I wanted to describe in more detail some of the exciting improvements that will be coming to our town centre as a result of the Council's successful application to the government Future High Street Fund. It is not often as a Council that we get the chance to approve the spending of £9.2 million government funding to invest in the future prosperity of our town.

Conservative MP Philip Davies has started taking a surprising interest in the Liberal Democrats' commitment to an equal parliament, and our internal selection procedures.

Perhaps he has decided to turn his back on his sexist views, or perhaps he has a different motive.

Read Philip Davies' letter to Ed Davey, and Ed's reply:

• Rapid progress to net zero just isn't possible while the Government keeps ignoring the elephant in the room, the funding of fossil fuel industries through the City of London.
• The UK produces just 2% of global emissions, so to really impact the global fight against climate change we need to address the central role of our financial sector.
• The Liberal Democrats are calling for new oil, gas and coal companies to be banned from the London Stock Exchange, and for urgent action to stop the UK hosting the world's fossil fuel investments

The Liberal Democrats welcome Cllr Siobhan Knight to their growing team on Tiverton Town Council

Siobhan is a young and highly motivated Councillor for Lowman Ward, Tiverton, with a passion and experience of delivering for young people.

Siobhan explains, "From speaking with young people in Tiverton, many feel they have been forgotten. They hear people complaining that they cause issues for the town, but feel that is unfair and if we engaged with them then people would see they love the town as much as anyone. We need to be doing things together as a community."

We did it!

The Vagrancy Bill is a blunt outdated instrument that makes criminals of rough sleepers. It hurts the people most in need in our society.

Liberal Democrats have been fighting to scrap it for years. And today, the Prime Minister has been dragged kicking and screaming to a point where even he admits it needs to go.

At a SHDC Executive meeting held last week the administration voted to continue the suspension of the brown bin collection until Spring 2022.

John Birch, a Totnes district councillor, says

" Many residents are more than disappointed with this continued suspension. In my view this is not only disappointing but also unacceptable. FCC, the council's waste collection contractor, has a contractual obligation to collect garden waste and yet is unable to do so. As FCC is unable to fulfil its obligation then, in my opinion, SHDC should seek to make alternative arrangements and deduct any additional costs from FCC's account.

In October, whilst we're looking ahead to our AGM in November, it might be worth a quick look back at 2021.
Still in the throes of pandemic, we have nonetheless been able to meet outdoors. Early in the year we delivered leaflets and letters for the May local elections, and met a few voters along the way.

In collaboration with the Liberal Democrat European Group, the Federal Policy Committee are organising regional events giving members a chance to shape our policy on Europe. We want to hear your thoughts on what our priority areas should be, what solutions you might have to problems raised and how we can continue to promote a close relationship with Europe.