Political tensions continue to rise in Exeter over possible postponement of May polls

The prospect of scheduled elections in Exeter being postponed has prompted furore across the political spectrum.

Reaction has ranged from disappointment to the more hyperbolic claim that not holding a scheduled election would be “right out of Putin’s playbook”.

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The opportunity to delay the polls due to take place in May came about thanks to an invitation sent by the government last year to 64 councils, and it is a minister who will have the final say.

Minister Alison McGovern said in her letter that a host of town halls had complained about the prospect of overseeing elections when they could be undergoing their most significant overhaul in half a century.

That big change, known officially as local government reorganisation (LGR), will involve councils overseeing their own demise or merger with neighbours.

This major shift is happening because Westminster wants all councils in England to be unitary, meaning they are responsible for all services within their geographic boundary.

Devon is one of 21 areas in England that still operates a two-tier system, whereby Devon County Council is responsible for services such as highways, adult social care and education, while within the same boundary other services, including planning and refuse collection, are overseen by district councils.

Plymouth and Torbay are already unitary authorities, but one or both could see changes to their boundaries as part of LGR.

Political motivations

Quickly after the government’s invitation opened up the prospect of delayed elections, Plymouth confirmed its elections would go ahead.

This could be due to a steadfast belief that democracy should proceed, or it could be that the likelihood of Labour losing control is lower than in Exeter.

In Plymouth, 19 seats will be contested. Labour will not hold all of those, but its current 32-seat majority over its nearest rivals, the Conservatives on seven seats, means it is likely to retain control regardless.

Across the county in Exeter, however, the situation is arguably more precarious.

Out of Exeter’s 39 seats, 13 will be contested, and the last time these seats were up for election in 2022, Labour won nine of them.

Changes since then mean Labour is defending eight of those seats this time. If it were to lose all eight, its total number of councillors would fall from 22 to 14. If those seats all went to the Greens, the next largest party, they would rise from seven seats to 15.

That would leave the Greens with more seats than Labour, although an even closer outcome could result in the council being left with no overall control.

Given that all Labour Exeter members on Devon County Council lost their seats in last year’s county elections, the party’s statisticians may be concerned.

Wider scrutiny

The issue of whether Exeter will hold its elections was effectively the sole subject of a special meeting called by Devon County Council.

While the county council criticised the government for opening up the prospect of councils delaying elections, it also expressed dismay that Exeter City Council had not immediately followed Plymouth’s lead in committing to go ahead with the poll.

There is also the factor that Devon County Council does not want Exeter to become a unitary authority, as County Hall does not want to lose the city as a key economic driver. 

It also fears the impact of a so-called “coast and country” unitary council that would be vast in size and lack a major urban centre.

Exeter City Council leader Councillor Phil Bialyk (Labour, Exwick) said the decision over whether to proceed with the elections was not politically driven.

“As the leader of the council, my political fortune is not a consideration,” he said.

“My role as leader is different to my party role, and I am looking at this issue as a leader and what is best for the council.

“I need to listen to other councillors to get their view, and will be doing that.”

Cllr Bialyk added that Exeter had seen elections postponed previously, in 2010, when the city last faced the prospect of becoming a unitary authority.

He said elections were also being postponed in other parts of England due to local government reorganisation, and reiterated that another round of elections is due to take place in 2027 for any new councils that are created. 

This would give voters the chance to decide who runs the new authorities.

Cllr Bialyk also stressed that the city council’s capacity is currently stretched, as it is preparing for the possibility of taking on a range of services presently overseen by Devon County Council.

Plymouth is already a unitary authority, and Cllr Bialyk suggested it therefore has less work to do to prepare for reorganisation, which may partly explain why Plymouth quickly decided to proceed with elections this year.

Exeter City Council will hold a debate on the matter at a meeting tomorrow (Tuesday 13 January), and the outcome will no doubt be closely scrutinised.