Dawlish Discussion

 The report found seven serious faults in TDC’s handling of a standards complaint against councillors from the South Devon Alliance (SDA), including breaches of the law, internal rules, and the Human Rights Act.  The council initiated a costly investigation without a formal complaint, leading to a "kangaroo court" process that damaged the reputations of councillors Cllr Richard Daws and Cllr Liam Mullone. Despite the LGO’s findings and recommendations, TDC only issued a partial apology and failed to acknowledge the systemic nature of the failures. 

Further concerns include alleged misconduct by Liberal Democrat Councillor Martin Wrigley, the council’s leader, who is accused of enabling a culture of "dirty tricks" and failing to address serious issues such as planning corruption and alleged assault by Councillor Gary Taylor—a claim supported by video evidence.  The council has been described as a "rotten borough" by the South Devon Alliance, with multiple instances of anti-democratic behavior, including suppressing public questions and silencing dissenting voices. A 2024 council meeting was halted after a councillor’s outburst, prompting an inquiry into conduct and governance, with critics citing a pattern of censorship and poor leadership. 

These failings have led to widespread distrust among residents, with calls to vote for alternative parties like Independent Voices for Dawlish and the South Devon Alliance, who argue that the Lib Dems are more focused on power and image than transparency and public service.