District council by-elections to be held for Honiton and Feniton vacancies

A pair of by-elections are set to be held in East Devon in July after the resignation of two councillors.

Vacancies on the council have arisen in the Feniton and the Honiton St Michaels ward, with polls pencilled in to take place on Thursday 8 July.

One of the Honiton St Michaels seats became available after Cllr Luke Jeffery stepped down to focus on his University course.

And the Feniton seat is vacant following Cllr Susie Bond having moved to Berkshire to be closer to family. The end of virtual meetings, plus the allowing of by-elections again, meant it is no longer practical for her to carry on in the role.

The notice of elections for both seats have now been published by East Devon District Council, and assuming more than one nomination is received, voters in the two wards will go to the polls on 8 July.

Anyone wishing to stand in the election must hand in their nomination papers to the Returning Officer at Blackdown House in Honiton by 4pm on Friday 11 June.

Following the two resignations, the composition of East Devon District Council consists of Conservatives (21), East Devon Alliance (13), Independents (12), Liberal Democrats (7), Cranbrook Voice (3), and Green Party (2), with two seats vacant.

The council is currently run by a coalition of the East Devon Alliance, Liberal Democrats, Greens, and some of the Independents.