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THE EXETER DIGEST
Exeter Digest #50: 2024 local elections special
This year’s ballot promises to be the most unpredictable contest in years. Our comprehensive elections guide has got you covered and our briefing has all the how-to-vote details you need.
ANALYSIS
2024 Exeter local elections guide
City council elections take place on Thursday 2 May. Our comprehensive guide covers who’s standing where, wards to watch and the backdrop to this year’s ballot, which promises to be the most unpredictable contest in years. Read it here.
BRIEFING
When, where and how to vote in the 2024 Exeter local elections
Our guide to casting your ballot in person, by post and by proxy as well as voter ID requirements and new regulations for postal votes. Read it here.
SPRING 2024 COMMUNITY SHARE OFFER
Exeter Observer celebrates five years of local public interest news publishing
Invest in our Spring 2024 community share offer to help us deliver all the independent journalism Exeter needs and make it five more. More details here.
Exeter City Council reversal returns funding support to Citizens Advice Exeter
500 hospital staff apply to Royal Devon NHS Trust redundancy scheme
Devon County Council drops Matford huts redevelopment plan after local campaign
Devon & Cornwall Police underperforming in three-quarters of areas inspected
Devon County Council reverses proposed library cuts
University of Exeter postpones net zero target to 2050
On Our Radar
THURSDAY 25 JUNE TO SATURDAY 4 JULY 2026
Budleigh Music Festival
Annual event returns with classical concerts, musical workshops and a tribute to Hilary Mantel.
BUDLEIGH SALTERTON
SATURDAY 4 JULY 2026
Love St Thomas Summer Festival 2026
Community event returns for second year with live music, workshops, talks, stalls and more.
ST THOMAS CHURCH
SUNDAY 5 JULY 2026
Green Phoenix Festival 2026
Sustainability all-dayer returns with comedy, music, workshops, film screenings, community stalls and more.
EXETER PHOENIX
More stories
Exeter city centre strategy evasions and expediencies echo cultural strategy failings
Just 85 invitation-only workshop attendees consulted during development of yet another city council strategy without a delivery plan.
St Petrock’s homelessness survey finds increase in women sleeping rough in Exeter
Charity says women’s homelessness often hidden from view because of “fears around safety, harassment, and gender-based violence” in report following publication of city council snapshot count which recorded five-fold rise in rough sleeper numbers.
First phase capital cost of legacy Exeter City Living Whipton Gardens project to exceed £12.5 million – £364,000 per flat
Financing for second phase yet to be found as adjacent Rennes House demolition costs rise to £1 million and Exeter City Living reports year-end loss in residual Guildhall flats management role.
Clueless Exeter cultural strategy fails to address challenges facing city’s “increasingly untenable” creative sector
Survey inviting feedback on city council word salad arrives two years late, following second UK City of Culture bid failure, with delivery plan outsourced to secretive, unelected sub-committee.
, updated
South West Water fined £1.85 million over Brixham drinking water offences
Sentencing in second case awaited, scope of third legal action expanded and Devon County Council announces desire to pursue company through courts on same day Pennon Group reports £135 million underlying pre-tax profits in 2025-26.
Police and crime commissioner seeks views on Devon & Cornwall Police south west regional policing reforms merger
Government white paper proposes England and Wales National Police Service and creation of as few as ten “super-forces” overseeing newly-defined local policing areas.
