‘IF you’re told it’s raining, then go to the window and check that it actually is.’

It is a challenge that stands the test of time.

Last week’s gristle from Cllr Bullivant, leader of the opposition Conservatives on Teignbridge Council, was that he believes the council is at risk of losing investment into the town

His story was that Teignbridge had delayed a decision on spending a further £600,000 on the planned cinema. This is a central part of the town’s regeneration plan known as the Future High Street Fund. The Government is also contributing £9.2 million.

If there is a risk, surely it is that his own Conservative Government may take away the funding after it has made no allowance for soaring inflation and rising costs, for example.

Cllr Bullivant wanted to ‘crack on regardless’ and spend the extra £600,000 without any further checks.

Other councillors supported the Liberal Democrats’ call for caution. We wanted additional information regarding the need for the extra funding and the potential risks.

For example, inflation has rocketed to above 10% and in the construction sector, inflation is said to be double.

Also, just days earlier we had all heard the news that cinema chain, Cineworld, faced financial challenges and had apparently applied for protective administration in America.

Before committing even more money, councillors wanted extra information about any possible implications for local cinemas, such as the four-screens planned for Newton Abbot.

The Lib Dem call for additional information was supported by one Conservative councillor, while other Conservatives chose not to vote.

They were clearly torn between concern about the extra £600,000 cost to taxpayers and backing Cllr Bullivant’s lonely call to ‘crack on regardless.’

As councillors, we remember that there is no such thing as ‘council money.’ What we spend is your money.

It comes in from Council Tax, fees and charges and Government grants for special projects and it must be used responsibly for the benefit of the community across Teignbridge.

We are asked to stump-up more cash to help deliver the new cinema in Newton Abbot. In my view, councillors were right to ask for more information and additional research to be done.

Cllr Bullivant also claimed that Teignbridge is falling behind with house building.

It is the major housebuilders who build by far the bulk of houses.

They must deliver the houses they have planning permission for and if they don’t, then Cllr Bullivant’s Conservative Government will punish Teignbridge, not the developers.

Currently, across the district, there is permission for about 8,000 homes to be built, which have yet to be started!

The Government could help by making a simple ‘use it or lose it’ change to the planning regulations.

This would give developers a fixed time limit to start and finish the homes they have permission to build.

The nation faces a housing crisis. It could start to tackle the crisis by allowing councils to build modern councils houses at scale.

Homes that would be genuinely affordable to rent and to run.

What an investment that would be in our economy and all our futures!