Devon County Council

Devon County Council
Type
Type	Unicameral of county council
Leadership
Leader of the cabinet	John Hart, Conservative since 25 June 2009
Structure
Members	62
Political groups	Conservative Party   Liberal Democrats   Labour Party   Independents   Green Party
Elections
Voting system	First past the post
Last election	4 June 2009
Meeting place
County Hall, Exeter
Website
www.devon.gov.uk

Devon County Council is the county council administering the English county of Devon. Based in the city of Exeter, the council covers the non-metropolitan county area of Devon. Members of the council (councillors) are elected every four years to represent the electorate of each county division, almost all being nominated by the major national political parties.

The population of the area administered by the council is estimated at 754,700, making it the largest local authority in South West England.

Devon is an area with "two-tier" local government, meaning that the county is divided into non-metropolitan districts carrying out less strategic functions, such as taking most planning decisions. In Devon there are eight such districts, each with its own district, borough, or city council.

History

Administration

Before 1888, the small towns and rural areas in Devon were governed by magistrates through the Devon Court of Quarter Sessions. The magistrates were based at Rougemont Castle, Exeter, and were not elected by the people. In 1888, the Local Government Act 1888 was passed, which paved the way for democracy at the county level throughout England and Wales. On 16 January 1889, the first County Council elections were held, and the council began life with a budget of £50,000. In 1907, women became eligible for election and the first female councillor was elected in 1931.^[1] From the beginning in 1889, the county boroughs of Exeter, Devonport and Plymouth were outside the jurisdiction of the county council. Devonport was afterwards absorbed by the City of Plymouth. Torbay received county borough status and left the area of Devon County Council in 1968.

County Hall

At first, meetings were held in a courtroom in Rougemont Castle until County Hall was built.^[1] County Hall is situated in Topsham Road, about 1 mile (1.6 km) south-east of Exeter city centre, in the grounds of Bellair House, rebuilt around 1700 by the merchant John Vowler, and the adjoining early Victorian house, Coaver.^[2] The houses are now incorporated in the council's campus; Coaver houses the main social club.^[3] Construction began on County Hall in 1954; it was designed by Donald McMorran and was finished in 1964.^[3] Extensions were completed in 1984.^[2] In 1998 the buildings gained Grade II* status.^[3]

Political composition

In Devon, most county councillors who are elected have been nominated by one of England's major political parties, although there are also a small number of independents. At present well over half of the councillors in the chamber are Conservatives, who hold 41 of the 62 seats. The council currently operates the local government Cabinet system which was introduced by the Local Government Act 2000, with the Leader of the Cabinet (and effective head of the authority) elected by the full council. In practice, the Leader is chosen from among the majority Conservative group. After being elected, the Leader chooses the other cabinet members, currently nine, all from the Conservative group.

The Liberal Democrats have the second highest number of councillors, with fourteen, while there are four Labour members, all representing county divisions in Exeter. There are two independent members, and the Green Party has one councillor.

Responsibilities for services

Devon County Council's responsibilities include schools, social care for the elderly and vulnerable, road maintenance, libraries and trading standards.^[6] The Office for National Statistics estimated that the mid-2008 population of the non-metropolitan area of Devon was 754,700, which is the largest in the South West England region.^[7] It is the largest employer in Devon, employing over 20,000 people.^[6]

The county council's area is also administered by eight smaller authorities that have their own district, borough or city councils. The responsibilities of these councils include local planning, council housing, refuse collection, sports and leisure facilities, and street cleaning. The district areas are further divided into civil parishes, which have "parish councils" or "town councils"; the latter of which often use a town hall. Typical activities undertaken by a parish council include maintaining allotments, footpaths, playing fields and the local community or village hall. On some matters, the county council share responsibilities with the district and parish councils. These include economic development and regeneration, emergency planning, tourism promotion and coastal protection.^[6]

