Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair will ask for nominations for the Office of Chair of the Council for the ensuing Civic Year.

(The Chair, if nominated, may not vote on their own election).

Councillor Charlotte Fitzgerald, Vice Chair of Council, invited nominations for the election of Chair of Council, to serve until the Annual General Meeting of East Devon District Council until May 2027.

Councillor Paul Arnott proposed, which was duly seconded by Councillor Paul Hayward, that Councillor Eleanor Rylance be elected as Chair of Council to serve until the next Annual General Meeting in May 2027.

Councillor Roy Collins, proposed, which was duly seconded by Councillor Brian Bailey, that Councillor Stuart Hughes be elected as Chair of Council to serve until the next Annual General Meeting in May 2027.

Councillors Eleanor Rylance and Stuart Hughes left the room during the vote on this item.

Having been put to the vote the motion to appoint Councillor Eleanor Rylance as Chair of Council was carried by a majority show of hands.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Eleanor Rylance is appointed as the Chair of Council for East Devon District Council until the Annual General Meeting of East Devon District Council until May 2027.

The Chair of Council then read the formal Declaration of Acceptance of Office: “I Councillor Eleanor Rylance having been elected to the Office of Chair of East Devon District Council declare that I take that Office upon myself and will duly and faithfully fulfil the duties of it according to the best of my judgement and ability. I undertake to observe East Devon District Council’s local code as to the conduct which is expected of members of East Devon District Council.

The declaration of acceptance of office was signed in the presence of the Chief Executive.

The Chair will ask for nominations for the appointment of the Vice-Chair of the Council for the ensuing year.

The Chair of Council invited nominations for the election of Vice Chair of Council, to serve until the Annual Council Meeting of East Devon District Council until May 2027.

Councillor Charlotte Fitzgerald proposed, which was duly seconded by Councillor Sarah Jackson, that Councillor Bethany Collins be elected as Vice Chair of Council to serve until the next Annual Council Meeting in May 2027. 

Councillor Bethany Collins left the room during the vote on this item.

Having been put to the vote the motion was carried by a majority show of hands.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Bethany Collins is appointed as the Vice Chair of Council for East Devon District Council until the Annual General Meeting of East Devon District Council until May 2027.

The Vice Chair then read the formal Declaration of Acceptance of Office: “I Councillor Bethany Collins having been elected to the Office of Vice Chair of East Devon District Council declare that I take that Office upon myself and will duly and faithfully fulfil the duties of it according to the best of my judgement and ability. I undertake to observe East Devon District Council’s local code as to the conduct which is expected of members of East Devon District Council.

The declaration of acceptance of office was signed in the presence of the Chief Executive.

The minutes of the Annual Council meeting held on 14 May 2025 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair of Council.

A list of apologies is set out at the end of these minutes.

Guidance is available online to Councillors and co-opted members on making declarations of interest

None.

The Chair of Council confirmed that Cllr Cherry Nicholas Ward Councillor for Exmouth Brixington had resigned.  The Chair on behalf of the Council thanked Cllr Nicholas for their services to EDDC.

The Chair of Council welcomed the Managing Director of EdenServ, James Carpenter, the local authority trading company that had been set up to provide waste and recycling services across East Devon.  The Managing Director gave a short update on the company and their forthcoming work.

The Chair of Council invited nominations for the election of Leader of Council to serve until the Annual General Meeting of East Devon District Council in May 2027.

Councillor Eileen Wragg proposed, which was duly seconded by Councillor Fabian King that Councillor Paul Arnott is elected as Leader of Council to serve until the next Annual General Meeting in May 2027.

Having been put to the vote the motion to appoint Councillor Paul Arnott was carried by a majority show of hands.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Paul Arnott is elected as the Leader of Council for East Devon District Council until the Annual General Meeting of East Devon District Council in May 2027.

The Leader of Council confirmed that Councillor John Loudoun is appointed as the Deputy Leader of Council for East Devon District Council until the Annual General Meeting of East Devon District Council in May 2027.

The Leader will recommend the Cabinet members to act as Portfolio Holders.

