that the rock groynes on Sidmouth beach were not responsible for cliff erosion and wanted to know if it was an accurate statement.
Councillor Phil Twiss responded as Chair of the Sidmouth Beach Management Group by referring to the FAQ’s on the web site that set out the various options, with the current situation outlined and are specific to the question asked.
http://eastdevon.gov.uk/coastal-protection/beach-management-plans/sidmouthand-east-beach-management-plan/sidmouth-beach-management-plan-frequentlyasked-questions/
This includes the appraisal report, and provides the technical information sought.
Question 5 – In response to the supplementary questions in relation to the Sidmouth Beach Management Plan about expectations of funding from Sidmouth Town Council, and evidence of suitable alternatives, the Leader confirmed that he would consider the issues involved.
28 February 2018 minutes.
Unfortunately, "There was a technical problem with the equipment which means that a recording could not be made."
To look more accurately at what actually took place on 28th February:
The notes of the Council meeting are inaccurate. The audio equipment was broken so the only record is Robert Crick's script of the questions asked (see below). What the notes might have said more accurately would be:
Robert Crick wanted to raise issues relating to the Sidmouth Beach Management Plan. He referred to cliff erosion and that initiatives to tackle the causes required accurate analysis. As a member of the Beach Management Plan Steering Group, and its predecessors over the past 12 years he was unaware of any such analysis but was aware that a Council spokesperson had stated that the rock groynes on Sidmouth beach were not responsible for cliff erosion and wanted to know if it was an accurate statement.
Councillor Phil Twiss responded as Chair of the Sidmouth Beach Management Plan Steering Group not by referring to the FAQ’s on the web site (the inaccuracy of which had been noted by Mr Crick on previous occasions) that set out the various options, with the current situation outlined and are specific to the question asked.
This includes the appraisal report, and provides none of the technical information sought.
In fact Cllr Twiss poured scorn on Mr Crick's claim to have been involved as an active stakeholder participant in this issue for as long as 12 years but did undertake to investigate the basis of the claim made in a recent press release.
One hour later during the meeting Cllr Twiss spoke privately to Mr Crick having completed his investigation by finding a copy of the aforementioned press release and offering it as evidence to support the claim that evidence had been established to prove the previously unknown facts referred to in the press release!
Mr Crick therefore decided to leave his appeal to the Chair and members on the record and to raise the matter again at the next meeting of the Steering Group. This meeting was called, with an agenda determined without consultation, just 8 days before it is due to take place on 15th March 2018. The council does not arrange for members of the Steering Group to communicate with one another about the business of the meetings in advance or after the meetings. Several members have resigned on the grounds that they are not given any opportunity to steer the plan and they have no confidence in the records of what has been agreed over the past two years.
See also:
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan >>> frequently asked questions >>> last updated 6th September: and still fail to address explicitly the arguments against and in favour of offshore reefs to create a self-sustaining sand tombolo
The last meeting's 'notes' were produced a month later:
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: report from 10th January meeting
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from Futures Forum http://ift.tt/2tx5PwR Beach Management Plan: and (again) failing to get answers to technical questions from the District Council - Entrepreneur Generations
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