v · d · e Civil parishes in the ceremonial county of Devon
List of civil parishes in Devon
Exeter1,2	None
East Devon1	All Saints • Awliscombe • Axminster • Axmouth • Aylesbeare • Beer • Bicton • Brampford Speke • Branscombe • Broad Clyst • Broadhembury • Buckerell • Budleigh Salterton • Chardstock • Clyst Honiton • Clyst Hydon • Clyst St George • Clyst St Lawrence • Clyst St Mary • Colaton Raleigh • Colyton • Combe Raleigh • Combpyne Rousdon • Cotleigh • Dalwood • Dunkeswell • East Budleigh • Exmouth • Farringdon • Farway • Feniton • Gittisham • Hawkchurch • Honiton • Huxham • Isle of Man • Kilmington • Luppitt • Lympstone • Membury • Monkton • Musbury • Nether Exe • Newton Poppleford and Harpford • Northleigh • Offwell • Otterton • Ottery St Mary • Payhembury • Plymtree • Poltimore • Rewe • Rockbeare • Seaton • Sheldon • Shute • Sidmouth • Southleigh • Sowton • Stockland • Stoke Canon • Talaton • Uplyme • Upottery • Upton Pyne • Whimple • Widworthy • Woodbury • Yarcombe
Mid Devon1	Bampton • Bickleigh • Bow • Bradninch • Brushford • Burlescombe • Butterleigh • Cadbury • Cadeleigh • Chawleigh • Cheriton Bishop • Cheriton Fitzpaine • Clannaborough • Clayhanger • Clayhidon • Coldridge • Colebrooke • Copplestone • Crediton • Crediton Hamlets • Cruwys Morchard • Cullompton • Culmstock • Down St Mary • Eggesford • Halberton • Hemyock • Hittisleigh • Hockworthy • Holcombe Rogus • Huntsham • Kennerleigh • Kentisbeare • Lapford • Loxbeare • Morchard Bishop • Morebath • Newton St Cyres • Nymet Rowland • Oakford • Poughill • Puddington • Sampford Peverell • Sandford • Shobrooke • Silverton • Stockleigh English • Stockleigh Pomeroy • Stoodleigh • Templeton • Thelbridge • Thorverton • Tiverton • Uffculme • Uplowman • Upton Hellions • Washfield • Washford Pyne • Wembworthy • Willand • Woolfardisworthy • Zeal Monachorum
North Devon1	Arlington • Ashford • Atherington • Barnstaple • Berrynarbor • Bishop's Nympton • Bishop's Tawton • Bittadon • Bratton Fleming • Braunton • Brayford • Brendon • Burrington • Challacombe • Chittlehamholt • Chittlehampton • Chulmleigh • Combe Martin • Countisbury • East and West Buckland • East Anstey • East Down • East Worlington • Filleigh • Fremington • Georgeham • George Nympton • Goodleigh • Heanton Punchardon • Horwood, Lovacott and Newton Tracey • Ilfracombe • Instow • Kentisbury • King's Nympton • Knowstone • Landkey • Loxhore • Lynton and Lynmouth • Mariansleigh • Martinhoe • Marwood • Meshaw • Molland • Mortehoe • North Molton • Parracombe • Pilton West • Queen's Nympton • Rackenford • Romansleigh • Rose Ash • Satterleigh and Warkleigh • Shirwell • South Molton • Stoke Rivers •Swimbridge • Tawstock • Trentishoe • Twitchen • West Anstey •West Down • Westleigh • Witheridge •
Torridge1	Abbots Bickington • Abbotsham • Alverdiscott • Alwington • Ashreigney • Ashwater • Beaford • Bideford • Black Torrington • Bradford • Bradworthy • Bridgerule • Broadwoodwidger • Buckland Brewer • Buckland Filleigh • Bulkworthy • Clawton • Clovelly • Cookbury • Dolton • Dowland • East Putford • Frithelstock • Great Torrington • Halwill • Hartland • High Bickington • Hollacombe • Holsworthy • Holsworthy Hamlets • Huish • Huntshaw • Landcross • Langtree • Littleham • Little Torrington • Luffincott • Merton • Milton Damerel • Monkleigh • Newton St Petrock • Northam • Northcott • Pancrasweek • Parkham • Peters Marland • Petrockstow • Pyworthy • Roborough • Shebbear • Sheepwash • St Giles in the Wood • St Giles on the Heath • Sutcombe • Tetcott • Thornbury • Virginstow • Weare Giffard • Welcombe • West Putford • Winkleigh • Woolfardisworthy • Yarnscombe •
West Devon1,3	Beaworthy • Belstone • Bere Ferrers • Bondleigh • Bradstone • Bratton Clovelly • Brentor • Bridestowe • Bridestowe and Sourton Common • Broadwoodkelly • Buckland Monachorum • Chagford • Coryton • Dartmoor Forest • Drewsteignton • Dunterton • Exbourne • Germansweek • Gidleigh • Gulworthy • Hatherleigh • Highampton • Horrabridge • Iddesleigh • Inwardleigh • Jacobstowe • Kelly • Lamerton • Lewtrenchard • Lifton • Lydford • Marystow • Mary Tavy • Meavy • Meeth • Milton Abbot • Monkokehampton • North Tawton • Northlew • Okehampton • Okehampton Hamlets • Peter Tavy • Sampford Courtenay • Sampford Spiney • Sheepstor • Sourton • South Tawton • Spreyton • Sticklepath • Stowford • Sydenham Damerel • Tavistock • Throwleigh • Thrushelton • Walkhampton • Whitchurch •
South Hams1	Ashprington • Aveton Gifford • Berry Pomeroy • Bickleigh • Bigbury • Blackawton • Brixton • Buckland Tout Saints • Charleton • Chivelstone • Churchstow • Cornwood • Cornworthy • Dartington • Dartmouth • Dean Prior • Diptford • Dittisham • East Allington • East Portlemouth • Ermington • Frogmore and Sherford • Halwell and Moreleigh • Harberton • Harford • Holbeton • Holne • Ivybridge • Kingsbridge • Kingston • Kingswear • Littlehempston • Loddiswell • Malborough • Marldon • Modbury • Newton and Noss • North Huish • Rattery • Ringmore • Salcombe • Shaugh Prior • Slapton • South Brent • South Huish • South Milton • South Pool • Sparkwell • Staverton • Stoke Fleming • Stoke Gabriel • Stokenham • Strete • Thurlestone • Totnes Ugborough • Wembury • West Alvington • West Buckfastleigh • Woodleigh • Yealmpton
Teignbridge1	Abbotskerswell • Ashburton • Ashcombe • Ashton • Bickington • Bishopsteignton • Bovey Tracey • Bridford • Broadhempston • Buckfastleigh • Buckland-in-the-Moor • Christow • Chudleigh • Coffinswell • Dawlish • Denbury and Torbryan • Doddiscombsleigh • Dunchideock • Dunsford • Exminster • Haccombe with Combe • Hennock • Holcombe Burnell • Ide • Ideford • Ilsington • Ipplepen • Kenn • Kenton • Kingskerswell • Kingsteignton • Lustleigh • Mamhead • Manaton • Moretonhampstead • Newton Abbot • North Bovey • Ogwell • Powderham • Shaldon • Shillingford St George • Starcross • Stokeinteignhead • Tedburn St Mary • Teigngrace • Teignmouth • Trusham • Whitestone • Widecombe-in-the-Moor • Woodland
Plymouth2,4	None
Torbay4	Brixham5
Bold text denotes a parish council refered to as a "town council". Non-metropolitan district of the non-metropolitan county of Devon (administered by Devon County Council). Has city status in the United Kingdom. Has borough status in the United Kingdom. Unitary authority not part of the non-metropolitan county, thus not administered by Devon County Council. The remainder of Torbay is unparished.

