Who are the Dartmouth Initiative Group - DIG ?

Today will see the launch of the Dartmouth Initiative Group. 16 Dartmouth residents who want to change the way the local Town Council works with the community.  This their list of candidates announced today:

Dartmouth Initiative Group DIG is delighted to announce the following candidates will be standing in the upcoming town councils elections on 2nd May

Clifton Ward

  • Adam Edsall
  • Ged Yardy
  • Lucy Williams
  • Sally Hibbert
  • Graham Evans
  • Cathy Campos
  • Alisa Kefford Parker
  • Diana Case
  • Jess Pinder
  • Cherry Godden

Townstal Ward

  • Graham Webb
  • Nathan Bodinnar
  • Lynn Gunnigle
  • Mandy Webber
  • Dawn Shepherd
  • Hazel Lewis

Their Facebook page has the following introductory statement:

“The Dartmouth Initiative Group (DIG) is part of a quiet revolution going on throughout the country with independent groups reshaping and modernising their local councils and making positive changes for the good of their communities. We are fielding 16 candidates in the upcoming local elections for the Dartmouth Town Council.  They come from different backgrounds and political persuasions but are united in their love for Dartmouth and their determination to forge a more inclusive and effective Town Council.” 

Based on an idea that has been growing since 2015 this group will seek to emulate the success of Frome and Buckfastleigh, among others, in changing the way local politics interacts with the community. Here is an extract from a Guardian article about this trend:

“On 7 May 2015, after four years in power, the Independents for Frome (or IfF) group took all 17 seats on Frome’s town council, with vote-shares as high as 70%, and support from people who cast their other votes for the main political parties. Moreover, the IfF idea seems to be spreading, as people add their voices to a quiet rebellion that is materialising in some very unlikely places – from small commuter towns in Bedfordshire to the political home of George Osborne. There are two key elements to this very English revolt: a quest to revive the often moribund town and parish authorities long squashed by county, borough and district councils, and give them a new energy and purpose; and in the places where party politics has dominated even this lowly tier of government, the shoving aside of the big parties in pursuit of new ways of doing things.”

They are currently trying to raise funds to help them promote their campaign so, if you believe their mission is to be supported then visit their Facebook page to find out how you can donate.

Their initial mission statement is as follows:

DIG

Dartmouth Initiative Group

Just 11 of the 16 DIG candidates

OUR DARTMOUTH YOUR FUTURE

DIG’s 16 candidates come from different backgrounds and political persuasions but we are united in our love for Dartmouth and our determination to forge a more inclusive and effective Town Council.

DIG’s only agenda is the good of the town and its people

DIG’s wide range of individuals with a broad spectrum of skills and experience make us ideally representative of the town’s population.

DIG wants to deliver what the residents want

DIG will build an open and inclusive council that gets things done!

DIG is part of a quiet revolution going on throughout the country with independent groups reshaping and modernising their local councils and making positive changes for the good of their communities

You can read more about the origins of the idea from the Guardian article here:

 

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2 Comments

  1. Very interested in DIG. Would love to know what are their proposals and what will be their very, first objective when they get representatives on the Council. They state their only Agenda is the good of Dartmouth and its residents. I hope they keep this ideal at the very heart of all the proposals they put forward in the future. Some of the faces I know and some I do not know. Hope to get a chance the rectify this by going to their open house on Monday, April 8.

    • Hello Liz! I’m one of the DIG 16. Thank you for your interest in our DIG group - and really pleased you’re coming along tomorrow evening. Look forward to meeting you then, Diana

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