46
By the Dart • Cllr John Tucker
more financially viable. ‘our ‘Do it online’ system cuts phone calls to the
council and creates a 24-hour service. Residents can now pay council tax, claim benefits, fill in planning applications and all sorts online. this also helps our officers reduce admin time on the phone so they can spend more time on the job instead. ‘By implementing these two strategies and not getting
into debt, we’re in a good position at the council to cope with big reductions in central government funding.’ Cllr tucker said the present government is making huge changes to local authorities. ‘this government thinks local councils are not very
efficient compared to private companies. Historically we haven’t been able to make a profit and, ultimately in business, if you don’t make a surplus you can’t survive. ‘there’s a move now for local authorities to work
more like private companies, from supplementing income to generating income by bidding for contracts such as waste contracts with other authorities. We now have to look at our assets, such as our car parks and coastal towns, to earn more income.’ Although the council is Conservative led and has
been for all but four years of its 40-year history, Cllr tucker is at pains to point out they don’t blindly follow government ideology. ‘We don’t just tow the party line – we’re here to serve the local residents,’ he said. ‘We’re not here to support
the government through thick and thin, even if we’re on the same side politically. ‘We’re at the present government’s throat just as much as we were with the last Labour government and are always lobbying against them for the benefit of our residents. But, of course, if the government bring in a law we have to adhere to it.’ A big issue where this is apparent is in new
government housing policy. Cllr tucker said: ‘Housing is a major issue in the south
Hams, with average house prices 14 times average salaries. ‘there’s a lot of development going on now, more in the last 12 months than in 15 years. the government directive is to build more and more and if we don’t comply they will take over planning and do it them- selves. ‘Affordable housing policy has been switched to pro-
viding ‘starter homes’, sold at just 20 per cent reduction of average house prices. But we will continue to do all we can to push for affordable housing and rental prop- erties desperately needed in the south Hams.’ Despite such issues, it is clear that Cllr tucker loves
the south Hams. ‘I think the environment we live in is great, with love-
ly rolling hills and a fantastic coastline,’ he said. ‘I think it’s a beautiful place to live and I’d find it very difficult to live elsewhere.’•
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