Independents aim to shake up city council and promise to put residents first if elected

AGROUP of politically nonaligned independent candidates are putting themselves up for election in a bid to shake up Exeter City Council.

They say they will put the priorities of local residents first instead of politics.

On Thursday, May 2, voters across Exeter will have the chance to say who they want to represent them on the council.

Due to many contentious issues that have recently divided Exeter, including the controversial low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme in Heavitree and Whipton, new housing developments, student accommodation, financial cutbacks and budget allocations, it is believed this year’s local elections could be a tightly fought battle.

Hoping to cause a stir are eight independent candidates covering different areas of the city. They say that for the first time in living memory local voters will have the chance to vote for non-aligned independent candidates in nearly every ward across the city, in what they say is a “concerted attempt to bring pavement politics back into the city council after years of party political wrangling”.

The candidates include local campaigner Lucy Haigh who is again standing in Heavitree, an area of Exeter which has seen residents divided by the LTN scheme.

Making it clear which side of the debate she stands on, she said: “As independent councillors, we will be free to advocate and act for local people and communities without the party-political whip. So, if we need to raise concerns, put forward new ideas or challenge poor decisions and learn lessons, we can do so on people’s behalf.

believe the recent traffic changes in the Heavitree area are a significant and serious example of public decision-making gone badly wrong, and are indicative of so many other areas of the city council’s functions that need urgent review and reform.

“Voting independent will let some much-needed fresh air and daylight into the council’s musty corridors of power. I encourage voters in Exeter to actively choose to make positive change.”

Also standing as an independent is long-serving Exeter councillor

Rob Hannaford, in St Thomas. In January, the former lord mayor who has served local residents in Exwick and St Thomas for nearly two decades as both a city and county councillor, announced his immediate resignation from the Exeter Labour Party in a scathing statement that claimed he had endured “formalised gaslighting, harassment and bullying”.

He was said to have had the whip suspended by the Labour group on the county council over a disciplinary matter in November. It was not confirmed what it was in relation to.

Although Cllr Hannaford was able to keep his seat, it meant he was effectively expelled from the party and has had to sit as an independent and cannot be a Labour candidate for the May elections.

Looking forward to the elections, he said: “Exeter City Council desperately needs some fresh ideas, new leadership and a radical overhaul as far too much time and taxpayers’ money has been spent over recent years on big grand projects, failed ventures and party political posturing. We need to go back to focusing on our key functions such as social and affordable housing, better cleansing, safer streets and using our influence to get our local bus services back on track.

“To be frank, all the real local issues that people talk about every day and actually care about are things such as missing litter bins, closed toilets and replacing play equipment for local families. We will aim to put people’s priorities first above political labels to make a real positive difference in our local areas, and a strategic step change in civic leadership.

“This time vote independent for real change; people over politics.”

The other independent candidates standing for this year’s Exeter City Council elections are Clive Hutchings for Mincinglake and Whipton; Dr Tal Abdulrazaq for Priory; Victoria Jarman for Pennsylvania; Paul Simmonds for Newtown and St Leonard’s; Sue Simmonds for Pinhoe, and Mark Harreld for Alphington.

Although independent and not whipped they have a consensus on:

» More transparency and better scrutiny at the council

» Better use of council funds and more frontline service investment

» Securing more affordable housing for local people

» Delegating more funding at ward level to work with local communities

» Actively listening to residents, charities, community groups and businesses to help improve the city.

Priory hopeful Dr Abdulrazaq said: “I am fed up with the main big parties putting Westminster party politics first and our local needs last. I live in the ward, my kids go to school here, and I want to see it and the wider city thrive by listening to residents and carrying out their wishes.”

Polling day on Thursday, May 2, is from 7am to 10pm. Postal voters will receive their ballots around April 18.

Some of the independent candidates standing for this year’s Exeter City Council elections