East Devon Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · South West · 60 seats in 30 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

East Devon Council is run by a Liberal Democrats / Green / Independent coalition. The council has 60 councillors in 30 wards. Seats by party: Other 23, Lib Dem 22, Conservative 12, Green 3. The next election is on 6 May 2027.

A government plan to replace the councils in this area with four unitary councils was paused for review on 7 September 2026. Elections due in May 2027 will go ahead on existing council boundaries. Source

Control

Seats by party

Liberal Democrats / Green / Independent Coalition

60 seats - 31 for a majority

Conservative 12Lib Dem 22Green 3Other 23

Seat changes since the 4 May 2023 election Lib Dem +4 Other +3 Green +1 Labour −3 Conservative −5

Vote share at the 4 May 2023 election (60 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Other34.8%20

Conservative26.4%17

Lib Dem24.9%18

Labour7.5%3

Green6.3%2

Next election

6 May 2027

all 60 seats up, then every four years

Largest group

Independents and others 23

8 short of the 31 needed for a majority

Closest result

Honiton St Michael's

The Liberal Party won the last seat by 3 votes over Conservative, 4 May 2023

Latest by-election

Honiton St. Michael's

Lib Dem gain from Labour, 13 August 2026 (7 since 2021)

Constituencies

2 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

54%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

ConservativeLib DemIndependent

Coloured by the party holding most of the ward's seats today; where seats are split evenly, by the party with the higher share at the last election.

All 30 wards

Councillors and last results

Select a ward for its full results, candidates and last by-election.

Ward and councillors	Last election
Axminster Simon Smith, Paul Hayward, Sarah Jackson	4 May 2023 Independent 24.9% lead 3.2 pts
Beer & Branscombe John Heath	4 May 2023 Independent 56.9% lead 34.4 pts
Broadclyst Paula Fernley, Eleanor Rylance, Sarah Chamberlain	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 30.0% lead 0.4 pts
Budleigh & Raleigh Charlotte Fitzgerald, Melanie Martin, Henry Riddell	4 May 2023 Independent 27.8% lead 2.1 pts
Clyst Valley Mike Howe	4 May 2023 Independent 53.3% lead 26.4 pts
Coly Valley Helen Parr, Paul Arnott	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 53.2% lead 6.4 pts
Cranbrook Sam Hawkins, Kevin Blakey, Kim Bloxham	4 May 2023 Independent 25.0% lead 3.8 pts
Dunkeswell & Otterhead Yehudi Levine, Colin Brown	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 34.6% lead 0.8 pts
Exe Valley Fabian King	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 70.5% lead 41.0 pts
Exmouth Brixington Maddy Chapman, Lee Mason, Aurora Bailey	4 May 2023 Conservative 22.3% lead 4.7 pts
Exmouth Halsdon Tim Dumper, Fran McElhone, Daniel Wilson	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 39.8% lead 9.4 pts
Exmouth Littleham Brian Bailey, Anne Hall, Nick Hookway	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 39.3% lead 5.5 pts
Exmouth Town Eileen Wragg, Olly Davey, Joe Whibley	4 May 2023 Independent 31.2% lead 1.6 pts
Exmouth Withycombe Raleigh Steve Gazzard, Matt Hall	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 52.2% lead 28.0 pts
Feniton Alasdair Bruce	4 May 2023 Conservative 50.6% lead 1.2 pts
Honiton St Michael's Jenny Brown, Roy Collins, Rhys Wallis	4 May 2023 Conservative 25.9% lead 4.0 pts
Honiton St Paul's John O'Leary, Tony McCollum	4 May 2023 Independent 44.9% lead 12.8 pts
Newbridges Iain Chubb	4 May 2023 Conservative 49.7% lead 10.3 pts
Newton Poppleford & Harpford Christopher Burhop	4 May 2023 Independent 82.1% lead 64.2 pts
Ottery St Mary Vicky Johns, Bethany Collins, Peter Faithfull	4 May 2023 Independent 34.8% lead 13.8 pts
Seaton Dan Ledger, Steve Hunt, Marcus Hartnell	4 May 2023 Independent 36.6% lead 6.2 pts
Sidmouth Rural John Loudoun	4 May 2023 Independent 73.0% lead 46.0 pts
Sidmouth Sidford Mike Goodman, Stuart Hughes, Marianne Rixson	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 50.8% lead 1.6 pts
Sidmouth Town Ian Barlow, Sophie Richards	4 May 2023 Independent 38.4% lead 7.1 pts
Tale Vale Richard Jefferies	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 59.8% lead 19.6 pts
Trinity Susan Westerman	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 53.7% lead 7.4 pts
West Hill & Aylesbeare Jessica Bailey	4 May 2023 Independent 79.0% lead 62.8 pts
Whimple & Rockbeare Todd Olive	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 51.0% lead 2.0 pts
Woodbury & Lympstone Geoff Jung, Ben Ingham	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 37.1% lead 8.2 pts
Yarty Duncan Mackinder	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 52.3% lead 13.5 pts

