ExeterCity Council is the council and local government of the city of Exeter, Devon. The City Council provides a range of services within the city including housing, refuse collections and recycling, planning, economic development, tourism, leisure and arts facilities and activities. The Council also provides housing and council tax benefits as well as collecting the council tax on behalf of the city council, county council, police and fire services. Services such as education, social services, transport and highways are provided in the city by Devon County Council.
The government proposed that the city should become an independent unitary authority within Devon, much like neighbouring Plymouth and Torbay. The statutory orders to set up the unitary authority were passed in Parliament and a new unitary city council was due to start in Exeter on 1 April 2011. However, following the 2010 general election the new government announced in May 2010 that the reorganisation would be blocked. Planned elections for seats on the City Council due to be held May 2010 were cancelled and new elections were held on 9 September 2010.
Boundaries
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England published its final recommendations in September 2015 for changes to the wards in Exeter. The aim was to reduce the city's high levels in electoral inequality. The number of wards was reduced to 13; each electing three councillors for a total of 39. Following parliamentary approval, it came into effect at the 2016 election.
Wards and councillors
The wards of the city for City Council purposes are listed below. Most of these correspond to traditional divisions of the city that would be recognised by local inhabitants. One or two, inevitably, are somewhat artificial creations:
Priory - includes parts of the areas referred to locally as Wonford and Countess Wear. The ward takes its name from the former local secondary school now known as Isca College. Priory School had been built on the site of the former Priory of St James
St David's
St Loyes - includes areas referred to locally as Heavitree and Wonford, and most of the Sowton industrial estate
St Thomas
Topsham - the historic town of Topsham, plus parts of Countess Wear.
All city wards return three councillors to the Council. The council holds elections by thirds over a four-year cycle - one third of seats being contested in each of three years, and elections to Devon County Council taking place in the fourth. As of May 2019, the current political control of the council is as follows:
