At the beginning of the month, we had elections to the District Council:
Results of District Council elections
And yesterday, the new Council met up for the first time: the Herald reported on how the elections for chair of the Council and the chairs of the various committees went:
A new era for East Devon District Council begins – LIVE
And so we have a new Leader:
Cllr Ben Ingham, of the Independent Group, was elected as leader of the council for the next 12 months at East Devon District Council’s annual meeting on Wednesday (May 22).
One of the major issues facing the council is expected to be plans for thousands of homes to be built across the wider area every year as part of the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan.
The meeting was the first to be held since the May elections where the Independent Group seized control of the council from the Conservatives.
New leader marks the start of a new era for the district council
Devon Live gives a little more:
Councillors on Wednesday night voted for Cllr Ingham to become the new leader of the council. He was elected unopposed, having been proposed by Cllr Susie Bond and seconded by Cllr Paul Arnott, chairman of the East Devon Alliance.
Fellow Independent Cllr Bond was elected as the deputy leader of the council for the upcoming year. She said: “We will be fully inclusive, which means we will consider all rational ideas, regardless of who provides them. We have many challenges ahead, including huge funding cuts from Central Government. Our first priority is to provide continuity, ensuring the council functions better than ever. We will get to work immediately serving East Devon. Residents and communities will be at the heart of everything we do.”
Independent councillors, as well as the East Devon Alliance, had made sweeping gains in May’s local elections. The Conservative had held 34 seats prior to the election, but suffered 15 losses to end up with just 19 councillors.
Independents take control in East Devon after 45 years of Conservative rule
East Devon’s new Independent leader promises the public will be listened to We will be compiling a list of promises given so that people will have a ready reference. It is not that we have any lack of faith but that we know how strong public opinions are against the usual political behaviours. Such a list may help to start trust grow again.
The East Devon Watch blog also reports (in their words not ours) :
Tiggers looked to Tories for coalition not EDA Independents? Just one question: Why?
East Devon Alliance leader speech to EDDC last night
East Devon Alliance county councillor Martin Shaw adds his thoughts about TiggerTories
TiggerTory EDDC Chairman responds to EDA Councillor Martin Shaw
.