Axminster

Paul Hayward IndependentSarah Jackson IndependentSimon Smith Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Independent24.9%

Independent21.7%

Independent18.2%

Conservative16.3%

Lib Dem10.8%

Labour8.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Paul Graham Hayward Elected	Independent	1,219
Sarah L Jackson Elected	Independent	1,065
Simon Smith Elected	Independent	893
Ian L Hall	Conservative	801
Steve Holt	Conservative	544
Gillian Mary Jordan	Lib Dem	531
David Willey	Conservative	420
Jeremy W Walden	Labour	395

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Beer & Branscombe

John Heath Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent56.9%

Conservative22.5%

Lib Dem20.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
John David Heath Elected	Independent	431	56.9%
Maria L Hall	Conservative	170	22.5%
Peter W Burrows	Lib Dem	156	20.6%

Broadclyst

Eleanor Rylance Lib DemPaula Fernley GreenSarah Chamberlain Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Lib Dem30.0%

Green29.6%

Independent20.4%

Conservative20.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Sarah Louise Chamberlain Elected	Lib Dem	711
Paula Mary Fernley Elected	Green	700
Eleanor Rylance Elected	Lib Dem	689
Katie Jones	Lib Dem	661
Jane Chanot	Independent	482
Colin John Trudgeon	Conservative	474
Keith Bickers	Conservative	430

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Budleigh & Raleigh

Charlotte Fitzgerald Lib DemHenry Riddell ConservativeMelanie Martin Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Independent27.8%

Conservative25.7%

Independent25.5%

Lib Dem20.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Charlotte Fitzgerald Elected	Independent	1,174
Henry Lloyd Riddell Elected	Conservative	1,086
Melanie Martin Elected	Independent	1,076
Patsy Hayman	Conservative	1,046
Catriona M Cunningham	Lib Dem	882
Jed Falby	Lib Dem	878
Penny Lewis	Lib Dem	865
David Walsh	Conservative	848

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Clyst Valley

Mike Howe Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent53.3%

Conservative26.9%

Lib Dem19.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Mike Howe Elected	Independent	361	53.3%
Will French	Conservative	182	26.9%
Adrian Lock	Lib Dem	134	19.8%

Coly Valley

Helen Parr ConservativePaul Arnott Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem53.2%

Conservative46.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Paul Arnott Elected	Lib Dem	959
Helen E Parr Elected	Conservative	845
John Tristram	Conservative	567

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Cranbrook

Kevin Blakey IndependentKim Bloxham IndependentSam Hawkins Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Independent25.0%

Independent21.2%

Independent18.6%

Independent17.3%

Lib Dem10.0%

Conservative5.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Kim Bloxham Elected	Independent	614
Kevin Arthur John Blakey Elected	Independent	521
Sam Hawkins Elected	Independent	458
Vincent P Wilton	Independent	424
Rebecca-Jayne Lipscombe	Lib Dem	246
Barry Rogers	Conservative	137
Alexandra Croft	Conservative	123
Lisa Kay Goudie	Heritage Party	57

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Dunkeswell & Otterhead

Colin Brown ConservativeYehudi Levine Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem34.6%

