Ottery Otter - East Devon Politics

23/09/2025

🦦 EMAIL RESPONSE TIMES – DEVON MPs 🦦
(January – August 2025)

Volunteers tracked how long it takes MPs across Devon to reply to constituent emails.

For East Devon:

David Reed (Conservative, Exmouth & Exeter East) – 9.4 days

Richard Foord (Liberal Democrat, Honiton & Sidmouth) – 13.3 days

📊 Party Averages
Conservatives: 7.8 days
Liberal Democrats: 8.0 days
Labour: 11.9 days

Response times vary widely. Rebecca Smith (Conservative, South West Devon) was the fastest at 3.8 days, while Fred Thomas (Labour, Plymouth Moorview) was the slowest at 15.7 days. Both East Devon MPs responded more slowly than their party averages, with Richard Foord among the slowest in the county.

12/09/2025

🦦 COUNCILLOR ATTENDANCE – EAST DEVON COUNCIL 🦦
(21/03/2025 – 13/09/2025)

We’ve reviewed councillor attendance over the last six months, including in-person, virtual, and substitute participation, to give residents a clear view of engagement.

Attendance varies across councillors and parties. 4 of the 5 lowest attenders are Conservatives, contributing to their lowest overall average of 54%. By contrast, many Liberal Democrats and Independent councillors hold portfolios in the current administration, making attendance a primary responsibility; this is reflected in their generally higher engagement. Tracking attendance helps residents understand how actively councillors are participating in council business.

Top 5 Attenders

Cllr Colin Brown (Conservative) – 100%

Cllr Todd Olive (Liberal Democrat) – 100%

Cllr Eileen Wragg (Liberal Democrat) – 100%

Cllr Roy Collins (Independent / Other*) – 100%

Cllr Kim Bloxham (Independent / Other) – 83%

Lowest 5 Attenders

Cllr John O’Leary (Conservative) – 14%

Cllr Marcus Hartnell (Conservative) – 14%

Cllr Sophie Richards (Conservative) – 25%

Cllr Tony McCollum (Independent / Other) – 33%

Cllr Ben Ingham (Conservative) – 43%

Party Averages

Liberal Democrats: 79%

Conservative & Unionist: 54%

Independent / Other: 68%

Green Party: 69%

*“Independent/Other” includes Independent councillors and councillors from minor parties with only one representative.

12/09/2025

Cllr Denise Bickley (Sidmouth) was elected to Devon County Council in 2025, at a time when the council faces major challenges around Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Devon is forecast to overspend its SEND budget by £53.3 million this year, taking the overall deficit to more than £165 million. Rising demand for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) – now almost 10,000 across the county, and the high cost of placements are driving the pressure.

Many other councils are also overspending on SEND, and a government paper expected this autumn may set out options for dealing with these long-term deficits.

👉 For more information see:

Devon looks set to spend more than £50m over its annual budget on special needs and disabilities education.

12/09/2025

🦦🌊 Introducing Ottery Otter – Your East Devon Politics & Community Hub! 🌊🦦

Hello East Devon! We’re delighted to announce Ottery Otter, a new page dedicated to keeping our community informed, engaged, and empowered about local politics and events. 🦦💬

What we cover:

🏛️ Updates on East Devon District Council and Devon County Council decisions, meetings, and initiatives

🗳️ News and actions from Richard Foord MP (Honiton & Sidmouth) and David Reed MP (Exmouth)

📊 Local statistics, reports, and insights on everything from housing and planning to transport and healthcare

🏘️ Community stories, events, and campaigns that matter to residents

💼 Coverage of local business developments, environmental projects, and education initiatives

Why follow Ottery Otter?

🦦 Stay informed about issues that directly affect East Devon

💬 Join discussions about local policies, services, and community projects

📩 Share your news, events, or statistics – we want to amplify your voice

🤝 Connect with like-minded residents who care about keeping East Devon thriving and transparent

We believe that local democracy works best when everyone is involved. That’s why we encourage residents, local organisations, and community groups to message Ottery Otter with updates, news tips, events, or stories to share. 🦦📢

Together, let’s build a stronger, informed, and engaged East Devon community! 🌊🦦

📬 Message us anytime – your news, your voice, your Ottery Otter! 🦦💌

Send a message to learn more