Coat of arms

There was no established coat of arms for the county until 1926: the arms of the City of Exeter were often used to represent Devon, for instance in the badge of the Devonshire Regiment. During the formation of a county council by the Local Government Act 1888, adoption of a common seal was required. The seal contained three shields depicting the arms of Exeter along with those of the first chairman and vice-chairman of the council (Lord Clinton and the Earl of Morley).^[9]

On 11 October 1926, the county council received a grant of arms from the College of Arms. The main part of the shield displays a red crowned lion on a silver field, the arms of Richard Plantagenet, Earl of Cornwall. The chief or upper portion of the shield depicts an ancient ship on waves, for Devon's seafaring traditions. The Latin motto adopted was Auxilio Divino ("by divine aid"), that of Sir Francis Drake. The 1926 grant was of arms alone. On 6 March 1962 a further grant of crest and supporters was obtained. The crest is the head of a Dartmoor Pony rising from a "Naval Crown". This distinctive form of crown is formed from the sails and sterns of ships, and is associated with the Royal Navy. The supporters are a Devon bull and a sea lion.^[10][11]

The County Council adopted a 'ship silhouette' logo after the 1974 reorganisation, adapted from the ship emblem on the coat of arms, but following the loss in 1998 of Plymouth and Torbay re-adopted the coat of arms. In April 2006 the council unveiled a new logo which was to be used in most everyday applications, though the coat of arms will continue to be used for "various civic purposes".^[12][13]

Flag

In 2002, the BBC Devon website held a poll in response to a discussion for a flag of Devon. Ryan Sealey's winning design of green, white, and black was raised outside County Hall in 2006 to celebrate Local Democracy Week and is endorsed by Devon County Council.^[14]

Twinning

In 1971, Devon County Council signed a Twinning Charter with the Conseil General of Calvados to develop links with the French department of Calvados.^[15]

Proposed structural changes

In December 2007, the Department for Communities and Local Government referred Exeter City Council's bid to become a unitary council to the Boundary Committee for England, as they felt the application did not meet all their strict criteria. This would mean Devon County Council, headquartered in Exeter, would have no local governmental control on the City of Exeter. The Boundary Committee was asked to look at the feasibility of a unitary Exeter in the context of examining options for unitary arrangements in the wider Devon county area, and reported back in July 2008 recommending a 'unitary Devon' (excluding Plymouth and Torbay), with a second option of a 'unitary Exeter & Exmouth' (combined) and a unitary 'rest of Devon'. This would abolish lower-tier district councils which work together with Devon County Council. These proposals were put out to consultation until September 2008 and the Committee was expected to make final recommendations to the Secretary of State by the end of the year. As a result of a number of legal challenges to the process and also dissatisfaction on the part of the Secretary of State with the manner in which the Boundary Committee assessed proposals, a recommendation was unlikely until March or April 2009.^[16]

The Boundary Committee were delayed again following legal challenge by a group of councils in the county of Suffolk.^[17] The Court of Appeal rejected the legal challenge in December 2009 and the Boundary Committee will return to making recommendations on the proposals, to be published at an unknown date.^[18]

On 10 February 2010, local government ministers gave the go-ahead for Exeter's unitary authority status and ruled out the chance of Devon's unitary authority status, leaving it as a rural county.^[19] However, following the 2010 general election the new government announced in May 2010 that the reorganisation would be blocked.^[20][21]

See also: Local Government Act 2010

See also

• List of articles about local government in the United Kingdom
• United Kingdom local elections, 2009

References

Coordinates: 50°42′53″N 3°31′3″W / 50.71472°N 3.5175°W