# 2015 North Devon District Council election

The 2015 North Devon District Council election took place on 7 May 2015 to elect members of North Devon District Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections. The whole council was up for election and remained in no overall control.

## Background

Before the election the council had no majority party, with the Conservatives having 18 councillors, 14 Liberal Democrats and 11 Independents.
There were 149 candidates standing in the election for the 43 seats on the council (up from 120 in 2011). These were made up of 41 Conservatives, 37 Green Party, 28 Liberal Democrats, 20 Independents, 9 Labour, 8 United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), 4 Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition and 2 Communist Party of Britain. The candidates included the former Liberal Democrat leader of the council, Malcolm Prowse, and Yvette Gubb, who both quit the Liberal Democrats to stand as independents in the election, and Jeremy Yabsley who quit the Conservatives to also run as an independent. Unlike in previous years, no ward contest went unopposed.

## Election Result

North Devon Local Election Result 2015 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 19 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 44.2 | 35.6 | 28,552 | -0.5% |
| Liberal Democrats | 12 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 27.9 | 24.7 | 19,793 | -6.9% |
| Independent | 11 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 25.6 | 16.0 | 12,808 | -4.4% |
| UKIP | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 2.32 | 4.4 | 3,560 | +4.1% |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16.0 | 12,847 | +9.1% |
| Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.7 | 2,143 | -0.2% |
| TUSC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 373 | -0.2% |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 163 | 0.0% |

