Plymouth council decision puts pressure on Exeter over election delay vote

Political pressure has increased on Exeter City Council to confirm whether it will hold elections in May, after Plymouth City Council said it will press ahead with its vote.

The Government has indicated it would allow some local council elections to be postponed as part of plans for local government reorganisation.

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However, earlier today (December 22), Plymouth City Council confirmed it would not be seeking a delay to its May elections.

The decision has been welcomed by Devon County Council, whose leader said the move should be followed elsewhere in the county.

Julian Brazil, leader of Devon County Council, said councillors are elected for a fixed term and should not extend that without voters’ consent.

“Councillors are elected to office for a specific term and should not seek to extend that without a mandate,” he said.

“Plymouth councillors have done the right thing. In this context it would be a disgrace if Exeter residents were deprived of the chance to choose who represents them in the Civic Centre.”

He added that Exeter City Council could still make a clear decision before Christmas to maintain public confidence in local democracy.

“If the Government is worried about councils being able to deliver services it should fund us properly and postpone a reorganisation project which is costing millions of pounds and stretching both local authorities and civil servants,” he said.

Deputy leader of Devon County Council Paul Arnott also welcomed Plymouth’s decision, saying it should act as a prompt for Exeter.

“This latest move to offer councillors the chance to stay in power longer than they were elected for comes in the context of increasing uncertainty about democracy across Devon,” he said.

“Plymouth has done the right thing. Exeter needs to do the same.”

Councils affected by the next phase of reorganisation have until January 15 to formally request a delay to elections.

A special meeting of Devon County Council is due to be held on January 9, where councillors will debate and respond to correspondence received from Local Government Minister Jim McMahon on the issue.

Devon County Council has previously said its own reorganisation proposal would be the cheapest and simplest option to deliver, and that it would avoid disrupting progress on children’s services.