East Devon
{{About|the district|the constituency|East Devon (UK Parliament constituency)}}
{{Coord|50.679|-3.239|display=title|region:GB_scale:100000}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| timezone = GMT
| utc_offset = 0
| timezone_DST = BST
| utc_offset_DST = +1
| settlement_type = Non-metropolitan district
| subdivision_type = Sovereign state
| subdivision_type1 = Constituent country
| subdivision_type2 = Region
| subdivision_type3 = Non-metropolitan county
| subdivision_type4 = Status
| subdivision_type5 = Admin HQ
| subdivision_name = United Kingdom
| subdivision_name1 = England
| subdivision_name4 = Non-metropolitan district
| government_type = Non-metropolitan district council
| leader_title = Leadership
| leader_title1 = MPs
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_blank1_title = Ethnicity
| blank1_name = ONS code
| blank2_name = OS grid reference
| official_name = East Devon District
| image_skyline =
| imagesize =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| image_shield =
| shield_size =
| shield_alt =
| shield_link =
| image_map = East Devon UK locator map.svg
| mapsize = 150px
| map_alt =
| map_caption = East Devon shown within Devon
| subdivision_name2 = South West England
| subdivision_name3 = Devon
| subdivision_name5 = Honiton
| established_date1 = 1 April 1974
| governing_body = East Devon District Council
| leader_party =
| leader_name = Leader & Cabinet
| leader_name1 = Richard Foord
David Reed
| area_total_km2 = 814.4
| area_rank = {{English district area rank|GSS=E07000040}} (of {{English district total}})
| population_total = {{English district population|GSS=E07000040}}
| population_as_of = {{English statistics year}}
| population_rank = {{English district rank|GSS=E07000040}} (of {{English district total}})
| population_blank1 = 99.3% White
| blank1_info = 18UB (ONS)
E07000040 (GSS)
| blank2_info = {{gbmappingsmall|SY1247187389}}
| name =
}}
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:{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|access-date=30 July 2023}}
{{div col}}
- Axminster Rural District
- Budleigh Salterton Urban District
- Exmouth Urban District
- Honiton Municipal Borough
- Honiton Rural District
- Ottery St Mary Urban District
- St Thomas Rural District (parts north-east of Exeter, rest went to Teignbridge)
- Seaton Urban District
- Sidmouth Urban District
{{div col end}}
The new district was named East Devon, reflecting its position in the wider county.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|access-date=31 May 2023}}
Governance
{{Infobox legislature
| background_color = #d12128
| name = East Devon District Council
| native_name =
| transcription_name =
| legislature =
| coa_pic = Coat of arms of East Devon District Council.svg
| coa_res =
| logo_pic = East Devon District Council logo.svg
| logo_res = 200px
| house_type = Non-metropolitan district council
| body =
| houses =
| jurisdiction = East Devon
| foundation = 1 April 1974
| leader1_type = Chair
| leader1 = Eleanor Rylance
| party1 =
Liberal Democrat
| election1 = 24 May 2023
| leader2_type = Leader
| leader2 = Paul Arnott
| party2 =
Liberal Democrat
| election2 = 29 May 2020
| leader3_type = Chief Executive
| leader3 = Tracy Hendren
| party3 =
| members = 60 councillors
| house1 =
| house2 =
| structure1 = East_Devon_District_Council_2023.svg
| structure1_res = 250px
| structure2 =
| structure2_res =
| political_groups1 =
;Administration (31)
:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Liberal Democrats (18)}}
:{{Color box|{{party colour|Independent politician}}| border=darkgray}} Independent (11)
:{{Color box|{{party colour|Green Party of England and Wales}}|border=darkgray}} Green (2)
;Other parties (29)
:{{Color box|{{party colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}| border=darkgray}} Conservative (15)
:{{Color box|{{party colour|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} Independent (12)
:{{Color box|{{party colour|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Labour (1)
:{{Color box|{{party colour|Liberal Party (UK, 1989)}}|border=darkgray}} Liberal (1)
| committees1 =
| committees2 =
| joint_committees =
| voting_system1 = First-past-the-post
| voting_system2 =
| last_election1 = 4 May 2023
| next_election1 = 6 May 2027
| session_room =
| session_res =
| meeting_place = Blackdown House, Border Road, Honiton, EX14{{nbsp}}1EJ
| website = {{url|www.eastdevon.gov.uk}}
| constitution = [https://eastdevon.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/constitution/ The Constitution of the East Devon District Council]
| footnotes =
}}
East Devon District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Devon County Council.{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=31 May 2023}} The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=25 July 2023}}
=Political control=
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.{{cite web |title=Council meeting, 24 May 2023 |url=https://democracy.eastdevon.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=151&MId=1997&Ver=4 |website=East Devon District Council |access-date=22 June 2023}}
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:{{cite web| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2007/councils/html/18ub.stm | title = East Devon | access-date = 2009-11-20 | publisher = BBC News Online}}{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=26 November 2024 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "East Devon" in search box to see specific results.)
| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2|Party in control | Years |
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} | 1974–1976 |
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | 1976–1995 |
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} | 1995–1999 |
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | 1999–2019 |
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} | 2019–present |
=Leadership=
The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:
=Composition=
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:{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2023/may/04/elections-2023-results-live-local-council-england#le-full-results|title=Local elections 2023: live council results for England|publisher=The Guardian}}{{cite web |title=East Devon |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=east_devon |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=1 July 2024}}
| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party ! Councillors |
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}}
| align=center|23 |
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
| align=center|18 |
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
| align=center|15 |
| {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}}
| align=center|2 |
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
| align=center|1 |
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Party (UK, 1989)}}
| align=center|1 |
| colspan=2|Total
! align=center|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.{{cite web |title=Your councillors by political grouping |url=https://democracy.eastdevon.gov.uk//mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=GROUPING&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |website=East Devon District Council |access-date=9 May 2024}} The next election is due in 2027.
=Elections=
{{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.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The East Devon (Electoral Changes) Order 2017|year=2017|number=1315|access-date=30 July 2023}}
East Devon is covered by two parliamentary constituencies: Exmouth and Exeter East and Honiton and Sidmouth.
=Premises=
File:The Knowle - geograph.org.uk - 2278316.jpg
In 2019 the council moved to new purpose-built offices called Blackdown House in Honiton. The building was officially opened on 27 February 2019.{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Francesca |title=East Devon District Council opens new headquarters |url=https://lyme-online.co.uk/news/uplyme-news/east-devon-district-council-opens-new-headquarters/ |access-date=29 July 2022 |work=Lyme Online |date=1 March 2019}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Clark |first1=Daniel |title=The Knowle: Sidmouth landmark once a 'zoo' and hotel destroyed by fire |url=https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/knowle-sidmouth-landmark-once-zoo-8306140 |access-date=30 July 2023 |work=Devon Live |date=30 March 2023}}
Transport
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
{{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".{{cite web |title=Register of interests for town and parish councillors |url=https://eastdevon.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/parish-and-town-councils/register-of-interests-for-town-and-parish-councillors/ |website=East Devon District Council |access-date=30 July 2023}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://eastdevon.gov.uk/ East Devon]
- [http://www.ottervalley.co.uk/ Otter Valley Weather]
{{Devon}}
{{SW_England}}
{{Commons category|East Devon District|East Devon}}