Conservative33.8%

Independent16.9%

Labour14.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Yehudi Levine Elected	Lib Dem	758
Colin Brown Elected	Conservative	741
Gary J Burford	Independent	370
Ollie Tucker	Labour	322
Ian Morgan	Conservative	109

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Exe Valley

Fabian King Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem70.5%

Conservative29.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Jamie Kemp Elected	Lib Dem	475	70.5%
Kevin Wraight	Conservative	199	29.5%

Last by-election, 13 March 2025

Lib Dem44.0%

Conservative23.5%

Reform23.2%

Labour9.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Fabian King Elected	Lib Dem	256	44.0%
Patsy Hayman	Conservative	137	23.5%
Nat Vanstone	Reform	135	23.2%
Julie Bennett	Labour	54	9.3%

Exmouth Brixington

Aurora Bailey IndependentLee Mason ConservativeMaddy Chapman Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative22.3%

Lib Dem17.6%

Labour17.0%

Independent15.7%

Independent14.3%

Green13.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Maddy Chapman Elected	Conservative	734
Fred Caygill Elected	Conservative	673
Cherry Nicholas Elected	Conservative	662
Andrew W Colman	Lib Dem	579
Jamie Wickenden	Labour	559
Aurora E Bailey	Independent	518
Ian D Kirvan	Independent	471
Malcolm G Marrett	Green	434

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 23 July 2026

Conservative35.2%

Lib Dem29.5%

Reform28.7%

Green6.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Lee Michael Christopher John Mason Elected	Conservative	537	35.2%
Andrew W Colman	Lib Dem	450	29.5%
Paul Thomas	Reform	439	28.7%
Mike Rosser	Green	101	6.6%

Exmouth Halsdon

Daniel Wilson GreenFran McElhone Lib DemTim Dumper Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Lib Dem39.8%

Labour30.4%

Conservative29.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Tim Dumper Elected	Lib Dem	1,099
Andrew Toye Elected	Lib Dem	964
Daniel Wilson Elected	Labour	839
Pauline Ann Stott	Conservative	820
Richard H Parr	Conservative	638

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 4 December 2025

Lib Dem35.9%

Reform28.5%

Conservative25.6%

Green10.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Fran McElhone Elected	Lib Dem	551	35.9%
Tony Quinn	Reform	438	28.5%
Paula J Burtoft	Conservative	393	25.6%
Tony Woodward	Green	153	10.0%

Exmouth Littleham

Anne Hall Lib DemBrian Bailey ConservativeNick Hookway Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Lib Dem39.3%

Conservative33.8%

Green26.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Anne M Hall Elected	Lib Dem	1,144
Nick Hookway Elected	Lib Dem	1,075
Brian Arthur Bailey Elected	Conservative	986
Oliver J Kerr	Conservative	952
David Poor	Lib Dem	834
Mike Rosser	Green	784

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Exmouth Town

Eileen Wragg Lib DemJoe Whibley IndependentOlly Davey Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Independent31.2%

Green29.6%

Lib Dem29.1%

Conservative10.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Joe Whibley Elected	Independent	1,043
Olly Davey Elected	Green	988
Eileen E Wragg Elected	Lib Dem	974
Dominic Nancekievill	Conservative	338
Sylvia Wills	Conservative	331

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Exmouth Withycombe Raleigh

Matt Hall Lib DemSteve Gazzard Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem52.2%

Conservative24.2%

Labour23.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Steve Gazzard Elected	Lib Dem	521
Matt Hall Elected	Lib Dem	432
Josh Donald	Conservative	242
Andrew T Woodward	Labour	236
Brian Richards	Conservative	218

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Feniton

Alasdair Bruce Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative50.6%

Green49.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Alasdair Bruce Elected	Conservative	359	50.6%
Jane Collins	Green	351	49.4%

