Local election 2015 results and reaction: Battle to control district council

Independents could be ‘king makers’ as Tories and Lib Dems seek to strike deals to run new administration.

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’.

“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.”

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.

“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