Some thoughts sent in to EDA
‘In the event of the Exeter/East Devon/Teignbridge merger, the political makeup of the new authority will be very interesting. At present it is as follows:
Teignbridge: 22 Conservatives, 10 LibDems, 13 Independents, 1 Ukip
Exeter: 10 Conservatives, 3 LibDems, 27 Labour
East Devon: 42 Conservatives, 10 LibDems, 7 Independents
Total: 74 Conservatives, 23 LibDems, 27 Labour, 20 Independents, 1 Ukip.
It would be a Conservative controlled council, but only just.
Nobody believes for one moment that the three authorities will remain politically independent, or will be allowed to remain so under local government reorganisation. The idea of a shared workforce, based in Exeter, serving three different authorities and 145 councillors is obviously ludicrous.
So, if there is to be a Greater Exeter Authority, then there will be far fewer councillors, perhaps 60 or so. And political control will be very uncertain.
Will our East Devon Conservative councillors vote for a new regime that will leave then with 20 rather than 59 councillors, and perhaps in opposition?
Will Tory turkeys vote for Christmas?’
East Devon Watch 