Honiton St Michael's

Jenny Brown ConservativeRhys Wallis Lib DemRoy Collins The Liberal Party

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative25.9%

Labour21.9%

The Liberal Party19.5%

Independent17.4%

Independent15.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Jenny Brown Elected	Conservative	708
Violet Bonetta Elected	Labour	598
Roy F Collins Elected	The Liberal Party	534
Brice W J Cornelius	Conservative	531
Paul R Carter	Conservative	508
Jo Fotheringham	Independent	477
Nicholas J Ingham	Independent	419

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 13 August 2026

Lib Dem45.4%

Reform25.0%

Conservative20.3%

Independent4.6%

Labour3.4%

Independent1.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Rhys Wallis Elected	Lib Dem	727	45.4%
Humphrey Clemens	Reform	401	25.0%
Paul R Carter	Conservative	326	20.3%
Jo Fotheringham	Independent	74	4.6%
Jack T Stacey	Labour	55	3.4%
John B Taylor	Independent	19	1.2%

Honiton St Paul's

John O'Leary ConservativeTony McCollum Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent44.9%

Conservative32.1%

Independent23.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Tony McCollum Elected	Independent	642
John O'Leary Elected	Conservative	460
Andrew Pearsall	Conservative	454
John B Taylor	Independent	329

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Newbridges

Iain Chubb Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative49.7%

Lib Dem39.4%

Labour10.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Iain Chubb Elected	Conservative	423	49.7%
Veronica Dower	Lib Dem	335	39.4%
Clara G Douglas	Labour	93	10.9%

Newton Poppleford & Harpford

Christopher Burhop Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent82.1%

Conservative17.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Chris Burhop Elected	Independent	633	82.1%
Josh Harrison	Conservative	138	17.9%

Ottery St Mary

Bethany Collins Lib DemPeter Faithfull IndependentVicky Johns Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Independent34.8%

Independent21.0%

Labour17.6%

Lib Dem17.1%

Conservative9.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Vicky Johns Elected	Independent	1,565
Peter Hamilton Faithfull Elected	Independent	944
Bethany J Collins Elected	Labour	794
Jamie Aylward	Lib Dem	771
Graham A Woolnough	Lib Dem	556
Charlie Hobson	Conservative	429
Mohammed Sarul Islam	Conservative	192
Mohammed Zayan F Islam	Conservative	153

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Seaton

Dan Ledger IndependentMarcus Hartnell IndependentSteve Hunt Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Independent36.6%

Conservative30.4%

Lib Dem20.1%

Labour12.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Dan Ledger Elected	Independent	1,404
Marcus Hartnell Elected	Conservative	1,167
Del Haggerty Elected	Conservative	858
Steve Hunt	Lib Dem	770
Honey Barlow Marshall	Labour	494

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 11 December 2025

Lib Dem41.3%

Reform29.6%

Conservative20.9%

Independent8.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Steve Hunt Elected	Lib Dem	789	41.3%
Simon Day	Reform	565	29.6%
Karen Boyes	Conservative	400	20.9%
Paul K Johns	Independent	156	8.2%

Sidmouth Rural

John Loudoun Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent73.0%

Conservative27.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
John Loudoun Elected	Independent	586	73.0%
Christina Richards	Conservative	217	27.0%

Sidmouth Sidford

Marianne Rixson Lib DemMike Goodman ConservativeStuart Hughes Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Lib Dem50.8%

Conservative49.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Marianne P Rixson Elected	Lib Dem	1,256
Stuart Hughes Elected	Conservative	1,216
Mike Goodman Elected	Conservative	1,191
Lisa Garner	Lib Dem	1,119

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Sidmouth Town

Ian Barlow IndependentSophie Richards Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent38.4%

Conservative31.3%

Independent30.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Ian Barlow Elected	Independent	994
Sophie Richards Elected	Conservative	811
Denise Bickley	Independent	785
John Zarczynski	Conservative	406

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Tale Vale

Richard Jefferies Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem59.8%

Conservative40.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Richard Jefferies Elected	Lib Dem	627	59.8%
Philip Skinner	Conservative	421	40.2%

Trinity

Susan Westerman Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem53.7%

Conservative46.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Susan A Westerman Elected	Lib Dem	512	53.7%
Andy Turner	Conservative	441	46.3%

