East Devon

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
Simon Jupp
Mel Stride
Area
 • Total314.4 sq mi (814.4 km2)
 • Rank40th (of 296)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total152,120
 • Rank140th (of 296)
 • Density480/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 District District Council
Logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Eleanor Rylance,
Liberal Democrat
since 24 May 2023
Paul Arnott,
Liberal Democrat
since 29 May 2020
Mark Williams
Structure
Seats60 councillors
Political groups
Administration (29)
  Liberal Democrats (18)
  Independent (9)
  Green (2)
Other parties (31)
  Conservative (17)
  Independent (10)
  Labour (3)
  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
This article is about the district. For the constituency, see East Devon (UK Parliament constituency).

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.

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.

The neighbouring districts are Exeter, Teignbridge, Mid Devon, Somerset and Dorset.

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]

Party in controlYears
Independent1974–1976
Conservative1976–1995
No overall control1995–1999
Conservative1999–2019
No overall control2019–present

Leadership

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

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Sara Randall Johnson Conservative20018 May 2011
Paul Diviani Conservative25 May 201116 May 2018
Ian Thomas Conservative16 May 201822 May 2019
Ben Ingham Independent22 May 201918 May 2020
Paul Arnott East Devon Alliance29 May 2020May 2023
Liberal DemocratsMay 2023

Composition

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

Party Councillors
Independent 19
Liberal Democrats 18
Conservative 17
Labour 3
Green 2
Liberal 1
Total 60

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. "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. "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  4. "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  5. "East Devon". BBC News Online. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  6. "Council minutes". East Devon District Council. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  7. "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  8. "Council meeting, 24 May 2023". East Devon District Council. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  9. "The East Devon (Electoral Changes) Order 2017", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2017/1315, retrieved 30 July 2023
  10. Evans, Francesca (1 March 2019). "East Devon District Council opens new headquarters". Lyme Online. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  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. "Register of interests for town and parish councillors". East Devon District Council. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
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