Standing for the County Council

I have represented Ivybridge as a District Councillor for two years and I want to bring a joined up approach to these two similar bodies – the District and County Councils.

I want to work on the challenges posed to our Town by the increased number of our residents. These include the roads (partly a County issue), the Schools (partly a County issue), and the Medical Centre. I intend to build on the Town Council’s proposals for a southern relief road.

Yet underpinning my whole reason to stand is justice and fairness. Largely, we all muddle on with never quite enough money, trying to stay healthy, complaining about politicians. Yet justice and fairness does apply at the margins – the elderly, the poor, the ill, those in challenging families or with no family.

The principal theme on my leaflets has been the potholes (and why cannot the Conservatives get the administration on this right with an underspend of about £1m a year?). But the injustice lies with County provision for the Care Homes, children’s care, mental health, and public transport.

I’m standing on local issues but of course there is an influence from the behaviour of national politicians. How do you want to be seen and be represented? Can you be generous and vote to support both yourself and others? Vote Liberal Democrat. Vote Victor.

Black Lives Matter

The never-ending discrimination in the USA was brought into the headlines recently by the death on camera of a US citizen under the knee of a Police Officer surrounded by others from his force who did not save the victim.

The consequential demonstrations in this country illustrate

. the parallels felt by BAME and other minority groups about the unfair treatment of individuals by a majority, and

. the blithe ignorance and indifference of the majority community to the everyday lives of others.

What can be done? What can be done in the South Hams? Is it relevant to us? @chev_oaks grew up in Cornwall and Tweets about her experiences then and now. I have seen examples of people seeking out black-run businesses, where such a positive action might make up for some of the losses suffered through ignorance or racism. I am seeking out relevant reading to broaden my understanding and for that, here’s a short US list (which I cannot comment upon as I have not yet read them):

. White Fragility, Robin Diangelo

. Dying of Whiteness, Jonathan M Metzl

. Lies my Teacher Told Me, James W Loewen

. Why are all the Black Kids sitting Together in the Cafeteria, Beverly Doniel Totum

I have been contacted by a resident in Ivybridge asking what can be done. If we do nothing, not even educate ourselves about our fellow citizens lives, we are failing severely. Do you have recommendations of BAME-run businesses to support in the South Hams or Devon? Do you know of introductory books which address British society? What can we do at a wider level, for example, to reduce our support to external police forces or the arms trade? I have ordered and have started to read,

“Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race”, Reni Eddo-Lodge, published by Bloomsbury.

I have another book ready to go, “Natives” Akala, 2019, published by Two Roads.

I am following @chev_oaks on Twitter.

I have a long way to go to be able to speak & write appropriately, and the South Hams could probably do better. I will try to improve my personal interactions.

28/06/2020 The email through this website may not be reliable but you can get to me via victor.ivybridge@gmail.com

Peter Doyle, Head of External Affairs, Devon County Council

You will have heard from Government briefings and in the media that the Covid-19 R number, one component determining the reproduction rate of the virus, has risen in the South West region as a whole. However, it is important to take into account the low numbers of cases and deaths, particularly in Devon which remains among the lowest in England.

This is what the Director of Public Health for Public Health Devon, Dr Virginia Pearson has said about the rise in R number.

“The R value is an important regional barometer based on modelling data, but while it provides an estimate of ongoing transmission, it alone cannot determine the rate of growth of coronavirus and does not accurately reflect Devon’s local data on the ground. As such it should be treated with a little caution.

“The South West R value spans from Isles of Scilly to Bristol, and while there have been hotspots in other parts of the region that increase the R value, Devon’s figures have remained low.

“We have the fifth lowest number of recorded cases when comparing Devon to all 150 upper tier local authorities and the consistency of the numbers suggest that levels have plateaued recently. That’s in part due to our residents adhering to lockdown, and heeding national guidance around staying home and social distancing. We have done well in that regard and need to keep that up.

“We continue to work closely with our Public Health and NHS colleagues to ensure the safety of our Devon residents, and we wait to hear the Government’s response to this latest R rate announcement.”

Devon County Council which is the South West region’s lead authority (Beacon Council) for Covid-19 Local Outbreak Management has published a news briefingwith authoritative commentary from Dr Pearson, Dr Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director for Public Health England and Prof Debra Lapthorne, Regional Director for Public Health England South West and Regional Director for NHS Public Health England South West.

Please feel free to share this briefing with constituents and contacts who may be concerned by the news.