I AM saddened and frustrated by the news that the Leader of Mid Devon District Council has seen fit to discard the Cabinet portfolio for climate change, and to sack councillor Elizabeth Wainwright, the holder of this portfolio, from the Cabinet.

She was the first (and it seems now, the last) councillor to hold this post, and as well as having previous experience in issues to do with ecology, has demonstrated vision, determination and creativity around how to proceed to achieve the MDDC 2030 zero net carbon target.

The pieces she has written in the “Courier” from time-to-time, demonstrate a passionate belief in the importance of inclusion,  listening, and healthy discussion as the only effective way to move forward.

Councillor Deed’s statement that climate change factors will be incorporated into all other aspects of council work and decision making, is, at best, naive.

Realistically, climate change is still, to many people, a new - and in a day-to-day context - invisible.

I think you need someone in the executive whose specific brief it is to make sure that climate change is truly considered in all decisions, even if this ruffles feathers.

As a member of the Green Party, Councillor Wainwright was in a strong position to do this.

After the local elections in 2019 (what a long time ago that seems now) I was encouraged and optimistic that the change in political dynamic in Mid Devon would lead to a more representative and democratic council.

I feel that strong opposition and no overall party political control has the potential for healthy discussion  and new ideas.

It seems that I was naive.

The way the system seems to operate, is that the Leader has the power to appoint or remove whoever he likes from the Cabinet.

Surely this power should be used thoughtfully and responsibly to ensure that there is a variety of political viewpoints represented?

In my opinion, sacking Councillor Wainwright begs two questions:

Is the Leader of the Council truly committed to addressing the climate change agenda, or not?

Is the Leader of the Council truly committed to local democracy or not?

Penny King

Lapford