## Ward Results

Bickington & Roundswell (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Rodney Sheridan Cann* | 1,024 | 40.5 | −15.1 |
| | Conservative | Jackie Flynn | 653 | 25.8 | +7.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Chalmers | 643 | 25.4 | +7.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Carol McCormack-Hole | 558 | 22.0 | −4.9 |
| | UKIP | Brian David Hockin* | 556 | 22.0 | −15.3 |
| | Independent | Graham Turner | 426 | 16.8 | N/A |
| | Green | Christine Basil | 226 | 8.9 | N/A |
| | Labour | Mary Elizabeth Brodie | 183 | 7.2 | −3.5 |
| | Green | Linda Jane Mack | 135 | 5.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,549 | 70.58 | +27.18 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Bishops Nympton (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Eric Ley* | 1,052 | 79.7 | +79.7 |
| | Green | Sarah Warren | 268 | 20.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 784 | 59.39 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,320 | 78.08 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
Bratton Fleming (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Malcolm Prowse* | 594 | 45.8 | −8.3 |
| | Conservative | Peter Harper Freeman | 456 | 35.1 | +3.8 |
| | Green | Ian Godfrey | 164 | 12.6 | −2.0 |
| | Labour | Marion Mason | 84 | 6.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 138 | 10.6 | −12.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,298 | 76.76 | +13.96 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
Braunton East (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robin James Bonds | 802 | 34.6 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative | Roy Lucas* | 769 | 33.1 | −8.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Derrick Spear* | 766 | 33.0 | −1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Elizabeth Spear | 764 | 32.9 | −0.1 |
| | Green | Katy Beardshall | 467 | 20.1 | +1.5 |
| | Green | Gwen de Groot | 348 | 15.0 | +2.3 |
| | Labour | Danny James Neary | 158 | 6.8 | −4.7 |
| | TUSC | Gregory Molyneux | 54 | 2.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,380 | 74.15 | +27.15 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Braunton West (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Caroline Chugg* | 1,185 | 47.7 | +0.1 |
| | Conservative | Jasmine Chesters* | 1,137 | 45.8 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dave Bennett | 835 | 33.6 | +3.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Wayne Withey | 600 | 24.2 | +2.6 |
| | Labour | Valerie Cann | 482 | 19.4 | +6.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,515 | 73.12 | +25.52 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Central Town (Barnstaple) (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Faye Webber* | 892 | 43.1 | −5.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Adam Bradford* | 799 | 38.6 | −6.3 |
| | Conservative | Martin Kennaugh | 515 | 24.9 | −12.5 |
| | Green | Julia Daunt | 478 | 23.1 | N/A |
| | Green | Michelle Watkin | 463 | 22.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Nigel Wright | 458 | 22.1 | +5.7 |
| | Communist | Gerrard Sables | 105 | 5.1 | −2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,110 | 33.90 | +23.16 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Chittlehampton (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Walter White* | 735 | 45.3 | +45.3 |
| | Conservative | George Moseley | 538 | 33.1 | N/A |
| | UKIP | Chris Turner | 178 | 11.0 | N/A |
| | Green | Sarah Willoughby | 173 | 10.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 197 | 12.13 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,624 | 80.23 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
Chulmleigh (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sue Croft* | 723 | 51.3 | −12.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Gravell | 279 | 19.8 | −16.8 |
| | UKIP | Chris Turner | 227 | 16.1 | N/A |
| | Green | Giles Rigler | 180 | 12.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 444 | 31.50 | +4.70 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,409 | 75.21 | +20.61 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Combe Martin (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Yvette Gubb* | 1,281 | 54.5 | −11.0 |
| | Conservative | John Lovering | 1,075 | 45.7 | +2.8 |
| | Independent | Julia Clark* | 814 | 34.6 | −11.5 |
| | Conservative | David Barker | 519 | 22.1 | −8.3 |
| | Green | Kyle Chivers | 468 | 19.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,367 | 72.53 | +18.33 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Forches & Whiddon Valley (Barnstaple) (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sue Haywood* | 825 | 46.8 | −11.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Julie Hunt* | 665 | 37.8 | −9.7 |
| | Conservative | David Hoare | 561 | 31.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Symmo Simpson | 354 | 20.1 | N/A |
| | Green | Neil Basil | 299 | 17.0 | −5.0 |
| | Green | L'Anne Knight | 235 | 13.3 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Douglas Lowe | 130 | 7.4 | −9.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,815 | 57.72 | +28.22 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Fremington (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Frank Biederman* | 1,573 | 59.4 | −7.4 |
| | Independent | Tony Wood | 793 | 29.9 | +17.5 |
| | UKIP | Jim Bell | 688 | 26.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Sue Kingdom | 583 | 22.0 | +1.8 |
| | Conservative | Jason Ritterband-Fulcher | 421 | 15.9 | −1.1 |
| | Green | Jane Basil | 307 | 11.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,669 | 73.74 | +19.74 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Georgeham & Mortehoe (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Pat Barker* | 901 | 42.1 | +2.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Malcolm Wilkinson* | 841 | 39.3 | −5.9 |
| | Conservative | Bob Darell | 671 | 31.4 | +3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steve Woodman | 646 | 30.2 | −6.9 |
| | Green | Mike Harrison | 501 | 23.4 | +5.1 |
| | Green | Johnie Walker | 434 | 20.3 | +6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,176 | 74.77 | +24.77 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Heanton Punchardon (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Andrea Davis* | 666 | 67.9 | +15.2 |
| | Green | Brad Bunyard | 315 | 32.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 351 | 35.8 | +7.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 981 | 59.90 | +24.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Ilfracombe Central (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Paul Crabb* | 713 | 38.9 | −9.4 |
| | Independent | Jim Campbell | 520 | 28.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Paul Yabsley* | 494 | 27.0 | −15.5 |
| | Green | Noel Grummitt | 410 | 22.4 | +0.7 |
| | UKIP | Stuart Robertson | 396 | 21.6 | N/A |
| | Green | Frank Pearson | 388 | 21.2 | −15.9 |
| | Labour | Toby Ebert | 327 | 17.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,855 | 53.97 | +24.37 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Ilfracombe East (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Mike Edmunds* | 817 | 59.5 | +4.4 |
| | Conservative | Lynda Courtnadge | 410 | 29.9 | −5.8 |
| | Independent | Eric Hayes | 145 | 10.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 407 | 29.66 | +10.16 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,372 | 69.64 | +24.64 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
Ilfracombe West (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Geoff Fowler* | 936 | 41.5 | −8.5 |
