An election to Devon County Council took place on 2 May 2013 as part of the 2013 United Kingdom local elections. 62 councillors were elected from electoral divisions which returned one county councillor each by first-past-the-post voting for a four-year term of office. The electoral divisions were the same as those used at the previous election in 2009. No elections were held in Plymouth and Torbay, which are unitary authorities outside the area covered by the County Council.
All locally registered electors (British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens) who were aged 18 or over on Thursday, 2 May 2013, were entitled to vote in the local elections. Those who were temporarily away from their ordinary address (for example, away working, on holiday, in student accommodation or in hospital) were also entitled to vote in the local elections, although those who had moved abroad and registered as overseas electors cannot vote in the local elections. It is possible to register to vote at more than one address (such as a university student who has a term-time address and lives at home during holidays) at the discretion of the local Electoral Register Office, but it remains an offence to vote more than once in the same local government election.
Summary The election saw the Conservative Party maintain overall control with a reduced majority of fourteen seats. The Liberal Democrats remained the council's largest single opposition party, while the Labour Party made a net gain of one seat. UKIP took its first seats on the council, winning four. The Green Party regained its seat (Totnes Rural) following an interim defection to the Labour Party. The election also saw three independent councillors elected.
Results
Note: seat changes reflect the council composition immediately before the election, taking into account the defection of the Liberal Democrat councillor for Exwick & St Thomas to the Labour Party, and the June 2012 defection of the Green Party councillor for Totnes Rural to the Labour Party.
Election result by division
Alphington and Cowick
Ashburton and Buckfastleigh
Axminster
Barnstaple North
Barnstaple South
Bickleigh and Wembury
Bideford East
Bideford South and Hartland
Bovey Tracey Rural
Braunton Rural
Broadclyst and Whimple
Budleigh
Chudleigh Rural
Chulmleigh and Swimbridge
Combe Martin Rural
Crediton Rural
Cullompton Rural
Dartmouth and Kingswear
Dawlish
Duryard and Pennsylvania
Exminster and Kenton
Exmouth Brixington and Withycombe
Exmouth Halsdon and Woodbury
Exmouth Littleham and Town
Exwick and St. Thomas
Fremington Rural
Hatherleigh and Chagford
Heavitree and Whipton Barton
Holsworthy Rural
Honiton St. Michael's
Honiton St. Paul's
Ilfracombe
Ivybridge
Kingsbridge and Stokenham
Kingsteignton
Newton Abbot North
Newton Abbot South
Newton St. Cyres and Sandford
Newtown and Polsloe
Northam
Okehampton Rural
Ottery St. Mary Rural
Pinhoe and Mincinglake
Priory and St. Leonard's
Seaton Coastal
Sidmouth Sidford
South Brent and Dartington
South Molton
St. Davids and St. James
St. Loyes and Topsham
Tavistock
Teign Estuary
Teignbridge South
Teignmouth
Thurlestone, Salcombe and Allington
Tiverton East
Tiverton West
Torrington Rural
Totnes Rural
Willand and Uffculme
Yealmpton
Yelverton Rural
References