Devon County councillors unite against proposed cancellation of local elections

Devon County councillors have spoken with a united voice in opposition to any move to cancel this year’s local elections, as concerns grow over the Government’s proposals for local government reorganisation and devolution.
At a meeting of Devon County Council on Friday, 9 January, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Julian Brazil, said he hoped to find cross-party consensus so Devon could “speak with one voice” against the proposed cancellation of May’s elections.
The debate comes as the Government considers cancelling elections in up to 64 local councils across England, citing concerns about councils’ capacity “to deliver a smooth and safe transition to new councils, alongside running resource-intensive elections to councils who may be shortly be abolished”.
The proposals form part of a wider shake-up of local government, which could see existing county and district councils replaced by new unitary authorities as part of the Government’s devolution agenda.
Councillor Brazil told councillors he remained firmly opposed to cancelling elections, repeating comments he'd made previously, dismissing the Government’s reasoning.
“When you get an announcement like this, it feels instinctively wrong,” said Councillor Brazil.
“I haven't deferred from that position myself and I would be interested to hear what others say. Cancelling elections is the main issue, but it's triggered our feeling towards local government reorganisation and the whole devolution agenda. It appears to me that the government is descending into chaos. To me they're doing it the wrong way around. They should be delaying local government reorganisation and not cancelling elections.”
Members from across all political groups echoed those concerns, warning that cancelling elections would undermine democracy at a local level.
Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Leader of the Green and Independent Group, said: “The residents of 64 authorities will be denied their rights to determine who represents them. This amounts to thousands of residents across England being disenfranchised of their democratic rights.
“Democracy can only be truly represented by allowing a fair election process. Changing the rule to suit the government's whim undermines people's faith in politics. These elections need to go ahead as scheduled and let the people speak.”
Councillor Michael Fife Cook, Leader of the Reform Group at Devon County Council, also backed the stance taken by the council leadership. He said: “The Leader of the council has my support. This meeting is about the truth. Plymouth has already decided to go ahead with their election. I have faith that Exeter will come to the right decision. I will support this motion because it's something that we all should.”
Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Leader of the Conservative Group, confirmed his party’s support for resisting any cancellation of elections and criticised the way local authorities have been treated during the reorganisation process.
“On this matter, and I speak on behalf of the Conservative group, I agree with the Leader that we should resist any cancellation of the elections,” he said.
“Furthermore I agree with him totally, that we, as always, have been treated appallingly by national governments of all colours over the years. We've witnessed during this round short notices, working hard into the night to reach deadlines. Everything is done in a rush. We have waited many years for devolution and local government reorganisation. I'm not sure why there is such a rush now.
“I would certainly support his views. Let's get this right and if that means slowing things down, that should happen. On this matter alone, Leader, I am firmly with you.”
Under the current timetable, councils have until midnight on Thursday 15 January to submit their views to the Government on whether local elections should be postponed as part of the proposed reorganisation of local government. Devon County Council is expected to formally respond opposing any cancellation and calling for elections to proceed as planned.