Vote Jo for Feniton & Honiton

I’m Jo Fotheringham, the local Independent candidate for Devon County Council in Feniton & Honiton. I’m a genuinely local candidate who lives and works in Honiton.

I’m proud to be 100% independent, having never belonged to any political party.

My track record

I was elected to Honiton Town Council in 2023, my first time holding public office, and have worked hard for the town, learning more than I ever expected about how councils operate and how to get things done.

As a town councillor, I have

• opposed Devon County Council’s plan to impose pay-and-display parking meters on Honiton High Street
• consistently voted against Honiton Town Council bailing out the loss-making Beehive with up to £60,000 of public money every year, particularly as councillors are kept in the dark about how the money is being spent
• raised concerns that diverting funds to the Beehive meant other local organisations, such as Citizens Advice, missed out on vital grants
• exposed a last-minute change in the East Devon Local Plan to build on a popular open space and started Honiton Town Council’s opposition to it
• helped to introduce the use of Canva for council publications and provided free staff training — saving thousands previously spent on external communications consultants
• proposed a Community Toilet Scheme to expand town centre toilet facilities and avoid the costly risks of taking on the King Street toilets
• consistently supported Honiton Town Council’s finance officer, who has warned that the council doesn’t have enough money saved to cover potential risks, putting the council at risk of bankruptcy
• tried to get the council to put an extra £50,000 into its reserves to protect services rather than spending money on unnecessary projects

As chair of the Beehive Working Group,

• I started informal discussions with an independent cinema operator interested in the Beehive Lease
• I proposed and voted for an open tender process for the new Beehive Lease unlike many other councillors who ignored legal advice and voted for a closed tender process
• I have worked hard to try to secure the best possible deal for Honiton residents.

Integrity & Transparency

I always vote for what I genuinely believe is in the best interests of Honiton residents.

I always read the agenda papers and reports to prepare for council meetings so that I can participate in the debate and make informed decisions.

I have a good attendance record at council meetings.

I always declare interests, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. I will always leave a meeting for any decisions where I have even the smallest hint of a personal financial interest.

When making financial decisions, I always weigh up whether spending on the item is justified and whether the proposed spending represents value for money for Honiton’s tax payers.

I believe that decisions should be made openly unless there is a genuine legal reason for confidentiality. As Chair of the Beehive Working Group, I always pushed for the discussions and decisions related to the future lease of the Beehive to be held in the public part of council meetings.

What’s Next?

I’m standing for election to Devon County Council, a council that may not exist in a couple of years. Why would I want to do that?

Local Government Reorganisation may not sound like a riveting subject, but it really matters. If elected, I will work with other councillors of any or no political colour to promote a new unitary council that will work for Honiton.

Of course Devon County Council’s work needs to continue in the meantime, whether that is fixing potholes on our roads or ensuring good quality social care provision for those who need it.

One thing I know from being elected to the Town Council, is that you never know the true state of affairs until you get a proper look “under the bonnet” of the council’s finances. So I’m realistic anough to expect a few nasty surprises and difficult decisions if I’m elected.

Independent Thinking

Unlike party politicians, I’m not tied to any national agenda or party line. This means I can focus on what really matters to you and to Honiton – no strings attached!