| | UKIP | Ian Meadlarkin | 579 | 25.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Felix James Milton | 565 | 25.0 | −18.8 |
| | Conservative | Edward Short | 420 | 18.6 | −22.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kit Leck | 417 | 18.5 | N/A |
| | Green | Netti Pearson | 410 | 18.2 | N/A |
| | Labour | Marianna Holdsworth | 253 | 11.2 | −13.3 |
| | Green | Oliver John Tooley | 253 | 11.2 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Katherine Darkin | 101 | 4.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,281 | 63.94 | +26.04 |
| | UKIP gain from Conservative | UKIP gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Instow (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Brian Moores* | 676 | 67.4 | +7.5 |
| | Green | Stewart White | 326 | 32.5 | +10.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 350 | 34.9 | −2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,002 | 78.25 | +22.45 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Landkey, Swimbridge & Taw (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Glyn Lane* | 1,376 | 45.8 | −2.5 |
| | Conservative | David Luggar* | 1,156 | 38.5 | −6.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tolley Jacob Angell | 740 | 24.6 | −4.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tasha Haywood | 636 | 21.2 | +0.6 |
| | Green | Josie Knight | 515 | 17.1 | N/A |
| | UKIP | Chris Verney | 484 | 16.1 | N/A |
| | Green | Mark Haworth-Booth | 441 | 14.7 | −3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,010 | 74.91 | +20.81 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Longbridge (Barnstaple) (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Des Brailey* | 1,439 | 59.9 | +3.2 |
| | Conservative | Dick Jones | 942 | 39.2 | −0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Rennles | 715 | 29.8 | −5.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Loki Dawson | 576 | 24.0 | −9.5 |
| | Green | Shona Davis | 288 | 12.0 | N/A |
| | Green | Gary Hemmings | 248 | 10.3 | N/A |
| | Labour | Oliver Bell | 231 | 9.6 | −5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,438 | 71.78 | +26.98 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Lynton & Lynmouth (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Patrinos | 399 | 39.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Tony Meakin | 380 | 37.1 | +10.9 |
| | Independent | John Dallyn | 245 | 23.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19 | 1.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,024 | 73.31 | +15.91 |
| | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Marwood (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joe Tucker* | 582 | 46.2 | −2.0 |
| | Conservative | Jim Pile | 504 | 40.0 | +0.6 |
| | Green | Micky Darling | 173 | 13.7 | +1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 78 | 6.2 | −2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,259 | 78.9 | +19.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Newport (Barnstaple) (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Mathews* | 1,025 | 41.6 | −0.3 |
| | Conservative | Michael Harrison* | 889 | 36.1 | −1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Haywood | 812 | 32.9 | −0.6 |
| | Green | Matt Chamings | 728 | 29.5 | +5.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Julian Williams | 510 | 20.7 | −5.8 |
| | Green | Rosie Haworth-Booth | 477 | 19.3 | +5.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,496 | 68.06 | +26.06 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
North Molton (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Edgell* | 968 | 71.9 | +3.9 |
| | Green | Debbie Drennen | 379 | 25.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 643 | 47.70 | +11.64 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,347 | 76.52 | +23.42 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Pilton (Barnstaple) (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brian Greenslade* | 1,133 | 48.0 | −8.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mair Manuel* | 841 | 35.7 | −14.2 |
| | Green | Ricky Knight | 666 | 28.2 | +9.7 |
| | Conservative | Rachel Martin | 532 | 22.6 | −0.2 |
| | Conservative | Sue D'Souza | 498 | 21.1 | +2.0 |
| | Green | Ian Long | 355 | 15.1 | N/A |
| | Labour | Hilary Greenfield | 245 | 10.4 | −3.9 |
| | Communist | Stuart John McGuiness | 58 | 2.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,373 | 67.68 | +23.98 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
South Molton (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Moore* | 996 | 38.1 | −27.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Worden* | 651 | 24.9 | −14.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Matthew Bushell | 585 | 22.4 | −10.8 |
| | Conservative | Michael Buckingham | 547 | 20.9 | N/A |
| | Independent | Tracey Lewis | 486 | 18.6 | −18.1 |
| | Conservative | Mike Smith | 432 | 16.5 | N/A |
| | Green | Emily Anne Abbott | 318 | 12.2 | N/A |
| | Independent | Stephen Lock | 295 | 11.3 | N/A |
| | Independent | Marc Cornelius | 289 | 11.0 | N/A |
| | Green | John Robert Elvidge | 199 | 7.6 | N/A |
| | Independent | Ron Herniman | 98 | 3.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,669 | 66.22 | +18.52 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Witheridge (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Jeremy Yabsley* | 1,044 | 74.5 | +2.7 |
| | Green | Woody Fox | 358 | 25.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 686 | 48.9 | +5.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,402 | 75.79 | +24.19 |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Yeo Valley (Barnstaple) (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Roome | 838 | 41.6 | −18.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joy Cann | 708 | 35.1 | −17.8 |
| | UKIP | Andy Norden | 452 | 22.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Garth Goodwin | 298 | 14.8 | −7.5 |
| | Conservative | Linda Wellstead | 277 | 13.7 | N/A |
| | Green | Tarla Cox | 235 | 11.7 | −8.0 |
| | Green | Louise Goodger | 219 | 10.9 | N/A |
| | Independent | Graham Payne | 206 | 10.2 | N/A |
| | Labour | Roy Ernest Tomlinson | 180 | 8.9 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Peter Jordan | 88 | 4.4 | −12.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,055 | 60.79 | +26.59 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

## By-elections

Braunton East (2 November 2017) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Derrick Spear | 459 | 37.1 | +4.1 |
| | Green | Brad Bunyard | 387 | 31.3 | +11.2 |
| | Conservative | Felix Milton | 225 | 18.2 | −14.9 |
| | Labour | Mark Cann | 165 | 13.3 | +6.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,241 | 43 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Newport (Barnstaple) (7 December 2017) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Caroline Leaver | 390 | 38.8 | +5.9 |
| | Conservative | Martin Kennaugh | 373 | 37.1 | +1.0 |
| | Green | Ricky Knight | 159 | 15.8 | −13.7 |
| | Labour | Siobhan Strode | 83 | 8.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,006 | 36.3 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Fremington (28 June 2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Jayne Mackie | 577 | 50.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Jim Pilkington | 356 | 31.3 | +9.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Graham Lofthouse | 119 | 10.5 | N/A |
| | Labour | Blake Ladley | 65 | 5.7 | N/A |
| | Green | Lou Goodger | 19 | 1.7 | −9.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,138 | 29.10 | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |