East_Devon_District_Council

East Devon

East Devon

Non-metropolitan district in England

This article is about the district. For the constituency, see East Devon (UK Parliament constituency).

50.679°N 3.239°W / 50.679; -3.239

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East Devon is a local government district in Devon, England. Its council is based in the town of Honiton, although Exmouth is the largest town. The district also contains the towns of Axminster, Budleigh Salterton, Cranbrook, Ottery St Mary, Seaton and Sidmouth, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas.

The district borders Teignbridge and the City of Exeter to the west, Mid Devon to the north, Somerset to the north-east, and Dorset to the east.

Two parts of the district are designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: the Blackdown Hills in the north of the district and the East Devon AONB along the district's coast and adjoining areas. The East Devon coastline from Exmouth to the border with Dorset is also part of the designated World Heritage Site of the Jurassic Coast; the designated area continues into Dorset as far as the Old Harry Rocks near Swanage.

History

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole area of eight former districts and part of a ninth, which were all abolished at the same time:[1]

The new district was named East Devon, reflecting its position in the wider county.[2]

Governance

East Devon District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Devon County Council.[3] The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[4]

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since 2019. Since the 2023 election the council has been run by a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, Greens and some of the independent councillors.

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been held by the following parties:[5]

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Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:[6]

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Composition

Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was:[7]

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A "Democratic Alliance Group" formed after the election comprising the Liberal Democrats, Greens and nine of the independent councillors. Of the other independent councillors, nine formed the "Independent Group" and one sat with the single Liberal councillor as the "Independent Councillor Group". Paul Arnott was re-appointed leader of the council after the election, this time as a Liberal Democrat, having previously led as a member of the East Devon Alliance, which did not stand any candidates in 2023.[8]

The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

See also: East Devon District Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 60 councillors representing 30 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[9]

East Devon is covered by three parliamentary constituencies: East Devon, Tiverton and Honiton and Central Devon.[4]

Premises

Knowle, Sidmouth: Council's headquarters until 2019.

In 2019 the council moved to new purpose-built offices called Blackdown House in Honiton. The building was officially opened on 27 February 2019.[10] Prior to 2019 the council was based at Knowle, a large converted house in Sidmouth which had been the offices of the old Sidmouth Urban District Council since the 1960s, having previously been a hotel.[11]

Transport

Exeter International Airport is located in East Devon. A small stretch of the M5 passes through the district.

Towns and parishes

See also: List of civil parishes in Devon

East Devon is entirely divided into civil parishes. The parish councils for Axminster, Budleigh Salterton, Cranbrook, Exmouth, Honiton, Ottery St Mary, Seaton and Sidmouth take the style "town council".[12]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 30 July 2023
  2. [2]
    "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  3. [3]
    "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  4. [4]
    "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  5. [5]
    "East Devon". BBC News Online. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  6. [6]
    "Council minutes". East Devon District Council. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  7. [7]
    "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  8. [8]
    "Council meeting, 24 May 2023". East Devon District Council. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  9. [9]
    "The East Devon (Electoral Changes) Order 2017", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2017/1315, retrieved 30 July 2023
  10. [10]
    Evans, Francesca (1 March 2019). "East Devon District Council opens new headquarters". Lyme Online. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  11. [11]
    Clark, Daniel (30 March 2023). "The Knowle: Sidmouth landmark once a 'zoo' and hotel destroyed by fire". Devon Live. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  12. [12]
    "Register of interests for town and parish councillors". East Devon District Council. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
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