Local election 2015 results and reaction: Battle to control district council
North Devon Councils Lib Dem group leader Brian Greenslade, surveys Thursday nights count. Picture: Andy Keeble - Credit: Archant
Independents could be ‘king makers’ as Tories and Lib Dems seek to strike deals to run new administration.
Lib Dem Ian Roome has been elected onto the district council for the first time after winning a seat in the Yeo Valley (Barnstaple) ward. Picture: Andy Keeble - Credit: Archant
Bargains could be struck and deals discussed this week as the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats bid to form an administration to run North Devon Council.
The Conservatives are the largest party with 19 seats, but the Lib Dems have 12 and the key could be who can woo most of the 11 independents as well as one UKIP councillor.
Newly elected councillors will meet on Thursday week to form a new council.
Speaking to the Gazette on Monday, Councillor Des Brailey, unanimously re-elected as the Conservatives’ North Devon district leader at a meeting on Saturday, said he was ‘hopeful and cautious’.
Re-elected Conservative district councillors Michael Harrison and Jasmine Chesters chat with new MP Peter Heaton-Jones. Picture: Andy Keeble - Credit: Archant
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“It’s very delicate at the moment but we are talking to individuals,” he said.
“We are again the biggest party and we are looking to form a cabinet for the council. We have some work to do and we’re working on this now. We hope that in the next day or two that we will be in a position to go forward.”
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Yesterday (Tuesday) Lib Dem councillor Brian Greenslade, also re-elected as North Devon group leader by local members on Saturday, said discussions were ‘on-going’.
“As you can imagine, there are a lot of phone calls going on and it’s a fluid situation at the moment,” he told the Gazette.
Young Ilfracombe West Conservative candidate Felix Milton, pictured with dad Philip, failed to win a seat on the district council. He missed out by 14 votes to UKIPs Ian Meadlarkin. Picture: Andy Keeble - Credit: Archant
“If you look at the political landscape of the council, it’s not that different to before.
“Nobody has an overall majority and there will clearly be conversations between politicians looking to form a stable for the annual meeting on May 21 as indeed we did last time.
“The position for the council should be a lot clearer by the beginning of next week.”
It is understood that newly-elected Independent councillors met last night, although group leader, Ilfracombe East member Mike Edmunds, was unavailable for comment as the Gazette went to press yesterday.
The political make up of the council is little changed – the Liberals lost one seat to UKIP and one more to the Conservatives to take their total from 14 to 12.
Lib Dem Barnstaple Central councillor Faye Webber, the council’s longest serving member at 43 years, said: “It’s changed over the years, not all for the best – it’s become more political, but I am hoping if there’s a good mixture, we can work together.”
For news about the new political make-up of Torridge District Council, click here.
NORTH DEVON DISTRICT RESULTS
Bickington & Roundswell
Christine Basil (Green) 226
Mary Brodie
(Lab) 183
Rodney Cann (Cons) 1,024 E
David Chalmers (Lib Dem) 643
Jackie Flynn (Cons) 653 E
Brian Hockin (UKIP) 556
Linda Mack (Green) 135
Carole McCormack-Hole (Lib Dem) 558
Graham Turner (Ind) 426
Bishops Nympton
Eric William Ley (Ind) 1,052 E
Sarah Warren (Green) 268
Bratton Fleming
Peter Freeman (Cons) 456
Ian Godfrey (Green) 164
Marion Mason
(Lab) 84
Malcolm Prowse (Ind) 594 E
Braunton East
Katy Beardshall (Green) 467
Robin Bonds (Cons) 807 E
Gwen de Groot (Green) 348
