Devon County Council Elections coming up in May

The next local elections will take place on Thursday 2 May. Nearly 600,000 people will be eligible to vote on who will lead Devon County Council and be responsible for key local services for the next four years.

Devon County Council is the largest local authority in the South West with a total budget of over £1bn annually. It is divided into 62 electoral divisions. The Councillors voted in to these seats will each represent an average of 10,000 people.

The council is responsible for 85% of all local public services in the county, including schools, roads and social care. Elected Councillors will be required to work to improve on the Council’s current areas for concern. The Council wants to care for its increasing elderly population and ensure a good future for its children.

The Council is also the only democratically elected voice for the whole county on issues such as the economy and sustainability. This particular election has added significance considering the current pressure on public spending. It wants to help local economy weather recession and invest in a sustainable future for its communities.

Organisation of the elections is undertaken on the County Council’s behalf by Exeter City Council and the seven other district councils throughout Devon. The count will take place at 10am on Friday 3 May in the eight district areas, with the results being announced by the Deputy Returning Officer of each district.

Once elected, the full Council meets five times a year, with a smaller cabinet of a leader and up to nine other members meeting at least once a month at Exeter County Hall. Members of the public and other elected members can attend these meetings and ask questions. They are also broadcast online.

The public are also kept up to date with forthcoming decisions, with agendas being published online and on paper before the meetings.

The last elections were on 4 June 2009 and saw the Conservatives take control from the Liberal Democrats for the first time since 1989. Between 2001 and 2005 a power-sharing arrangement had to be formed after no party achieved majority.

For more detail about the current County Councillors and electoral divisions visit - www.devon.gov.uk/county_councillors

For more information about the forthcoming elections visit www.devon.gov.uk/electionsandvoting.