The Leader of Council confirmed the appointment of Portfolio Holders and Assistant Portfolio Holders:

The Council received a report setting out the Council's Constitution including the proposed allocation and appointment of councillors for seats on the Council’s committees, the appointment of Chairs and Vice Chairs of committees, appointments to panels, forums and joint bodies, the appointment of councillors to outside bodies, the appointment of Councillor Champions and the calendar of meetings for 2026/2027.

Recommendation 1:  Council Constitution 2026/2027

Councillor noted that the Constitution contained an amendment to the Terms of Reference for the EdenServ (LATCo) Shareholder Committee, to include the Deputy Leader in the membership of the committee along with the Director of Place and provision for the appointment of a Chair and Vice Chair at the first meeting of the Shareholder Committee of each civic year.

Councillors welcomed the proposed changes to the Constitution.

The recommendation was moved by Councillor John Loudoun and seconded by Councillor Geoff Jung and having been put to the vote was carried by a majority show of hands.

RESOLVED:  That the Council’s Constitution for 2026/2027 is approved.

Recommendation 2:  Political Balance of the Council and allocation of committee places 2026/2027

The Council noted the political balance and entitlement to seats for committees where political proportionality rules applied, namely:

The recommendation was moved by Councillor Sarah Jackson and seconded by Councillor Todd Olive and having been put to the vote was carried by a majority show of hands.

RESOLVED:  That Council notes the political balance of the Council and agrees the proposed allocation of committee places for 2026/2027.

Recommendation 3:  Terms of Reference, size and quorum arrangements for all committees

The Council received details of the Terms of Reference, size and quorum arrangements for all committees as set out in the Constitution. 

The recommendation was moved by Councillor Tim Dumper and having been seconded by Councillor Yehudi Levine was carried by a majority show of hands.

RESOLVED:  That the Terms of Reference, size and quorum arrangements for all committees as set out in the Council’s Constitution is approved.

Recommendation 4:  Appointment of Chairs, Vice Chairs, members and co-opted members to the Council’s committees and panels, forums and joint bodies

The Council received details of the appointment of Chairs, Vice Chairs, members and co-opted members to the Council’s committees and panels, forums and joint bodies as set out in the appointment schedule.

The Council noted that the appointment schedule had been subject to consultation with the appropriate Group Leaders and nominations had been submitted from each group.

The recommendation was moved by Councillor John Loudoun and having been seconded by Councillor Joe Whibley was carried by a majority show of hands.

RESOLVED:  That Council approves the appointment of Chairs, Vice Chairs, members and co-opted members to the Council’s committees, panels,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The Leader of Council submitted a report containing particulars of all key decisions taken as urgent duding the course of the year which are required to be reported under regulation 19 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

Council noted that there was 1 urgent item under those regulations

Council noted the report.

RESOLVED: That the report is noted.

The Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Mike Goodman, presented a report setting out the work of the Scrutiny Committee during the civic year 2025/2026.

RESOLVED:  That the Scrutiny Committee Annual Report for 2025/2026 is noted.

The Chair of the Overview Committee, Councillor Anne Hall, presented the Annual Report setting out the work of the Overview Committee during the civic year 2025/2027.

Council noted the report.

RESOLVED:  That the Overview Committee Annual Report for 2025/2026 is noted.

The Vice Chair of the Housing Review Board, Councillor Simon Smith, presented the Annual Report setting out the work of the Housing Review Board Committee during the civic year 2025/2027.

Council noted the report.

RESOLVED:  That the Housing Review Board Annual Report for 2025/2026 is noted.

The Chair of the Audit & Governance Committee, Councillor Chris Burhop, presented the Annual Report setting out the work of the Audit & Governance Committee during the civic year 2025/2027.

Council noted the report.

RESOLVED:  That the Audit & Governance Committee Annual Report for 2025/2026 is noted.

The Council received a report form the Councillor Champions during the 2025/2026 civic year.

Council noted the reports.

RESOLVED:  That the Councillor Champion reports for 2025/2026 is noted.