Roy Lucas (Cons) 769 E
Gregory Molyneux
(TU&SC) 54
Danny Neary (Lab) 158
Derrick Spear (Lib Dem) 766
Liz Spear (Lib Dem) 764
Braunton West
Dave Bennett (Lib Dem) 835
Valerie Cann (Lab) 482
Jasmine Chesters (Cons) 1,137 E
Caroline Chugg (Cons) 1,185 E
Wayne Withey (Lib Dem) 600
Central Town (Barnstaple)
Adam Bradford (Lib Dem) 799 E
Julia Daunt (Green) 478
Martin Kennaugh (Cons) 515
Gerrard Sables (Comm) 105
Michelle Watkin (Green) 463
Faye Webber (Lib Dem) 892 E
Nigel Wright (Cons) 458
Chittlehampton
George Moseley (Cons) 538
Chris Turner (UKIP) 178
Walter White (Ind) 735 E
Sarah Willoughby (Green) 173
Chulmleigh
Sue Croft (Cons) 723 E
Peter Gravell (Lib Dem) 279
Giles Rigler (Green) 180
Jean Winslow-Johnson (UKIP) 227
Combe Martin
David Barker (Cons) 519
Kyle Chivers (Green) 468
Julia Clark (Ind) 814
Yvette Gubb (Ind) 1,281 E
John Lovering (Cons) 1,075 E
Forches & Whiddon Valley (Barnstaple)
Neil Basil (Green) 299
Sue Haywood (Lib Dem) 825 E
David Hoare (Cons) 561
Julie Hunt (Lib Dem) 665 E
L’Anne Knight (Green) 235
Douglas Lowe (TUSC) 130
Symmo Simpson (Cons) 354
Fremington
Jane Basil (Green) 307
Jim Bell (UKIP) 688
Frank Biederman (Ind) 1,573 E
Sue Kingdom (Cons) 583
Jason Ritterband-Fulcher (Cons) 421
Tony Wood (Ind) 793 E
Georgeham & Mortehoe
Pat Barker (Cons) 901 E
Bob Darell (Cons) 671
Mike Harrison (Green) 501
Johnie Walker (Green) 434
Malcolm Wilkinson (Lib
Dem) 841 E
Steve Woodman (Lib Dem) 646
Heanton Punchardon
Brad Bunyard (Green) 315
Andrea Davis (Cons) 666 E
Ilfracombe Central
Jim Campbell (Ind) 520 E
Paul Crabb (Cons) 713 E
Tony Ebert (Lab) 327
Noel Grummitt (Green) 410
Frank Pearson (Green) 388
Stuart Robertson (UKIP) 396
Paul Yabsley (Cons) 494
Ilfracombe East
Lynda Coutnadge (Cons) 410
Mike Edmunds (Ind) 817 E
Eric Hayes (Ind) 145
Ilfracombe West
Katherine Darkin (TUSC) 101
Geoff Fowler (Lib Dem) 936 E
Marianna Holdsworth (Lab) 253
Kit Leck (Lib Dem) 417
Ian Meadlarkin (UKIP) 579 E
Felix Milton (Cons) 565
Netti Pearson (Green) 410
Edward Short (Cons) 420
Oliver Tooley (Green) 253
Instow
Brian Moores (Cons) 676 E
Phillip Wearne (Green) 326
Landkey, Swimbridge & Taw
Tolley Angell (Lib Dem) 740
Mark Haworth-Booth (Green) 441
Tasha Haywood (Lib Dem) 636
Josie Knight (Green) 515
Glyn Lane (Cons) 1,376 E
David Luggar (Cons) 1,156 E
Chris Verney (UKIP) 485
Longbridge (Barnstaple)
Oliver Bell (Lab) 231
Des Brailey (Cons) 1,439 E
Shona Davis (Green) 288
Loki Dawson (Lib Dem) 576
Gary Hemmings (Green) 248
Dick Jones (Cons) 942 E
Alan Rennles (Lib Dem) 715
Lynton & Lynmouth
John Dallyn (Ind) 245
Tony Meakin (Cons) 380
John Patrinos (Ind) 399 E
Marwood
Micky Darling (Green) 173
Jim Pile (Cons) 504
Joe Tucker (Lib Dem) 582 E
Newport (Barnstaple)
Matt Chamings (Green) 728
Michael Harrison (Cons) 889 E
Rosie Haworth-Booth (Green) 477
Chris Haywood (Lib Dem) 812
John Vincent Mathews (Cons) 1,025 E
Julian Williams (Lib Dem) 510
North Molton
Debbie Drennen (Green) 379
Richard Edgell (Cons) 968 E
Pilton (Barnstaple)
Hilary Boone (Lab) 245
Sue D’Souza (Cons) 498
Brian Greenslade (Lib Dem) 1,133 E
Ricky Knight (Green) 666
Ian Long (Green) 355
Mair Manuel (Lib Dem) 841 E
Rachel Martin (Cons) 532
Stuart McGuinness (Comm) 58
South Molton
Emily Abbott (Green) 318
Michael Buckingham (Cons) 547
Matthew Bushell (Lib Dem) 585
Marc Cornelius (Ind) 289
John Elvidge (Green) 199
Tracey Lewis (Ind) 486
Ron Herniman (Ind) 98
Stephen Lock (Ind) 295
John Moore (Ind) 996 E
Mike Smith (Cons) 432
David Worden (Lib Dem) 651 E
Witheridge
Woody Fox (Green) 358
Jeremy Yabsley (Ind) 1,044 E
Yeo Valley (Barnstaple)
Joy Cann (Lib Dem) 708 E
Tarla Cox (Green) 235
Louise Goodger (Green) 219
Garth Goodwin (Cons) 298
Peter Jordan (TUSC) 88
Andy Norden (UKIP) 452
Graham Payne (Ind) 206
Ian Roome (Lib Dem) 838 E
Roy Tomlinson (Lab) 180
Linda Wellstead (Cons) 277
