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East Devon

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

50°40′44″N 3°14′20″W / 50.679°N 3.239°W / 50.679; -3.239

East Devon District
Non-metropolitan district
East Devon shown within Devon
East Devon shown within Devon
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionSouth West England
Non-metropolitan countyDevon
StatusNon-metropolitan district
Admin HQHoniton
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyEast Devon District Council
 • LeadershipLeader & Cabinet
 • MPsRichard Foord
David Reed
Area
 • Total314.4 sq mi (814.4 km2)
 • Rank40th (of 296)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total154,500
 • Rank140th (of 296)
 • Density490/sq mi (190/km2)
 • Ethnicity
99.3% White
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code18UB (ONS)
E07000040 (GSS)
OS grid referenceSY1247187389

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

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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

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East Devon District Council
 
 
Type
Type
Leadership
Eleanor Rylance,
Liberal Democrat
since 24 May 2023
Paul Arnott,
Liberal Democrat
since 29 May 2020
Tracy Hendren
since May 2024[3]
Structure
Seats60 councillors
 
Political groups
Administration (31)
  Liberal Democrats (18)
  Independent (11)
  Green (2)
Other parties (29)
  Conservative (15)
  Independent (12)
  Labour (1)
  Liberal (1)
Elections
Last election
4 May 2023
Last election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
Blackdown House, Border Road, Honiton, EX14 1EJ
Website
www.eastdevon.gov.uk

East Devon District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Devon County Council.[4] The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[5]

Political control

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The council has been under no overall control since 2019. From May 2020 to May 2023, it was run by a political grouping composed of Liberal Democrats, Greens and Independents. Since the 2023 election the council has again been run by a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, Greens and some of the independent councillors. 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.[6]

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:[7]

Party in control Years
Independent 1974–1976
Conservative 1976–1995
No overall control 1995–1999
Conservative 1999–2019
No overall control 2019–present

Leadership

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The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:[8]

Councillor Party From To
Sara Randall Johnson Conservative 2001 8 May 2011
Paul Diviani Conservative 25 May 2011 16 May 2018
Ian Thomas Conservative 16 May 2018 22 May 2019
Ben Ingham Independent 22 May 2019 18 May 2020
Paul Arnott East Devon Alliance 29 May 2020 May 2023
Liberal Democrats May 2023

Composition

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Following the 2023 election, subsequent changes of allegiance up to June 2024 and a by-election in May 2024, the composition of the council was:[9][10]

Party Councillors
Independent 23
Liberal Democrats 18
Conservative 15
Green 2
Labour 1
Liberal 1
Total 60

The Liberal Democrats, Greens and eleven of the independent councillors sit together as the "Democratic Alliance Group", which forms the council's administration. Of the other independent councillors, ten form the "Independent Group", one sits with the single Liberal councillor as the "Independent Councillor Group" and the other does not belong to a group.[11] The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

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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.[12]

East Devon is covered by two parliamentary constituencies: Exmouth & Exeter East, Honiton & Sidmouth.[5]

Premises

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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.[13] 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.[14]

Transport

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Exeter International Airport is located in East Devon. A small stretch of the M5 motorway passes through the district, as does a section of the West of England line.

Towns and parishes

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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".[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 30 July 2023
  2. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  3. ^ Manning, Adam (9 May 2024). "Tracy Hendren confirmed as chief executive of East Devon Council". Midweek Herald. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  5. ^ a b "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Council meeting, 24 May 2023". East Devon District Council. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  7. ^ "East Devon". BBC News Online. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  8. ^ "Council minutes". East Devon District Council. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  10. ^ "East Devon". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Your councillors by political grouping". East Devon District Council. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  12. ^ "The East Devon (Electoral Changes) Order 2017", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2017/1315, retrieved 30 July 2023
  13. ^ Evans, Francesca (1 March 2019). "East Devon District Council opens new headquarters". Lyme Online. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  14. ^ Clark, Daniel (30 March 2023). "The Knowle: Sidmouth landmark once a 'zoo' and hotel destroyed by fire". Devon Live. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Register of interests for town and parish councillors". East Devon District Council. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
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