Prøve GULL - Gratis
Balance of power on knife-edge again as councillor quits Tories
Herald Express
|May 28, 2025
TORBAY Council's knife-edge political balance has shifted again after a Brixham councillor decided to stand down from the ruling Conservative group to become an independent.
Jason Hutchings (Furzeham with Summercombe) said in a statement he felt he was being "held back" and unable to speak his mind.
He said he would still support what the Conservatives were doing in Torbay, but his decision could make him the most powerful man on the local authority.
His resignation from the group leaves the Conservatives with 17 councillors, plus him as a Conservative-leaning independent.
The opposition group of Liberal Democrats and independents has 18 councillors.
In practice, a number of important recent debates have split down party lines, and have been decided on the casting vote of the mayor - currently, and in the recent past, a Conservative.
If Cllr Hutchings votes with his former Conservative colleagues, the Tory administration will hold sway.
Denne historien er fra May 28, 2025-utgaven av Herald Express.
Abonner på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av kuraterte premiumhistorier og over 9000 magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
FLERE HISTORIER FRA Herald Express
Herald Express
Call for people to behave after idiots climb up harbourside illuminations
ADDITIONAL barriers and security could be brought in for Torbay’s Christmas lights trail after special Christmas trees on the harbourside were damaged by people climbing on them.
1 mins
December 10, 2025
Herald Express
Council proposes to increase tax by fraction under maximum allowed
HOUSEHOLDS across Torbay will not be asked to pay the maximum possible increase in their council tax next year as the local authority lets them off by a fraction of a per cent.
3 mins
December 10, 2025
Herald Express
Bay says 'no' to street information hubs
TORBAY has joined the list of councils around the country to say no to more ‘hubs’ and information screens on its streets.
1 min
December 10, 2025
Herald Express
Animal ban for bay couple
A COUPLE have been banned from keeping animals for five years after more than a dozen dogs and cats were rescued from their home.
1 min
December 10, 2025
Herald Express
More front line police officers
THE public will see 121 more police officers on the front line in Devon and Cornwall by April next year.
1 min
December 03, 2025
Herald Express
Liquidators 'doing all we can' to save public assets managed by bust trust
Liquidators 'doing all we can' to save
1 mins
December 03, 2025
Herald Express
Council will have to pay up for more land to extend bay recycling centre
TORBAY is going to need a bigger tip - and the bay's councillors are ready to pay the price to make it happen.
1 mins
December 03, 2025
Herald Express
Glimmer of hope eviction can be stayed after talks
PARK home owners on Dartmoor who are under threat of losing their properties because of a planning dispute say they have been “encouraged” by talks with Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA).
2 mins
December 03, 2025
Herald Express
Farmer who feared going to jail shot himself as concerns over guns raised
A BRIXHAM farmer and councillor shot himself while waiting to be sentenced following a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing for allowing waste to be dumped illegally on his land.
2 mins
November 26, 2025
Herald Express
Bay ‘taken for ride’ by neighbours as agreement on reorganisation ignored
FOUR separate unitary councils for Devon will allow the “powerhouses” of Torbay, Exeter and Plymouth to flourish without leaving the county's rural ‘rump’ behind - at least that’s what the bay has decided.
2 mins
November 26, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size