West Hill & Aylesbeare

Jessica Bailey Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent79.0%

Conservative16.2%

Lib Dem4.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Jess Bailey Elected	Independent	897	79.0%
Alan Richardson	Conservative	184	16.2%
Iain Fairbairn	Lib Dem	54	4.8%

Whimple & Rockbeare

Todd Olive Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem51.0%

Conservative49.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Todd Olive Elected	Lib Dem	440	51.0%
Richard Lawrence	Conservative	422	49.0%

Woodbury & Lympstone

Ben Ingham IndependentGeoff Jung Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem37.1%

Conservative28.9%

Green22.6%

Labour11.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Geoff Jung Elected	Lib Dem	929
Ben Ingham Elected	Conservative	724
Cheryl Ann McGauley	Conservative	622
Alex Taylor	Green	566
Amanda Jayne Ford	Labour	286

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Yarty

Duncan Mackinder Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem52.3%

Conservative38.8%

Green8.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Duncan C Mackinder Elected	Lib Dem	442	52.3%
Richard Norman	Conservative	328	38.8%
Duncan M Staddon	Green	75	8.9%

Councillors

Changed party since the election

6 councillors now sit for a different party from the one they were elected for.

Ward	Councillor	Elected as	Now
Budleigh & Raleigh	Charlotte Fitzgerald	Independent 2023	Lib Dem
Exmouth Halsdon	Daniel Wilson	Labour 2023	Green
Feniton	Alasdair Bruce	Conservative 2023	Independent
Ottery St Mary	Bethany Collins	Labour 2023	Lib Dem
Seaton	Marcus Hartnell	Conservative 2023	Independent
Woodbury & Lympstone	Ben Ingham	Conservative 2023	Independent

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

7 by-elections since July 2021, 2 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
13 August 2026	Honiton St. Michael's	Lib Dem gain from Labour	45.4%
23 July 2026	Exmouth Brixington	Conservative hold	35.2%
11 December 2025	Seaton	Lib Dem gain from Conservative	41.0%
4 December 2025	Exmouth Halsdon	Lib Dem hold	36.0%
13 March 2025	Exe Valley	Lib Dem hold	44.0%
9 May 2024	Exmouth Brixington	Conservative hold
13 November 2022	Newton Poppleford	Other hold

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Honiton and Sidmouth	53%	Lib Dem	Lib Dem 37%
Exmouth and Exeter East	47%	Conservative	Conservative 25%

Share of the council: the proportion of its census neighbourhoods (2021 LSOAs) in each seat. The projection is PollCheck's demographic model at current polling, not a forecast.

People

Who lives in East Devon

150,826 residents in 66,803 households

Voted Leave in 2016

54% 2 above GB

Degree or higher

34% same as GB

No qualifications

15% 3 below GB

Own their home

72% 11 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

10% 7 below GB

Rent privately

16% 4 below GB

Aged 15 to 34

21% 10 below GB

Aged 65 and over

35% 13 above GB

GB figure. 2021 Census (Scotland: 2022): age as a share of residents aged 15 and over, qualifications of residents aged 16 and over, housing as a share of households. Leave: 2016 EU referendum, Electoral Commission results by counting area.

Similar

Councils most like this one

West DevonIndependent / Green / Liberal Democrats / Labour Coalition DorsetLiberal Democrats (Majority)New ForestConservative (Majority)TeignbridgeLiberal Democrats (Majority)FyldeConservative (Majority)

Closest on the measures above: the 2016 Leave vote, age, qualifications and housing. Maps show which party holds each ward.

Sources

Sources and method

Seat totals and control: PollCheck council control tracker. Councillors: Open Council Data (CC BY-SA 4.0). Election results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), with some vote counts from DCLEAPIL, Leman (2025) (CC BY-SA 4.0), and corrections checked against councils' official declarations. Ward boundaries: Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Census: Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland.

Councillor lists and DCLEAPIL-derived vote counts on this page are available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

In wards electing more than one councillor, a party's share counts only its leading candidate (the Rallings and Thrasher method). Independents count individually. The lead is the gap between the top two parties' shares.