Councillors with duel interests given permission to vote on devolution

North Devon councillors who are also members of Devon County Council have been given permission to debate and vote on the district’s response to the government white paper on devolution.

Special dispensation was agreed at a North Devon Council governance committee meeting to allow the five county councillors to take part in the debate, which will be held on Thursday night [9 January].

The authority has signed a joint statement issued by Devon’s eight district councils opposing plans to create a unitary authority for the county.

Each district is discussing the devolution plans at urgent meetings this week ahead of Friday’s government deadline for responses.

Devon County Council will also have its say at a special meeting this week.

The government aims to have elected mayors cover large areas, with the potential for district and unitary councils to be merged.

Cllr Matthew Bushell (Ind, South Molton) said he didn’t think it was right that county councillors should debate or vote in North Devon, as they could be seen as having a prejudicial interest.

One of the items for discussion will be whether county council elections in May should be postponed while the reforms take shape.

Cllr Bushell said councillors may wish to vote for that if they could see their job being extended and said that was not in the interest of local democracy, which would not sit well with the public.

But Cllr Helen Walker (Lib Dem, Bickington) said she wanted to hear the views of the county council members who were “passionate about the district and the county”.

“I think you are doing our county councillors a disservice if you think that they have that much influence. There are five councillors out of 42 in North Devon who are also on the county council. They have a lot of experience and a lot to share.”

Cllr David Clayton (Lib Dem, Barnstaple with Westacott) said: “I think they should be allowed to speak and vote. We can all have an opinion, but the decision will be made by the secretary of state in the end.

“We will not be voting to abolish elections at our meeting. A lot will depend on what happens at the Devon County Council meeting on Thursday morning.”

The five North Devon councillors who also sit on Devon County Council are: Cllr Frank Biederman (Ind, Fremington), Cllr Paul Crabb (Con, Ilfracombe East), Cllr Caroline Leaver (Lib Dem, Newport), Cllr Pru Maskell (Con, Braunton West and Georgeham), and Cllr Ian Roome (Lib Dem, Barnstaple with Pilton).