This campaign seems eerily quiet. But the councillors you elect will have important decisions to make on Labour’s plans for reorganising local authorities: eliminating district councils; writing rules that eliminate our County, and insisting on creating overarching mayoral authorities covering over 3,000 sq miles!
These councillors, quite likely, will be the only ones you have if and when the government has its way on disbanding districts. They will be representing you on everything from planning, adult and social care to fixing the potholes and collecting your rubbish.
With fewer of them, councillors will be even more remote.
Despite the upheaval in the world order created by the election of Donald Trump and Labour’s struggles with the economic poisoned chalice it inherited. Now is not the time for apathy. It only plays into the hands of the zealots on the extremes. Nor is it time to experiment with snake oil remedies.
Below is the list of candidates for each County Division. They have been compiled from the Devon County list but please let Owl know if any transcription errors or omissions have inadvertently slipped in.
For reasons Owl doesn’t understand, East Devon is the only district in the County to have Divisions (two) represented by two councillors; Broadclyst and Exmouth.
The outgoing Devon County Council was controlled by the Conservatives, as East Devon District Council (EDDC) was until 2020. Facing National headwinds the Tories followed their instincts and tried to cancel this election on the grounds that they were on the fast track to reorganisation with their “oven ready plan”.
This didn’t fool the Government and the outgoing council’s latest draft proposal included five options.
It’s time for a change and EDDC since 2020 shows how the LibDems can create an inclusive administration. The reality is that the LibDems are the only realistic challengers with the experience and vision.
A couple of “Heritage Party” candidates appear in the lists. This seems to be another insurgent right wing party advocating “Traditional Values” and “No more Lockdowns” amongst other things.
Axminster Division:
This is a Division where Owl would definitely back Independent Paul Hayward. Currently he is deputy leader of EDDC experience vital in any discussion of reorganisation. The outgoing councillor is not seeking re-election.
| BARLOW MARSHALL Honey, | Labour and Co-Operative Party; |
| BROWN Jenny, | Local Conservatives (from Honiton) |
| BYRNE Matthew Denis, | Green Party Candidate |
| HAYWARD Paul Graham, | Independent Candidate; |
| ROBINSON Sue, | Liberal Democrats; |
| SALWAY Philip James, | Reform UK |
Broadclyst Division(two councillors):
This Division has been represented by an alliance between Henry Gent, ostensibly Green but of a distinctly blue hue (see Owl’s post “many shades of green” ) and the retiring Randall Johnson pursuer of development led growth and closures of community hospitals.
Eleanor Rylance (excellent Chair of EDDC) and Andreas Glover are Owl’s choice here for a clean sweep.
| BAILEY Brian Arthur | The Conservative Party Candidate; |
| GENT Henry, | Green Party Candidate; |
| GLOVER Andrea, | Liberal Democrats; |
| GOUDIE Lisa, | Heritage Party; |
| GUNDIN Fernando, | Reform UK |
| HEALY Kian, | Labour Party; |
| HOLMES Molly Jane, | Labour Party Candidate; |
| JAGO Kate, | Green Party Candidate |
| RYLANCE Eleanor, | Liberal Democrats; |
| THOMPSON Cynthia | The Conservative Party Candidate |
| VANSTONE Nat | Reform UK. |
Exmouth Division (two councillors)
Scott and Trail both voted to cancel the elections – so time for change. Matt Hall is an experienced EDDC councillor and his running mate Fran McElhone has a deep grasp of local issues. Fran was a very independently minded local journalist reporting on the Tory “goings on” during the formative years of East Devon Watch.
| ACKLAND Hilary Anne, | Labour & Co-operative Party |
| BROWN Helen, | Reform UK |
| DOLICZNY Lou, | Green Party Candidate |
| FERMOR Si | Reform UK; |
| HALL Matt | Liberal Democrats |
| HAWKES Ben Anthony | Labour Party, |
| MCELHONE Fran, | Liberal Democrats; |
| SCOTT Richard, | The Conservative Party Candidate; |
| TRAIL Jeff | The Conservative Party Candidate; |
| WILSON Daniel | Independent |
Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton Coastal Division
The Division vacated at long last by “venerable” Christine Channon, a good enough reason in itself to change, No one is more local than Exmouth born and bred Nick Hookway, again a candidate with plenty of solid EDDC experience as Portfolio Holder Culture, Leisure, Sport and Tourism.
| HOOKWAY Nick, | Liberal Democrats; |
| MCINTOSH James Declan | Labour Party Candidate; |
| RIDDELL Henry Lloyd | The Conservative Party Candidate |
| ROSSER Mike, | The Green Party |
| THOMAS Paul | Reform UK |
Feniton and Honiton Division
Phill Twiss, County Cabinet member for finance is seeking re-election and another who voted to cancel the elections – knows where the skeletons are buried!
Time for a change with Richard Jefferies, another EDDC councillor with experience of getting things done.
| ALCOCK Barry | Reform UK |
| CASEMORE Steve | Labour Party |
| COLLINS Jane | Green Party Candidate |
| FAITHFULL Peter Hamilton, | Independent |
| FOTHERINGHAM Jo | Independent; |
| JEFFERIES Richard, | Liberal Democrats |
| TWISS Phil | Local Conservatives. |
Otter Valley Division
Here Owl would choose the Independent Jess Bailey, seeking re-election. She is the exception to Owl’s general rule of only considering Indys who are prepared to sign up to being members of EDDC’s “Democratic Alliance” formal political grouping, founded on upholding the Nolan Principles. (Which excludes many Indys in these tables).
Jess has shown enormous courage in pursuing what County knew about the John Humphrey affair and he campaigns on local issues have featured in many “Watch” articles.
| AHERNE Janice, | Reform UK Candidate; |
| BAILEY Jess | Independent; |
| CARTER Paul Richard, | Local Conservatives; |
| COLLINS Beth, | Liberal Democrats; |
| SUTTON Rachel Helen | Labour Party. |
Seaton and Colyton Division
This should be a no-brainer with Paul Arnott, current Leader of EDDC standing. He has demonstrated how inclusive local politics can be made to work, with his coalition in East Devon bringing together councillors of different political colours with a common aim of serving the electorate. Perhaps more important in this election is that he has had the ideas on how the Government’s ill-conceived reorganisation might be implemented and has worked with other Devon District Leaders to form a consensus. His election will be vital if this mess is to be resolved.
[Interestingly he is competing against the decidedly not local “Local Conservative” Ben Ingham and one of the EDDC Indys who fails to pass Owl’s “General Rule on Indys”].
| ARNOTT Paul, | Liberal Democrats; |
| HEATH John David, | Independent; |
| INGHAM Ben, | Local Conservatives (from Exmouth) |
| KNOTT Paul Graeme | Labour Party; |
| WALSH Jim | Reform UK |
Sidmouth Division
Owl has only recently reported on how the “raving Monster” Stuart Hughes couldn’t find the time to attend the Sidmouth Hustings, and that neither Reform nor Labour had the courtesy to answer the invitation from Vision Group for Sidmouth.
With Denise Bickley voters could get “two for the price of one” as she is regarded by many greens as greener than most of them.
Time for Sidmouth to get a grown up councillor.
| BICKLEY Denise, | Liberal Democrats; |
| BULLOCK Suzanne Mary, | Labour Party; |
| HERBERT Basil Thomas | Reform UK; |
| HUGHES Stuart | Local Conservatives. |
Whimple and Blackdown Division
If you want to read reasons why it’s time for long serving Councillors like Ian Chubb and Phil Twiss to be booted out try this for size from 2016:
Exmouth Seafront Cost Increases – Fantasy, Incompetent, Iconic or Ironic.
Owl’s view: back the LibDem
| CHUBB Iain, | Local Conservatives; |
| CONNOR Cathy, | Liberal Democrats; |
| MALAWANA Johann, | Labour Party; |
| OWEN Steve, | Green Party Candidate |
| SABINE Andre | Heritage Party; |
| WILLEY Dave | Reform UK. |
East Devon Watch 